Redwoods thrive for centuries in the coastal regions of America’s Pacific Northwest. A monarch butterfly journeys from Northern meadows to the mountains of Central Mexico. The mother of four wolf pups leads her family through the Arctic’s stark terrain and bitter storms. One of the greatest seagoing mammals roams the Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of Alaska to the Galapagos. These voices speak to us of the meaning we seek in our lives.

One hundred percent of author royalties will be donated to The Nature Conservancy.

Read excerpt as paperback PDF or Kindle eBook.

SRP: $14.95 paperback, $21.95 hardcover

Page Count: 184

Publication Date: 19 September 2012

ISBN-10: 1937484009 paperback, 1937484874 hardcover

ISBN-13: 978-1937484002, paperback, 978-1937484873 hardcover

About the Author

Jay Amberg is the author of twelve books. He received a BA from Georgetown University and a PhD from Northwestern University. He has taught high school and college students since 1972.

His latest book, The Healer’s Daughters, is now available from Amika Press. Amberg has also published Bone Box, Cycle, America’s Fool, Whale Song, and compiled 52 Poems for Men.

Reviews

Gold Medal Winner, Environmental Issues, 2014 Literary Classics Awards
Bronze Medal Winner, Fiction Inspirational, 2020 Readers’ Favorite Awards
Bronze Medal Winner, Nature Conservation, 2013 Living Now Evergreen Book Awards

“Each respective story offers insight into the wonders of nature around us. Each life-form is confronted by threats of harm while realizing its purpose in the grand scheme on this earth.… Amberg’s use of eloquent prose, combined with interesting facts and thought-provoking insight, help make this compelling book one that will appeal to many, especially those with an affinity for nature.” —Literary Classics

“Four introspective, first-person memoirs from flora and fauna of the Earth as part of an ecologically minded call toward understanding the fragile web of life.… Scientifically accurate details make it clear that the author has done his research on each species’ ethology and habitat…the stories’ beauty and harshness inspire readers into action…the nonhuman psychologies have an easy, natural flow and grace to them, and they often achieve a strong emotional impact…An inspiring call to action…” —Kirkus Reviews

“Finally, a book about nature written by nature.… Amberg chronicles the lives and journeys of four life forms by giving them each a voice.… Throughout each story, the reader’s frame of mind is transformed to that of the organism because Amberg presents the struggle to survive from its point of view.… By having the plants and animals tell their own stories about their fight for survival in delicately balanced ecosystems, Amberg effectively persuades the reader that protection of these systems is essential.… He provides a sometimes warm, yet sometimes tragic, read which engages the reader from start to finish.” —Jennifer Huffman, Independent Publisher

“This blend of nature observation and philosophical inspection successfully creates a multifaceted, engrossing series of insights that will delight readers… Unique…offers readers a chance to take a deep breath, absorb the sense of wonder, survival, and life cycles from a non-human perspective, and, most of all, to understand the motivations, experiences, history, and interconnected lives of creatures on this planet.” —Diane Donovan, Midwest Book Review

“Alpha was by far my favorite of the tales.… This story is so thoroughly understandable that I forgot it was written about an animal; Her struggles, desires, heart and emotions were easily recognized.… The author gets my heartiest applause for delivering a story of life, death, family, tradition, survival and parenting so splendidly. It is fluid, engrossing and kept me engaged to the point that I began to read more slowly—I didn’t want it to end.” —Alicia C. Accardi, Closed the Cover

“I highly recommend to anyone looking for a read that puts them in touch with the world around them. As well as anyone looking for a book that will pleasantly surprise them and take them out of their genre comfort zone. So glad I read this book, definitely one I will be revisiting often. A beautiful well written book.” —May, Unorthodox Mama

“A very different, but very interesting, type of book.… It should be required reading for a lot of people, from students to corporate CEOs. The ‘cycle’ Jay is writing about is, in its simplest form, the life cycle. But it is also much more than that, expanding its frame of reference to include the planetary cycle of existence.… The message of the book is an important one which we humans all need to become aware of. I highly recommend this book for all who intend to spend their life on planet Earth.” —Lee Ashford, Readers’ Favorite

“Each story paints a vivid picture of how complex and fragile a system the natural world is. Amberg cleverly mixes biology and fiction to provide an enjoyable, at times, heartbreaking, and thought-provoking view into the wheel of life that everything and everyone is surrounded by and has an impact on.” —Marcus Hammond, Luxury Reading

Cycle

About the Author

Reviews

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