David Quammen

Science journalist and author of "The Reluctant Mr. Darwin"

David Quammen is a science journalist, nonfiction author, and (former) novelist who has spent most of his life in Montana.  He travels on assignment for various magazines, usually to jungles, deserts, or swamps.  His accustomed beat is the world of field biology, ecology, evolutionary biology, and conservation, though he also occasionally writes about travel, history, and outdoor sports. 

His book, “The Reluctant Mr. Darwin,” is an intimate portrait of the scientist. 2009 marks the bicentenary of Darwin’s birth, the 150th anniversary of the publication of his seminal work, “On the Origin of Species.” According to The Los Angeles Times Book Review, "Quammen brilliantly and powerfully re-creates the 19th century naturalist's intellectual and spiritual journey.”

His work has appeared in Harper’s, National Geographic, The Atlantic, National Geographic Adventure, Outside, The New York Times Book Review, and in "The Best American Science Writing 2005" along with several other such collections.  He has three times received the National Magazine Award for essays and other work.  His twelve books include “The Song of the Dodo,” “Monster of God,” “The Soul of Viktor Tronko” (a spy novel), “The Reluctant Mr. Darwin,” and a recent expanded edition of his first collection of short nonfiction, “Natural Acts.” 

He currently holds the positions of Contributing Writer for National Geographic Magazine. Quammen lives in Bozeman, Montana with his wife (Betsy Gaines, a conservationist), two rescue-case dogs, and a low-maintenance cat.