Of Time and Turtles

National Book Award finalist for The Soul of an Octopus and New York Times bestseller Sy Montgomery turns her journalistic curiosity to the wonder and wisdom of our long-lived cohabitants–turtles–and through their stories of hope and rescue,reveals to us astonishing new perspectives on time and healing. When acclaimed naturalist Sy Montgomery and wildlife artist Matt Patterson arrive at Turtle Rescue Leaguethey are greeted by hundreds of turtles recovering from injury and illness. Endangered by cars and highwayspollution and poachersthese turtles–with wounds so severe that even veterinarians would have dismissed them as fatal–are given a second chance at life. The League’s foundersNatasha and Alexxialive by one motto: Never give up on a turtle. But why turtles? What is it about them that inspires such devotion? Ancient and unhurriedlong-lived and majestictheir lineage stretches back to the time of the dinosaurs. Some live to two hundred yearsor longer. Others spend months buried under cold winter water. Montgomery turns to these little understood yet endlessly surprising creatures to probe the eternal question: How can we make peace with our time? In pursuit of the answerSy and Matt immerse themselves in the delicate work of protecting turtle nestsincubating eggsrescuing sea turtlesand releasing hatchlings to their homes in the wild. We follow the snapping turtle Fire Chief on his astonishing journey as he battles against injuries incurred by a truck. Hopeful and optimisticOf Time and Turtles is an antidote to the instability of our frenzied world. Elegantly blending sciencememoirphilosophyand drawing on cultures from across the globethis compassionate portrait of injured turtles and their determined rescuers invites us all to slow down and slip into turtle time.