Beneath the Surface of Things

“A writer of breathtaking precision, Davis is as intrepid and original a thinker as he is an astute. In these moving works born of stillness and reflection, he delves into some of the world’s most catastrophic paradoxes.”—Donna Seaman, Booklist STARRED Review“An acclaimed essayist takes a deep dive into cultural issues at home and around the word… Davis knits history, sociology, faith, and scientific inquiry into a colorful, meditative tapestry.”—Kirkus“Terrific, eloquent, beautifully written and synthesized history. Your eye lands on the terrors with cold fury.”—Jann Wenner, founder of Rolling Stone“Wade Davis’ deeply-felt essays swim wide oceans of diverse culture and thought. He never fails to scoop up what he calls ‘the astounding sweep of the human spirit,’ as he shifts between history, ethnography, and personal missive. His essays show us how understanding other ways of being can open the gates of justice. He hands us the keys to insight within each of the seven thousand languages of the world. With wisdom and sure-footed research, he challenges us to let go of preconception and simply be.”—Gretel Ehrlich“Wade Davis is a true wayfinder, and these essays offer new insight into his visionary approach to culture, landscape, and the planet he loves as fiercely as any writer working today.”—John Vaillant, author of Fire Weather“Wade Davis has a gift for saying the unsayable. He’s a fearless explorer in the intellectual world, as in the physical. His refusal to embrace conventional wisdom on climate change, for example, and instead think through the issue for himself, is a model of independent thinking. Even when I disagree with Wade, as with some of his bleak comments about the United States, I’m grateful for his voice. We usually live on the surface of ideas when we talk about issues such as war and racism; Wade takes us far deeper.”—David Ignatius, columnist and associate editor, Washington Post“Written by an eloquent explorer, and celebrating spiritual as well as material crafts and cultures, this book shows how attention to both has always been necessary for our survival. With enchanting precision, it reveals the wonders of our world, from complex communities to changing climates, while offering a refreshing balance between compassion and concern and between the arts and the sciences. This is an essential service for us right now, and Wade Davis is our frontline worker. Our wayfinder. If you want to be inspired to know more, and to do more, read this book.”—J. Edward Chamberlin, author of If This Is Your Land, Where Are Your Stories? and Storylines: How Words Shape Our World“Wade Davis has the ability to look beneath the surface of what he observes, offering insights and interpretations that are invariably inspiring and bold. The breadth of his knowledge and the range of his curiosity are wondrous.” —Andrew Weil“Wade Davis is a master of the essay form, bringing a life of exploration, travel, reflection, and experience together in a bracing synthesis… The essay on climate change is simply the best thing I’ve read on the subject.”—Michael Ignatieff

Wade Davis is currently Professor of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia and was Explorer-in-Residence at the National Geographic Society from 2000 to 2013. His 23 books, published in 22 languages, include One River, The Wayfinders and Into the Silence, winner of the 2012 Samuel Johnson prize, the top nonfiction prize in the English language. He lives on Bowen Island, B.C.

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