Arctic DreamsArctic Dreams
Score Classic
What it's about
Barry Lopez spent years traveling in the Arctic, and here he writes about it: its strange light and landscapes, the animals that live there, from musk oxen and polar bears to narwhals and migrating birds, the explorers who came and often died, and the Inuit people who made it home. It's a meditation on how we see and value the land.
Why it's worth reading
It won the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award. It's a classic of nature writing.
You'll love it if you liked
The Snow Leopard
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
Annals of the Former WorldGood to know
It's lyrical and slow, best read in pieces.
By the numbers
- Readers83 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics82 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller1 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story, Adventurous
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Quick answers
Is Arctic Dreams worth reading?
Yes. It won the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award. It ranks #260 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 82.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Arctic Dreams about?
Barry Lopez spent years traveling in the Arctic, and here he writes about it: its strange light and landscapes, the animals that live there, from musk oxen and polar bears to narwhals and migrating birds, the explorers who came and often died, and the Inuit people who made it home. It's a meditation on how we see and value the land.
How long does it take to read Arctic Dreams?
About 12 hours (464 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has Arctic Dreams won?
National Book Award (Nonfiction) winner (1986); NBCC Award (Nonfiction) winner (1986).
What should I read after Arctic Dreams?
If you liked it, try The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard or Annals of the Former World by John McPhee.