Katherine May discusses The Electricity of Every Living Thing

An awful lot of people who have visited Skylark over the last year will have heard Alex rave about Katherine May’s book, Wintering. It was his favorite book of last year and his enthusiasm is pretty evident in this interview with Katherine which we did last December to celebrate its US launch. The book went on to be a New York Times bestseller, and rightly so.
We’re now thrilled to celebrate with Katherine again for the US publication of THE ELECTRICITY OF EVERY LIVING THING, her gorgeous, life-affirming exploration of wild landscapes, what it means to be different and, above all, how we can all learn to make peace with our own unquiet minds.
In anticipation of her 38th birthday, Katherine set out to walk the 630-mile South West Coast Path. She wanted time alone, in nature, to understand why she had stopped coping with everyday life; why motherhood had been so overwhelming and isolating; and why the world felt full of expectations she couldn't meet. She was also reeling from a chance encounter with a voice on the radio that sparked her realisation that she might be autistic.
And so begins a trek along the ruggedly beautiful but difficult path by the sea that takes readers through the alternatingly frustrating, funny, and enlightening experience of re-awakening to the world around us…
The Electricity of Every Living Thing sees Katherine come to terms with that diagnosis leading her to re-evaluate her life so far - with a much kinder, more forgiving eye. We bear witness to a new understanding that finally allows her to be different rather than simply awkward, arrogant or unfeeling. The physical and psychological journeys of this joyous and inspiring book become inextricably entwined, and as Katherine finds her way across the untameable coast, we learn alongside her how to find our way back to our own true selves.

[@bobbirubinstein8462]

Fascinating conversation. Found your channel from Youtubing interviews with Katherine May. Looking forward to listening to more.

[@susannaheanes]

❤

[@jolandabeach8784]

Interesting conversation, our 22 year old daughter recently had herself diagnosed as high functioning autism, she also did not want to be medicated, it did her a better understanding of herself

[@Talentedtadpole]

Giving up because he's talking about himself too much.