Growing up in the East Bay as the son of an astrophysicist and a psychologist, Obi Kaufmannspent most of high school practicing calculus and breaking away on weekends to scramble around Mount Diablo and map its creeks, oak forests, and sage mazes. Into adulthood, he would regularly journey into the mountains, spending more summer nights without a roof than with one. He is the author of The California Field Atlas(2017, #1San Francisco ChronicleBest Seller),The State of Water: Understanding California's Most Precious Natural Resource(2019),andThe Forests of California: A California Field Atlas(2020), all published by Heyday. When he is not backpacking, you can find the painter-poet at home inthe East Bay, posting trail paintings at his handle@coyotethunderon Instagram. His website iscoyoteandthunder.com.
"Praise for The California Field Atlas (original edition): ""Every California household should have a copy of the 608-page atlas. … Start with Kaufmann’s introduction, because it encapsulates the author’s relationship with the landscape he so dearly loves. From there, read it frontward, backward or according to whatever topic piques an interest."" —San Jose Mercury News ""A gorgeously illustrated compendium."" —Sunset ""If you're looking for freeways or pathways, expressways or BART lines, this book can't help you. If, on the other hand, you're looking to get lost in the flora, fauna, and natural habitats that exist across California beyond the I-5, this is a wonderful little guide."" —AFAR ""A modern-day masterpiece."" —Santa Barbara Independent ""Transcend[s] the genre of nature writing."" —Monterey County Weekly ""A revelation. Kaufmann educates and delights the reader simultaneously."" —Mike Sonksen, Entropy"