Makenna Sowards—Desert Notebooks by Ben Ehrenreich

  Recently I had the pleasure of reading Desert Notebooks by Ben Ehrenreich which explores the connection between climate science and mythologies of different religions through the author's own personal experiences traveling in nature. This related a lot to our class because it examines how the environmental degradation is proceeding at a pace never before seen, and how that effects our view on the nature around us. He takes mythologies that relate to how other humans have historically viewed nature and uses that to express how views have changed since. It really made me consider the difference between being in awe of nature and how wondrous it is, and seeing only natural resources to use for our own benefits. Before, when people didn't have all the science to explain why certain natural phenomena occurred, it was explained through mystical and divine means, related through oral tradition. That unknown element lent a great deal of respect to the natural world. However, when we were able to explain natural processes and the cycles of life, when some of the greatest mysteries disappeared, so did the respect that was associated with living amongst the unknown. While scientific advancements in biology and physics give us a great advantage over how we conduct our affairs and interact with the world around us,  it has also accelerated the removal of the spiritual connection with nature that most humans of history felt.

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