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I don’t know exactly when it happened, but last year I started walking a lot more.
It wasn’t anything dramatic, just some long walks through my university campus, getting away from the chaos of everything.
What caught my attention first were the trees.
I don’t think I realized how much I’d missed them until I started to notice their every detail – how their branches reach up and how they stand so still, no matter the weather.
Slowly, I started noticing everything else – the birds, the way the air feels.
And then I picked up a few nature memoirs.
They felt different from other books, like they were written by people who also fall in love with the quiet moments in nature.
They’re a different kind of story, and I’ve come to see them as a way to connect to something bigger, something lasting.
Here are a few of my personal favorites everyone needs to read now.
1. Arctic Dreams: Imagination and Desire in a Northern Landscape by Barry Lopez
This award-winning book dives into the harsh yet breathtaking Arctic with Barry Lopez sharing everything from polar bears to the northern lights.
He explores the wild landscapes, the culture of the Indigenous people, and even stories of doomed explorers.
It’s poetic and dreamy, and honestly, it made me want to wrap up in a blanket and imagine frozen seas and endless skies.
2. Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard
Annie Dillard spends a year wandering her neighborhood in Virginia and she finds nature’s magic right outside her door.
She follows muskrats, watches butterflies migrate, and even plays with grasshoppers – it’s all about finding wonder in the everyday.
Her curiosity feels so contagious, and it reminded me how much beauty we might be missing when we don’t stop and really look.
3. Islands of Abandonment: Life in the Post Human Landscape by Cal Flyn
What happens when humans leave a place?
Cal Flyn takes us to abandoned spots like Detroit and Chernobyl, and shows how nature fights back and takes over.
I loved the idea of nature quietly reclaiming its space; it’s a little haunting but so fascinating.
4. The Salt Path by Raynor Winn
After losing their home and facing a terminal illness, Raynor and her husband Moth walk 630 miles along the South West Coast Path.
With barely any money, they face the wild cliffs and sea head-on, turning grief into a journey of healing.
Their resilience is incredible – it’s such a raw and moving story of love, survival, and finding hope in nature.
5. Soundings: Journeys in the Company of Whales by Doreen Cunningham
Doreen Cunningham follows migrating grey whales with her toddler in tow, blending stories of their journey with her time living with an Iñupiaq family in Alaska.
It’s about motherhood, climate change, and learning from whales how to adapt and endure.
I found this one so touching – the whales felt like wise, gentle teachers in a chaotic world.
6. Wild: An Elemental Journey by Jay Griffiths
Jay Griffiths takes us on a poetic journey through wild landscapes, and she explores how the elements – earth, water, air, and fire – connect to the human spirit.
Her writing is passionate and thought-provoking, and it really made me think about how much we need the wild in our lives.
It’s like a love letter to nature and everything untamed.
7. Trace: Memory, History, Race, and the American Landscape by Lauret Savoy
Lauret Savoy digs deep into America’s landscapes, uncovering stories of race, memory, and migration.
She mixes personal experiences with the history of the land, from fault lines to burial grounds.
It’s reflective and powerful and it made me think about how the land holds onto memories we often forget and how history shapes who we are.
8. Belonging: Natural Histories of Place, Identity and Home by Amanda Thomson
Amanda Thomson reflects on family, nature, and what it means to feel at home, focusing on Scotland’s beautiful landscapes.
She mixes memoir with art and photography, creating a warm, thoughtful book.
It made me pause and think about how where we come from shapes us – and how even the smallest details in nature can hold so much meaning.
9. Wild by Nature: One Woman, One Thousand Days, One Incredible Journey by Sarah Marquis
Sarah Marquis walked 10,000 miles across six countries, facing everything from extreme weather to wild animals and even the mafia.
Her journey is all about survival, freedom, and living fully in the moment.
It’s such an inspiring read – I can’t imagine being that brave, but her story made me want to step outside and reconnect with the wild.
10. The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man’s Love Affair with Nature by J. Drew Lanham
J. Drew Lanham shares his story of growing up in South Carolina, discovering his love for nature, and reflecting on race, family, and identity.
It’s personal, thoughtful, and full of beautiful connections to the land.
His passion for nature really shines through, and it left me thinking about how our roots and experiences shape us in ways we don’t always realize.
11. H Is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald
This book hit me hard – Helen Macdonald is reeling from losing her dad, and her way of dealing with it is to train a wild goshawk named Mabel.
The whole process is intense, messy, and deeply moving. It’s not just about taming a bird but also about grappling with grief.
She even ties in T.H. White’s story, which adds another layer. It’s raw, beautiful, and totally unforgettable.
12. The Living Mountain by Nan Shepherd
Nan Shepherd writes about Scotland’s Cairngorms in a way that feels like she’s whispering secrets straight to your soul.
This book is about noticing the small, magical details that make you pause.
I honestly felt like I was walking beside her, seeing the world through fresh eyes.
13. Thin Places by Kerri ní Dochartaigh
This book made me think about how much nature can heal us.
Kerri ní Dochartaigh grew up in the middle of the Troubles in Northern Ireland – violence was everywhere.
But she found hope in the wild landscapes around her. It’s heartbreaking and beautiful, showing how the land itself can be a kind of therapy.
14. Late Migrations by Margaret Renkl
This one felt like a quiet conversation with an old friend.
Margaret Renkl writes these short essays about her childhood in Alabama, her family, and even the animals and plants around her home now.
It’s all so simple and ordinary, but that’s the beauty of it – she finds wonder in the smallest things, and it’s a gentle reminder that we can, too.
15. A Woman in the Polar Night by Christiane Ritter
I couldn’t put this down. Christiane Ritter leaves her comfy life in Austria to live in a tiny Arctic hut with her husband.
At first, she’s miserable (honestly, same), but then she starts falling in love with the wildness of it all.
It’s cold and bleak but also peaceful and kind of magical.
16. Land of Love and Ruins by Oddný Eir
Oddný Eir’s diary-style writing feels so intimate, like flipping through someone’s journal.
She’s traveling all over Iceland and beyond, trying to figure out how to balance love, personal space, and a connection to the earth.
This lovely nature memoir made me think about what home really means and how we can create it in our own way.
17. The Book of Hope by Jane Goodall
Jane Goodall is such a legend. In this book, she shares her reasons for staying hopeful, even when the world feels overwhelming.
Her stories are so uplifting – I actually felt lighter reading this.
It’s like sitting down with your wise grandma who knows things will turn out okay if we keep trying.
18. Small Bodies of Water by Nina Mingya Powles
Nina ties her memories to water, whether it’s a pool in Borneo or the wild New Zealand coast.
She explores family, migration, and belonging in such a lyrical way.
And she reminded me of how places can hold pieces of our hearts.
19. The Old Ways by Robert Macfarlane
If you’ve ever loved wandering on old trails and imagining the stories they hold, this book will speak to you.
Robert Macfarlane brings Britain’s ancient paths to life, and it’s not just history – it’s about how these routes connect us to the land and to each other.
Everything made me want to lace up my boots and explore.
20. The Outrun by Amy Liptrot
Amy Liptrot goes back to her childhood home in Orkney to recover from addiction, and the way she describes the landscape and her healing process is just stunning.
It’s about starting over, finding peace in nature, and learning to breathe again.
21. Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
This book is like a warm hug for your soul.
Robin Wall Kimmerer combines science and Indigenous wisdom to show how plants and animals are our teachers.
It’s all about gratitude, connection, and giving back to the earth. Honestly, it’s one of those books that changes how you see the world.
22. Among Flowers by Jamaica Kincaid
Jamaica Kincaid treks through the Himalayas with some botanist friends, looking for rare plants while dodging leeches and guerrillas.
Her love of gardens and nature shines through, and it’s so fun to see the wild world through her eyes.
23. Birdgirl by Mya-Rose Craig
Mya-Rose Craig is only in her twenties, but she’s already seen over 5,000 bird species!
Her love for birds ties into her environmental activism, and her passion is infectious.
She absolutely made me want to slow down and look at the world with more curiosity.
24. On Time and Water by Andri Snær Magnason
This book made me feel the weight of climate change, but in a good way.
Andri Snær Magnason blends myths, family stories, and science to show just how big this issue is.
It’s not preachy. Rather, it’s poetic and personal, like a wake-up call wrapped in a story.
Have you read any of these?
Or do you have a favorite nature memoir to share?
Drop a comment below – I’d love to hear your thoughts!
And if you want more book ideas, check out the related posts for more cozy reads!
