Workshops and Appearances
May 17, 2011 - Pacific Northwest Historians Guild - 6:00 p.m. - More details to follow, though probably not for some months.
Custom Tours - I am happy to put together custom tours for people based on my book. My favorite tour is an exploration of downtown building stones. It takes about 1.5 hours and covers about 1.5 miles. We will see rocks that range in age from 3.5 billion years to 125,000 years old, plus fossils ranging from bryozoans (which look like RiceChex cereal) to five-inch wide ammonites (which look like cinnamon rolls). It's a pretty nifty walk. Please email me if you are interested. You can also contact the Seattle Architectural Foundation, which offers my tour under their Private Tours section.
Reviews and Interviews for Stories in Stone: Travels Through Urban Geology
Fall 2010 - Stories in Stone named a finalist for the 2010 Washington State Book Award in the general non-fiction category. I think that's pretty cool and I am honored to be in such august company with the other finalists and winner.
January-February 2010 - American Scientist - Perhaps my favorite review so far, as reviewer David Schoonmaker comments not only on the concept but on my writing. "Unusually clear and yet lyrical." Now you can't beat that.
October 9, 2009 - High Plains Morning on High Plains Radio - Each morning at 10:30 A.M., High Plains Features focuses on the unique characteristics of the of the region. This show aired a short piece about my book and specifically about the fine little gas station in Lamar, Colorado.
October 8, 2009 - Inquiry - Mark Lynch, who hosts the Inquiry show on WICN radio in Connecticut, and I had great conversation about stone. To download it, click here on the Inquiry site. The MP3 file is almost 15MB so it takes some time to download, but I like to think it's worth the wait.
October 2009 - Earth - A long review by Callan Bentley. Nice to get a favorable review in a geology magazine. Earth does not post their book reviews on line but they did give me permission to post a PDF of the review. It's about a half megabyte document.
September 26, 2009 - Science News - A very fine review by Sid Perkins. “Cities may seem like the most artificial places on Earth, yet a close look at massive buildings can reveal troves of natural geological glory. In chapter after fascinating chapter of Stories in Stone, Williams…deftly describes the mineralogy and history of some of the world’s most common building materials…[T]his book reveals that natural and cultural history may lie no farther than the building next door.”
August 7, 2009 - Zocalo Public Square - Jodie Liu covers a good deal of territory in her review. "It’s worth noting that Williams doesn’t try to dovetail all of the narratives together — each chapter can easily stand alone. These stories are simply isolated pillars supporting the unending construction of stone, the endless process of building into rock our lives, cultures, and histories."
August 7, 2009 - Laelaps Blog - Brian Switek's blog that focuses on paleontology. "Indeed, Stories in Stone is a breezy, fun travelogue in which Williams points out the science behind structures we regularly pass by. For those who know where to look, there are many fascinating stories urban stone can tell."
August 2009 - Seed Magazine - As part of their monthly round of up books. "Brownstone façades and marble floors are far more than just plain old rock, as urban geologist Williams explains in this charming investigation of the hidden history, ecology, and origins of stone used to build America’s cities and landmarks."
July 19, 2009 - Providence Journal - Mike Dunkelman found many things to like in the book. "Williams’ enthusiasm for his subject is infectious and his book is a delight. Stories in Stone will appeal to aficionados of science, history, art and architecture — and, of course, to rock hounds." Dunkelman also listed Stories as one of his favorite books of the year.
June 19, 2009 - Seattle Times - A very favorable review by Barbara Lloyd McMichael - "Williams teases ancient and fascinating stories out of buildings both grand and humble that dot the American landscape."
June 6, 2009 - KUOW Presents - I was interviewed by Jeremy Richards for a 12-minute tour of Seattle's buildings stone.
Past excerpts from The Street-Smart Naturalist
Seattle Times Sunday Magazine - An excerpt from the chapter on Canada geese ran in the July 17, 2005 edition of the newspaper.
Open Spaces magazine - An excerpt from the chapter on Invasive Species is in the Spring 2005 issue. The magazine is available in bookstores and magazine shops around the country.
The Seattle Weekly - An excerpt from the chapter titled The Plants, which focuses on what Seattle looked like botanically in 1850, appears in the February 16, 2005 issue of the paper.
Reviews and Interviews for The Street-Smart Naturalist
June 2, 2007 - Seattle Post-Intelligencer - Hey, I made the front page of the P-I, along with that nice Mr. Obama. The story about me focuses on urban nature in Seattle and even includes a sort of funny photo of me.
January/February 2006 - Sierra
Magazine - A nice review in their Green Life
section. Here is a little sample:
“Former park ranger David B. Williams
discovers a salmon sanctuary in the shadow of a shopping mall, watches a pair
of bald eagles build a nest in a well-trafficked Seattle park, and traces his
drinking water "from forest to faucet." Just as nature has created
unlikely urban niches, Williams's keen observations allow him to make a place
in city life for his wild heart.”
November/December 2005 - Orion Magazine - A nice review by Seth Zuckerman.
Unfortunately, it isn't online.
September 08, 2005 - The Ledger review - All the way from Lakeland, Florida, a nifty review.
August 3, 2005 - The Seattle Weekly called me the "Best Urban Nature Writer" in their annual "Best of Issue."
June 10, 2005 - Seattle
Times review of The
Street-Smart Naturalist by Barbara
Lloyd McMichael
May 31, 2005 - Weekday with Steve Scher
- on KUOW - 94.9 FM - To access the show archive, please go to this web site. http://www.kuow.org/defaultProgram.asp?ID=8869