Will Curtis, and This is the Nature of Things

I used to live in Vermont and first heard Will Curtis on Vermont Public Radio. I bought this book soon after it was published and have enjoyed re-reading bits and pieces of it over the intervening years. Its deceptively homey wisdom shines. I live in Georgia now, so black flies are only a memory, so I laugh when I read "The best thing about black flies is that on a short hike the bites don't itch until you're back home." What happens to shed antlers? How do birds change their clothes? What about insect anitfreeze? And what happens when an airline pilot is terrified climbing the leaning tower of Pisa? All critical questions, as I'm sure you'll agree. Will Curtis, a man who was curious about everything. THE NATURE OF THINGS is a good way to satisfy our own curiosity.