BOOKS BY JERRY DENNIS
Please support independent booksellers. Here are some old friends:
Horizon Books, Traverse City, MI
Cottage Book Shop, Glen Arbor, MI
McLean and Eakin Bookstore, Petoskey, MI
Dog Ears Books, Northport, MI
Brilliant Books, Suttons Bay, MI
Nicola's Books, Ann Arbor, MI
If you're interested in purchasing autographed items directly from the author -- including first edition hardcovers, limited-editions, and broadsides -- drop me a note at jcdennis[at]charter[dot]net.
The Windward Shore: A Winter on the Great Lakes
The Windward Shore: A Winter on the Great Lakes, with wood engravings by Glenn Wolff (University of Michigan Press, 2011) -- A chronicle of a season spent living on the shores of Lake Michigan and Lake Superior. As part of my continuing project to learn a few places well, I set out with the intention of slowing down and paying closer attention to the world around me. Along the way I met fascinating people, explored some beautiful and little-known places, and learned a thing or two about solitude and time, as well as weather, waves, ice and snow, books, birds, our complex and ever-changing relationship with nature -- both human and wild -- and much more.
See the book trailer produced by Aaron Dennis and Stone Hut Studios here.
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What the Critics Say:
“The Windward Shore has become my go-to gift -- I send it to people who have never visited Michigan, to people who've moved away, and to people who now call this state home. I love all of Dennis's books, but I have to say, I think he completely knocked it out of the universe with this one.”
-- Kate Bassett, Harbor Light Newspaper
"I have long been a fan of Dennis’s books and am something of an evangelist for his The Living Great Lakes so I expected to love this book but nothing prepared me for the deep connection it forged with me – a connection so strong that I spent two weeks avoiding reading the last chapter so the book would never end….The Windward Shore is the best non-fiction book this year.
-- Hungry for Good Books
"Part poem, part philosophical discourse, part memoir, a handy dose of scientific observation… the reader is taken on a sprawling stroll, back and forth—ice and snow and life—as ideas pop and grow and find form in fine, pellucid prose..."
-- Northern Express
"The Windward Shore might be described as our first philosophy of the Great Lakes. Over the years Dennis has been compared to many different writers--but in this book I think his only model might have been Ralph Waldo Emerson."
-- Ann Arbor Observer
"Well known for his literary work on nature, science, outdoor sports, and this entire bountiful world, Dennis has become the collective voice of integrity when considering our magnificent waterways... Dennis is a deep thinker who rewards us with passages of introspection and great beauty."
-- Night Light Revue
"Jerry Dennis is a national treasure, and he keeps writing new and more wonderful books. Fitting him into a specific category can be a bit difficult because he is at once an outdoor writer, a conservationist, a nature lover, a dreamer... A truly wonderful read by a favorite author."
-- Dave Richey Outdoors
“The prologue is one of the most powerful three pages of Great Lakes writing I’ve encountered.”
-- Great Lakes Echo
“Jerry Dennis has written a thoughtful, lyrical, and sensitive credo for the hardy residents who survive and thrive in our northern paradise. The prologue alone is worth the price of the book, but you will want to read on and on.”
-- Snowbound Online
See the book trailer produced by Aaron Dennis and Stone Hut Studios here.
Look Inside
Buy a Copy
What the Critics Say:
“The Windward Shore has become my go-to gift -- I send it to people who have never visited Michigan, to people who've moved away, and to people who now call this state home. I love all of Dennis's books, but I have to say, I think he completely knocked it out of the universe with this one.”
-- Kate Bassett, Harbor Light Newspaper
"I have long been a fan of Dennis’s books and am something of an evangelist for his The Living Great Lakes so I expected to love this book but nothing prepared me for the deep connection it forged with me – a connection so strong that I spent two weeks avoiding reading the last chapter so the book would never end….The Windward Shore is the best non-fiction book this year.
-- Hungry for Good Books
"Part poem, part philosophical discourse, part memoir, a handy dose of scientific observation… the reader is taken on a sprawling stroll, back and forth—ice and snow and life—as ideas pop and grow and find form in fine, pellucid prose..."
-- Northern Express
"The Windward Shore might be described as our first philosophy of the Great Lakes. Over the years Dennis has been compared to many different writers--but in this book I think his only model might have been Ralph Waldo Emerson."
-- Ann Arbor Observer
"Well known for his literary work on nature, science, outdoor sports, and this entire bountiful world, Dennis has become the collective voice of integrity when considering our magnificent waterways... Dennis is a deep thinker who rewards us with passages of introspection and great beauty."
-- Night Light Revue
"Jerry Dennis is a national treasure, and he keeps writing new and more wonderful books. Fitting him into a specific category can be a bit difficult because he is at once an outdoor writer, a conservationist, a nature lover, a dreamer... A truly wonderful read by a favorite author."
-- Dave Richey Outdoors
“The prologue is one of the most powerful three pages of Great Lakes writing I’ve encountered.”
-- Great Lakes Echo
“Jerry Dennis has written a thoughtful, lyrical, and sensitive credo for the hardy residents who survive and thrive in our northern paradise. The prologue alone is worth the price of the book, but you will want to read on and on.”
-- Snowbound Online
The Living Great Lakes: Searching for the Heart of the Inland Seas
The Living Great Lakes: Searching for the Heart of the Inland Seas (St. Martin's Press, 2003)
The story of the Great Lakes told from the decks of boats, especially The Malabar, a two-masted schooner the author helped sail from Lake Michigan to Bar Harbor, Maine. Awards include the 2004 Sigurd Olson Nature Writing Award, the Best Book of the Year from the Outdoor Writers Association of America, the Stuart D. and Vernice Gross Award for Excellence in Literature, and the Great Lakes Culture Award from Michigan State University. The book was also a finalist for the Great Lakes Booksellers Association’s Book of the Year and was selected as a “2004 Michigan Notable Book” by the Library of Michigan and the Michigan Library Association. A perennial favorite of book clubs, it has been a community reads selection in 17 cities, including 2009 "Traverse City [MI] Reads," and the 2010 "Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Reads." It is currently in development as a national production of PBS television.
Look inside
Buy a copy
Nicola's Books in Ann Arbor, the best independent bookstore in one of the best book towns in America, recently named The Living Great Lakes the best-selling nonfiction book in their 15-year history.
And McLean and Eakin Bookstore in Petoskey, Michigan, has named it the best-selling nonfiction in their 20 years of business, surpassing even most of their fiction titles, including some guy named Harry Potter.
What the Critics Say:
"A fine guide to the Great Lakes with a storyteller's sense of pacing, savvily blending the factual with the picaresque." -- Kirkus Reviews
"Dennis touches on all five lakes in this compendium, endowing his chronicle with a breadth that makes it a fine introduction to the lakes' ecology."-- Booklist
"Wonderful." -- The Oakland Press
"The most irresistible account yet of the freshwater heart of North America." -- Ann Arbor Current
"A fine guide, borne along with a storyteller's sense of pacing and blend of fact with picaresque….Dennis writes in a polished and alluring style, though its pants aren't fancy; not homespun, but comfortably worn. " -- American Geographical Society
"Simply the finest natural history that I have ever read... [Dennis'] best work to date... you owe it to yourself to read this book." -- Sault Ste. Marie (Michigan) News
"In a skillful blend of solid research and compelling storytelling, Dennis succeeds in giving readers a new appreciation of a resource that's easily taken for granted. It's a tribute to his ability as a writer that he covers as much ground as he does while keeping the book moving at a brisk pace." – Hamilton (Ontario) Spectator
"A stirring account of a schooner voyage through some of the most beautiful scenery on the planet." -- Globe and Mail (Canada).
"I would compare [Dennis's] style to John McPhee’s. Both are masters at interweaving a narrative, of spending time with the focus of their articles and books. A must for summer reading."--The Weather Doctor
“Thoroughly entertaining.” -- Chicago Sun Times
"A vigorous adventure story packed with tidbits about the Great Lakes' extraordinary human and natural history. Dennis brings to his subject a respect born of knowledge of the sublime, deadly power of the lakes' storms and of the impact that countless tons of waste can have on waters whose resilience, though formidable, is not unlimited."
-- Nature Conservancy magazine
"The Living Great Lakes is the best history, nature, and adventure book I've ever read...I couldn't put the damn thing down."-- Great Lakes Angler
“Engrossing...Dennis weaves anecdotes from his childhood together with informed commentary on the natural history of the lakes and the people who live there as well as evocative descriptions of the enchanting view of the forests along Lake Superior from the schooner. His narrative is a continual reminder of the dangers inherent in navigating these magnificent lakes as he details their current condition." -- Publishers Weekly
"A comprehensive look at the Great Lakes, delving into the cultural and natural history of this vast inland body of fresh water." -- Library Journal
"Making environmental medicine go down smoothly is not always easy, but Jerry Dennis does the job superbly in The Living Great Lakes." -- Michigan Environmental Report
The story of the Great Lakes told from the decks of boats, especially The Malabar, a two-masted schooner the author helped sail from Lake Michigan to Bar Harbor, Maine. Awards include the 2004 Sigurd Olson Nature Writing Award, the Best Book of the Year from the Outdoor Writers Association of America, the Stuart D. and Vernice Gross Award for Excellence in Literature, and the Great Lakes Culture Award from Michigan State University. The book was also a finalist for the Great Lakes Booksellers Association’s Book of the Year and was selected as a “2004 Michigan Notable Book” by the Library of Michigan and the Michigan Library Association. A perennial favorite of book clubs, it has been a community reads selection in 17 cities, including 2009 "Traverse City [MI] Reads," and the 2010 "Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Reads." It is currently in development as a national production of PBS television.
Look inside
Buy a copy
Nicola's Books in Ann Arbor, the best independent bookstore in one of the best book towns in America, recently named The Living Great Lakes the best-selling nonfiction book in their 15-year history.
And McLean and Eakin Bookstore in Petoskey, Michigan, has named it the best-selling nonfiction in their 20 years of business, surpassing even most of their fiction titles, including some guy named Harry Potter.
What the Critics Say:
"A fine guide to the Great Lakes with a storyteller's sense of pacing, savvily blending the factual with the picaresque." -- Kirkus Reviews
"Dennis touches on all five lakes in this compendium, endowing his chronicle with a breadth that makes it a fine introduction to the lakes' ecology."-- Booklist
"Wonderful." -- The Oakland Press
"The most irresistible account yet of the freshwater heart of North America." -- Ann Arbor Current
"A fine guide, borne along with a storyteller's sense of pacing and blend of fact with picaresque….Dennis writes in a polished and alluring style, though its pants aren't fancy; not homespun, but comfortably worn. " -- American Geographical Society
"Simply the finest natural history that I have ever read... [Dennis'] best work to date... you owe it to yourself to read this book." -- Sault Ste. Marie (Michigan) News
"In a skillful blend of solid research and compelling storytelling, Dennis succeeds in giving readers a new appreciation of a resource that's easily taken for granted. It's a tribute to his ability as a writer that he covers as much ground as he does while keeping the book moving at a brisk pace." – Hamilton (Ontario) Spectator
"A stirring account of a schooner voyage through some of the most beautiful scenery on the planet." -- Globe and Mail (Canada).
"I would compare [Dennis's] style to John McPhee’s. Both are masters at interweaving a narrative, of spending time with the focus of their articles and books. A must for summer reading."--The Weather Doctor
“Thoroughly entertaining.” -- Chicago Sun Times
"A vigorous adventure story packed with tidbits about the Great Lakes' extraordinary human and natural history. Dennis brings to his subject a respect born of knowledge of the sublime, deadly power of the lakes' storms and of the impact that countless tons of waste can have on waters whose resilience, though formidable, is not unlimited."
-- Nature Conservancy magazine
"The Living Great Lakes is the best history, nature, and adventure book I've ever read...I couldn't put the damn thing down."-- Great Lakes Angler
“Engrossing...Dennis weaves anecdotes from his childhood together with informed commentary on the natural history of the lakes and the people who live there as well as evocative descriptions of the enchanting view of the forests along Lake Superior from the schooner. His narrative is a continual reminder of the dangers inherent in navigating these magnificent lakes as he details their current condition." -- Publishers Weekly
"A comprehensive look at the Great Lakes, delving into the cultural and natural history of this vast inland body of fresh water." -- Library Journal
"Making environmental medicine go down smoothly is not always easy, but Jerry Dennis does the job superbly in The Living Great Lakes." -- Michigan Environmental Report
Winter Walks (limited edition)
Winter Walks, signed and numbered edition of 100. Essay by Jerry Dennis, with wood engravings by Glenn Wolff, and design and letterpress by Chad Pastotnik (Deep Wood Press, 2008). (The essay is an earlier version of the chapter by the same title in The Windward Shore.)
6 5/8" x 10", 44 pages, $125.00
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CONTACT: Deep Wood Press 231.587.0506
6 5/8" x 10", 44 pages, $125.00
Look inside
CONTACT: Deep Wood Press 231.587.0506
Winter Walks (deluxe limited edition)
Winter Walks, deluxe edition of 20 signed and numbered:
Composed in Baskerville and printed via letterpress on
100% rag cotton Somerset Book paper. The book is quarter bound in an
antiqued speckle dyed pale green goatskin with brown Magnani Firenze
paper over boards with cover title in silver leaf. The deluxe
edition also contains a page tipped-in of the author's hand-written
first draft and is enclosed in a cloth-covered slip case.
6 5/8" x 10", 44 pages, $275.00.
Look inside
CONTACT: Deep Wood Press 231.587.0506
Composed in Baskerville and printed via letterpress on
100% rag cotton Somerset Book paper. The book is quarter bound in an
antiqued speckle dyed pale green goatskin with brown Magnani Firenze
paper over boards with cover title in silver leaf. The deluxe
edition also contains a page tipped-in of the author's hand-written
first draft and is enclosed in a cloth-covered slip case.
6 5/8" x 10", 44 pages, $275.00.
Look inside
CONTACT: Deep Wood Press 231.587.0506
Leelanau: A Portrait of Place in Photographs and Text
Leelanau: A Portrait of Place in Photographs and Text (Petunia Press, 2000). A coffee-table book celebrating the spectacular "little finger" of Michigan, with photos by the amazing Ken Scott. With twelve essays by Jerry Dennis on such subjects as country roads, old trees, abandoned homesteads, beach walking, and a reminiscence of childhood summers spent harvesting cherries on his grandfather's farm.
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"Take a close look at this book and the word 'artistry' slips into your mind, tilts back in the reclining chair and makes itself at home. And what a subject these artists selected for their canvas: The Leelanau Peninsula of Michigan." -- Oakland (Michigan) Press
"Stunning... Sure to please anyone who loves the north country." -- The Bay Area Times
Look inside
Buy a copy
"Take a close look at this book and the word 'artistry' slips into your mind, tilts back in the reclining chair and makes itself at home. And what a subject these artists selected for their canvas: The Leelanau Peninsula of Michigan." -- Oakland (Michigan) Press
"Stunning... Sure to please anyone who loves the north country." -- The Bay Area Times
From a Wooden Canoe: Reflections on Canoeing, Camping, and Classic Equipment
From a Wooden Canoe: Reflections on Canoeing, Camping, and Classic Equipment (St. Martin’s, 1999). Essays on some of the finer things in life, from duct tape to Coleman lanterns to long-johns to great moments on the water.
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“Jerry Dennis knows the good stuff: How to make your matches waterproof; why it’s good to have a Thermos handy; and how long johns got their name. Mr. Dennis also knows how to write amusing, informative essays about the gear we use outdoors. From a Wooden Canoe is the most satisfying kind of nature writing because it makes you want to get up and get out. Give these essays a good read, and then find your own canoe.”
-- Wall Street Journal
“This homespun collection of essays will give you a whiff of the possibilities that lie beyond.” -- Entertainment Weekly
“A terrific way to get a lovely glimpse of the great outdoors.” -- USA Today
“As Jerry Dennis’s recent book, From a Wooden Canoe, attests, canoes do inspire passion and fidelity. The thirty-one pieces here – most of them from the pages of Canoe and Kayak magazine – include tender odes to hand-hewn wooden paddlers and the rough work of portaging, as well as reflections on other old-school outdoor stuff: homemade waterproof matches, the smell of canvas, and the mysterious, indestructible thermos.” -- The New Yorker
“Dennis writes concise, well-informed, witty prose; his tone is friendly and appreciative of tradition without being maudlin. The celebratory tone of most of the essays is nicely tempered by a send-up of curmudgeons and a concluding essay that might have come from O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey into Night. Recommend this fine example of literary outdoors writing to fans of Bill Barich and W.D. Wetherell.” -- Booklist
“Dennis brings a bright, childlike eagerness to these days on the stream or in the field and forest, burnishing their memory with thoughtfulness and elegance.” -- Kirkus Reviews
“This is a collection of elegant, short essays by a serious, gifted writer. Sometimes, when I’ve managed to construct that rare, decent sentence, a swagger develops, a cup of literary smug is poured. When this happens I turn to one of four literary craftsmen, read just a few pages, and am brought back to my humble reality. The writers are Jim Harrison, John McPhee, Thomas McGuane, and Jerry Dennis. From a Wooden Canoe joins Dennis’s earlier works in my special bookcase.” -- Riverwatch
“Anything [Dennis] writes is worthy of a place on your nightstand, alongside your favorite recliner, or in a special spot on the bookshelf to be taken down from time to time and revisited like an old friend.” -- Oakland Press
“With this reader, Dennis is preaching to the converted. But I suspect even city slickers couldn’t help but warm to his opinions.” -- Seattle Times
“More than anything, Dennis offers us an appreciation of the simpler things in life that many times pass us by in our breakneck pace of living. He shows us that just off the beaten path is a slower avenue, taken by countless generations before us and still available to enjoy if only we would take the time to look.” -- The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
“Dennis has developed into a formidable writer for exploring the relationships of human beings with the natural world…Dennis’s essays evoke a childlike joy and wonder at the magic of our experiences with the natural world… The reader finds in his essays the same solace that Dennis finds in traditional equipment and comes away from the book with a deeper appreciation of his eloquence and thoughtfulness.” -- Lake Country Gazette
Look inside
Buy a copy
“Jerry Dennis knows the good stuff: How to make your matches waterproof; why it’s good to have a Thermos handy; and how long johns got their name. Mr. Dennis also knows how to write amusing, informative essays about the gear we use outdoors. From a Wooden Canoe is the most satisfying kind of nature writing because it makes you want to get up and get out. Give these essays a good read, and then find your own canoe.”
-- Wall Street Journal
“This homespun collection of essays will give you a whiff of the possibilities that lie beyond.” -- Entertainment Weekly
“A terrific way to get a lovely glimpse of the great outdoors.” -- USA Today
“As Jerry Dennis’s recent book, From a Wooden Canoe, attests, canoes do inspire passion and fidelity. The thirty-one pieces here – most of them from the pages of Canoe and Kayak magazine – include tender odes to hand-hewn wooden paddlers and the rough work of portaging, as well as reflections on other old-school outdoor stuff: homemade waterproof matches, the smell of canvas, and the mysterious, indestructible thermos.” -- The New Yorker
“Dennis writes concise, well-informed, witty prose; his tone is friendly and appreciative of tradition without being maudlin. The celebratory tone of most of the essays is nicely tempered by a send-up of curmudgeons and a concluding essay that might have come from O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey into Night. Recommend this fine example of literary outdoors writing to fans of Bill Barich and W.D. Wetherell.” -- Booklist
“Dennis brings a bright, childlike eagerness to these days on the stream or in the field and forest, burnishing their memory with thoughtfulness and elegance.” -- Kirkus Reviews
“This is a collection of elegant, short essays by a serious, gifted writer. Sometimes, when I’ve managed to construct that rare, decent sentence, a swagger develops, a cup of literary smug is poured. When this happens I turn to one of four literary craftsmen, read just a few pages, and am brought back to my humble reality. The writers are Jim Harrison, John McPhee, Thomas McGuane, and Jerry Dennis. From a Wooden Canoe joins Dennis’s earlier works in my special bookcase.” -- Riverwatch
“Anything [Dennis] writes is worthy of a place on your nightstand, alongside your favorite recliner, or in a special spot on the bookshelf to be taken down from time to time and revisited like an old friend.” -- Oakland Press
“With this reader, Dennis is preaching to the converted. But I suspect even city slickers couldn’t help but warm to his opinions.” -- Seattle Times
“More than anything, Dennis offers us an appreciation of the simpler things in life that many times pass us by in our breakneck pace of living. He shows us that just off the beaten path is a slower avenue, taken by countless generations before us and still available to enjoy if only we would take the time to look.” -- The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
“Dennis has developed into a formidable writer for exploring the relationships of human beings with the natural world…Dennis’s essays evoke a childlike joy and wonder at the magic of our experiences with the natural world… The reader finds in his essays the same solace that Dennis finds in traditional equipment and comes away from the book with a deeper appreciation of his eloquence and thoughtfulness.” -- Lake Country Gazette
The River Home: An Angler's Explorations
The River Home: An Angler's Explorations (St. Martin’s 1998). Award-winning essays and short stories about life outdoors in Michigan, Montana, Chile and Iceland. Named Best Book of 1998 by the Outdoor Writers Association of America.
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Buy a copy
“Jerry Dennis is on his way to becoming a giant of classic outdoor literature." -- Vin Sparano, Outdoor Life
“The bright and sharply written book is a guide to a life lived consciously, a prerequisite and bonus of the sport done well.” -- USA Today
“Collections of essays about the outdoors and fishing crowd the shelves, but Dennis’s fresh writing and marvelous insights merit special attention. This fine collection will appeal to fans of Hal Borland, W.D. Wetherell, and Nick Lyons, as well as to those who enjoy the essays of fiction writers William Tapply and Thomas McGuane.” -- Booklist
“Even if you’ve never pulled on a pair of waders, you should read this funny and wise book about fly fishing – and a lot more.” -- Georgia Times-Union
“Whether you are a fisherman or not, the author’s clear prose is compelling and a pleasure to read.” --Chattanooga Free Press
“Jerry Dennis writes of fly fishing as well as anyone, in both essays and short stories, blending a lyric prose style with an uncommonly sharp eye and a generous imagination.”
-- W.D. Wetherell, author of North of Now
“Here are some of the best stories about growing up in the outdoors since Hemingway wrote the Nick Adams stories.” -- Flint (Michigan) Journal
“In this book, Dennis elevates the typical ‘outdoor’ essay, usually a mere recollection of adventures while hunting, fishing, camping, canoeing, or pursuing other outdoor activities. He has transcended the typical by blending in elements of ‘nature’ writing: observation, research, speculation about the world in which the sportsman places himself.” -- The Oakland Press
“Jerry’s style is comfortable and readable. I found myself laughing out loud at some of his situations and contemplating deeper meanings in others.” -- Midwest Fly Fishing
“One hesitates to refer to Jerry Dennis as an ‘outdoor’ writer or The River Home as a book about ‘fishing’; both have far transcended their respective genres. Dennis is an extraordinarily gifted writer, and these beautifully written essays and stories – warm, wise, and funny – use angling to explore the timeless themes of family, friendship, home, and a man’s place in the natural world. Never cynical – even in the face of the loss and change that haunt all fishermen – always contemplative and celebratory, The River Home is a perfect gem.” -- Jim Fergus, author of A Hunter’s Road
“Early on in The River Home, Jerry Dennis makes a distinction between hearing and listening: ‘We hear traffic and airport noise. We listen to laughing children and hooting doves; to wind-stirred aspen, trout sipping mayflies.’ Well, listen up, Jerry Dennis writes words to listen to, and you won’t want to miss one.” -- Pete Fromm, author of Dry Rain and Indian Creek Chronicles
“The River Home is a delightful book. In fact it is one of the most enjoyable fishing books that I have ever read. It’s the kind of book you could read in one sitting: a sitting that would appropriately take place in a comfortable chair beside a fireplace in a rustic log cabin somewhere. At least this is the kind of mental image I get when reading Jerry Dennis’s fine work.” -- The Riverwatch
“Many times I stopped to reread passages simply because they were so well written – and that’s about the highest praise I can give any writer.” -- Silent Sports
Look inside
Buy a copy
“Jerry Dennis is on his way to becoming a giant of classic outdoor literature." -- Vin Sparano, Outdoor Life
“The bright and sharply written book is a guide to a life lived consciously, a prerequisite and bonus of the sport done well.” -- USA Today
“Collections of essays about the outdoors and fishing crowd the shelves, but Dennis’s fresh writing and marvelous insights merit special attention. This fine collection will appeal to fans of Hal Borland, W.D. Wetherell, and Nick Lyons, as well as to those who enjoy the essays of fiction writers William Tapply and Thomas McGuane.” -- Booklist
“Even if you’ve never pulled on a pair of waders, you should read this funny and wise book about fly fishing – and a lot more.” -- Georgia Times-Union
“Whether you are a fisherman or not, the author’s clear prose is compelling and a pleasure to read.” --Chattanooga Free Press
“Jerry Dennis writes of fly fishing as well as anyone, in both essays and short stories, blending a lyric prose style with an uncommonly sharp eye and a generous imagination.”
-- W.D. Wetherell, author of North of Now
“Here are some of the best stories about growing up in the outdoors since Hemingway wrote the Nick Adams stories.” -- Flint (Michigan) Journal
“In this book, Dennis elevates the typical ‘outdoor’ essay, usually a mere recollection of adventures while hunting, fishing, camping, canoeing, or pursuing other outdoor activities. He has transcended the typical by blending in elements of ‘nature’ writing: observation, research, speculation about the world in which the sportsman places himself.” -- The Oakland Press
“Jerry’s style is comfortable and readable. I found myself laughing out loud at some of his situations and contemplating deeper meanings in others.” -- Midwest Fly Fishing
“One hesitates to refer to Jerry Dennis as an ‘outdoor’ writer or The River Home as a book about ‘fishing’; both have far transcended their respective genres. Dennis is an extraordinarily gifted writer, and these beautifully written essays and stories – warm, wise, and funny – use angling to explore the timeless themes of family, friendship, home, and a man’s place in the natural world. Never cynical – even in the face of the loss and change that haunt all fishermen – always contemplative and celebratory, The River Home is a perfect gem.” -- Jim Fergus, author of A Hunter’s Road
“Early on in The River Home, Jerry Dennis makes a distinction between hearing and listening: ‘We hear traffic and airport noise. We listen to laughing children and hooting doves; to wind-stirred aspen, trout sipping mayflies.’ Well, listen up, Jerry Dennis writes words to listen to, and you won’t want to miss one.” -- Pete Fromm, author of Dry Rain and Indian Creek Chronicles
“The River Home is a delightful book. In fact it is one of the most enjoyable fishing books that I have ever read. It’s the kind of book you could read in one sitting: a sitting that would appropriately take place in a comfortable chair beside a fireplace in a rustic log cabin somewhere. At least this is the kind of mental image I get when reading Jerry Dennis’s fine work.” -- The Riverwatch
“Many times I stopped to reread passages simply because they were so well written – and that’s about the highest praise I can give any writer.” -- Silent Sports
The Bird in the Waterfall: A Natural History of Oceans, Rivers, and Lakes
The Bird in the Waterfall: A Natural History of Oceans, Rivers, and Lakes (HarperCollins, 1996). Stunningly illustrated by Glenn Wolff. Essays about the wonders of water, in all its forms. Winner of the 1996 Best Book of the Year Award from the Outdoor Writers Association of America.
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Buy a copy
“I can’t think of anyone I know – angler, conservationist, scientific reader, curious kid – who wouldn’t enjoy, and learn from, this unusual book. And from endpaper to endpaper, it’s a visual delight, too.” -- Fly Rod and Reel Magazine
“The Bird in the Waterfall is truly science for everyone. When you have finished reading it, you will not only know more, but you may become as charmed with water as Dennis is.” -- Earth Magazine
“Jerry Dennis is one of today’s most readable and informative nature essayists, and his latest book, The Bird in the Waterfall, is a marvelous look at the natural history of oceans, rivers, and lakes. It ought to be required reading for anyone who loves the outdoors, angling, surfing, beachcombing, or birding.” -- Buffalo News
“A lovely natural history… written with a grand, entertaining style.” -- Detroit News
“Full of the expertly crafted prose which makes Dennis the most nationally prominent of Michigan’s nature writers.” -- Oakland (MI) Press
“Like all fine nature writing, this book instills a renewed sense of wonder for our natural world. A simple drink of water will never be the same again after reading The Bird in the Waterfall.” -- Flint Journal
“A passionate appreciation for the magic, music, and poetry of water, and an appeal for the protection of this most precious of the earth’s resources.” -- Natural Resources and Wildlife
“A masterful work of natural history [that] exerts a steady and inexorable pull. This read is well worth your while." -- Traverse Magazine
“Jerry Dennis’s clear-eyed essays surpass mere explanation of facts; he conveys the rare gift of understanding the workings of nature, along with passion for its beauties and terrors. His prose is admirably paced with Glenn Wolff’s artistic microcosms.” -- Arts Borealis
“Dennis teams once more with artist Glenn Wolff to create a wonderful compendium of fact and folklore, historical drama, and personal anecdote about earth’s most marvelous compound. Dennis’s easy writing style reduces scientific fact to fun. From mermaids to sea monsters you’ll learn something on every page.” -- Michigan Out-of-Doors
“Nature writer Dennis conveys his deep feelings for all aspects of the aquatic realm… and parlays his fascination with the dynamics of bodies of water into a richly informative description of how lakes and rivers support myriad life-forms." -- Booklist
“Jerry Dennis knows water. His new book is a tribute to the magic, music, and poetry of water and an appeal for the protection of this most precious of the earth’s resources… a perfect choice for adults and kids alike who want to discover more about how the world is put together.”
-- Lake Country Gazette
Look inside
Buy a copy
“I can’t think of anyone I know – angler, conservationist, scientific reader, curious kid – who wouldn’t enjoy, and learn from, this unusual book. And from endpaper to endpaper, it’s a visual delight, too.” -- Fly Rod and Reel Magazine
“The Bird in the Waterfall is truly science for everyone. When you have finished reading it, you will not only know more, but you may become as charmed with water as Dennis is.” -- Earth Magazine
“Jerry Dennis is one of today’s most readable and informative nature essayists, and his latest book, The Bird in the Waterfall, is a marvelous look at the natural history of oceans, rivers, and lakes. It ought to be required reading for anyone who loves the outdoors, angling, surfing, beachcombing, or birding.” -- Buffalo News
“A lovely natural history… written with a grand, entertaining style.” -- Detroit News
“Full of the expertly crafted prose which makes Dennis the most nationally prominent of Michigan’s nature writers.” -- Oakland (MI) Press
“Like all fine nature writing, this book instills a renewed sense of wonder for our natural world. A simple drink of water will never be the same again after reading The Bird in the Waterfall.” -- Flint Journal
“A passionate appreciation for the magic, music, and poetry of water, and an appeal for the protection of this most precious of the earth’s resources.” -- Natural Resources and Wildlife
“A masterful work of natural history [that] exerts a steady and inexorable pull. This read is well worth your while." -- Traverse Magazine
“Jerry Dennis’s clear-eyed essays surpass mere explanation of facts; he conveys the rare gift of understanding the workings of nature, along with passion for its beauties and terrors. His prose is admirably paced with Glenn Wolff’s artistic microcosms.” -- Arts Borealis
“Dennis teams once more with artist Glenn Wolff to create a wonderful compendium of fact and folklore, historical drama, and personal anecdote about earth’s most marvelous compound. Dennis’s easy writing style reduces scientific fact to fun. From mermaids to sea monsters you’ll learn something on every page.” -- Michigan Out-of-Doors
“Nature writer Dennis conveys his deep feelings for all aspects of the aquatic realm… and parlays his fascination with the dynamics of bodies of water into a richly informative description of how lakes and rivers support myriad life-forms." -- Booklist
“Jerry Dennis knows water. His new book is a tribute to the magic, music, and poetry of water and an appeal for the protection of this most precious of the earth’s resources… a perfect choice for adults and kids alike who want to discover more about how the world is put together.”
-- Lake Country Gazette
A Place on the Water: An Angler's Reflections on Home
A Place on the Water: An Angler's Reflections on Home (St. Martin’s Press, 1993). Reflective essays about growing up fishing, canoeing, and exploring the outdoors in northern Michigan and elsewhere. Michigan librarians voted it one of the 25 best books of the 20th century about Michigan or by a Michigan author.
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“This is a book that will remind you why you’ve always loved fishing, canoeing, and all the other things you can only do on the water.”
-- John Gierach, author of Trout Bum and Even Brook Trout Get the Blues
“Jerry Dennis is one of a handful of superb younger writers who love angling deeply and write memoirs full of warmth, eloquence, and wit. A Place on the Water is a book of many robust – and fragile – miracles.” -- Nick Lyons, author of Spring Creek
“Some American places seem almost drenched in something that, for lack of a better word, might be called character…there is something undeniably romantic about the Michigan woods. Something that seems to alert the poet in many of us…Jerry Dennis is in the first rank of the current literary custodians of this tradition. A Place on the Water is a collection of lyrical, haunting essays, set in northern Michigan. Many are about fishing, but that does not necessarily mean they are to be enjoyed strictly by anglers. Hemingway’s “Big Two-Hearted River was about fishing, too, but can be read for pleasure if you have never wet a line…Dennis covers a lot of ground, then; but there is throughout the book a kind of constant tone, as sharp and precise as the scent of cedar. And it stays with the reader long after he has put down the book.”
-- Geoffrey Norman, American Way
“Michigan is lucky to have and have had such clear voices speaking for it as John Voelker and Jerry Dennis.” -- Gray’s Sporting Journal
“Eloquent essays about the author’s adventures exploring his love of land, water and nature in his beloved Michigan…Enjoyable reading with beautiful, evocative illustrations.” -- Sports Afield
“Every so often, a book on the outdoors comes along that is about more than just catching fish and the beauty of the dwindling number of wild things on the planet. This is one of those, and it should more properly be filed under literature rather than sports and recreation. Dennis has taken a lifetime’s memories of the outdoors and made them into a book to be sample and enjoyed like a fine wine." -- Booklist
“…invites and inspires us to explore nature, to reflect more on our time outdoors, and never to squander a moment doing things half-hearted.” -- Jackson (Mich) Citizen-Patriot
“Strong, original and truthful…A sparkling, autobiographical collection of stories that will draw you into a shared sense of time and place.” -- Grand Rapids (Mich) Press
“A Place on the Water belongs with the small handful of classic books about fishing and the out-of-doors. But of even more importance…it brilliantly and magically evokes small joys and life-changing epiphanies…" -- Flint Journal
“A great book to curl up with beside the fireplace. I think it will be considered a masterpiece in years to come.” -- Delaware Journal
“Dennis is a gifted writer whose best stories evoke a true ‘spirit of place,’ to use a Lawrence Durrell phrase. Like fellow Michigan writer Jim Harrison, Edward Abbey, or Durrell, whose works of fiction and non-fiction would bring to life the places they wrote about, Dennis’ Michigan springs to life. You can almost smell the musky riverbanks or hear the buzzing mosquitoes…You don’t need to know anything about fishing to enjoy this wonderful book.” -- Silent Sports Magazine
“My favorite things are a single phrase: “It felt like the hand of the earth came up and grabbed my line”; and a profile, the best one I’ve ever seen, of the great fly-fishing writer Robert Traver… [This book] is a textbook demonstration of how loyalty to a place can produce a fascinating body of work that will be read far outside that place.”
-- Fly Rod and Reel Magazine
Look inside
Buy a copy
“This is a book that will remind you why you’ve always loved fishing, canoeing, and all the other things you can only do on the water.”
-- John Gierach, author of Trout Bum and Even Brook Trout Get the Blues
“Jerry Dennis is one of a handful of superb younger writers who love angling deeply and write memoirs full of warmth, eloquence, and wit. A Place on the Water is a book of many robust – and fragile – miracles.” -- Nick Lyons, author of Spring Creek
“Some American places seem almost drenched in something that, for lack of a better word, might be called character…there is something undeniably romantic about the Michigan woods. Something that seems to alert the poet in many of us…Jerry Dennis is in the first rank of the current literary custodians of this tradition. A Place on the Water is a collection of lyrical, haunting essays, set in northern Michigan. Many are about fishing, but that does not necessarily mean they are to be enjoyed strictly by anglers. Hemingway’s “Big Two-Hearted River was about fishing, too, but can be read for pleasure if you have never wet a line…Dennis covers a lot of ground, then; but there is throughout the book a kind of constant tone, as sharp and precise as the scent of cedar. And it stays with the reader long after he has put down the book.”
-- Geoffrey Norman, American Way
“Michigan is lucky to have and have had such clear voices speaking for it as John Voelker and Jerry Dennis.” -- Gray’s Sporting Journal
“Eloquent essays about the author’s adventures exploring his love of land, water and nature in his beloved Michigan…Enjoyable reading with beautiful, evocative illustrations.” -- Sports Afield
“Every so often, a book on the outdoors comes along that is about more than just catching fish and the beauty of the dwindling number of wild things on the planet. This is one of those, and it should more properly be filed under literature rather than sports and recreation. Dennis has taken a lifetime’s memories of the outdoors and made them into a book to be sample and enjoyed like a fine wine." -- Booklist
“…invites and inspires us to explore nature, to reflect more on our time outdoors, and never to squander a moment doing things half-hearted.” -- Jackson (Mich) Citizen-Patriot
“Strong, original and truthful…A sparkling, autobiographical collection of stories that will draw you into a shared sense of time and place.” -- Grand Rapids (Mich) Press
“A Place on the Water belongs with the small handful of classic books about fishing and the out-of-doors. But of even more importance…it brilliantly and magically evokes small joys and life-changing epiphanies…" -- Flint Journal
“A great book to curl up with beside the fireplace. I think it will be considered a masterpiece in years to come.” -- Delaware Journal
“Dennis is a gifted writer whose best stories evoke a true ‘spirit of place,’ to use a Lawrence Durrell phrase. Like fellow Michigan writer Jim Harrison, Edward Abbey, or Durrell, whose works of fiction and non-fiction would bring to life the places they wrote about, Dennis’ Michigan springs to life. You can almost smell the musky riverbanks or hear the buzzing mosquitoes…You don’t need to know anything about fishing to enjoy this wonderful book.” -- Silent Sports Magazine
“My favorite things are a single phrase: “It felt like the hand of the earth came up and grabbed my line”; and a profile, the best one I’ve ever seen, of the great fly-fishing writer Robert Traver… [This book] is a textbook demonstration of how loyalty to a place can produce a fascinating body of work that will be read far outside that place.”
-- Fly Rod and Reel Magazine
It's Raining Frogs and Fishes: Four Seasons of Natural Phenomena and Oddities of the Sky
It's Raining Frogs and Fishes: Four Seasons of Natural Phenomena and Oddities of the Sky (HarperCollins, 1992). Beautifully illustrated by Glenn Wolff. Everything you ever wanted to know about what goes on above the earth, from the weird to the commonplace in weather, wildlife behavior, and naked-eye astronomy. Named Best Book of 1992 by the Outdoor Writers Association of America, and translated into five languages. National bestseller.
LOOK FOR NEW EDITION AND EBOOK COMING SPRING 2013!
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Buy a copy
“Amusing the illuminating…This writer-artist team shines and bright and lovely light on nature.” -- Los Angeles Times
“Charming, informative, humorous, and scholarly… embraces wind and weather, the sun, the moon and stars, the seasons of the year and the effect of these things on the denizens of this planet. It is a delight.” -- Nelson Bryant, New York Times columnist
“A perfect choice for adults and kids alike who want to discover more about how the world is put together… entertaining and fact-filled.” -- Houston Post
“Parents take note: Here’s how to explain comets (stars with horrid hair) and frost (flowers of ice)… surprisingly nontechnical.” -- Detroit Free Press
“For anyone interested in natural history, there are few texts to rival this one." -- Booklist
“As leaves fall and the sky becomes more noticeable, you’re likely to look towards the heavens and wonder at their mysteries… Author Jerry Dennis and illustrator Glenn Wolff address the questions with intelligence, wit and artistry.” -- Atlanta Constitution
"A delightful book, both readable and informative -- like the best of Hal Borland and Edwin Way Teale...You've many hours of pleasure waiting with It's Raining Frogs and Fishes." -- Richmond Times-Dispatch
"Vastly entertaining, valuable... Makes natural history so much fun the reader is sucked from paragraph to paragraph, page to page, chapter to chapter.” -- St. Louis Post-Dispatch
"With text that mesmerizes, drawings that enchant, and a dust jacket that simply feels good, this book calls you to hold it open before you." -- The Oakland (Michigan) Press
"This delightful look at nature...is a cornucopia of fact and lore. Wit, humor, wonder, and reverence spice and season the vignettes herein. "It's Raining..." reminds adults -- especially in this hectic, fast-paced, just-do-it world -- that it is more than OK, it is desirable, to be child-like and to look up at the heavens and ask why." -- Toledo Blade
“This is a perfect choice for adults and kids alike who want to discover more about how the world is put together. Dennis has done a good job of entertaining and informing at the same time, and and Glenn Wolff's black-and-white illustrations gracefully supplement the fact-filled text. It's enjoyable reading and a good reference for anyone's library."
-- Sacramento Bee
"Dennis has a knack for being at once scholarly and readable, which makes this book both instructive and enjoyable. You can't ask for much more than that...This is a book no home should be without." -- Binghamton (NY) Press and Sun-Bulletin
“Charming... wonderfully illustrated... will make heroes of parents and teachers, who will be able to explain nature's magic and the superstitions surrounding it."
-- El Paso Times
“Dennis, who writes “The Natural Enquirer” for Wildlife Conservation magazine, is a consummate researcher and gifted storyteller. Wolff’s drawings are first rate… This book is must reading for the naturally curious of all ages, and it belongs in every school library.” -- Michigan Out-of-Doors
“Clear, engaging prose and lovely, lucid illustrations… A most enjoyable field guide to the awesome panoply of the sky.” -- Stephanie Mills, author of In Praise of Nature
“A great new book for nature lovers… It’s a delightful mix of hard science and folklore – which mix more often than you might think.” -- Lansing State Journal
“A generously illustrated inquiry into the science, legends, and folklore of such fascinating natural events as bird and insect migrations, solar and lunar eclipses, meteor showers, the Northern Lights, tornadoes, thunderstorms, and blizzards. It's Raining Frogs and Fishes is a magic act. With melodic prose and luminous drawings, Jerry Dennis and Glenn Wolff tear the curtain from the sky we all share, revealing the inner workings of weather, migration, shooting stars, rainbows, and more. Keep this book handy for times when life grows a bit too predictable. It's giddy, it's reverent, and it's guaranteed to get your heart beating with wonder again." -- Janine Benyus, author of Beastly Behaviors
LOOK FOR NEW EDITION AND EBOOK COMING SPRING 2013!
Look inside
Buy a copy
“Amusing the illuminating…This writer-artist team shines and bright and lovely light on nature.” -- Los Angeles Times
“Charming, informative, humorous, and scholarly… embraces wind and weather, the sun, the moon and stars, the seasons of the year and the effect of these things on the denizens of this planet. It is a delight.” -- Nelson Bryant, New York Times columnist
“A perfect choice for adults and kids alike who want to discover more about how the world is put together… entertaining and fact-filled.” -- Houston Post
“Parents take note: Here’s how to explain comets (stars with horrid hair) and frost (flowers of ice)… surprisingly nontechnical.” -- Detroit Free Press
“For anyone interested in natural history, there are few texts to rival this one." -- Booklist
“As leaves fall and the sky becomes more noticeable, you’re likely to look towards the heavens and wonder at their mysteries… Author Jerry Dennis and illustrator Glenn Wolff address the questions with intelligence, wit and artistry.” -- Atlanta Constitution
"A delightful book, both readable and informative -- like the best of Hal Borland and Edwin Way Teale...You've many hours of pleasure waiting with It's Raining Frogs and Fishes." -- Richmond Times-Dispatch
"Vastly entertaining, valuable... Makes natural history so much fun the reader is sucked from paragraph to paragraph, page to page, chapter to chapter.” -- St. Louis Post-Dispatch
"With text that mesmerizes, drawings that enchant, and a dust jacket that simply feels good, this book calls you to hold it open before you." -- The Oakland (Michigan) Press
"This delightful look at nature...is a cornucopia of fact and lore. Wit, humor, wonder, and reverence spice and season the vignettes herein. "It's Raining..." reminds adults -- especially in this hectic, fast-paced, just-do-it world -- that it is more than OK, it is desirable, to be child-like and to look up at the heavens and ask why." -- Toledo Blade
“This is a perfect choice for adults and kids alike who want to discover more about how the world is put together. Dennis has done a good job of entertaining and informing at the same time, and and Glenn Wolff's black-and-white illustrations gracefully supplement the fact-filled text. It's enjoyable reading and a good reference for anyone's library."
-- Sacramento Bee
"Dennis has a knack for being at once scholarly and readable, which makes this book both instructive and enjoyable. You can't ask for much more than that...This is a book no home should be without." -- Binghamton (NY) Press and Sun-Bulletin
“Charming... wonderfully illustrated... will make heroes of parents and teachers, who will be able to explain nature's magic and the superstitions surrounding it."
-- El Paso Times
“Dennis, who writes “The Natural Enquirer” for Wildlife Conservation magazine, is a consummate researcher and gifted storyteller. Wolff’s drawings are first rate… This book is must reading for the naturally curious of all ages, and it belongs in every school library.” -- Michigan Out-of-Doors
“Clear, engaging prose and lovely, lucid illustrations… A most enjoyable field guide to the awesome panoply of the sky.” -- Stephanie Mills, author of In Praise of Nature
“A great new book for nature lovers… It’s a delightful mix of hard science and folklore – which mix more often than you might think.” -- Lansing State Journal
“A generously illustrated inquiry into the science, legends, and folklore of such fascinating natural events as bird and insect migrations, solar and lunar eclipses, meteor showers, the Northern Lights, tornadoes, thunderstorms, and blizzards. It's Raining Frogs and Fishes is a magic act. With melodic prose and luminous drawings, Jerry Dennis and Glenn Wolff tear the curtain from the sky we all share, revealing the inner workings of weather, migration, shooting stars, rainbows, and more. Keep this book handy for times when life grows a bit too predictable. It's giddy, it's reverent, and it's guaranteed to get your heart beating with wonder again." -- Janine Benyus, author of Beastly Behaviors
Canoeing Michigan Rivers: A Comprehensive Guide to 45 Rivers
Canoeing Michigan Rivers: A Comprehensive Guide to 45 Rivers (Friede Publications, 1986; Thunder Bay Press, 2005, 2013), co-authored with Craig Date. Michigan’s “bible” of canoeing, completely revised and updated, with detailed descriptions and maps of more than 1,500 miles on 45 of the the state's finest rivers.
LOOK FOR NEW EDITION, COMPLETELY REVISED AND UPDATED, COMING SPRING 2013!
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Buy a copy
“Canoeing Michigan Rivers is the first definitive guide to canoeing in Michigan. The book is a great piece of information for the canoer who is advancing in skills and loos for the next step up in challenges, yet lets the novice know where he can canoe safely.” -- Michigan Sportsman
“Should be in the library of every canoer and fisherman…a goldmine of information, and the information is digested easily. A good book, an excellent read and a wealth of information on moving water by two experts. I recommend it!” -- Dave Richey, The Detroit News
“…the Bible for Michigan canoeists who take their sport seriously.” -- Gordon Charles, Traverse City Record-Eagle
“A serious gap (has) existed in the where-to-go and how-to-do-it guidebooks on outdoor sport in Michigan. Canoeing Michigan Rivers closes that gap most effectively…I welcome this book.” -- Tom Huggler, Outdoor Life Magazine
LOOK FOR NEW EDITION, COMPLETELY REVISED AND UPDATED, COMING SPRING 2013!
Look inside
Buy a copy
“Canoeing Michigan Rivers is the first definitive guide to canoeing in Michigan. The book is a great piece of information for the canoer who is advancing in skills and loos for the next step up in challenges, yet lets the novice know where he can canoe safely.” -- Michigan Sportsman
“Should be in the library of every canoer and fisherman…a goldmine of information, and the information is digested easily. A good book, an excellent read and a wealth of information on moving water by two experts. I recommend it!” -- Dave Richey, The Detroit News
“…the Bible for Michigan canoeists who take their sport seriously.” -- Gordon Charles, Traverse City Record-Eagle
“A serious gap (has) existed in the where-to-go and how-to-do-it guidebooks on outdoor sport in Michigan. Canoeing Michigan Rivers closes that gap most effectively…I welcome this book.” -- Tom Huggler, Outdoor Life Magazine
