World of Wonders

From beloved, award-winning poet Aimee Nezhukumatathil comes a debut work of nonfiction—a New York Times-bestselling collection of essays about the natural world, and the way its inhabitants can teach, support, and inspire us.

As a child, Nezhukumatathil called many places home: the grounds of a Kansas mental institution, where her Filipina mother was a doctor; the open skies and tall mountains of Arizona, where she hiked with her Indian father; and the chillier climes of western New York and Ohio. But no matter where she was transplanted—no matter how awkward the fit or forbidding the landscape—she was able to turn to our world’s fierce and funny creatures for guidance.

“What the peacock can do,” she tells us, “is remind you of a home you will run away from and run back to all your life.” The axolotl teaches us to smile, even in the face of unkindness; the touch-me-not plant shows us how to shake off unwanted advances; the narwhal demonstrates how to survive in hostile environments. Even in the strange and the unlovely, Nezhukumatathil finds beauty and kinship. For it is this way with wonder: it requires that we are curious enough to look past the distractions in order to fully appreciate the world’s gifts.

Warm, lyrical, and gorgeously illustrated by Fumi Nakamura, World of Wonders is a book of sustenance and joy.

This discussion guide was shared and sponsored in partnership with Milkweed Editions.

Book club questions for World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatathil

Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.

World of Wonders is Aimee Nezhukumatathil’s first work of nonfiction. What ways do you see poetic elements intertwine with memoir in this book?

Nezhukumatathil writes about her identity as an Asian American woman—often seen as an outsider by those around her. In what ways does she come to terms with feeling the pull to ‘blend’ in with her white classmates and friends?

World of Wonders speaks to the beauty and surprise of the natural world, along with the responsibility we hold toward it; Nezhukumatathil emphasizes the dangers facing nature as she wrestles with humanity’s impact on it. Where does her concern stem from? In what ways do you connect with her message?

There is a quality of nostalgia and reflection to World of Wonders. What memories resonate with you? As Nezhukumatathil reflects, what does she learn about herself?

From her parents teaching her about fireflies to being a professor at the University of Mississippi, Nezhukumatathil’s life is highlighted with her dedication to education. How does this dedication translate in her writing?

Motherhood is a prominent theme in World of Wonders. What is the connection being made between Nezhukumatathil’s experience as a mother and the call to protection she feels for her children and the world around her?

Nezhukumatathil writes of the influence of her Filipina and Indian heritage. How have culture and the traditions of her family shaped her?

World of Wonders captures a certain universality about life in each essay—the joy in the little things and the awe found in the world. What images resonate with you? What wonders stand out to you through the reading of this book?

Nezhukumatathil moved from one place to another, migrating across the United States, much like the monarch butterflies she writes about. What has this taught her about the importance of home, and what does it teach you?

Nezhukumatathil writes, “There is a time for stillness, but who hasn’t also wanted to scream with delight at being outdoors?” (95). How do you see these two sides of Nezhukumatathil in her writing?

World of Wonders Book Club Questions PDF

Click here for a printable PDF of the World of Wonders discussion questions

“Within two pages, nature writing feels different and fresh and new. Nezhukumatathil has written a timely story about love, identity and belonging . . . We are losing the language and the ability to see and understand the wondrous things around us. And our lives are impoverished by this process . . . This book demands we find the eyes to see and the heart to love such things once more. It is a very fine book indeed, truly full of wonder.” —New York Times Book Review

“From its gorgeous illustrations to its unusual combination of lyrical nature writing and memoir, World of Wonders is hands-down one of the most beautiful books of the year.” —NPR, Best Books of 2020

“In thirty bewitching essays, Nezhukumatathil spotlights natural astonishments raining from monsoon season in India to clusters of fireflies in western New York, each one a microcosm of joy and amazement. With her ecstatic prose and her rapturous powers of insight, Nezhukumatathil proves herself a worthy spiritual successor to the likes of Mary Oliver and Annie Dillard, setting the bar high for a new generation of nature writers.”—Esquire, “Best Books of Fall 2020”

"Reading World of Wonders, it’s clear that Nezhukumatathil is a poet. These essays sing with joy and longing — each focusing on a different natural wonder, all connected by the thread of Nezhukumatathil’s curiosity and her identification with the world’s beautiful oddities . . . It's a heartwarming, poignant, and often funny collection, enlivened by Fumi Nakamura’s dreamy illustrations."—BuzzFeed, “New Fall Books You Won’t Be Able to Put Down”

“Aimee Nezhukumatathil's World of Wonders is a gorgeous collection of essays that ruminate on flora, fauna, and what they can teach us about life itself. Moving between vignettes from Nezhukumatathil's life and her ponderings on nature, World of Wonders is a one-of-a-kind book you won't want to miss this year.” —Bustle, “The Best Books of Fall 2020”