Half memoir, half science essay collection, Gathering Moss meets us at the cross roads of the scientific mind and the human heart. And its kind of a mess.

Unlike some of the one star reviewers of this book, I went in already knowing this was short of kind of too personal to be considered just a non-fiction science book. The spiritual/emotional connection we feel with nature doesn't really blend well with cold scientific facts but Kimmer is REALLY trying to make them mix but for me its just not working.

For me, the personal/memoir parts of this book were super enjoyable. Some of these passages were just really poetic and really touched on the human connection with nature without going tooo spiritual (it did get very spiritual at times but it wasn't so much that I hated it). I just wish the chapters/essays were a little more connected, more like a regular memoir.

As for the science part, I learned things. Did my eyes glaze over a few times and I had to remember to pay attention? Yes. When the book is info dumbing facts, I found it super hard to engage. I almost wish I was taking notes in a physical book instead of listening to an audiobook.

I think your enjoyment of this book is really gonna matter on what you are looking for. If you are looking for a personal memoir set in nature, this isn't it. If you are looking for a strictly technical break down of the impact of moss, this is also not it. But if you don't mind a little bit of both, you might have a nice time with Gathering Moss.