October Book Club Pick: Upstream

Oliver herself said that “attention is the beginning of devotion,” and by that I think she means that you can only truly love something if you stay curious, observe closely, and keep your eyes open to beauty in all forms. That’s exactly what we do here at Life is Good—we’re always on the lookout for something good, keeping our eyes peeled for positivity in even the toughest situations.

Oliver also writes about creativity, about the importance of purposeful work, and about how integral getting outside is to her writing. She says, “I could not be a poet without the natural world. Someone else could. But not me. For me the door to the woods is the door to the temple.” We love hearing about what inspires creativity in artists of all kinds.

Of course, in nature as in life, change and endings are inevitable. This time of year, that message is especially true. Oliver writes—

“All things are meltable, and replaceable. Not at this moment, but soon enough, we are lambs and we are leaves, and we are stars, and the shining, mysterious pond itself.”

So, if you feel like curling up in a cozy corner on a brisk fall afternoon, contemplating life and nature, and letting your mind drift along with Oliver’s beautifully crafted essays, then Upstream is the perfect pick for you. Let us know what you think of this read!