This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you make a purchase using one of these links, Horses for Clean Water makes a small commission at no additional cost to you.
If you’re looking for a good book to curl up with while you wait for the snow to melt, here are some that I’ve recently read and recommend.
The Big Burn by Timothy Egan
This non-fictional account of the largest North American forest fire in modern history encompasses the story of the creation of the U.S. Forest Service and the two pivotal players who created it: Theodore Rosevelt and Gifford Pinchot.
Horse by Geraldine Brooks
This is a uniquely constructed tale of two amazing beings: the great racehorse, Lexington, who lived and raced during the Civil War era, and his groom/trainer/handler/devoted companion whose remarkable training methods are beyond comparison. It’s also the story of racism and the reality of prejudice in America from the mid-1800’s to present times.
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Set in a fictitious town in Snohomish County, Washington, an octopus in a public aquarium overlooking Puget Sound forms a beautiful, supportive friendship with an older woman struggling with loss.
The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett by Annie Lyons
In this warm, fictional story, aging Eudora Honeycott thinks it might be time for her to leave this world until she discovers she still has important roles to play.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Taking place in 1955 to the early 60’s, this fictional story explores the role of women in a very chauvinistic time of our society. Elizabeth Zott wants nothing more than to be a chemist, but struggles to find acceptance and a role she can play in a male-dominated world.
When Life Nearly Died by Michael Benton
It is common knowledge that a meteorite brought about the end of the dinosaurs during the Cretaceous Period, 65 million years ago. However, an even greater catastrophe occurred 251 million years ago which destroyed nearly all life on Earth, including fish and other sea life.
Currently On the Night Stand
Dinosaurs Rediscovered by Michael Benton
The history of dinosaurs is mind-boggling. It totally amazes me how much we’ve only recently learned—and are still learning—about the remarkable creatures who successfully survived on this plant for 165 million years. Written by a brilliant and witty British paleontologist.
Caste by Isabel Wilkerson
A non-fictional account by an American journalist that explores our society’s views on racism and how it originated. It’s recently been made into a documentary film which received outstanding accolades at the Cannes Film festival.
Looking for more to read?
These books were recently recommended by some of our readers:
Essential Horse Speak: Continuing the Conversation by Sharon Wilsie
“Contains more specifics as to implementation of her concepts, affecting not only communication with horses (in their language) but also handling, training, and riding. Fascinatingly different method (Horse Speak) of having a better relationship with your horse(s).” – GS from Prineville, OR
Horse Brain, Human Brain by Janet L. Jones, PhD
“It presents current neuroscience results that pertain to the actual functioning methods of the horse’s brain. And, importantly, how these differ from the same types of processes in the human’s brain. Knowing how they differ is very helpful in understanding (objectively) WHY horses react they way they do, and what we humans can do to help them accommodate our differences and thus succeed more easily and more often in this human-controlled world.” – GS from Prineville, OR
Power Trip by Amanda Little
“A historical perspective on how we arrived at our dependencies on fossil fuels and the possibilities for the future. I learned a lot from this page turner.” – Lori from Cle Elum, WA
