Best Endangered Species Books of 2025

The Prepper's Ultimate Medical Bible is a comprehensive guide that provides readers with the knowledge and skills necessary to face any medical emergency that may arise during a disaster. The book covers topics such as survival medicine, physical exams, sanitation, and triage, preparing readers to become a medical resource in emergency situations. The guide emphasizes personal safety and provides practical advice for keeping loved ones safe during adverse events. The book is a must-read for anyone who wants to be prepared for the worst-case scenario.

The National Geographic The Photo Ark is a visually stunning and important book that showcases photographer Joel Sartore's lifelong project to capture portraits of the world's animals, with a focus on those facing extinction. The book features over 6,000 animal portraits, from tiny to mammoth, and is paired with eloquent prose from veteran wildlife writer Douglas Chadwick and an inspiring foreword from Harrison Ford. Sartore's powerful message through his art is to know these animals is to save them. This book is a thought-provoking argument for saving all the species of our planet and is a must-read for anyone passionate about animal conservation.

American Serengeti: The Last Big Animals of the Great Plains is a compelling and well-researched natural history that tells the story of the Great Plains and its wildlife, including pronghorn antelope, gray wolves, bison, coyotes, wild horses, and grizzly bears. Author Dan Flores draws a vivid portrait of each of these animals and details their decline due to market hunters and ranchers, as well as a federal killing program. Flores also highlights recent efforts to restore these species and the complexity of the Great Plains ecology. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history and wildlife of the American West.

The book "We Want to Do More Than Survive: Abolitionist Teaching and the Pursuit of Educational Freedom" by Bettina Love is a powerful call to action for educators, parents, and community leaders to approach education with the imagination, determination, boldness, and urgency of an abolitionist. Love argues that the US educational system profits from the suffering of children of color and offers only survival tactics instead of genuine reform. She introduces an alternative to traditional modes of educational reform and expands our ideas of civic engagement and intersectional justice. This book is a must-read for all those who aspire to activism in education.

"Wild New World: The Epic Story of Animals and People in America" by Dan Flores is a deep-time history of animals and humans in North America. Flores explores the coexistence of humans and animals in North America, a place shaped both by its own grand evolutionary forces and by momentous arrivals from Asia, Africa, and Europe. In this thrilling narrative style, Flores traces the origins of today's "Sixth Extinction" to the spread of humans around the world and explores the decline and miraculous recovery of species in recent decades. Overall, this book offers a unique perspective on the evolution and historical ecology of North America."

An inspiring read, Tenacious Beasts by Christopher Preston offers a fresh perspective on wildlife recovery. The book showcases several animal populations that have defied global trends towards extinction, offering hope and crucial lessons on how to coexist with nature. Preston weaves together a gripping narrative of how some species are taking back vital, ecological roles, drawing on compelling personal stories from researchers, Indigenous people, and activists. The book offers a philosophical shift in how humans ought to think about animals, passionately advocating for the changes in attitude necessary for wildlife recovery. Tenacious Beasts is quintessential nature writing for the Anthropocene, and an important book for anyone interested in the environment.

The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival by John Vaillant is a gripping narrative nonfiction that tells the story of a man-eating tiger on the prowl in Russia's Far East. The tiger is cunning, injured, and starving, making it even more dangerous. A team of trackers is dispatched to hunt down the tiger before it strikes again. Vaillant masterfully combines a riveting portrait of a stark and mysterious region of the world and its people, with the natural history of nature's most deadly predator. The book is a page-turner that offers readers a shiver-inducing portrait of a predator. Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in the biology of big cats, tigers, and their struggle for survival in the wild.

Bird Planet: A Photographic Journey by Tim Laman showcases the best of his work as a bird photographer. It takes readers on a journey around the world, sharing his stunning images of birds in their natural habitats. Laman's passion for bird photography shines through in his breathtaking photos, which capture the beauty and diversity of bird species. The book includes a chapter on Laman's signature achievement of photographing all the known species of birds of paradise. Bird Planet is a must-read for anyone interested in bird photography and the natural world.

Birds of the Photo Ark is a beautifully packaged collection of stunning bird portraits from around the world, captured by acclaimed National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore as part of his Photo Ark project, accompanied by inspiring text from Noah Strycker. From tiny finches to majestic eagles, the book features hundreds of species, including colorful toucans, birds of paradise, parrots, hummingbirds, and owls. This coffee table book is a must-have for bird enthusiasts, as well as anyone who cares about the preservation of life on Earth. Overall, it is a unique and uplifting celebration of the beauty and diversity of birds.

Walking With Gorillas: The Journey of an African Wildlife Vet is an inspiring memoir by Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, Uganda's first wildlife veterinarian. Her remarkable journey from an animal-loving childhood to protecting endangered mountain gorillas and other wild animals is truly inspiring. The book also highlights her innovative approach to conservation, which focuses on improving the health and wellbeing of both wildlife and human communities. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in conservation, poverty alleviation, and the role of women in society. Overall, it is an uplifting and motivating story of one woman's passion and determination to make a difference in the world.