Islands of AbandonmentIslands of Abandonment
What it's about
Cal Flyn visits places humans have abandoned, and finds nature flourishing in our absence: feral cattle on a deserted Scottish island, wildlife returning to Chernobyl, a forest full of endangered species in Korea's demilitarized zone, and more. It's a lyrical look at destruction and renewal.
Why it's worth reading
It was a Baillie Gifford Prize finalist. It's a beautiful, surprisingly hopeful book about the natural world.
You'll love it if you liked
The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History
Braiding Sweetgrass
H Is for HawkGood to know
Each chapter is a different place and stands alone.
By the numbers
- Readers82 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics24 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller6 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz19 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #64 of the 119 science and ideas books we rank
- #187 of the 481 new books we rank
- #1098 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story, Thought-provoking, Adventurous
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Quick answers
Is Islands of Abandonment worth reading?
Yes. It was a Baillie Gifford Prize finalist. It ranks #1,098 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 72.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Islands of Abandonment about?
Cal Flyn visits places humans have abandoned, and finds nature flourishing in our absence: feral cattle on a deserted Scottish island, wildlife returning to Chernobyl, a forest full of endangered species in Korea's demilitarized zone, and more. It's a lyrical look at destruction and renewal.
How long does it take to read Islands of Abandonment?
About 9 hours (376 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Islands of Abandonment?
If you liked it, try The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History by Elizabeth Kolbert, Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer or H Is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald.