"I have always believed in the right to bear arms, though legs, brains, and hearts are no less important." (from The Right to Bear Arms)

The Absurd Naturalist is a collection of 43 humorous essays and sketches published over a span of 30 years, and assembled here for the first time. Included are pieces dealing with tofu hunters, the art of toad throwing, same-species marriage, getting rid of nature, lizard watching, reasons why you shouldn't garden, how to sell belly buttons, the right to bear arms, and the origin of toaster ovens, to name only a few. A unique cross-genre book, it will appeal to readers of natural history, the environment, and gardening as well as those general readers seeking an entertaining blend of science, satire, and absurdity.