Waters Between Us: A Boy, a Father, Outdoor Misadventures, and the Healing Power of Nature

“The Waters Between Us is a song of praise to the outdoors, an apology for boyhood misunderstandings, and a loving appreciation for a father whose grace, joy, and kindness remained steadfast in the face of tragedy. Young Michael Tougias reminds me of Huck Finn, and it's great fun to accompany him on his river adventures. But even more rewarding is the compassion he has gained in hindsight. You'll be grateful to the boy, the man he became, and the father who quietly nurtured them both for this unforgettable memoir.” —Sy Montgomery, National Book Award Finalist and NY Times bestselling author of Soul of an Octopus

Untamed. Unsupervised. Uncontrolled.

Boyhood in the 1960s and ‘70s was a time for exploration and mischief. Author Michael Tougias found more than his share of misadventures in the woods and on the water: some life-threatening but others innocently hilarious.

Over time – and after reading a multitude of adventure books -- these experiences took shape in his quest to be a mountain man, owning a cabin in the forest and living off the land. Part of that dream would come true, but only after a family tragedy that shook his world and forced changes in his life.

This is also a story of a complex and strained relationship between father and son, the efforts at understanding, and ultimately respect and devotion.

In The Waters Between Us Tougias channels Bryson’s “A Walk in the Woods” to mix laugh out loud humor with insight into the natural world through the eyes of a curious boy.

Tougias is a New York Times Bestselling author and co-author of 31 books, including There’s A Porcupine In My Outhouse (Winner of the Independent Publishers “Best Nature Book of the Year”) and The Finest Hours (inspiration for a 2016 Disney movie). He has received many writing awards.