The Sense of Wonder

Using her personal adventures with her young nephew Roger as examples, Carson urges parents to let their children’s natural excitement thrive as together they discover the wonders that lie outdoors, from the scuttling of a crab across the cool night sand to a spongy carpet of lichen in a forest.

Originally published as a magazine piece, this essay showcases Carson’s core belief that a childlike excitement for beauty, for the new and unknown, and for the process of discovery is a gift to be nurtured — a gift that will sustain humanity and the health of the planet on which it depends.

An inspiring meditation on the outdoors, with color photographs.

Endorsements

New York Times–bestselling author of Silent Spring