With Every Great Breath: New and Selected Essays, 1995–2023

Story Prize–winning writer and environmental activist Bass (Fortunate Son: Selected Essays from the Lone Star State) compiles 18 cherished essays, spanning nearly 30 years, plus three new works, all of which feature his intimate, occasionally meandering reflections on nature, wildlife, and activism. Bass does not shy away from discussing environmental disasters such as the damage wrought by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill or the devastating consequences of vermiculite mining in Libby, MT. Even so, he returns again and again to focus on nature’s exquisite beauty, from the remarkable, evanescent larch tree to the wonders of returning wolves. Bass narrates the audiobook in his soft Texas twang, urging his audience to explore the outdoors and think deeply about both the fragility and the astonishing interconnectedness of nature. When it comes to the environment, there is much to mourn, but Bass argues that optimism and hope create a powerful foundation for activism. Bass’s affable, gently paced reading encourages listeners to dip in and dip out of these gem-like essays and relax into his inviting words while reminding themselves to appreciate the natural world.