PRAISE FOR
I Want to be Left Behind
Finding Rapture Here on Earth

Booklist *starred review
“Unusually affecting and radiant . . . Peterson seeks a meeting of church and earth in this witty, enrapturing account of a spiritual journey of great relevance to us all.”

Los Angeles Times, January 31, 2010
Like immigrants from other cultures, successive generations in America grow further from the once-powerful religious beliefs of their forebears. Environmental stewardship, the tenets and rituals of sustainability provide a new meeting ground for lost and wayward religions. In the house that Brenda Peterson grew up in, Southern Baptist relatives with their prophesies of doom lay down, lion-and-lamb style, side by side with the beliefs (political and moral) of her father, a forest ranger in the High Sierra. Peterson goes forth to live in New York City and works at the New Yorker. Then, she designs her own brand of activism: moving to Seattle and watching over a local seal population, being part of a community that includes flora and fauna. It is a rich and often lovely l ife -- full of humr and Peterson's own unique brand of faith. "You know, George," she tells her neighbor, who's a Pentecostal and speaks to her of tribulation, rapture and leaving the Earth for the kingdom of Christ, "I really want to be left behind."
-- Susan Salter Reynolds

“I’ve been a fan of Brenda Peterson’s novels since the witty Duck and Cover. But I can’t think of another book at all like this memoir – it’s so odd and wonderful. Peterson writes here of family and conflicting faiths with moving and poignant humor”
-- Diane Johnson, author of Le Divorce

Brenda Peterson, one of the most eloquent nature writers of our time, takes on human nature. Read this book and share it widely. It is that important.
-- Marc Bekoff, author of The Emotional Lives of Animals

“A loving, luminous portrait of an irresistibly intriguing family, told by the most fascinating member of all -- the one who doesn’t fit in. It’s alive with stars over the Grand Canyon, scents of the sea, menus at family gatherings, and singing a descant. The story is told with such truth and tenderness that you can’t help loving the whole family.”
-- Sy Montgomery author of The Good, Good Pig

"Brenda Peterson's picaresque memoir is a mesmerizing treat, at turns inspiring and hilarious, as she recalls her southern Baptist upbringing and the unlikely but spirited paths that lead her from the church's end‐of‐the‐world "rapture" to the everyday paradise of mother Earth. In this highly unusual autobiography, her keen‐eyed descriptions of the natural world, and a delicious sense of fun, combine beautifully with her tales of protecting seals, whales, hope, and other wild things.
-- Diane Ackerman, author of The Zookeeper’s Daughter

“A tender, lyrical account, Peterson expresses genuine love for her family and gratitude for their gifts. Peterson always seeks common ground.”
--Library Journal

PRAISE FOR
Duck and Cover

“A wicked black comedy . . . Peterson would seem to hold out just about as much hope for the family as she does the planet.”
--New York Times “Notable Book of the Year”

“Offers insights into the American way of life, presented in a fresh style with on-target dialogue and dollops of black humor.”
-- Library Journal

“Eccentric and often amusing satirical romp . . .  a highly original work by an intriguing author.”
-- Kirkus Reviews

“. . . Bittersweet and utterly beguiling novel.”
-- Publishers Weekly

“A hauntingly funny writer . . . the balance she strikes is almost hypnotic.”
-- Los Angeles Times

PRAISE FOR
Living by Water
True Stories of Nature and Spirit

“A new breed of essayist is a-borning in America . . . Writing about nature, they write of spirit; writing about humanity, they give voice to the animal in us all . . . Brenda Peterson exemplifies this new essayist.”
--Booklist, Editor’s Choice by the American Library Association

“Evocative . . . The ruminations of a diarist of uncommon sensitivity and polish . . . Living by Water is a love song for a region.”
--Seattle Times

“In these engaging and deeply felt essays . . . .[Peterson] writes of nature with an intimacy that tugs at the reader’s deep memory.”
--Orion

PRAISE FOR
Nature and Others

“Peterson writes a vital, intimate prose that energizes readers with its intelligence and good humor.”  Publishers Weekly, included in New York Times “Noted with Pleasure.”
“Moving but never sentimental, sophisticated but accessible, this small volume is sure to both inspire and amuse. Highly recommended.”
--Library Journal

“Potent and poignant . . . Lively essays that mix politics, religion, nature, myth, and memoir.”
--San Francisco Chronicle

“A lyrical and life-enhancing collection. . . There are large doses of wonder, humor, and warmth . . . Nature and Other Mothers is overflowing with heartening and healing spiritual thoughts.”
--Values and Visions

PRAISE FOR
Sister Stories

“An amazing book; the untold stories of sisterhood . . . written with wit, warmth, and an unwavering sense of the sacred kinship of all life.”
--Riane Eisler, author The Chalice and the Blade

“A look at sisters’ experiences, points of views, and bonds . . . an inspiring, thought-provoking, and strong book.”
--The New York Times Book Review section

PRAISE FOR
Sightings
The Gray Whale’s Mysterious Journey

“This book is not the standard National Geographic fare . . . Sightings is beautiful reading. Each of the short chapters is rich as a poem, and indeed, many read like song or poetry, each woman's distinctive voice blending and harmonizing with her co-author's.”
--Sy Montgomery, author The Good, Good Pig

“Brenda Peterson is amazing, a soulful and profound observer of nature -- from whales to humans -- in all their glory and distress.”
--Diane Ackerman, author The Zookeeper’s Daughter

PRAISE FOR
Singing to the Sound
Visions of Nature, Animals & Spirit

“It is such empathy for both humans and the natural world that sets this remarkable author apart.”
--Bloomsbury Review

“A Peterson essay can take off like a flock of birds . . . She sings to us about ourselves.”
--Parabola

“Each passionate story examines the way humans commune or collide with the natural world, so that a pearl of wisdom is always found beneath the surface. Peterson writes with spiritual maturity and environmental authority.”
--Amazon.com Spirituality editor

“A lifelong love of animals combined with a jeweler’s eye for multifaceted philosophical meanings provide Peterson with a wealth of fascinating anecdotes and insights in this engaging memoir.”
--Publishers Weekly

“The story of a life and spirit guided by animals . . . Build Me an Ark is based in science and very well written.”
--Booklist

“Peterson is an engaging, persuasive storyteller . . . Compassionate stories that will surely delight the animal lover . . . A fine addition to the literature on humane natural history”
--Science Books & Films

“Brenda Peterson fashions a sturdy ark of words and images that convince us that we must look out for these fellow travelers and carry them high in our love and esteem.”
--Spirituality and Health magazine, Selected as a “Best Spiritual Book of 2001”

“This is a galvanizing and enlightening tale thanks to Peterson's expert portrayal of animals, compassionate view of radical activism, and illuminating insights into our profound bonds with other species.”
--Booklist

“One can hardly imagine a more heartfelt work or a more unusual love story than this one. Highly recommended for all public and academic libraries.”
--Library Journal

“[A] gripping tale about love, xenotransplantation and the military-industrial complex’s flagrant disregard for environmental responsibility. . .Peterson’s passion shines through.”
--Publishers Weekly

“With her remarkable background working with dolphins and other sea mammals, Brenda Peterson, an acclaimed novelist, has woven the stories of both humans and sea creatures together. A great read.”
--Diane Johnson, author of Le Divorce

“Brenda Peterson weaves a haunting love story into a fast-moving plot. Animal Heart is based on facts that are terrifyingly true, and it captures the exquisite beauty of a world that we are devastating and destroying, piece by piece. Please read it.”
--Jane Goodall, author of Reason for Hope