Merriam-Webster defines the following words thusly:
- well-read (adjective): well-informed or deeply versed through reading
- naturalist (noun): [definition 2] a student of natural history
Since its establishment in 2009, The Well-read Naturalist has provided – free of charge to all who are interested – news and reviews of books within the categories:
- natural history and the history thereof
- natural philosophy and natural theology (the immediate predecessors to natural history)
- the history of science
- the history of medicine
- the biographies and autobiographies of people who played a meaningful role in the above categories
On these, and other – usually related – topics as deemed of interest, will be published:
- feature-length book reviews (generally above 1,000 words in length)
- in-brief reviews of books (for those books that are shorter in length for which a feature-length review would seem excessive)
- news of newly published and forthcoming books
- naturalist classics, being notes and commentary on long-since published books found to be of interest
- a Commonplace Book of quotations determined to be worthy of remembrance
- a Marginalia wherein are recorded, as the name implies, items of interest preserved for future reference
The Well-read Naturalist’s Policy on the Use of AI Tools
All material published in The Well-read Naturalist is conceived, written, and published by John E. Riutta, the website’s founder and publisher. No AI tools are used, nor have they previously been, nor will they ever be.
A Note for Book Publicists
Book publicists wishing to submit their current or forth-coming books for possible inclusion and review in The Well-read Naturalist are encouraged to contact the The Well-read Naturalist directly.
Please note:
- Any book submitted must be sent in print form – digital copies are not accepted
- Advance reading copies are accepted for initial examination, however as the quality of printed books is on an unfortunate downward trend in levels of print and binding quality, a copy of the actual published book in validation of the proof copy must be subsequently submitted in order to allow such physical matters, as well as included images and colour plates, to be evaluated and comment made in a published review if such is deemed relevant.
- While self-published books will be considered, it is very unusual for them to be included in The Well-read Naturalist.