The University of Arizona Press
The Botanical Odyssey of Richard S. Felger
This work is a vibrant tribute to Richard Stephen Felger, who was one of the most influential scientists of the American Southwest and northwestern Mexico. Known as a desert botanist, Felger’s work transcended regional boundaries, blending rigorous fieldwork with global ecological vision. This work offers an intimate and multifaceted portrait of a man whose tireless advocacy for biodiversity and biocultural conservation shaped generations of desert scientists..
Edited by Benjamin T. Wilder, Bill Broyles, and Thomas Bowen, this book is both a celebration and a resource. The work is separated into four parts. With humor, insight, and deep empathy, Felger’s own voice leads the journey in part 1, recounting his most memorable field experiences with masterful prose and sly wit. Part 2 brings together heartfelt reflections from colleagues who worked alongside Felger in the field, revealing the eccentric brilliance and relentless curiosity that defined his career. Part 3 explores his family history and the unconventional path that shaped his life’s work, while part 4 presents a comprehensive bibliography of his most important publications. The book contains four maps that help take you around the world on Felger’s journeys, and fifty images selected from the thousands of slides from his archive that further transport and anchor you in the adventure.
Felger’s own voice, paired with reflections from twenty colleagues, creates a rich, multifaceted narrative, offering readers a rare glimpse into the life of a scientific icon whose legacy continues to inspire desert researchers and conservationists across the globe.
Contributors
James Aronson
Thomas Bowen
Bill Broyles
Alberto Búrquez
Susan Davis Carnahan
Mark Alan Dimmitt
Exequiel Ezcurra
Gil Gillenwater
Russ Kleinman
Angelina Martínez-Yrízar
Gregory McNamee
Cathy Moser Marlett
Gary Paul Nabhan
Wallace J. Nichols
William R. Norris
Humberto Romero Morales
Sue Rutman
Silke Schneider
Jeffrey Seminoff
Jane Spinti
Benjamin T. Wilder
“This is an odyssey through the life of one of the most important desert biologists of our era as seen through his own eyes as well those of many of his contemporaries. It offers a unique regional perspective on the growth of desert ecology. It is a fun read, and one that will stick with you for a long time.”—Paul Dayton, Scripps Institution of Oceanography
"These stories of the remarkable Richard Felger, truly a kindred spirit and one-of-a-kind botanist, explorer and friend, bring vivid memories of a world that no longer exists! Richard was always ready to go exploring and see something other than the inside of a conference room, a passion that we shared.”—Sylvia Earle, oceanographer and National Geographic Explorer at Large
“It was Richard Felger who reminded me that the desert is beautiful. It became my mantra. This book full of stories by Richard and others had me smiling, even tearing up and I have to say, ‘Richard, we miss you and the desert is still beautiful. Pax et Prosopis.’”—Petey Mesquitey, host of Growing Native with Petey Mesquitey podcast
