Coming soon! The Best American Science & Nature Writing 2025

Isn’t she a beauty? Not the leaf stains on my table, though maybe they have their own kind of charm. But this year’s edition of The Best American Science and Nature Writing, guest edited by the great Susan Orlean.

(And series-edited by me, which I suppose is a sort of obscure function. I read a TON of science and nature writing, send the guest editor my hundred or so faves, which is a starting point but not at all a constraint for their selections. And then I do a bunch of logistical work like emailing writers and collecting their contact into and pdfs of the pieces and stuff. I swear to god, production managing plays in college has been more useful than half of my actual work experience. What do I do? Idk I make sure things get done.)

(I take submissions from writers and editors, btw - and readers, too - through a form here. All the eligibility info is there, too.)

I love every year’s anthology, like they’re my children, and this year’s baby is no exception. Here are some questions explored therein:

Do animals know they will die?
Are cities wild?
What’s it like to camp in Death Valley?
Should patients be allowed to die from anorexia?
What happens when an incurable disease can be cured?
What is up with birds?!?!

There is science journalism, investigative reporting, lyrical essays, and everything in between. Worms, whales, wildfires, fireflies, color-blindness cured.

And in addition to the 20 pieces collected in the book, there is, as always, a listing of several dozen other brilliant, beautiful, worthy pieces that couldn’t fit. The Notables. To make it a little easier for writers than going to the bookstore (bookstores are great, go to one) to flip through the back, here are the Notable pages for your perusal. And, of course, here’s a link to preorder the book (with a small affiliate commission for your humble guest editrix) - it comes out October 21.