Mother, Nature

A 5,000-Mile Journey to Discover If a Mother and Son Can Survive Their Differences

By: Jedidiah Jenkins

Narrated by: Jedidiah Jenkins

Length: 6 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • From the author of To Shake the Sleeping Self . . .

“Exquisitely written and completely compelling . . . As Jedidiah Jenkins traces a 5,000-mile route with his wildly entertaining mother, Barb, he begins to untangle the live wires of a parent-child bond and to wrestle with a love that hurts.”—Suleika Jaouad, author of Between Two Kingdoms

LAMBDA LITERARY AWARD FINALIST

When his mother, Barbara, turns seventy, Jedidiah Jenkins is reminded of a sobering truth: Our parents won’t live forever. For years, he and Barbara have talked about taking a trip together, just the two of them. They disagree about politics, about God, about the project of society—disagreements that hurt. But they love thrift stores, they love eating at diners, they love true crime, and they love each other. Jedidiah wants to step into Barbara’s world and get to know her in a way that occasional visits haven’t allowed.

They land on an idea: to retrace the thousands of miles Barbara trekked with Jedidiah’s father, travel writer Peter Jenkins, as part of the Walk Across America book trilogy that became a sensation in the 1970s. Beginning in New Orleans, they set off for the Oregon coast, listening to podcasts about outlaws and cult leaders—the only media they can agree on—while reliving the journey that changed Barbara’s life. Jedidiah discovers who Barbara was as a thirty-year-old writer walking across America and who she is now, as a parent who loves her son yet holds on to a version of faith that sees his sexuality as a sin.

Along the way, he peels back the layers of questions millions are asking today: How do we stay in relationship when it hurts? When do boundaries turn into separation? When do we stand up for ourselves, and when do we let it go?

Tender, smart, and profound, Mother, Nature is a story of a remarkable mother-son bond and a moving meditation on the complexities of love.

©2023 Jedidiah Jenkins (P)2023 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Tender, funny, and courageous, exquisitely written and completely compelling . . . As Jedidiah Jenkins traces a 5,000-mile route with his wildly entertaining mother, Barb, he begins to untangle the live wires of a parent-child bond and to wrestle with a love that hurts. Their relationship is as complicated as it gets, yet as beautiful as I’ve ever had the privilege to witness in words. I don’t know a single person who wouldn’t benefit from reading Mother, Nature.” —Suleika Jaouad, bestselling author of Between Two Kingdoms

“A gorgeously written story of a mother and son’s journey—across the country, back into the past, over craggy emotional and ideological territory—as they try to find a way forward together . . . Again and again, Jenkins’s conclusions surprised me and made me consider my own ‘deal breakers.’ Ultimately Mother, Nature is a book about love, acceptance, and the freedom that comes from knowing, at long last, the truth. As a mother and as a daughter, I’ll be thinking about the conversations at the heart of this book for a good, long time.” —Maggie Smith, bestselling author of You Could Make This Place Beautiful

“A beautifully crafted road trip through the sad, sweet, aching truths of a mother, a son, her faith, and his reason; a peacemaking of love unresolved and overwhelming.” —Rabbi Steve Leder, bestselling author of For You When I Am Gone

Compelling

Deeply moving and thought provoking. Amazed by the level of love and respect Jed and his mom have for each other even in their differences.

Captivating story telling

I absolutely love listening to jediah tell his story. Many aspects of this story remind me of my own mother, my mother-in-law, and my life growing up in a strict mormon family.

You’ll feel it all

I loved this book. You’ll laugh, cry, and examine the complexities of relationships and how to love through the challenges.

A sweet story of love and truth.

I would definitely want to go on a road trip with these two! Tender, revealing, enjoyable.

Insightful

It feels good to hear some of the interactions between mother and son. So many moments that were reflective of my relationship with my mother and my relationship with my daughter, who has recently decided to “go see the elephant”.
I think I’m going to try to be nicer to my mother. Or at least more patient.

Such a lovely read

This was such a chill, beautiful book. I adored the cadence and frankness of Jed’s storytelling.

Honest and refreshing

 I can’t remember where I just heard about this book but I listened to the sample and loved it. I just bought it and I’ve already finished it. It’s a great read and a very good listen. Much appreciate the honesty and the raw truth around disconnections that happen in many families. Thank you for sharing.

A roadmap to a peaceful heart

When I listen to a memoir read by the author, I almost feel like I’m stealing, and that is especially true when it’s Jedidiah Jenkins. There is a transmission that happens when you hear the words directly from the author’s mouth, communication happening on a deeper, subtle level, that is priceless.

As with his previous work, this book is powerful and layered, filled with vulnerable self-reflections and universal truths that sneak up on you - unlocking new spaces in your heart, confronting you with your own blind spots. I don’t ever leave reviews, but I felt compelled as this story is especially timely, it gets to the core of some of the greatest challenges we face: our ability to see, to respect, and love those whose worldview and values appear to oppose our own. This cross-country journey with his mom provides a hard-earned roadmap to a peaceful heart. It’s done with so much care and humor, while interrogating the strength of our foundational beliefs. It is a beautiful celebration of what we have in common, and the freedom that comes with accepting, and even honoring, our differences.

ESSENTIAL!!!

This book is important on so many levels. I resonate beyond what I can write here. My body responds.
I've always loved Jed's writing, but this lands home for me. My relationship to my dad an evangelical pastor. My pursuit of my own life separate from it. The dividing lines I see cutting us apart and feeling the deep call to mend it. Loved it so much. Thank you Jed for sharing your story with us intimately and being a voice for us millennials. 🫶

Love their relationship!

Such a great story of a mom and son. Love how much they love and respect each other.