Description

A Natural History of Empty Lots is a unique blend of nature writing, literary nonfiction, and memoir that examines the intersection of urban spaces and the natural world.

During the real estate crash of the late 2000s, Christopher Brown purchased an abandoned lot in an industrial area of Austin, Texas. Filled with debris and forgotten by the city, the property seemed like an unlikely place to build a home. But Brown had developed a deep curiosity about these overlooked urban spaces—once sites of agriculture or industry, now left to decay while awaiting redevelopment. Over the course of twenty years, he immersed himself in these so-called “ruined” places, documenting how nature persisted and flourished despite human disturbance. Through his observations, he discovered the extraordinary resilience of the wild and the potential for healing both the land and ourselves.

Beautifully written and thought-provoking, A Natural History of Empty Lots challenges the way we see the environment, offering insight into the impact of human development and a sense of hope for the future of urban nature.