Mary Roach’s most recent book, Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law describes the ever tenuous relationship between man and nature. Roach draws uses man created laws and ordinances to create a better understanding of our relationship with the wild animals we may encounter in our every day lives, (like breaking and entering bears, theiving sea gulls, or jaywalking deer).
Each chapter Roach journey’s with a biologist, conservationist, or activist to take the reader on a journey to different animal “crime scenes” across the globe to learn how animals are responding to our presence and influence. From bears taking advantage of unlocked trash cans to birds bringing down aircraft mid-flight, Roach breaks down each alleged, “crime,” as a failure on humanities part to create a co-existing enviroment.
I found Roach’s conversational writing style to be an interesting and accessible approach to what is typically a very tedious and overly academic topic. Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law, doesn’t provide a significant amount of data or scientific jargon but presents an engaging narrative for its audience. While I would have preferred a stronger stance on conservation and accountability, Roach weaves a relatable story for an audience who may not have considered how simple changes in their habits can preserve and improve the quality of life of wild life across the globe.
The Critical Librarian 