As an engineer (I am a cis white woman) who loves the outdoors I requested this book to learn more about Black scientists and their work. While I got that, I also got a reminder that so much of Black history has been tied to the outdoors. So often outdoor spaces and hobbies are considered white hobbies, but there is such a rich heritage of Black influence and presence in the outdoors. It addresses why Black people are often driven away from public outdoor spaces and how damaging that is.
This book was a great collection of essays and poems about Black experiences outdoors. There are contributions by ecologists, outdoor enthusiasts, people who participate in extreme sports, and more. There are so many ways to be outside and to love nature, and this was a beautiful exploration of Black experiences in those spaces. It explores the feelings of discomfort and othering that happens as Black people try to enjoy and thrive in nature, with some tips on how to be a good ally as we are out in nature and in public spaces in general.

For those who spend time outside, this is an important read to learn about how essential nature is and creating spaces that are truly inclusive.

Been Outside is an interesting collection of essays and poems from a variety of contributors but all based around the themes of nature, ecology, otherness in a predominantly white outdoor world for either work or leisure.

I'm a white CIS female living in England so I'm not who the book is aimed at (although there is a fascinating book of rules buried in the second half which would be useful to those in the same field of work or leisure activities who want to know how best to support minoritised groups.

Despite being the exact opposite of all the contributors I found a lot of the contributions really interesting. I must admit I did think (before I started) that I had no idea why black or trans or othered people don't just go outside and enjoy nature. Now I know the answer and it had been staring me in the face all along as usual.

Inclusiveness (and its lack thereof) aside I particularly enjoyed You Should See Me Now, Afro, My Sweet Afro and Just Like Me.

If you've even the vaguest interest in going "outside" then this book is for you. It will definitely open your eyes and give you hope that change is happening and much more can be done.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance review copy.

To start off... I just want to self-disclose that I am a white, queer, generally femme-presenting person (she/they) with a background in STEM academia reviewing this.

This collection of essays/poems was a very insightful look into the lives of Black, queer people with a love of the outdoors. I came into it already familiar with some of the concepts around the "Nature Gap" and have my own experiences navigating the world of academia as a femme queer; but the additional intersectionality of race, specifically being Black, reminded me just how critical this issue is. So many people view nature as an "amenity," when in reality it is a necessity.

The stories of the Black community coming together into activism groups such as Minorities in Shark Science (MISS) and the Black Arts Retreat, or just general interest groups for Black, queer snowboarders or the Twirling Tech Goddess Youtube series are incredible to read about.

As a white person, I also very much appreciated the chapter on how to be a good ally, especially as it was put in the context of the specific microaggressions Black people face in academia.

Overall a really enlightening read.

Great title! I found myself deep in the stories of the authors. As a white-passing woman of color, I never felt like I belong anywhere, except nature, so I found myself able to connect at that level.

This was a stunning compilation of stories and experiences that really opened my eyes on many different levels! Hearing from so many different voices and perspectives, all of which centered on the topic of nature and people's existence in it, really made for a beautifully narrated collection. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone wanting to gain more knowledge of the earth and our fellow humans who live on it!

I loved hearing first-hand accounts of so many incredibly varied experiences in the outdoors! It was very eye-opening to hear these stories from perspectives other than my own cultural identity.