Small Wonder

"A hopeful examination of the people we seem to be, and what we might yet make of ourselves."

In this soul-stirring collection of essays, the bestselling author of The Poisonwood Bible and High Tide in Tucson offers an extended love song to the world we still have. Written during one of history’s darker moments, Small Wonder finds Barbara Kingsolver at her most reflective, moving from the global to the deeply personal with ease and grace.

The journey begins with an astonishing parable of a lost child and expands to explore a vast array of subjects: the majesty of the Grand Canyon, the simple joy of a small daughter tending to backyard chickens, the complexities of genetic engineering, and the history of civil rights. Whether she is discussing the impact of television or the quiet resilience of her vegetable garden, Kingsolver remains grounded in the belief that while our greatest problems may be global, the answers often lie in our own backyards.

In a voice that is sometimes grave, occasionally hilarious, and always persuasive, these essays serve as a reminder of the beauty worth saving and the human impulses that can lead us toward a better future.