I have always loved the "Best American" collections for short stories, essays, etc, and The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2024 collection is no exception. This edition, compiled from many sources, touches on hot topics like the climate crisis, glaciers, and disappearing species. It is at times hopeful and others desperate. I would recommend this edition to anyone who likes great non-fiction science writing, as well as those looking to dig deeper into some of the pressing issues surrounding the environment we live in.

Thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Every year my library buys the latest installment of this series - Best American Science and Nature Writing. I haven't read all of the books in the series, there are too many! But the ones I have read are excellent. This one is another great installment of the series, does not disappoint. I always learn something new. Bill McKibben sets out to provide a framework for the essays in which they appear, first the bad, then some positives. Thanks to the publisher for allowing me an early review copy access.

This book and others in this series are great for people who enjoy reading about the environment and science in essay form.

Reading the Best American Science and Nature Writing is something I strive to do every year, and once again I have no regrets. This is a solid collection of articles, but ...

In my review of the 2023 edition, I stated: "The highest complement I can give an editor of a Best American title is that his or her preferences were difficult to discern." I may have to eat my words because I liked this edition anyway. In this latest edition, noted environmentalist Bill McKibben almost exclusively dwells on human impact on the environment, with a special emphasis on climate change. There was some branching out (without a formal audit I'd say in about 5 or so of the 25 articles), with particularly good articles about right to die, whale speech and plant cognition. As for the effects of human activity on the environment, I particularly liked Ben Goldfarb's account of the impact of glass skyscrapers on bird life (or perhaps I should say the impact of birds on skyscrapers), and Hedi Blake's New Yorker article (the New Yorker is always heavily represented) on the questionable accounting involved in carbon offsets.

I'll close with a pro tip. Quite often you will read one of these articles and wish there were illustrations. Much of the time, you can search for the original article and find them. Ben Goldfarb's article, "City of Glass", has particularly good ones. I'm sure there are others, but I didn't have time to check every one of them out.

Thanks to netgalley and Mariner Books for providing an egalley for early review.

The Best Science and Nature Writing 2024 was a great collection. It had a range of styles and some quality authors.

I always look forward to reading the latest edition of this anthology, which features the best articles from the previous year's periodicals. Even if you're a fan of a particular genre, like science and nature writing, it's impossible to keep up with everything that's being published-especially since major newspapers have joined the magazines in setting up dedicated climate desks, as this year's editor, Bill McKibben, notes in the preface. And because climate crisis is a recurring theme in this volume, you will find some of those pieces here.

Highly recommended for anyone interested in science and nature.

Thanks to the publisher, Mariner Books, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

"The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2024" is a thought-provoking and engaging collection of twenty essays showcasing the best examples of science and nature writing published in the previous year. Award-winning environmentalist and journalist Bill McKibben serves as guest editor, curating a diverse range of topics that highlight both the challenges and triumphs of our planet.

The essays selected for this anthology delve into the complex relationship between people and the planet, exploring the consequences of environmental destruction while celebrating the beauty and resilience of nature. From the devastating impacts of wildfires to innovative solutions for protecting wildlife, these essays offer a compelling glimpse into the pressing issues of our time.

McKibben's selections not only inform and educate but also provide a sense of hope for the future, demonstrating that there are still ways to make a positive impact on our world. The collection serves as a reminder of the importance of continued efforts to protect and preserve the planet for future generations.

Overall, "The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2024" is an enlightening and inspiring read that showcases the best of the genre and encourages readers to reflect on their own role in shaping the future of our planet.

Every year, I look forward to the vast "Best of" collections - the selected editors can give clues about what you might find within those pages. I was excited to get an early look at the Best American Science & Nature Writing 2024 edited by Bill McKibben and Jaime Green. I first read Bill McKibben back in the 1990s when he was already talking about climate change and the human impact on the earth. Not surprisingly, the articles selected for this book show some of the many sides of this topic. As a reader, I travelled to the Amazon rainforest to the ice fields in Greenland to flooded villages in Pakistan to the Colorado river in the American Southwest, etc. I learned a lot about a variety of different topics all with ties to climate change. In collections such as this, as a reader, some pieces resonate more than others (topic, writing style, etc.). Some pieces definitely kept me riveted (or shaking my head or greatly saddened, etc.) more than others - that's to be expected. But on the whole, all the articles gave me a lot to ponder and led to some interesting conversations with others who are interested in the topic, but aren't necessarily experts or scientists in the field and maybe this is one of the intentional or unintentional aims of this particular collection. There's no doubt that many of the articles feel bleak, but I can only hope that books, stories and information like this will spur greater action on the part of individuals, communities, corporations and governments. 4.5/5

Many thanks to Mariner Books and NetGalley for this thought-provoking e-arc.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this year’s edition of The Best American Science and Nature Writing! While I have only recently begun to read this anthology, what I most enjoy about it is the diversity of pieces within the collection. Though this year’s edition focuses on the theme of climate change, there was plenty to read both within and beyond that theme that was compelling and attention-worthy. I usually struggle to read pieces on climate change because it can feel disheartening to read about how our planet is falling apart, but I felt that McKibben picked pieces that, while addressing the severity of the issues, also emphasized the need for optimism and ingenuity. If you’re looking for an introduction into the variety and depth of today’s science writers, I would highly recommend this anthology.

The 2024 edition of The Best American Science and Nature Writing edited by Bill McKibben focuses on climate change. The comprehensive collection contains an incredibly diverse group of stories covering topics such as carbon markets, the fires in Maui, changes to specific plant and animal species, the current state of the amazon rainforest, the impacts of extreme heat, and many more diverse topics. I learned so much reading this collection and I highly recommend it.

I review many books each year for NetGalley and decide to purchase a copy of only a few excellent books. I will definitely purchase a personal copy of this outstanding collection. My only feedback is that in focusing on climate change, there were many other interesting topics that were not included. I would have like to see more on biomedical science and drug development. There was so much great science and nature writing in 2023, the editor had a challenging task.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for an Advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

There are some interesting articles in this series, and the editor seems to have an inter species communication. These best of books are a good way to find new authors to read. Some of the topics are getting stale though, like climate change. We know about it by now, but who is going to reverse the changes. I think we will be gone long before nature takes care of it on her own.

Very compelling book. The articles were well written and argued and covered quite a range of environmental topics. It's a hard book to put down once started. I have to say, though, that my personal favorites are ones I've tried to do something about. The first was City of Glass. Meant to try and stop mass killing of birds by highrise windows and lights at night! My home picture window was a problem I addressed after a bird flew into it and died. How To Make Sense of My MOther's Desicion to Die covers euthanasia from a son (also a doctor)'s pov. Solving Climate Change Will Have Side Effects. Get Over It, was a good look at alternatives. Many more stories are in the book and all are worthy of a good read. Anyone interested in enviromental issues will find the fascinating. Lots of great and passionate authors in this book.