Voice in Our Wilderness: John Husar's Timeless Writings on the Outdoors, Strange Meals, and Life's Simple Moments »

Longtime Chicago Tribune columnist John Husar knew enough about nature to appreciate its simplicity and mystery. He knew more than enough about the threats to the outdoors to become a tireless defender of habitat and wildlife. And he knew more than just about anyone about cooking strange meals that made his readers laugh and groan. A Voice in Our Wilderness reflects Husar's insatiable appetite for life and good stories. During his 15 years as an outdoors writer, he took his readers on an intimate tour of the Midwestern landscape -- and beyond. He backed up his opinions with action. He didn't just tell readers that crow or prairie dog tasted good, he gave them recipes. When he urged readers to save the environment, he told them where and how. He championed the creation of the bicycling and hiking trails of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, and he helped pave the way for the conversion of thirty-two thousand acres of army land into Illinois' Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. Husar, who died in 2000 of hepatitis C, never fretted away a moment, not even when his liver began to fail. He always focused on enjoying life's wonders. His laughter and zest were contagious. So is his spirit, which is reflected in the writings in this collection.