Books & Media
Archive
A serious exploration of a topic that a lot of people don't take seriously
The books, TV shows, podcasts, and music that our editors couldn't stop talking about last month
Artist Jackson Stell is crafting music that captures the ecstatic feelings we have when we venture into the natural world
After a two-decade hiatus, the 'world's toughest race' returns at just the right moment—this time with Bear Grylls
Two documentaries, 'Big Fur' and 'Stuffed,' set out to show that this sticky-fingered branch of natural history is full of beauty and wonder. Do they succeed? Our reviewer, who knows a lot more about the subject than he ought to, says yes.
The books, movies, podcasts, and music that our editors couldn't stop talking about
In an excerpt from his forthcoming book 'Leave It As It Is,' nature writer David Gessner examines the iconic conservation legacy of Theodore Roosevelt and unpacks the perception that the national parks and monuments he created were previously untouched and empty
In 'The Next Great Migration,' journalist Sonia Shah explores the hidden history of human and animal movement
In the spirit of Thoreau and Dillard, Donovan Hohn considers the joyous and brutal aspects of the natural world
The books, movies, podcasts, music, and more that our editors couldn't stop talking about
In an excerpt from 'The Cold Vanish,' a new book about people who disappear in the wild, ϳԹ contributor Jon Billman looks at the rare, tragic case of a fat-tire rider who couldn't be found
ϳԹ's digital journalism has never been more relevant or essential, but giving it away for free is no longer sustainable. Here's why we're asking for your support—and how you can contribute today.
The books, movies, podcasts, music, and more that our editors couldn't stop talking about
Emily B. Martin's new novel, 'Sunshield,' is inspired by American landscapes and explores how individuals can impact their environment
'Why We Swim' and 'In Praise of Paths' are timely inquiries into human locomotion
Gina Rae La Cerva's 'Feasting Wild' is a delightful culinary travel book. It's also an adjustment to the way we think about what that buzzword actually means
Whether we needed another documentary about the disgraced cyclist is up for debate, but 'Lance' is an entertaining look at the saga—and wait until you hear what he says about Floyd Landis
How director Marina Zenovich got the most infamous bike racer in history to share more than ever before
This trailer for Yeti's Midnight Hour video series features musicians like Jack Johnson, Terry Allen, Ryan Bingham, and Margo Price
In an excerpt from his new book, 'In Praise of Walking,' Shane O'Mara delves into the science behind an activity that human beings often underestimate
From humble jellyfish anecdotes to straightforward self-help, three new titles offer resonant takeaways for these worrisome times
The best documentaries from this year's film festivals look at quixotic quests and devastating disasters
The books, movies, podcasts, music, and more that our editors couldn’t stop talking about
Five ways to feel like you're outdoors, even if you haven't left your sofa
Aquariums are closed, but they're offering plenty of virtual options to interact with sea creatures
In his new book, writer Mark O'Connell explores what our anxieties about the future say about our precarious present
In his new book, 'The Wedge,' bestselling author Scott Carney travels the world to investigate the surprisingly effective methods humans have developed to rewire our brains and control our response to stress. And it all starts with taming fear.
From poetry to nonfiction, these books celebrate everything we love about our planet
In his new photo book "Errors of Possession," adventure photographer Garrett Grove documents the region's shifting industries and culture
As the sport is poised to enter the Olympics, a veteran climbing writer delves into its past in 'High Drama: The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of Competition Climbing'
A handful of classic reads whose titles might capture some of your feelings of these past few weeks
In an excerpt from her new book, 'Nerve: ϳԹs in the Science of Fear,' ϳԹ correspondent Eva Holland is paralyzed by fear while hiking down from an ice climb. The experience catalyzes a quest to understand and overcome her acrophobia.
More than 50 national parks host visual artists every year. These three artists used their residencies to draw attention to climate change, species loss, and pollution.
In an excerpt from her new book 'Why We Swim,' Bonnie Tsui explores the ways that immersion can radically shift our perspective
The hugely popular Netflix docuseries leaves out crucial facts about America's big-cat industry and the people trying to stop it
Cinemas and film festivals are screening online. Here are our favorites.
In a new novel, 'How Much of These Hills Is Gold,' author C. Pam Zhang presents the fantasies and struggles that defined western expansion through the eyes of two Chinese-American characters
Four recent books explore other moments in the past 100 years when global events intersected with the Games
The books, movies, podcasts, music, and more that our editors couldn't stop talking about
Outdoor enthusiasts' dreams of survival and adventure are often inspired by children's books, but most adventure heroes have traditionally been cis boys. That's changing.
Journalist Sarah Scoles's 'They Are Already Here' explores people's obsession with discovering what else may be out there
The books, movies, podcasts, games, and more that are keeping us sane indoors
Journalist Jon Mooallem’s new book, ‘This is Chance!,’ revives a decades-old story about an Alaskan radio journalist and the biggest earthquake you’ve never heard of—and gives us something to consider when the world is unsteady
In 2018, musician Ben Weaver gave up his dream of playing sold-out venues in exchange for one that had much more value
When the Discovery Channel invited me to audition for its popular survival-challenge reality show, I knew it was going to be rough. What followed was one of the most intense experiences of my life.
ϳԹr Blair Braverman thought going on the reality show would be the experience of a lifetime. It was—in very unexpected ways.
In 'Spirit Run,' Noé Álvarez recounts the journey that transformed his view of the world
'Billionaire Wilderness,' by Wyoming native and Yale sociologist Justin Farrell, asks hard questions about how money changes American land by investigating one of the West's most beloved outdoor playgrounds: Jackson Hole
For decades, the cowboy has occupied a storied place in Americana—but the image in popular narratives excluded cowboys of color. This year the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering and Grammy-winning musician Dom Flemons sought to change that. At the event, held in Nevada earlier this winter, the theme was the same as Flemons's 2018 album: black cowboys.
Boomtown and Drilled tackle climate change and oil and gas extraction from different angles
The books, movies, podcasts, music, and more that our editors couldn't stop talking about
In 'Paha Sapa,' Lakota skier Connor Ryan explores his ancestral South Dakota homeland
The documentary 'Safety to Nome' follows 26 competitors racing 1,000 miles across the Alaskan tundra on foot, bike, or skis
Will Ferrell and Julia Louis-Dreyfus's new movie proves that Hollywood is perennially bad at depicting snow sports
The latest film adaptation of Jack London's classic novel is a kid-friendly reminder that wild spaces are important. Harrison Ford, the film's star, is a bit more blunt.
Spend less than you would on a restaurant dinner and get a book that you'll cherish for years to come
By highlighting three potent public-lands battles, the film asks audiences to take a stand in a political moment that threatens the future of American conservation
In 'Cat Tale,' a longtime environmental journalist documents the dramatic saga that brought this state animal back from the brink of extinction
Disney Plus's 'Togo' and 20th Century Fox's 'The Call of the Wild' deliver as feel-good dog stories, but their portrayal of the human history of mushing is flawed
While researching his new book 'Author in Chief,' our contributor discovered a forgotten piece of John Adams's life: the time he sailed to Europe during the Revolutionary War and barely survived
'Yellow Bird,' by Sierra Crane Murdoch, and 'The Third Rainbow Girl,' by Emma Copley Eisenberg, look at haunting deaths in wild and forgotten landscapes
On July 10, 2014, Cody Roman Dial, the 27-year-old son of explorer Roman Dial, entered the coastal rainforest of Costa Rica's Corcovado National Park to begin a solo, multi-day hike. He never came out. In an excerpt from his memoir 'The ϳԹr’s Son,' Roman Dial relives the terrible day he initiated the search for his son.
The No Man's Land Film Festival is an annual celebration of women-identified experience in the outdoors
Annual shred flicks used to be the only place to see the best lines and hucks of the previous year. Then Instagram and YouTube arrived. Does social media spell the end for the beloved genre?
Cozy up with one and start planning your next family adventure
The books, movies, podcasts, music, and more that our editors couldn't stop talking about
'Honeyland,' 'Into the Canyon,' and 'Okavango: River of Dreams' are generating buzz at Sundance and the Oscars. You can also stream them online.
Colin O'Brady completed the first solo crossing of the Antarctic landmass under his own power and with no resupplies in 2018. In this excerpt from his new memoir, 'The Impossible First,' he reveals the moment that nearly ended his historic feat.
In a new memoir, the photographer digs into the most meaningful moments of a remarkable human-canine connection
In the new photo book 'Fierce Beauty,' celebrated photographer Eric Meola chases wild weather across the Great Plains
As former columnist Heather Hansman passes the torch to Erin Berger, the two share their strongest takes on outdoor media and culture
A documentary about elephant poaching in Kenya follows three men—a poacher, an ivory trader, and a wildlife ranger—ensnared in the deadly industry
As his dreams of going pro faded, photographer Cooper Dodds fell back in love with ski jumping in an unexpected place. His new photo book, 'Jumper: Flying in the Heartland,' documents the Midwest's surprisingly popular, no-frills tournament circuit.
The books, movies, podcasts, music, and more that our editors couldn’t stop talking about
After a breaching humpback nearly landed on Tom Mustill's kayak, the wildlife filmmaker became consumed with trying to understand the massive mammal. The result is PBS's ‘The Whale Detective.’
Our favorite outdoor films of the year, from an indie romance to lots of documentaries
Featuring fat bears, Pattie Gonia, a very good boy, and more
The comedian's takedown of ski-industry tropes has become a runaway hit
Ten books that sparked debate, started conversations, and launched movements in the past ten years—and what to read next
A new miniseries from the podcast Threshold explores the controversy surrounding one of the our most contested pieces of public land by meeting the people who live off it