Craig Childs’ The Wild Dark: A Captivating Exploration of Stargazing in a Moonless Night

In the inaugural feature of a new series from Torrey House Press, the focus is on Craig Childs’ forthcoming book, The Wild Dark: Finding the Night Sky in the Age of Light, which explores the often-overlooked issue of light pollution and its profound impacts on our perception of the night sky. Drawing from the insights of ecologists Travis Longcore and Catherine Rich, Childs embarks on a biking adventure from the bright lights of Las Vegas to remote areas with minimal artificial light, structuring his narrative around the Bortle Dark-Sky Scale. Throughout the 200-page reflective narrative, Childs blends engaging storytelling, scientific research, and personal anecdotes to elevate the conversation about the merits of stargazing and the degradation caused by artificial lighting, urging readers to consider their lost connection with the cosmos. The book, available for preorder and set for release on May 20, promises an inspiring call to reclaim our right to a spectacular night sky while offering practical solutions to mitigate light pollution.