Seeing Nature: Deliberate Encounters with the Visible World

This is an outstanding account of observation and the understanding of processes that an enlightend thinker can find in those observations. This book will help people of almost every level of experience to see more in the outdoors, or any where else in the real world, for that matter.

Reminicent of Guy Murchie's "The Seven wonders of Life" or anything by Loren Eisley, this book charms you with it's open and honest joy in looking at the world. Informs you on two levels: the behavior of creatures and forms in the natural world, and the parallels you can draw from observations into your own view of yourself, and your place in the world.Highly recommended.

A dozen years ago, Paul Krapfel wrote one of the most mind-and-eye-opening books I've ever read, a little self-published volume called SHIFTING: NATURE'S WAY OF CHANGE (recently revised and republished through Chelsea Green as SEEING NATURE: DELIBERATE ENCOUNTERS WITH THE VISIBLE WORLD). In it, I learned more about the patterns that nature creates and follows than I ever dreamed existed. Most importantly, I learned that life does a very creative dance with entropy. I've never thought about life the same since I read Paul's book.

At first I was concerned this might be no more than a foofy nature book, but by the end, I was way into it. I appreciate the author's commitment to simple narrative and language, and the open, organic structure of the book. Very neat observations along the way. Much wisdom and much intelligence. I'm glad I read this book -- I would wish it on anyone.