It can be hard being a boy, balancing growth, understanding, emotions and desires, without a guide to help you along. It’s even more challenging being a boy who loves the outdoors that surround him and lacks a mentor and a friend to enjoy it with. Legendary outdoorsman and writer Robert Ruark was that boy once, and his grandfather his friend, mentor and guide. In “The Old … [Read more...] about The Old Man and the Boy (Robert Ruark)
Classic Outdoor Nonfiction
Never Cry Wolf – Farley Mowat
It’s near impossible to bring up the subject of wolves without stirring up a certain level of controversy. As a top predator and keystone species, charismatic and fearsome at the same time, the wolf gets a lot of attention. Some lament that wolves kill big game animals hunters could be harvesting, while others argue that wolves are a necessity for proper ecosystem function. … [Read more...] about Never Cry Wolf – Farley Mowat
Lew Dietz – Touch of Wildness
Short stories on the hunting, fishing and outdoors of Maine abound, and I'm fortunate to live in a place where such sporting literature is so common. Over the course of a few years here at OSL we’ve covered many of Maine’s outdoor writers, both old and new, but not all. If the name Lew Dietz doesn’t appear on your bookshelf, you may be missing out on some quality … [Read more...] about Lew Dietz – Touch of Wildness
Leave Some for Seed
Growing up a reader of all things outdoors, I remember eagerly picking up the sports section of the Bangor Daily News to read Tom Hennessey’s column each time it appeared – not just for the simple, reflective nature of his close-to-home writing, but for the art. Hennessey was (and still is) above all things, an incredible artist. His sketches and paintings bring the outdoors to … [Read more...] about Leave Some for Seed
More Old Tales of the Maine Woods
When I reviewed the book “Old Tales of the Maine Woods” a couple of years ago, the first thought that came to mind was “Man, I wish I would have thought of that!” I’d been pondering ways to republish some of the old outdoor stories that deserved to be read by today’s generation of outdoor enthusiasts. Apparently, Steve Pinkham was thinking the same thing, and he put together a … [Read more...] about More Old Tales of the Maine Woods