Also an instant bestseller in the Best American series, this second annual Best American Science and Nature Writing volume, edited by the Pulitzer Prize–winning author, scientist, and naturalist Edward O. Wilson, promises to be another “eclectic, provocative collection” (Entertainment Weekly) that is both a science reader’s dream and a nature lover’s sustenance.

Edited by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author, scientist and naturalist Edward O. Wilson, this second annual anthology promises to be another "eclectic, provocative collection" ("Entertainment Weekly") that is both a science reader's dream and a nature lover's sustenance.

Burkhard Bilger is a senior editor at DISCOVER magazine and a former editor for THE SCIENCES. He is completing a book of essays on the South for Scribner's,based on an article that appeared in Harper's. He has written many articles for The Atlantic Monthly, Harper's, The New York Times, and other periodicals.Edward O. Wilson is the author of two Pulitzer Prize-winning books, On Human Nature and The Ants, as well as the recipient of many fellowships, honors, and awards, including the 1977 National Medal of Science. His most recent book is Consilience.

Contents Foreword ix Introduction: Life Is a Narrative by Edward O. Wilson xiii David Berlinski. Iterations of Immortality 1 from Harper’s Magazine Mark Cherrington. To Save a Watering Hole 8 from Discover Edwin Dobb. New Life in a Death Trap 15 from Discover Gregg Easterbrook. Abortion and Brain Waves 23 from The New Republic Malcolm Gladwell. Baby Steps 34 from The New Yorker Jane Goodall. In the Forests of Gombe 47 from Orion Jerome Groopman. The Doubting Disease 54 from The New Yorker Stephen s. Hall. The Recycled Generation 63 from The New York Times Magazine Bernd Heinrich. Endurance Predator 82 from Outside Edward Hoagland. Harpy Eagles 90 from Orion Bill Joy. Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us 96 from Wired Ted Kerasote. A Killing at Dawn 127 from Audubon Barbara Kingsolver and Steven Hopp. Seeing Scarlet 132 from Audubon Verlyn Klinkenborg. The Best Clock in the World 139 from Discover Jon R. Luoma. The Wild World’s Scotland Yard 147 from Audubon Cynthia Mills. Breeding Discontent 155 from The Sciences Oliver Morton. Ice Station Vostok 165 from Wired Val pPlumwood. Being Prey 186 from Utne Reader Sandra Postel. Troubled Waters 196 from The Sciences Richard Preston. The Genome Warrior 207 from The New Yorker David Quammen. Megatransect 238 from National Geographic Donovan Webster. Inside the Volcano 253 from National Geographic Contributors’ Notes 263 Other Notable Science and Nature Writing of 2000 267