Diane Ackerman

Diane Ackerman is an accomplished American naturalist, poet, and author, best known for her essay collections and compelling narratives about the human connection to nature. She has written a number of noteworthy books, including "The Zookeeper's Wife: A War Story," "The Human Age: The World Shaped by Us," "The Moon by Whale Light," and "A Natural History of the Senses." In addition to her literary fiction and science-related works, Ackerman has also published numerous poetry collections and children's books.

Growing up in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Ackerman developed a profound love for reading poetry and an early fascination with the universe, nature, astronomy, and animals. Her parents, Sam Fink and Marsha Tischler Fink, encouraged her intellectual pursuits, despite their modest backgrounds. Ackerman attended Boston College before graduating with a bachelor's degree in English from Pennsylvania State University in 1970. She later went on to earn a Master of Arts, a Doctor of Philosophy in Literature, a Creative Writing Master of Fine Arts, and ultimately became a prominent figure in the literary world.

Over the course of her career, Ackerman has been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Nonfiction and has received numerous awards and recognitions for her work, which includes bestsellers such as "The Zookeeper’s Wife" and "A Natural History of the Senses." "The Zookeeper’s Wife," a little-known true story of WWII, became a New York Times bestseller and received critical acclaim, including the Orion Book Award. The book was later adapted into a movie starring Jessica Chastain and Daniel Brühl, which was released in theaters in 2017. Ackerman continues to reside in Ithaca, New York, with her late husband, writer Paul West, who passed away in 2015. Her writing reflects her passion for exploring the human experience and the natural world, inviting readers to join her on an intellectual and captivating journey.