How does he get science to sound beautiful? To me Natural Prayers is a science book, but in the way children like science. Through the senses. A mindful book, Chet Raymo takes natural science and important literary contibutions and comfortably delivers a number of short, easy to read discussions, for us to absorb effortlessly. This is a book I will keep at hand.
Possibly the best yet of Raymo's wonderful expositions on the natural world. He waxes as poetic as Annie Dillard on the mystical quality of nature, but as a scientist by trade, also includes Lewis Thomas-like passages that could slip into a mini-science-textbook; thoughtful, beguiling commentary and questions on the cosmos and our place in it. Superb! Leaves this reader craving for more.