May 2026 Reading: The Wild Dark by Craig Childs

IPWA
May 1
3 min read

You're invited to participate in the Wilderness Reading Group, led by the Indian Peaks Wilderness Alliance (IPWA). We delve into topics related to the outdoors, nature, and wilderness through reading, contemplation, and discussion - with a new book pick every other month!

For May 2026, we're reading the book The Wild Dark: Finding the Night Sky in the Age of Light by Craig Childs

At a time when most people on Earth live in regions of acute light pollution, Craig Childs takes us on a journey to rediscover the awesome power of night itself. A night sky is not an absence of light; it is the presence of the universe. In The Wild Dark, master storyteller Craig Childs embarks on a quest to bike from the blinding lights of the Las Vegas Strip to one of the darkest spots in North America. Childs is a fearless explorer of both the natural world and the human imagination, making him the perfect guide to help us rediscover the heavens and to ask: "What does it do to us to not see the night sky?" In a book that is at once an adventure story, a field guide, and a celebration of wonder, Childs invites us to look up and to look inward, eyes wide and sparkling with stars.

Discussion Questions:

Childs asks: "What does it do to us to not see the night sky?" How do you think growing up in a world where the Milky Way is hidden affects our collective imagination and mental well-being?
The book tracks a literal journey from the blinding neon of Las Vegas to the absolute darkness of the desert. What is the darkest night sky you’ve ever personally experienced, and how did it make you feel?
We usually view darkness as an absence of light, but Childs flips this, calling a true night sky a presence of the universe. How did this book challenge your own relationship with physical or metaphorical darkness?
Childs shares how ancient cultures projected their mythologies onto the stars. Why do you think humanity has such a universal need to do this? If you had to map a new constellation based on your own life story, what would it look like?
The book is a gentle critique of our hyper-stimulated, 24/7 world where we rarely experience true quiet. What is your personal equivalent of "biking into the dark" to escape the noise of modern life?
Unlike other environmental crises, light pollution can be fixed instantly by flipping a switch or shielding a bulb. Given how simple the solution is, why do you think humanity is so hesitant to embrace the dark?
In the end, did this book leave you feeling mournful for what humanity has lost to urbanization, or did it inspire you to go outside, look up, and advocate for the night?

You're invited to participate in the Wilderness Reading Group, led by the Indian Peaks Wilderness Alliance (IPWA). We delve into topics related to the outdoors, nature, and wilderness through reading, contemplation, and discussion. We'll gain a deeper understanding of wilderness through fiction and non-fiction selections, including works by renowned authors such as Aldo Leopold, Timothy Egan, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Wallace Stegner, Terry Tempest Williams, Edward Abbey, E.O. Wilson, and others. Check out past readings on our Blog Reading list!

The reading group meets every other month, in person, in Boulder, Colorado. All are welcome (IPWA and the general public). Please RSVP. Even if you haven't finished the book selection, feel free to join us for informal conversations where we reflect on the book, answer discussion questions, and foster connections with each other.

These books are widely available at local libraries, online library apps (such as Libby), bookstores (including our favorite local independent bookstore, Boulder Bookstore), and online retailers.

Please consider joining us for an upcoming Reading Group gathering at the Rayback Collective, in Boulder, CO! We'll share our reflections about the book and our own experiences. All are welcome (IPWA and the general public). If the weather is good, we'll be at one of the picnic tables in the courtyard. Beverages and food are available from the Rayback Collection and various rotating food trucks.

Check out our Events page for upcoming dates!

Thursday May 28th, 2026 - The Wild Dark: Finding the Night Sky in the Age of Light by Craig Childs - 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Reading Group Gathering at the Rayback Collective in Boulder, Colorado - RSVP here