Out of the Woods

Have you ever wondered about societys desire to cultivate the perfect lawn, why we view some animals as good and some as bad, or even thought about the bits of nature inside everyday itemstoothbrushes, cell phones, and coffee mugs? In this fresh and introspective collection of essays, Julia Corbett examines nature in our lives with all of its ironies and contradictions by seamlessly integrating personal narratives with morsels of highly digestible science and research. Each story delves into an overlooked aspect of our relationship with natureinsects, garbage, backyards, noise, open doors, animals, and languageand how we cover our tracks. With a keen sense of irony and humor and an awareness of the miraculous in the mundane, Corbett recognizes the contradictions of contemporary life. She confronts the owner of a high-end market who insists on keeping his doors open in all temperatures, and takes us on a trip to a new mall with a replica of a trout stream that once flowed nearby. The phrase out of the woods guides us through layers of meaning to a contemplation of grief, remembrance, and resilience. Out of the Woods leads to surprising insights into the products, practices, and phrases we take for granted in our everyday encounters with nature and encourages us all to consider how we might revalue or reimagine our relationships with nature in our everyday lives.