Close to Home

If you think nature lives somewhere far away, Thor Hanson invites you to take another look.

In Close to Home, award-winning biologist and natural-history writer Thor Hanson shows how wonder begins the moment we retrain our eyes. The wild world isn’t hidden in distant rainforests or remote wilderness—it’s thriving in backyards, parks, vacant lots, and the soil beneath our feet.

Through a series of vivid, often surprising stories, Hanson reveals what’s been quietly unfolding around us all along: monarch butterflies gathering in unexpected places, yellowjackets behaving in ways few people ever notice, and a single lawn—allowed to grow a little wild—becoming a lifelong scientific study. Dig a little deeper, and even the soil itself holds untapped discoveries with the potential to heal and transform.

Blending science with storytelling, Close to Home is a hands-on guide to noticing the extraordinary in ordinary places. It encourages curiosity, observation, and participation—reminding us that anyone can contribute to science and care for the planet simply by paying attention.

This book is an invitation to slow down, look closer, and rediscover the natural world that’s been waiting just outside your door all along.

If you love books that spark curiosity and help you see familiar landscapes in a new way, Close to Home is a deeply rewarding read.