The Foreign Service Journal, November 2014

62 NOVEMBER 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Field Guide to the Natural World of Washington, D.C. Howard Youth, Johns Hopkins University Press, 2014, $24.95/paperback, $13.99/Kindle, 400 pages. Reviewing this book for American Refer- ence Books Annual , Scott R. DiMarco notes: “To most people, the only animals in Washington, D.C., are political animals. But how wrong they are!” Nature awaits discovery at almost every turn in the complex ecosystem of Washington, D.C. And in Field Guide to the Natural World of Washington, D.C. , natu- ralist Howard Youth takes us on an urban safari, describing the wild side of the nation’s capital. Detailed drawings by Carnegie artist Mark A. Klingler and photography by Robert E. Mumford Jr., enhance Youth’s text, revealing the rich color and stunning beauty of the flora and fauna surrounding Washingtonians. Whether seeking a secluded jog or an adventurous outing, residents and tourists alike will find this handsome guide indispensable for finding oases away from the noise of the city. Howard Youth is a freelance natural history writer and editor. He previously worked at Friends of the National Zoo, the World- watch Institute and the American Automobile Association, where he edited tour books. While overseas, he has written arti- cles for a variety of publications, including Audubon magazine, National Wildlife and the Washington Post . He is the husband of Foreign Service officer Marta Costanzo Youth and has been posted in Chennai, Madrid, Quito, Ottawa and Managua. n