The Everyday Naturalist is an aid to help you search for and recognize characteristics of living things all around you including plants, animals, fungi, lichen and slime molds. All that is needed is curiosity and desire to learn. This is not a field guide but almost a pre-field guide which inspires and encourages you to get out into nature and not just look but see. I am a nature nut and would live outdoors 365 days a year if possible. As a forager, I do a lot of meticulous research and organism identification, asking for help when needed from trustworthy mentors. Foragers must be particularly cautious as everything is edible, sometimes only once. Author Rebecca Lexa gives pointers on what to look for at home or on travels, familiar and unfamiliar. I live on two continents with massively different living organisms but learning basics such as leaf shape, insect patterns, animal track size, sounds, scratches, male versus female traits, movements, scat contents, fungal life stages, bird shapes, and lichen textures will place you in good stead of building on your knowledge.

The author encourages the naturalist to utilize (but not rely on) various apps such as Audubon, Merlin and Cornell Lab of Ornithology. She explains taxonomy and includes humorous mnemonics. She provides insight into the impact the Ancient Romans and Greeks made on the world with their astute observations and knowledge of botanic information. One of my favourite parasitic plant finds will always be the ghost plant which is extremely rare in my area. I have never encountered its beauty since. As a forager, I encounter the weird and unusual all the time, too, and live in white truffle territory. You will discover equally exciting treasures if you focus and look.

Recording templates and a glossary are located at the back of the book. Every naturalist starts somewhere with something as simple and lovely as common wildflowers or elusive birds with pretty songs. Before long, you will be hooked and armed with binoculars, tick repellent, mushroom baskets, and a library membership!

Book Review: The Everyday Naturalist by Rebecca Lexa

Raring: 4 Stars

I recently picked up The Everyday Naturalist by Rebecca Lexa, and I have to say, it’s a refreshing take on the usual nature guide. The book isn’t your typical field guide that just lists species and their characteristics; instead, it’s more of a hands-on manual that teaches you how to observe and identify animals, plants, fungi, and other organisms no matter where you are. Whether you’re in your backyard or exploring a new environment, Lexa guides you through what key traits to look for, how to use various tools like apps and field guides effectively, and even what to do if you find yourself stuck in the identification process.

What I really appreciated was how the book breaks down the natural world into its kingdoms—animals, plants, fungi, plus lichens and slime molds—and explains their unique features in a clear, approachable way. The inclusion of over forty beautiful color illustrations really adds to the experience, making you want to flip through the pages again and again. Plus, the detailed case studies help tie everything together by showing how the traits come into play in real-world identifications.

Beyond just being informative, The Everyday Naturalist feels like an invitation to become a more mindful observer of nature. Lexa’s passion for natural sciences shines through her writing, making dense topics accessible and engaging. At a time when biodiversity is under threat worldwide, this book is a timely reminder that understanding nature is the first step in protecting it.

The only reason I’m giving it four stars instead of five is that the text is quite dense at points—there’s a lot to absorb! But honestly, that’s also part of the charm for anyone who really wants to dive deep.

And I have to mention—what a charming cover! It immediately drew me in and perfectly reflects the gentle, thoughtful tone inside.

Overall, if you’re a nature lover looking for more than just a checklist of species, The Everyday Naturalist would be a wonderful addition to your collection. It encourages curiosity and equips you with the skills to explore and appreciate the living world around you in a meaningful way.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

An insightful and encouraging guide for readers looking to strengthen their connection with the natural world. Drawing on themes of eco-anxiety and environmental grief, Lexa encourages the use of species identification as a grounding, mindful practice that fosters appreciation, resilience, and a sense of belonging.

As a reader who spends a lot of time outdoors but often feels overwhelmed by the state of the environment, I appreciated the book’s constructive tone and practical tools, including sample templates and troubleshooting advice. It’s clear, thoughtfully organized, and written with beginners in mind.

I loved this book! A cozy and lighthearted book with a lovely writing style, I want to add this one to my nature shelf in my library. Thank you so much to the author and publisher for this delightful arc!

Packed with so much info and so wonderfully written. Perfect for anyone interested in naturalism.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

The Everyday Naturalist is beautifully illustrated and a useful guide for anyone who wants to become more observant and engaged with the natural world around them. What I loved most is the step-by-step process the author lays out—it’s not just about identifying species, but about learning how to look. The book emphasizes key characteristics to notice, helps you interpret what you’re seeing in meaningful ways, and gives recommendations for where to go to find the information you need to make an accurate identification.

Note that it’s not a field guide full of species listings. It’s a resource that teaches you to think and see like a naturalist, which I found useful. If you’re someone who wants to build your skills in nature observation, I think this is a good fit for you. I can already tell it’s one I’ll return to again and again!

Really interesting topic but was a little misleading. This is not a field guide on identifying flora and fauna but is instead about how we categorise species.
However, this is still a really fascinating topic and I felt I learnt a lot. The writing was clear and easy to follow which I really appreciate as it felt accessible to a wider audience.

“Why do we need everyday naturalists?”

I enjoyed the Everyday Naturalist a lot. It isn’t the classical identification guide, but more a manual about how to use these (among other things) and I found that aspect particularly interesting. The “soft” illustrations are very beautiful and make the reader want to go through the pages. Yet, the abundant text is what is the most interesting.
I adored how the author speaks about Natural Sciences, in the book’s beginning especially. This non elitist –and interconnected– discourse resonated in me. I loved the varied community that was shown, as much as the fact that the author spoke about ethics (in many different ways) and warned about modern guides and potential use of AI (and its risks).
It truly is a great “vulgarisation” book, even though it remains detailed. I can’t wait to have a physical copy on my shelves, as the missing links between my field books and my History of Natural Sciences volumes.

Thank you to the author and Ten Speed Press for the eARC sent via NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

4.5/5

The book offered a lot of tricks and tips on how to go about identifying plants, animals, and fungi but it focused more on broad information than detail specific. I think it would have benefited if it included more specific examples to show the tips and tricks in use. Overall, it was not what I expected, but it still offered a lot of good information.

I like that this wasn't an identification book it was a book about what to look for when trying to identify things in nature. It seems like this would be the place to start and then getting some good ID books.

🌿 What a charming book. I could feel Rebecca’s passion for identification from her personality shining through in the writing and the fun mixed bag of nature facts she shared.

This book has identification history, how to sort through information to determine credibility, Rebecca’s broad identification process, and ideas on how to catalogue the information you find. I especially appreciated the mention of how disability plays into this hobby and will be looking into the resources she offered there. It’s important to know that this book is NOT a field guide, it’s more an overview of the hobby and tips for beginning as a naturalist.

What I got from this is that it’s such a joyful thing to just allow yourself to be curious about nature. To make connections and learn facts about the world around you, be more in the present on a walk, and notice changes in your environment based on seasons or location. As someone with a degree in Sustainability, I full-heartedly agree with her that you do not need to be an expert to immerse yourself in all of the cool things nature has to offer. Get out there and find what inspires you. For me it’s flowers, for you it could be mushrooms, birds, or even tidepooling for small oceanic creatures.

Thanks Rebecca for inspiring me to get out this summer and finally use the bird field guide I inherited. 🦆

And finally, thanks to NetGalley, Ten Speed Press, and Rebecca for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. 🌿

This is a lovely book with the most charming illustrations. I love how it teaches you how to become an everyday naturalist using the tools you already have or can easily access. This book was very descriptive and would be an excellent gift for anyone interested in the natural world around us!

I was initially inspired to read this book because of my boyfriend. He is such a nature enthusiast from trees to fauna to wild birds, he knows more facts than the average 30-year old. And I love him for it on our first date. He spoke to me about trees and rocks for a very long time and now it’s been almost four years together.

Over the years, I have been introduced to nature in a more intimate way because of him. I’ve gone birding, I have taken survivalist classes, and I have tried my best to learn the names of trees and wild animals.

I really do think it’s interesting, but I am unfortunately not yet at a place where I can identify a plant based on its bark or leaves. I also must admit, something deep inside me—perhaps the dastardly divine feminine-would love to better understand herbs and natural medicine. I feel drawn to understanding the way nature can take care of us.

There’s something about the power of girlhood; the intrigue we create around the most menial of things, the ability we have to make the abstract envisionary, even the way self medicating with herbs and foraged plants came to be—we can be quite mystical when we’d like.

So despite my failures thus far, to come into my own with the natural world, some part of me is convinced that this book will help me ground myself in these theories and sciences, so they can take root in my mind. Then, should I ever need it, I can do what I need to survive with limited resources.

The beginning of this book goes back to the history of naturalism and those who contributed to the study of nature. Funnily enough, and I think this primarily tickles me because of my complicated history with religion, there are folks who were burned for their legitimate claims about the world. As someone who was mocked in Sunday School for asserting that dinosaurs were real…let’s just say I get it. How ridiculous that studying reality can make you the enemy of faith.

I really enjoyed the approachable tone this takes. Although it is non-fiction, I’m actually excited to read the history behind naturalism and better understand how humans formed more accurate perceptions of the world around them.

One fun fact, which probably should be obvious to me, but I had no idea: taxonomy is not fixed! As we learn more about the relationships between organisms and the diversity that exists in nature, things shuffle. Can you believe that? I know from school that science is just a process through with you prove/disprove a series of hypotheses. However, I did not realize it was so flexible or regularly revisited, that we continue to update knowledge bases to this day. That’s something I definitely did not learn from the 20-year-old textbooks in my middle school biology class.

Beyond all of this, the author admits that this study is confusing and that even professionals don’t have it all down. Do you know how difficult it is to have an expert communicate their field in a comprehensible way? To provide empathy to new learners rather than creating artificial barriers that only reinforce ego & privilege?

The Everyday Naturalist is a gorgeous text. That makes natural knowledge more accessible, and the author seems to be passionate about empowering people to understand actual applications for the things they learn.

I learned how to read a map from my former hiking instructor — a man who was in the military, and he essentially gave me the map, pointed to where I am, and told me to lead the group. I don’t recall being successful & I don’t mean to make him sound unhelpful. He was kind to me and I enjoyed our conversations, but it just goes to show how even those who are trying to share information with you might unintentionally be setting you up to fail. I mean, as much as I have been told to avoid poison ivy, I’m still uncertain about whether I can identify it in the wild and in truth. I just avoid any pointy leaf that is near the ground.

What I’m trying to say is that having this book in the world is pretty incredible and while I was reading it, I felt warm. This is what it feels like to learn from someone who cares, and all I am doing is absorbing the words she has put on a page.

Fantastic book which gives great advice and insights for bird watchers, and all things naturalist. Packed full of information. Thank you to the author. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

A good read about how to identify different aspects of the world around us. Including animal species, name, and sex

This was very fun. More of a how-to on how to create a field guide and how to become a naturalist, and less about identifying animals.

Thought it was cute and would love a physical copy!

3 stars to Rebecca Lexa's <i>The Everyday Naturalist!</i> An informative read on improving skills in the identification of animals, plants, and fungi.

What I Liked:
- included beautiful illustrations of some of the animal, plant, and fungi examples used throughout the book, usually in passages discussing identifying features to look out for.
- provided many resources for further education in plant, animal, and fungi identification. This included a list of books, websites, and journals, and what each was best for.
- helpful templates for cataloging various natural objects and creatures, aiding in the identification process.

What I Didn't Like:
- was expecting more of a hands-on nature guide, providing specific details on specific plants. Instead, it offered more broad identification tips, such as paying attention to leaf shape or fungi spotting without saying what any of it meant or giving object specific examples.
- more of a "how-to learn how to identify plants, animals, and fungi" rather than an actual identification guide. This wasn't a bad thing, just not what I expected.

Overall, this was an interesting and informative read for the "everyday naturalist." If you're looking for a first step to improving nature identification, this is a great place to start.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an ARC of this title. The cover on this book is gorgeous, as well as the illustrations within it. I'm just a little disappointed that this wasn't more of a identification guide as it was a history and commentary on the act of being a field naturalist. There was a small bit with mushrooms and I enjoyed that section the most. This title was more textbook (with very few reference illustrations) and less glossary guide. But that is a personal preference and should not dissuade anyone from reading this title. However, I will definitely be recommending this title for purchase at my shop, because I know there are people out there that will absolutely adore this book.

The illustrations in this book are lovely and really add to the content!
While I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this for someone who is completely new to identifying organisms (too much jargon), it also doesn’t have much for the experienced naturalist. I’d say that the target audience is someone who has basic knowledge of taxonomy and is looking for a systematic approach to identification and recording. A website might be a better medium for this information than a book.

If you have ever found yourself wondering about the birds coming to the feeder in your backyard, or curious about a plant you noticed growing by your mailbox, this might be the book for you.

Rebecca Lexa takes the daunting task of nature identification and breaks in down into easy, digestible lessons in The Everyday Naturalist. She walks with you through the natural world, showing you step by step what is important to observe, and how to use those observations to identify what you're seeing. And not only does she teach you what to look for, she teaches you where to take that information once you have it and how to use it. Her lists of resources are absolutely invaluable, and make this book worth purchasing in and of itself.

As someone who grew up learning how to use guides and websites to ID nature, much of this book was reviewing what I already knew. But it was a thorough and interesting review, and while I wish it could have gone a little more in depth, I would absolutely recommend it to a beginner. I will be buying a physical copy to keep on hand once it comes out - it will be perfect for teaching my children one day, and in the meantime, I will use it as a reference when looking for new resources.

4/5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy in return for an honest review.