Rachel Nuwer reviews “Homesick for a World Unknown” for Undark Magazine

“Schaller was years ahead of his time … While most other 20th-century scientists viewed non-human species as devoid of feeling or complexity, Schaller was convinced that animals possessed inner lives much like our own and [that] the surest path to discovering these hidden worlds was to meet animals on their own terms. His research laid the ground for the field of conservation biology, and his commitment to translating his findings into real-world action likely saved numerous species from extinction — earning him acclaim from the likes of David Attenborough and Michael Crichton as the most important animal researcher in the 20th century.

“Horn’s impressively researched book draws from decades of letters, diaries, photos, and some 20,000 pages of field notes that the biologist made during his long career. An acclaimed environmental journalist [who] spent time working in conservation herself for the U.S. Forest Service and Environmental Defense Fund, she spoke with more than four dozen sources in 16 countries who worked with Schaller, as far back as the sixties, extensively interviewed Schaller and his family, and even took two field trips with him.

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