Back in Keith County

by John Janovy Jr.

"Good biologist though [Janovy] is, he's an even better nature writer, with a special affinity for the mysterious and the mystic."-Noel Perrin "This 'human need for wilderness' is the trail winding through Back in Keith County . . . [to] the streams of John Janovy's 'inner cowboy country.' The fourteen essays are a very human mix of biology, sentiment, wandering observation and personal philosophy."-Smithsonian John Janovy Jr. is Varner Professor at the School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and director of the Cedar Point Biological Station. He is the author of Keith County Journal and On Becoming a Biologist, also available as a Bison Book.

181 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Nebraska.

Reviews

[Tony Hartzell]

I want to give this a 3.5. But you know. Goodreads.

This is a disturbing mix of a non-fiction nature/wildlife prose, biology journal, bar and beer banter, and philosophical journey.

I loved so much of it.

I'm rounding up to 4 because of a few specific quotes I know I'm taking with me, and because I have a non-fiction rating scale rooted in the philosophy of "rating it for what it is". And for want it is, it is magical.

Plus, and I mean this, JJJr. is an expert wordsmith when he wants to be. I laughed. I teared up once near the end. I spent consideral amount of time pausing and reflecting. I learned some new words.

And most importantly, I've remembered the significance of gifts of opportunity, and my attention has be redirected back toward my inner Keith County. I will preserve the wilderness inside, and probably never forget this book.

[Big Ola]

I found Back in Keith County to be a thoughtful and beautifully observed collection of nature essays. John Janovy Jr. combines biology with personal memory, philosophy, and quiet humor. I especially appreciated the way he gives importance to creatures that most people ignore, including insects, snails, and other small forms of life. The book made me reconsider the relationship between human beings and the natural world. Some passages are highly scientific, but Janovy usually explains his ideas in a personal and accessible way. I finished the book feeling that Keith County was more than a geographical place. For me, it became a symbol of attention, memory, and the wilderness that people carry within themselves.

[Amelia Olivia]

I enjoyed this book because it showed me how interesting ordinary landscapes can become when I look at them carefully. Janovy does not need exotic locations or dramatic adventures to create meaning. He finds insight in prairies, streams, wetlands, animals, and small creatures living unnoticed around people. His scientific knowledge gives the essays precision, while his personal reflections give them emotional depth. I sometimes found the writing slow and wandering, but that quality also suited the subject. The book encouraged me to pause and observe the natural world instead of treating it as background scenery. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy quiet nature writing with philosophical questions at its center.

[David Scout]

I found Back in Keith County to be an unusual and memorable book. It mixes natural history, personal essays, philosophy, and local observation. I enjoyed Janovy’s ability to turn seemingly insignificant animals and landscapes into subjects worthy of serious attention. His writing is intelligent without being completely inaccessible, although some passages required patience. I occasionally felt that the essays wandered too far from their original subjects, but I also understood that the wandering was part of the book’s character. By the end, I felt that I had been invited to see the world more carefully. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reflective nonfiction and nature writing.

[Elizabeth Strout]

I respected Janovy’s intelligence and knowledge, but I had mixed feelings about the structure of this book. Several essays were engaging because they connected biology with human behavior and personal experience. Other sections felt disorganized, as though I were reading a series of unfinished field observations. I sometimes wanted a clearer argument or a stronger connection between the different parts. Still, I found the book worthwhile because its central idea remained powerful: ordinary natural environments contain lessons about human life. I also appreciated Janovy’s willingness to take small organisms seriously. Even when the writing became overly philosophical or academic, I continued to find interesting ideas and memorable observations.

[Jane Maria]

I enjoyed John Janovy Jr.’s distinctive writing style. He writes like a scientist, teacher, naturalist, and storyteller at the same time. His essays move freely between detailed observations, philosophical questions, personal memories, and descriptions of local people. I liked that he did not separate scientific knowledge from emotional experience. Instead, he showed that careful observation can lead to wonder as well as information. Some readers may find his style too digressive, and I occasionally felt that way myself. However, I also found the digressions part of the book’s charm. I finished the book feeling that Janovy had taught me not only about nature but also about how to pay attention.

[Patrick Brick]

I found Back in Keith County to be a rewarding and unusual collection of essays. Janovy writes about nature with scientific accuracy, but he also brings humor, feeling, curiosity, and personal philosophy to his subjects. I loved the way he transformed small creatures and familiar landscapes into sources of wonder. The book reminded me that the natural world is full of life even in places that seem ordinary or damaged. I also liked the idea that everyone can have an inner place of wilderness and reflection. The essays are sometimes wandering and uneven, but I considered that a minor weakness compared with the book’s originality. I would gladly recommend it to anyone interested in nature, science, and thoughtful nonfiction.

[Kate]

I admired Back in Keith County, although I did not enjoy every essay equally. The strongest sections combined scientific observation with vivid personal details and made me think about how all living things depend on one another. Janovy has a talent for discovering significance in small and overlooked creatures. At times, however, the book felt more like a collection of field notes than a tightly organized narrative. The shifts between biology, personal memories, local characters, and philosophy may seem scattered to some readers. Even so, I found the overall experience rewarding. The book’s greatest

[Janet]

I was surprised by how emotionally affected I became while reading this book. I expected a work mainly about biology and the Nebraska landscape, but I found much more than scientific observation. Janovy writes about memory, opportunity, human responsibility, and the need to preserve an inner connection with nature. His attention to small animals often led me to larger questions about my own life. I appreciated the fact that he did not treat nature as something separate from humanity. Instead, he showed how deeply our lives are connected to the creatures and environments around us. This book left me with a renewed desire to protect the quiet, overlooked places in my own surroundings.

[Emily Anderson]

No doubt Dr. Janovy is an intelligent man, but this whole book reads like a mishmash of field notes and photos. His best work comes in his "Local Color" essay, where the reader finally gets good personal profiles of both Lonnie Paul Dinkle and Blondena.