Diane Ackerman, PhD, is an American naturalist, poet, bestselling author, and teacher. Much of her work centers around natural history, science, and the interdependence of all living things. She is a self-described “Earth ecstatic.”
CLEAR ALL
In these pages, some of today’s most wonderful culture-makers—writers, artists, scientists, entrepreneurs, and philosophers—reflect on the joys of reading, how books broaden and deepen human experience, and the ways in which the written word has formed their own character.
1
Branchings of belief from the lovely common root of “holy” and “whole” in the interleaving of all things.
Everyone who cherishes the gift of language will cherish Diane Ackerman’s narrative masterpiece, an exquisitely written love story and medical miracle story, one that combines science, inspiration, wisdom, and heart.
With A Natural History of the Senses, Diane Ackerman let her free-ranging intellect loose on the natural world. Now in Deep Play she tackles the realm of creativity, by exploring one of the most essential aspects of our characters: the ability to play.
The myth of our sprawly, paved-over cities and towns is that we’ve driven native animals out and stolen their habitat. Not entirely true.
The bestselling author of A Natural History of the Senses now explores the allure of adultery, the appeal of aphrodisiacs, and the cult of the kiss.
“In rare moments of deep play, we can lay aside our sense of self, shed time’s continuum, ignore pain, and sit quietly in the absolute present, watching the world’s ordinary miracles.”
In her first new book of poetry since Jaguar of Sweet Laughter, poet and naturalist Diane Ackerman combines her deep understanding of the world with her immense passion for language to craft richly sensual poems that “honor all life/wherever and in whatever form/it may deal.
Back in 1977 Diane Ackerman wrote to Albert Mitchell to ask if she might visit his cattle ranch in New Mexico to experience what branding season was like. She asked not to be pampered and to be allowed to ride with the cowboys and live the lifestyle authentically. He agreed and a long visit ensued.
Photo Credit: Frazer Harrison / Staff / Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images