This Beauty explores philosophy and the meaning of life through an aesthetic perspective. Riggle makes many strong points and beautiful sentiments in his work, but if the point is to introduce his philosophy, I think he could’ve used some editing. His thoughts are disjointed and hard to follow. Though I understand his perspective, I found some of his reasoning both convoluted and circular. If you are looking for something that has sentiment and wonderful anecdotes then this may be for you, if you are looking for more substantial meaning or research on this perspective, I would skip this book.

With the deft strokes of a poet's pen, Riggle's prose is both as sweet & airy as a spring breeze while also as apt and grounded as a forest trail. Just when you think he might be getting overly sappy, he hits you with a gut punch. Riggle reminds me so much of HD Thoreau (whose Walden is my favorite rereadable nonfiction) and the great Peter Wohlleben (whose Heartbeat of Trees is a perfect companion). I have no doubt Riggle is a Transcendentalist.

To be quite honest, Riggle has a way of taking lofty thoughts and firmly affixing them in the here and now. Thoreau would call that "putting foundations under them". "Life is precious, rare, and under constant threat," Riggle writes. "Put that on a mug."

You know what? This book would make a perfect graduation gift. Definitely add it to your May shopping cart.

This book found it's way to me at the right time. I was looking for ways to move beyond the stress and struggle and hatred all around us in the current social and political climate in the US. This book gave me a glimpse of hope and beauty I very much needed. I see our patrons struggling in similar ways, so I will definitely purchase and recommend this often.