The Best American Science And Nature Writing 2019

A NATIONAL BESTSELLER

Sy Montgomery, New York Times best-selling author and recipient of numerous awards, edits this year’s volume of the finest science and nature writing.

“Science is important because this is how we seek to discover the truth about the world. And this is what makes excellent science and nature writing essential,” observes New York Times best-selling author Sy Montgomery. “Science and nature writing are how we share the truth about the universe with the people of the world.” And collected here are truths about nearly every corner of the universe. From meditations on extinction, to the search for alien life, to the prejudice that infects our medical system, the pieces in this year’s Best American Science and Nature Writing seek to bring to the people stories of some of the most pressing issues facing our planet, as well as moments of wonder reflecting the immense beauty our natural world offers.

This essential collection brings together the year’s most talked-about longform journalism, exploring:

• Mass Extinction: From a glimpse into Earth’s deep past in western New York to the heartbreaking, real-time disappearance of species today.
• The Insect Apocalypse: An unflinching investigation into the quiet, catastrophic decline of the world’s insect populations and what it means for our planet’s future.
• Endangered Species: A look into the lives of the world’s most vulnerable animals, from the last few vaquita porpoises to the suffering of the North Atlantic right whale.
• Medical Science and Discovery: Challenging explorations of the placebo effect, the hidden racial toll in America’s healthcare system, and the revolutionary ways scientists are reimagining the human brain.