Book Review: The Natural Explorer by Tristan Gooley

Tristan Gooley's previous book, The Natural Navigator, changed the way I viewed the world when out and about. So, I understandably had high hopes for this follow up.

While, this book wasn't what I was expecting, it was much better for it. Instead of being told what to look at and what these things mean, we follow the author along a walk he took a few years ago. This is followed by the thoughts and observations of a cast of natural explorers from Darwin to Humboldt to Polo to Thoreau. From the obvious things to observe such as rivers and animals, we also have things that I've never really considered before, such as inner time and mood, as well as lines in the Earth.

As well as practical things to observe and do along your explorations, the book excels at looking inward. There are gems such as, on plants, "They have a purity we lack and crave in our lives". We may not be able to experience everything within our lifetime, as many things just don't happen that frequently, from comets to the flowers of the madake bamboo.

We're implored to look deeper at objects we may superficially glace at during our explorations such as the Monte Testaccio, which isn't actually a natural hill, but made by the refuse of man - broken fragments of amphorae.

It's interesting to read the thoughts of others as they view the landscape. It gives us the opportunity to think about their opinion and decide if we agree or perhaps if we can see a beauty that others did not.

The book has even helped me understand why the yellow meadow ants in a local churchyard are where they are. It seems, quite simply, that they like warm conditions and will often populate the southern facing areas.

There's far too much in the book for a simple review to cover everything. There's only one thing for you to do - and that's to read it!

This book takes us all over the world and through time. It's not too late to be a Natural Explorer, even if you can't make it further than your windowsill. All we need to do is to make the effort to view all we see in a deep way, considering as many facets as we can muster. Then all we need to do is share our adventures. With a friend, with a social network, with a blog - basically using whatever medium you can think of.

Enjoy your explorations - and this book!