Nature Shock
Nature Shock by Jon T. Coleman, published by Yale University Press on August 12, 2020, is an illustrated exploration of American history through the lens of getting lost. This 360-page book delves into the human tendency to stray from familiar paths, focusing on the stories of those who have gone missing rather than the well-known trailblazers. Coleman examines the complex relationship between Americans and their environments, highlighting how these experiences shape our understanding of space and identity.
In this engaging narrative, readers will encounter a range of historical accounts, from Hernando de Soto’s ill-fated expedition in the southeast to contemporary trends of seeking solace in disorientation. Coleman presents a unique perspective on the themes of biography, exploration, and the history of the United States, illustrating how moments of being lost can lead to profound insights about wilderness and self. Through these stories, the book invites reflection on the interplay between physical and mental landscapes, revealing how the act of getting lost can foster a deeper connection to both nature and history.
Official synopsis Publisher
An award-winning environmental historian explores American history through wrenching, tragic, and sometimes humorous stories of getting lost
The human species has a propensity for getting lost. The American people, inhabiting a mental landscape shaped by their attempts to plant roots and to break free, are no exception. In this engaging book, environmental historian Jon Coleman bypasses the trailblazers so often described in American history to follow instead the strays and drifters who went missing.
From Hernando de Soto’s failed quest for riches in the American southeast to the recent trend of getting lost as a therapeutic escape from modernity, this book details a unique history of location and movement as well as the confrontations that occur when our physical and mental conceptions of space become disjointed. Whether we get lost in the woods, the plains, or the digital grid, Coleman argues that getting lost allows us to see wilderness anew and connect with generations across five centuries to discover a surprising and edgy American identity.
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