Books

"The magic of Vanessa Chakour is that her words are both balm and flint; encouraging us to reconsider how we are living our lives, where we are living them, and whether we are alive enough in these earthly bodies we are given. I couldn’t put this essential and sensual book down."


~ Courtney Maum author of THE YEAR OF THE HORSES

"In this triumphant and vibrant interweaving of memoir and natural history, Vanessa Chakour grapples with fear and loss, and finds glory in the natural world--including in her own strong, soft body. This is a book that inspires joy and courage. I loved it.'

— Sy Montgomery, bestselling author of How To Be A Good Creature and The Soul Of An Octopus

“As an advocate for North America's wild carnivores and compassionate coexistence, I was deeply moved by Chakour's ability to take readers on a transformative intimate journey, reminding us of our responsibility to protect and cherish all life on Earth. 'Earthly Bodies' is not just a book; it’s a testament to the interconnectedness of all living beings ~ and a call to heal our relationship with animals, wild places, and each other. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of our place in the natural world and the healing power of compassion and nature."

- Camilla Fox, PROJECT COYOTE founder and Executive Director

"An essential text for all those who feel a deep reverence and responsibility to the animal kingdom and their own personal growth, power, and service to the Earth."

- Heidi Smith, MA, RH (AHG), author of The Uncommon Book of Prayer: A Guide to Co-Creating with the Universe

“Earthly Bodies is a fiercely compelling call to embrace our animal natures and rewild ourselves. Interweaving memoir with historical and field research, Vanessa Chakour peels back layers of myth and misinformation about 23 different creatures, from wolves, cheetahs, and seagulls to butterflies, bees, and bears. With a keen eye and an open heart, Vanessa lays bare our deep interconnectedness with everything on this planet. Equal parts profound and playful, Earthly Bodies urges us to listen closely to our bodies and our environments so we might one day learn to live in harmony with all of our kin, both wild and tamed.”

- Kristen J. Sollée, author of Cat Call: Reclaiming the Feral Feminine

“Part memoir, part modern-day bestiary, EARTHLY BODIES is a must-read for humans who have become estranged from their animal selves. Vanessa Chakour draws surprising connections that will make you look at the natural world around with fresh eyes -- whether you're coexisting with wolves in the wild or bats in the city. A thoughtful reminder of all that is wild within each of us. “

-Amy Shearn, award-winning author of DEAR EDNA SLOANE, ANIMAL INSTINCT, and other novels.

"In this timely call to return to our animal bodies, Vanessa Chakour invites us to remember our embeddedness with other beings and the earth we are fortunate to share. It is a beautiful book about healing, wonder, and belonging."

- Dr. Christine Webb, primatologist and author of forthcoming book The Arrogant Ape

"Somewhere between a field guide about wild animals and an intimate memoir about a woman’s journey toward wildness and truth, Vanessa Chakour’s Earthly Bodies will make you think deeply about the relationship between your internal and external environments, and the way that each are threatened by modern life. I left this book feeling much more attuned to animal life—my own included."

~ Erica Berry author of WOLFISH

“I admire Vanessa’s courage in sharing her journey! She is the voice of countless women who have been silenced. Her profound connection to the plant world resonates deeply with my own bond to the animal kingdom. It's a privilege to witness her resilience and to know her.” ~ Encar Vila, primatologist and founder of the Jaguar Rescue Center

"An exquisitely written, multi-layered story that weaves together in the most artful of ways the interconnected threads of herbalism, plant lore, environmentalism, conservation, and activism. The author, who just happens to be a modern-day Artemis, is also an herbalist, eco-warrior, environmentalist, and an excellent storyteller and writer. Inspiring, informative, and filled with keen insights, Awakening Artemis is the rich tapestry of a true-life story that stirs, uplifts, and satisfies the soul."

— Rosemary Gladstar, Herbalist & Author

“Vanessa has so many gifts of wisdom to share with the world. In Awakening Artemis, she weaves together a rich tapestry of compelling personal narrative with the medicines and teachings of plants so we can get to know the plants themselves as beings. This intoxicating read facilitates, as she calls it, a “deep remembering” or soul medicine, awakening readers to their own true gifts. The Botany of Desire meets Braiding Sweetgrass meets Women Who Run with the Wolves.”

— Mallory Lance, founder, and Editor-in-Chief of Ravenous Zine

“A revolutionary work of reverence for the plant kingdom. Vanessa weaves her own intimate story together with the wisdom of the plants and an exploration of her ancestral roots. The result is an empowering and transformative text about rewilding ourselves and reconnecting with the natural world.”

— Heidi Smith, MA, RH (AHG), author of The Bloom Book: A Flower Essence Guide to Cosmic Balance

“Vanessa gifts us an intimate, unique, inspiring autobiography of what it means to bring together plant, animal, and human. At the center of her experience stands Artemis—not a metaphor or a historical goddess, but an experience, a unification of the wild, nature as a living, conscious, intelligent being, activism, and Vanessa herself.”

— Matthew Wood, Author and Professional Herbalist, MS (Herbal Medicine) and Matthew Wood Institute of Herbalism

"Awakening Artemis is the call of the wild in the dusk of the forest, a visceral turning inside out of the paternalist paradigm and a devoted, sweeping bow to Mother Earth. It is a deeply personal exposé on the author's life so far and a gloriously practical manual on human-plant relationships for both seekers in the woods and dreamers on the rooftops."

— Àdhamh Ó Broin, Award-winning Gaelic Cultural Activist

“An eloquent exploration of the deep, life-giving bonds between plants and people. Vanessa Chakour’s engaging and insightful reflections show us how the generosity of plants can heal us and make us whole.”

- David George Haskell, author of Pulitzer finalist, The Forest Unseen, and Burroughs medalist, The Songs of Trees.

“There is a sweetness and very real intimacy in Vanessa Chakour’s stories of her relations with plants that is rare to find; there is a humbleness as well, which is even rarer. I quite loved Awakening Artemis; I think you will too.”

— Stephen Harrod Buhner, award-winning author of The Lost Language of Plants and the national bestsellers Herbal Antibiotics and Healing Lyme.