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Nature Books
If you’re a birdwatcher, a fossil hunter, a storm chaser or something else entirely, the nature section has something for you. Explore nature books that deepen your connection with our feathered friends like The Book of Birds or grab a handy field guide, reimagine your relationship with nature in Tree Lore, or go spelunking for mushrooms in Entangled Life. Whether you've stopped to smell the roses lately or not, nothing kickstarts a grounding in nature like a good book.
Barnes & Noble Holiday Gift Guide
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Best Science & Nature Books of 2026
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Best New Nature Books
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Bookseller Favorites
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Some Words on Birds: Best Bird Books
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Into the Woods: Best Books on Trees
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Best Natural History Books
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The Backyard Bird Chronicles (2024 B&N Gift Book of the Year)
By Amy Tan, David Allen Sibley
Tan trades her novelist’s pen for a sketchpad and binoculars, offering a beautifully illustrated, witty, and deeply personal account of finding solace and sharp-eyed discovery in her own backyard.
Nature Books for Kids
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A Love Letter to the Natural World
Raising Hare: A Memoir
By Chloe Dalton
This thumper of a memoir is as much a personal narrative as it is an ode to Earth’s natural gifts.
Nature eBooks
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Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants
By Robin Wall Kimmerer
A book to focus the eyes, open the heart and stretch the imagination about our relationship within the natural world.
Nature Books Coming Soon
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Nature Books to Read
Explore thousands of nature books and field guides available at Barnes & Noble. Learn about the wonders of nature in our fantastic selection of non-fiction books about plants, birds and birdwatching, animal habitats, the weather and more. From nature memoirs to the history of natural wonders, explore the best books about nature, from the depths of the oceans to the mysteries of deserts and the forests around us.
Discover great books by popular nature writers like Sy Montgomery, Robert Macfarlane and Bill Bryson. Feed your curiosity with books like The Soul of an Octopus, enjoy a fascinating lens into bird mannerisms in The Life of Birds by David Attenborough or delight in Steve Brusatte’s The Story of Birds, which traces their origins all the way to the age of dinosaurs. Journey to nature’s most overlooked landscapes in Bogland and get to know the Earth’s greatest carnivore in Tyrant Lizard Queen.
If you love the great outdoors, then there are many fascinating true stories about hiking experiences to choose from, including Fierce Country about three women who helped shape America’s hiking culture. And if you’ve ever wondered about the importance of trees, there is much wisdom to be gained from reading In Trees: An Exploration by Robert Moor. If you’re a nature explorer yourself, you might also be interested in our national parks book collection.
Getting out in nature is a wonderful way to pass the time, escape the stresses of life for a while, explore the unknown or simply enjoy the beautiful scenery. Reading books about nature can have similarly escapist effects right in the comforts of your home. Get ready to embark on your adventures through the natural world with field guides from the National Audubon Society, Stan Tekiela and more, or admire breathtaking landscapes in our vast collection of nature photography books. Looking for even more books about nature? Shop the best nature books of 2026 here.
Nature books are not just fun to read, but they make the best gifts for nature lovers and enthusiasts too! Whether you’re looking for books on dinosaurs, stargazing, rocks and minerals, or fossils, find the best books about nature online and in our stores.
Why read a book about nature?
Books about nature can fuel your inspiration for your next nature adventure. They can teach you about all the amazing wildlife that Mother Earth has to offer and remind you how precious our environment is. Nature books give readers a glimpse into the fascinating lives of trees, marine life, plants and fungi or the science behind the weather and natural disasters. Books on nature can even help you reconnect with nature when you're stuck inside.
Classic Nature Books Everyone Should Read
- Walden by Henry David Thoreau
- Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
- Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey
- The Peregrine by J. A. Baker
- The Living Mountain by Nan Shepherd
Best Nature Books That Explore Our Wild World
- How Flowers Made Our World by David George Haskell
- Hidden Creatures by Dino Martins
- The Ghost of the Mountains by Kulbhushansingh Suryawanshi
- Is a River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane
- Raising Hare: A Memoir by Chloe Dalton
- Pests & Other Friends by Halsey Berryman
- When the Forest Breathes by Suzanne Simard
- The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan
- The Inner Life of Animals by Peter Wohlleben
- Sea Wonders by Marco Colombo