Author Guide · Environmental Writing
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Before Europeans arrived, North America may have held hundreds of millions of beavers, and their dams shaped rivers, wetlands and whole landscapes. Ben Goldfarb, an environmental journalist, went looking for the scientists, ranchers and enthusiasts who are bringing beavers back to restore those landscapes. His second book turned to the roads that cut through every habitat on earth, and what they do to the animals that try to cross them. This guide covers both of his books, and where to start.
By Lisanne Swart · 2 books · Environmental writing · 2018–2023 · Updated October 2026
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Quick answer
Ben Goldfarb has published two books: Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter (2018), which won the PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award, and Crossings: How Road Ecology Is Shaping the Future of Our Planet (2023).
Where to Start with Ben Goldfarb
If you want the famous one
→ Eager (2018).
If you want the most recent
→ Crossings (2023).
All 2 Ben Goldfarb Books, in Order
Eager
The history and ecology of beavers, and the people, from scientists to ranchers, who are reintroducing them to restore rivers and wetlands.
Crossings
How roads affect wildlife, from roadkill to fragmented habitats, and the scientists building bridges and tunnels to help animals cross.
How Many Books Did Ben Goldfarb Write?
Two books, in 2018 and 2023.
- Nature — both books. Read the entries →
In What Order to Read Ben Goldfarb
The two books stand alone and can be read in either order.
A reading path
1. Eager (2018)
2. Crossings (2023)
Quick facts about Ben Goldfarb
- Work
- Environmental journalist
- Prize
- PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award, for Eager
- Books
- 2, in 2018 and 2023
How Ben Goldfarb Writes: Ecology Through People
Goldfarb explains ecology through the people who study and manage it, travelling to rivers, ranches and highways to see the work in practice.
He writes with humour and clarity, making the case that small creatures and ordinary infrastructure shape the whole planet.
Frequently asked questions about Ben Goldfarb's books
How many books has Ben Goldfarb written?
Ben Goldfarb has published two books: Eager (2018) and Crossings (2023).
What is Eager about?
Eager (2018) is about beavers, their role in shaping landscapes, and the people bringing them back.
Footnotes
Bibliography last verified 1 October 2026.
This list was not put together by a machine.
The notes are all mine,
and the books are all his.
Lisanne x
Written by Lisanne Swart, who has curated reading lists and author guides at lisanneswart.com since 2021.
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