Today I want to welcome you to a truly special episode of Earth to Humans. My guest today has journeyed across continents, climates and cultures to unravel some of the most complex intricacies of our natural world. David Quammen joins us today, a renowned science writer who’s works offer us a lens to view and better understand the depths and mysteries of our ecosystems. The breadth of his work is unparalleled and his writing is both fascinating and terrifying, funny and exhilarating, scientific and empathetic.
I’m in a bookclub of all lady biologist and we have read a number of his books together including The Song of the Dodo, Monster of God about man-eating predators, and his latest book The Heartbeat of the Wild. But my favorite book of his (so far anyway) is probably his 2012 book Spillover, about zoonotic infections and the next human pandemic.
From the far reaches of rainforests to the urban heartlands, David’s explorations beautifully bridge hard science with compelling storytelling and leave you more in awe of the world we inhabit. And I feel a little bit smarter after every book.
Nature's Narrator: David Quammen