RaveThe Wall Street Journal... replete with heartbreak, endless drama and even an unlikely love affair ... Amber Waves nimbly segues into a socio-agro primer, providing a crash course in genetics, plant breeding and agronomy. The author, a professor in the college of agriculture at Montana State University, also provides a fascinating retrospective on some of our lesser-known food innovators ... At times, Amber Waves waxes a bit scholarly, delving more deeply into DNA, genomic sequencing and transposons, for instance, than the casual reader might appreciate. But the story always reverts to engaging form, and Ms. Zabinksi is a reliably optimistic guide, pointing us toward a hopeful food future.
Isabella Tree
PositiveThe Wall Street JournalBy bringing human emotionality to the forefront, Wilding shines a probing light on our relationship with the outdoors ... At its finest, Wilding probes our complex relationship with nature, challenging our desire to intervene on its behalf. Rewiring our feelings regarding the outdoors, the author suggests, is a chance to renew our connection to the land ... Ironically, where the book sometimes stumbles is in its too-earnest attempts to justify its emotionality. Hyperaware of our dysfunctional love affair with nature, Wilding frequently dives too deep into the couple’s decisions, supplying no shortage of historical esoterica, scientific backstory and personal exposition, leaving the reader feeling sidetracked from the main story arc. Wilding is a worthy read, especially for those already convinced that they are nature lovers at heart.
