Andrés Ruzo’s new book The Boiling River, Adventure and Discovery in the Amazon is the true story of the author’s quest to discover if a legendary “boiling river” — the subject of a fascinating tale he first heard at his grandfather’s knee during his boyhood in Peru — was in fact a legitimate natural phenomenon. Replete with illustrations that unveil the beauty of the Amazon basin, The Boiling River chronicles Ruzo’s journey into one of the most threatened and essential biomes on the planet.

We asked Andrés Ruzo to talk with us about some of the books that inspire him in his work as a geoscientist, explorer, writer and educator.

“I not only enjoyed reading these books, but most important, these are works that always leave me thinking and revisiting their themes long after I put them down. These works of fiction and nonfiction are stories of adventure and discovery joined by a common thread: finding our internal strength as we overcome external struggles.”

Moby-Dick

By Herman Melville

“This is my favorite book — a fact that surprises many people. “Aren’t you a conservationist, and isn’t it all about killing whales?” It is and it isn´t.

“Moby-Dick centers on the character of Ishmael as he sets about on an adventure to escape the mundaneness of his life. His adventure on the high seas becomes a search for meaning, a grappling of idealism versus reality, and a reflection of human nature and bigotry, God’s existence and spirituality, and even whale conservation, to name a few. It presents a fascinating glimpse into nineteenth-century whaling and cetology, based on Melville’s experience as a whaler, and highlights how far we have come in our understanding of these amazing animals over the last 165 years.”

A Short History of Nearly Everything

By Bill Bryson

“Bryson never fails to write entertaining reads. This book is fascinating and informative, and makes nearly everything relevant and relatable to the reader. Bryson dedicates a lot of the book to the history of great scientists. They are depicted as real people — flaws and all — who made a positive difference in spite of political, financial, and personal obstacles. As a young scientist, I find this book particularly relevant as it shows what ordinary people with extraordinary focus are capable of achieving.”

Trapping Wild Animals in Malay Jungles

By Charles Mayer

“Another unusual choice to admit to as a conservationist, as the book is about exactly what the title implies. As a boy, Mayer runs away with the circus, gets involved in “wild animal collecting,” and became an international wildlife trafficking boss. Imagine Pablo Escobar writing about his action-packed adventures in the field, before it was all illegal. Though I highly disagree with the writer’s actions, I enjoy his detailed firsthand accounts of animal behavior and admire his resourcefulness and strategy as he explored Southeast Asia before it had fully opened to Westerners. The book makes for a gripping tale from the early days of modern exploration.”

The Alchemist

By Paulo Coelho

“One of my favorites since I was a boy, The Alchemist veils timeless lessons in fable-like simplicity. A story decorated with magic realism, everything holds meaning. Every time I read it, it leaves me feeling hopeful, with a desire to rethink the treasures hidden in my own everyday life and wondering what quest I need to undertake to find them.”

The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt’s New World

By Andrea Wulf

“I consider Alexander von Humboldt to be one of history’s giants. An explorer, philosopher, naturalist, traveler, to name a few — labels always fall short of fully describing this remarkable mind. Wulf’s ability to condense Humboldt’s complexity and communicate his essence makes this book a joy to read. It puts Humboldt in his greater context: his time, place, and personal and professional struggles, as well as his exciting adventures and discoveries. His holistic perception of the universe, a revolutionary worldview in his day, leaves me curious about the interconnectedness of our world and hungry to continually explore it.”