Imprint
- Coronet
- Coronet
Prose: non-fiction, Natural history, The countryside, country life
SKIMMING STONES is a book of simple skills that can help us to interact with nature, achieve a deeper connection with it and even step inside another dimension.
Rob Cowen and Leo Critchley teach us, for example, making and flying a kite, making an elder whistle, damming a stream and building a den - and at the same time teach us about life.
Their techniques are intended to be not only of practical value but also techniques for meditation. They help us to live in the moment, recover ancient insights and rhythms and encourage nature to reveal to us her secrets and treasures. They write that '...there are forces deep in everyone's subconscious that find a pure expression in the simplest of activities. This book explains why we should be taking the time to do them. It is born out of a wish to share our passion for our landscape and the contemplative, reflective pleasures and joys that were well-known to our grandparents, but which are in danger of being lost and forgotten. They will help us get back to a place where we all belong'.
Praise for Skimming Stones: and other ways of being in the wild
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Two of the UK's most exciting nature writers. A thoughtful adventure in learning simple skills that help connect people to nature. - Guardian
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Essential reading - Daily Express
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'At its simplest their book gives advice on connecting with nature through twelve activities... but Skimming Stones delves deeper. Each section draws the reader lyrically into deeper philosophical waters... I was simply carried along by the authors' sense of awe, and their quiet belief that our lives can be enriched through a deeper connection with nature.' 4* - BBC Wildlife
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It's a holistic approach to enjoying the outdoors and simple activities - something we should all learn... this re-awakening is long overdue. - Cumbria Magazine
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The writing is well researched, if somewhat eclectic, and permeated with all the infectiousness of two boys going outdoors for the day on an adventure. - Countryfile
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Laid out with an easy to read large-print text and a collection of sketches, this book encourages you to take out your walking boots and learn how to survive and have fun in the wild. - Yorkshire Ridings Magazine
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A great book... it somehow manages to say something about nature that the rest of us can't. - Country Walking Magazine
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Brilliant book - Huffington Post UK
Rob Cowen
Rob Cowen is an author, award-winning journalist and outdoorsman. Growing up on the Yorkshire moors created a passion for the natural world that has been central in his life ever since. After graduating with first class honours from Leeds University, Rob has written extensively on travel and nature for The Independent, The Telegraph and The Express and currently writes a column on woodland for Independent on Sunday. He has also appeared on BBC 2's The Culture Show and Channel 4's Time Team as a wild food expert. He now lives and writes in North Yorkshire.
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