The essays in Earth Bound are often paradoxical. They manage to be uplifting and grounding at the same time. I like to read them in the morning, before I start my day. Nelson alerts us to a fact that I find useful to remember: One can't transcend physical limitations until one acknowledges--and embraces--those limitations. "We are all products of nature," Nelson writes, "Now is our time to honor, rather than condemn, our bond with the planet."

I love these meditations. They are neither "new agey" nor particularly religious. They are thoughtful reminders of wonder of our world and how to relate to it.