WINNER OF THE WILLIAM SAROYAN INTERNATIONAL PRIZE FOR NONFICTION (2012) WINNER OF THE JOHN BURROUGHS MEDAL (2011) NATIONAL OUTDOOR BOOK AWARD FOR 2010 in Natural History Literature BOOKS FOR A BETTER LIFE AWARD, FINALIST for Inspirational Memoir TOP TEN ADULT SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY BOOKS FOR 2010, Booklist BEST BOOKS OF 2010: MORE OF THE BEST, Library Journal GREAT TITLES TO ADD TO THE NYT BEST OF 2010, Huffington Post Praise: "Beautiful." -- Edward O. Wilson "Universal, deeply felt, and with an enormously generous soul, the gently told story grants readers a heightened appreciation for the ever-shrinking, ever-fascinating, secretive parts of our unkempt world." -- Alexandra Fuller for The Daily Beast "How interesting can a snail be? Entirely captivating, as it turns out. [Bailey] is a marvelous writer, and the marriage of science and poetic mysticism that characterizes this small volume is magical." -- Minneapolis Star Tribune "[Bailey] found comfort in an unlikely companion--a tiny snail, whose micro-doings are the source of a surprising philosophy." -- Entertainment Weekly "An exquisite meditation on the restorative connection between nature and humans. Bailey's slim book is as richly layered as the soil she lays down in the snail's terrarium: loamy, potent, and regenerative.

" -- The Huffington Post "[A] small, quiet masterpiece, already destined to become a classic." -- Washington Times "This little gem of a book is both moving and fascinating, compelling readers to appreciate their health and also find comfort in stillness. Who knew snails could be so inspiring?" -- Wall Street Journal "A spare, beautifully quirky grace note of a book." -- Family Circle "Though illness may rob us of vitality, sometimes it can also help bring us understanding---albeit in improbable disguises . Perhaps there's something to be said for moving at a snail's pace." -- NPR.org "This elegant little gem is a triumph."-- Maine Sunday Telegram.