Our Summer Wild Read Will Hit You Like a Heat Wave
The USFWS Library is excited to announce our Summer Wild Read! We’re excited to share Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid: The Fraught and Fascinating Biology of Climate Change by Thor Hanson. It’s a catchy title that demands an explanation.
Author and biologist, Thor Hanson, is a remarkable storyteller and a curious conservationist based in the Pacific Northwest. His research has taken him all over the globe. He’s a Guggenheim Fellow, Switzer Environmental Fellow, and winner of the John Burroughs Medal for his excellence in nature writing and natural history. His books include The Triumph of Seeds, Feathers, and The Impenetrable Forest and his academic literature has been published in journals like BioScience, Conservation Biology, and Molecular Ecology.
Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid is a compelling story that explores ways that plants and animals are responding to climate change. Where does the book get its title? Spoiler alert: Anole lizards have grown larger toe pads to grip more tightly in frequent hurricanes. Warm waters cause the development of Humboldt squid to alter so dramatically that fishermen mistake them for different species. A story of hope, resilience, and risk that reminds us of the cascading effects of climate change- but life always finds a way.
If you are an FWS employee, email megan_burdi@fws.gov to borrow a print copy as available. For the general public, Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid can be found at your local library or book store. If you want to learn more about America’s Wild Read and how to participate email catherine_blalack@fws.gov.
Come join us on Wednesday, August 17th from 3–4 pm EST, as we host a book discussion for America’s Wild Read on Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid: A Fraught and Fascinating Biology of Climate Change by Thor Hanson. Please register in advance for our book discussion. At our book club meetings, we have cultivated a casual atmosphere where we reflect on the reading, answer discussion questions, and enjoy some time together through a conversation on conservation literature.
Brought to you by the USFWS Library, America’s Wild Read is a virtual book club where we aim to inspire you to connect with the outdoors and nature through literature. We hope you will read along with us as we feature various conservation books every quarter — contemporary, traditional, new, and classic.
