A Conscious Stillness: Two Naturalists on Thoreau's Rivers

by Edwin Way Teale, Ann Zwinger

Two naturalists share their observations, discoveries, and concerns about an historical and ecologically engrossing region--the Assabet and Sudbury Rivers of Massachusetts

Genres: Nature, Nonfiction

243 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Edwin Way Teale was an American naturalist, photographer, and Pulitzer Prize-winning writer. Teale's works serve as primary source material documenting environmental conditions across North America from 1930 - 1980. He is perhaps best known for his series The American Seasons, four books documenting over 75,000 miles (121,000 km) of automobile travel across North America following the changing seasons.

Reviews

[James Greening · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you know my reading preferences, you know I am a huge advocate of Edwin Teale's work and love everything he has written about this beautiful country we live in. The only reason this book did not get 5 stars is because he unfortunately passed away during its creation, and, though his partner did the best she could by including many notes of his, it just felt unfinished. This lowered its score, but didn't touch its impact, as this always reminds me that I too hope to be in the middle of a project some day in the future when the good Lord calls me as well!

[Esther · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not read every one of Edwin Way Teale's many books, of which the one I have just finished, A Conscious Stillness, was his last. He did not live to see this book published; he didn't even live to compile his notes, much less produce a manuscript. During his final year of life, he and Ann Zwinger, a fellow naturalist, had been canoeing two Massachusetts rivers, the Sudbury and the Assabet, intending to combine their individual and shared experiences in book form. But then he died. With the aid of Edwin's widow, Nellie Donovan Teale, Ann completed the project after Edwin's death, using his notes as well as her own.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book more than I thought I would, but I kind of glazed over during Zwinger's portions.. She would give entire histories of every mill building and town along the Assabet. Felt like reading a student research paper where they kinda lose their thesis by showing off all the facts they know.

Teale's writing was much more nature-focused and poetic, but unfortunately he passed away before the book was finished, so later sections are his unfinished field notes and are missing the lyricism.

[Sheila Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great combination of nature, history, and memoir.

[Nathaniel Raymond]

Fair writing, some lovely descriptions of nature. Interesting history and depressing bits about pollution. But overall, a pleasant springtime read.

[Jay]

An interesting combination of history and natural history from Ann Zwinger, and Edwin Way Teale, two of the most recognized nature writers of the 20th century. They canoe the Assebet and Sudbury Rivers together but Zwinger write her thoughts about the Assebet and Teale of the Sudbury. They both write about the conjoining of the two when they become the Concord River. Bit of thought and quotes from Thoreau through out. A pleasant read.

[Alan Rohwer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guide book told as experienced by two noted naturalists