Book excerpt: "The Beast in the Clouds" by Nathalia Holt
In the latest book by Nathalia Holt (the bestselling author of "Rise of the Rocket Girls"), two sons of Theodore Roosevelt set out for China on a quest to find a mythical creature: the giant panda.
"The Beast in the Clouds" (Atria/One Signal) recounts the brothers' treacherous trek, and examines the implications their expedition posed towards these gentle animals.
Read an excerpt below.
"The Beast in the Clouds" by Nathalia Holt
Prefer to listen? Audible has a 30-day free trial available right now.
Two brothers smoothed a map on the table in front of them. The land they were examining was colored in greens, browns, and grays. Running across the map, like the stripes of a tiger, were irregular white blotches. Each blank space represented the unknown, a section of the map still unplotted and unexplored. The squiggly dotted line of a river, unknown printed in small text, cut through the white. It was 1928 and the world was still a checkerboard of wonder, the continents imperfectly mapped. Ted and Kermit Roosevelt, the two eldest sons of former president Theodore Roosevelt, were planning an adventure. Although they consulted maps from a diverse range of cartographers, including those drawn in China, the unexplored regions persisted. The vast Asian continent dappled with white spoke to them. The world was full of explorers, all examining maps like the ones the Roosevelts possessed. There was a heady, optimistic feeling that persisted among them. No one could be certain which mountain was the tallest on earth nor which trench in the ocean the deepest. Every expedition held the possibility of making its members world-famous explorers.
The 1920s were a decade of discovery, as groups of scientists, adventurers, and hunters ventured forth into the wilderness to fill museum collections. They were successful: every large mammal on earth had been attained, and their bodies mounted in exhibits, except for one.
The Roosevelts desired this one animal so acutely that they could barely speak about it with each other, much less anyone else. "We did not let even our close friends know," wrote Ted of their shared purpose. Some dreams sound too wild when spoken aloud. The animal the Roosevelt brothers coveted looked like no other species in the world. It was a black-and-white bear so rare that many people did not believe it was real. This legendary creature was called the giant panda. Rumors swirled about the mysterious animal. No one, not even naturalists who had worked in China all their lives, could say precisely where the creature lived, what it ate, or how it behaved.
Brown, black, and polar bears had never been in doubt among humans. Even polar bears, although living in the remote reaches of the Arctic, were well known, and had been kept in zoos for thousands of years. In Egypt, King Ptolemy II had a polar bear in his zoo in Alexandria as early as 285 BC. In 1252, a polar bear was part of the Tower of London's extensive menagerie of beasts.
Yet the same could not be said of the panda bear. Even among those living in the Republic of China, spanning some 7.7 percent of the earth's landmass, few had ever caught sight of the creature. Dozens of names were used to describe what might be a panda. In different dialects they called it "spotted bear," "giant bear cat," "white bear," and "bamboo bear," although no one could be sure that all these different names were referring to the same species. There were probable references to the giant panda in Chinese literature as early as the third century, although the descriptions were mythical, describing yellow-and-black creatures that munched on copper and iron. "While there are tantalizing stories implying that one Chinese emperor or another knew all about panda," wrote one author, "there's one great mystery. Why is there not a single rendition of this endearing beast in any of imperial China's illustrated natural histories?"
From "The Beast in the Clouds" by Nathalia Holt, published by Atria/One Signal, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. Copyright (c) 2025 by Nathalia Holt. All rights reserved.
Get the book here:
"The Beast in the Clouds" by Nathalia Holt
Buy locally from Bookshop.org
For more info:
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Fried Oyster Showdown: Hougang Fried Oyster vs Song Kee Fried Oyster
To me, fried oysters (or as we know them, Orh Luak) are like a national treasure, representing yet another dish that defines Singapore for what it is. And so, when considering a food showdown, the first thing that came to mind was… fried oysters. However, when I was doing my research, it was challenging to find two decent fried oyster places in the same vicinity, which is how we've always conducted our food showdowns. Enter East Coast Lagoon Food Village, which houses two fried oyster stalls that have garnered pretty decent reviews online. My criteria for what makes a good oyster dish come down to four simple factors: value for money, the flour-to-egg ratio, the quality (and quantity) of the oysters used, and the amount of kick in the chilli, which, as everyone knows, is meant to complement the dish nicely. Song Kee Fried Oyster This place came highly recommended during my research phase, to the point where everyone knew about this particular stall when thinking of fried oysters in the East. More than just being a great fried oyster spot via word of mouth, they're also recommended in the Michelin Guide, so I knew I was in for a treat. I arrived slightly before the dinner crowd hit, so I managed to get my order done and dusted in under 10 minutes. However, while walking between stalls when it was time to pick up my order, I noticed that a queue had already begun to form. I opted for the S$7 portion from this stall since I was doing this visit with another fried oyster fanatic— my husband. Right off the bat, the portion size seemed somewhat decent for its price point. However, given that East Coast Lagoon Food Village is somewhat of a tourist spot, I was willing to overlook the price point. In terms of the egg-to-flour ratio, it was a pretty good mix. The flour bits had a nice combination of chewy and crispy textures. The eggs were also perfectly cooked— nice and fluffy, just the way I like them. Next up: the quality and quantity of the oysters used. I counted a total of 7 oysters in my dish, which was quite good, especially since the oysters were slightly plumper than the regular ones I find at other hawker stalls. They had a slightly briny flavour, but nothing deal-breaking in my opinion. Lastly, the kick in the chilli. Unfortunately, the chilli was slightly on the sweeter side— while it did have a slight kick and tang, it was just meh for me. However, I gather it would still be suitable for those who can't handle a lot of spice. Overall, despite the minor letdown with the chilli, this was still a stellar dish, to the point where my husband and I were fighting over the plate and contemplating whether to get seconds. I'm curious to see if Hougang Fried Oyster can top that. 1220 ECP, East Coast Lagoon Food Village, #01-15, Singapore 468960 Thu to Tue: 4.30pm – 9pm Closed on Wed Curry puff showdown: Tanglin Crispy Curry Puff vs Tanglin Crispy Curry Puff Original Hougang Fried Oyster Interestingly, I found this place through a Google search because they weren't particularly well-known. While they've received quite a bit of criticism for their carrot cake, their fried oysters received rather positive reviews, so I decided to put them up against Song Kee for comparison. I ordered the S$6 portion here, which was a pretty decent size for the price. The egg-to-flour ratio was not bad, but the flour bits were mainly quite crispy (which isn't a bad thing). However, the eggs were overcooked and quite tough to eat. In terms of quality and quantity, I counted a total of 7 oysters in this dish. Similar to those at Song Kee, they were quite plump. However, these had less of a briny taste, which was a pleasant surprise. I would say the overall highlight of this dish was the chilli, hands down. It had the perfect combination of spiciness and tanginess— honestly, I could inject this into my veins; it was just that good. Unfortunately, Hougang Fried Oyster was more of a letdown compared to Song Kee, given that one of its major components was poorly executed, which undermined the foundation of what makes a good fried oyster. 1220 ECP, East Coast Lagoon Food Village, #01-44, Singapore 468960 Wed to Sun: 5pm – 10pm Closed on Mon & Tue Verdict For me, this was a no-brainer— Song Kee Fried Oyster absolutely won the showdown. Everything they did, they did right, from the flour-to-egg ratio to the quality of the oysters used. This dish had my heart from the get-go. That said, I have to give a huge shoutout to the chilli from Hougang Fried Oyster— it was incredibly addictive. If I could somehow merge the best aspects of both stalls, I definitely would. Ah Jie Hokkien Mee: 2 Gen Z hawkers' wok hei-infused Hokkien Mee with freshly made pork lard The post Fried Oyster Showdown: Hougang Fried Oyster vs Song Kee Fried Oyster appeared first on
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
Unsettling photos show the effects of climate change projected onto our everyday lives
It takes a moment to fully grasp what you're seeing in Edoardo Delille and Giulia Piermartiri's photographs of the Maldives. In one picture, a sea turtle appears to swim beside a couple on a motorbike; in another, a family of five pose in the hallway of their home, apparently standing beneath a diver floating in full scuba gear. Appropriated from tourist snaps taken underwater in the Indian Ocean, the engulfing images allude to the scenario scientists believe could play out by the end of the century, if the climate crisis isn't promptly addressed. With an average elevation of just one meter (3.3 feet) above sea level, the Maldives is the world's lowest-lying country and therefore at substantial risk. Some reports predict that by 2050, 80% of its land could become uninhabitable if sea levels continue to rise at their current rate. Delille and Piermartiri's images illustrate this potential future. Shot in 2019, and previously titled 'Diving Maldives,' the series became the starting point for 'Atlas of the New World,' a photobook recently published by L'Artiere (the images are also currently exhibited at Cortona on the Move, a photography festival in Tuscany). The photographers travelled to six highly-climate vulnerable areas in an effort to make tangible the extreme environmental realities forecast for this century. Their technique married scientific data with oneiric visuals, and they produced the images via an analog process involving a battery-operated projector connected to a flash. 'We found that to show the present was not enough,' Delille explained on a video call. 'So we looked at how global warming will change the morphological shape of the landscape, directly at the end of the century, which better shows the gravity of the problem.' Each of the book's chapters — which additionally include California, Mont Blanc, Mozambique, China and Russia — employs the same tools to highlight a different version of a similar narrative, with striking results. In one image made in Paradise, California — a state where the average area burnt by wildfires is set to increase 77% by 2100 if planet-heating pollution continues to rise — a man is pictured casually scanning the contents of his fridge as bright orange flames fill his kitchen. In the series looking at Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps and the site of rapidly melting glaciers, flowery green meadows are superimposed onto snow. Acquired from different image banks, the visuals in each photograph are of landscapes that already experience similar weathers to those forecast; for example, images of the Nevada desert are projected onto homes in California, while those in the Mozambique series come predominantly from the Namib desert in Namibia. Throughout, the pictures are accompanied by comparative data — primarily pulled from the United Nations Environment Programme, or sourced from more localized databases such as those that predict wildfires in the US — illustrating the disparities between current statistics and those projected for 2100 (presented both in text and infographics). Further underscoring the work is a collection of accompanying essays authored by various experts. 'Everything is shocking,' continued Delille, alluding to the weight of their research. Typically based in Florence, the photographers first became motivated watching global climate protests unfold in September 2019, as people around the world took to the streets demanding action; in Italy, more than one million reportedly took part. Delille and Piermartiri, who spent a month or two in each place they covered, explained that while the photographs are obviously central to the project, the conversations they had with people on the ground, who appear in the images, were the real nucleus. 'It was really important, before shooting, to do interviews,' Delille shared. 'We really care about what they think about how global warming is affecting their lives. And in every place they had a totally different mentality about the problem.' 'The contrast in the Maldives was really strong,' explained Piermartiri. 'It was totally green — electric motorbikes, solar panels — because they live with the nature. The main pollution came from tourists.' These visitors, added Delille, had everything imported: 'Champagne, beer, Italian wine, American things… It was really strange to see. The local people will be submerged because of us — I also say me, because I went there by plane — but they live very ethically.' In Mozambique, where they spoke to farmers and worked alongside an NGO focused on migration, the photographers were struck by how much the country is suffering from a climate crisis overwhelmingly driven by rich countries. As a continent, Africa contributes just 4% of greenhouse gas emissions globally, while Mozambique, which in the last decade has suffered two of the worst droughts in its history, contributes only 0.22%. 'Global warming is not democratic,' said Delille. 'The richest people are doing these things (polluting the planet and impacting climate change) and poor people are suffering. They cannot simply move to a cooler place.' Delille and Piermartiri decided early on, from those initial pictures made in the Maldives, that 'Atlas of the New World' should be an academic-adjacent project as opposed to an artistic coffee table book. Then they started to see a wider potential. 'We only understood later in the process that this project had been made for future generations,' Delille observed. 'We would love to have this be used in schools.' 'It's a kind of manual,' agreed Piermartiri, reflecting on the engagement they've already received from talks and exhibitions. 'When kids look at our pictures, they become immediately conscious about the problem. These pictures speak about the future, and the most important thing is that the message passes on to them.' Solve the daily Crossword
CNN
19 hours ago
- CNN
Unsettling photos show the climate crisis projected onto our everyday lives
It takes a moment to fully grasp what you're seeing in Edoardo Delille and Giulia Piermartiri's photographs of the Maldives. In one picture, a sea turtle appears to swim beside a couple on a motorbike; in another, a family of five pose in the hallway of their home, apparently standing beneath a diver floating in full scuba gear. Appropriated from tourist snaps taken underwater in the Indian Ocean, the engulfing images allude to the scenario scientists believe could play out by the end of the century, if the climate crisis isn't promptly addressed. With an average elevation of just one meter (3.3 feet) above sea level, the Maldives is the world's lowest-lying country and therefore at substantial risk. Some reports predict that by 2050, 80% of its land could become uninhabitable if sea levels continue to rise at their current rate. Delille and Piermartiri's images illustrate this potential future. Shot in 2019, and previously titled 'Diving Maldives,' the series became the starting point for 'Atlas of the New World,' a photobook recently published by L'Artiere (the images are also currently exhibited at Cortona on the Move, a photography festival in Tuscany). The photographers travelled to six highly-climate vulnerable areas in an effort to make tangible the extreme environmental realities forecast for this century. Their technique married scientific data with oneiric visuals, and they produced the images via an analog process involving a battery-operated projector connected to a flash. 'We found that to show the present was not enough,' Delille explained on a video call. 'So we looked at how global warming will change the morphological shape of the landscape, directly at the end of the century, which better shows the gravity of the problem.' Each of the book's chapters — which additionally include California, Mont Blanc, Mozambique, China and Russia — employs the same tools to highlight a different version of a similar narrative, with striking results. In one image made in Paradise, California — a state where the average area burnt by wildfires is set to increase 77% by 2100 if planet-heating pollution continues to rise — a man is pictured casually scanning the contents of his fridge as bright orange flames fill his kitchen. In the series looking at Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps and the site of rapidly melting glaciers, flowery green meadows are superimposed onto snow. 'Global warming is not democratic. Poor people are suffering. They cannot simply move to a cooler place.' Edoardo Delille, one of the photographers behind "Atlas of the New World" Acquired from different image banks, the visuals in each photograph are of landscapes that already experience similar weathers to those forecast; for example, images of the Nevada desert are projected onto homes in California, while those in the Mozambique series come predominantly from the Namib desert in Namibia. Throughout, the pictures are accompanied by comparative data — primarily pulled from the United Nations Environment Programme, or sourced from more localized databases such as those that predict wildfires in the US — illustrating the disparities between current statistics and those projected for 2100 (presented both in text and infographics). Further underscoring the work is a collection of accompanying essays authored by various experts. 'Everything is shocking,' continued Delille, alluding to the weight of their research. Typically based in Florence, the photographers first became motivated watching global climate protests unfold in September 2019, as people around the world took to the streets demanding action; in Italy, more than one million reportedly took part. Delille and Piermartiri, who spent a month or two in each place they covered, explained that while the photographs are obviously central to the project, the conversations they had with people on the ground, who appear in the images, were the real nucleus. 'It was really important, before shooting, to do interviews,' Delille shared. 'We really care about what they think about how global warming is affecting their lives. And in every place they had a totally different mentality about the problem.' 'The contrast in the Maldives was really strong,' explained Piermartiri. 'It was totally green — electric motorbikes, solar panels — because they live with the nature. The main pollution came from tourists.' These visitors, added Delille, had everything imported: 'Champagne, beer, Italian wine, American things… It was really strange to see. The local people will be submerged because of us — I also say me, because I went there by plane — but they live very ethically.' In Mozambique, where they spoke to farmers and worked alongside an NGO focused on migration, the photographers were struck by how much the country is suffering from a climate crisis overwhelmingly driven by rich countries. As a continent, Africa contributes just 4% of greenhouse gas emissions globally, while Mozambique, which in the last decade has suffered two of the worst droughts in its history, contributes only 0.22%. 'Global warming is not democratic,' said Delille. 'The richest people are doing these things (polluting the planet and impacting climate change) and poor people are suffering. They cannot simply move to a cooler place.' Delille and Piermartiri decided early on, from those initial pictures made in the Maldives, that 'Atlas of the New World' should be an academic-adjacent project as opposed to an artistic coffee table book. Then they started to see a wider potential. 'We only understood later in the process that this project had been made for future generations,' Delille observed. 'We would love to have this be used in schools.' 'It's a kind of manual,' agreed Piermartiri, reflecting on the engagement they've already received from talks and exhibitions. 'When kids look at our pictures, they become immediately conscious about the problem. These pictures speak about the future, and the most important thing is that the message passes on to them.'
