Barbara McMichael’s road trip through the heartland of America captured roadside markers and viewpoints that detailed local history, geology and other points of pride. Check out the life-size sculpture of the late Chris LeDoux astride a bucking bronco, Tulula the Swan, and Norman Mackey, owner of Kaleva Country Flowers, who is very proud of his 25-pound rubber band ball.

Dr. Peter Corning’s groundbreaking work Superorganism is a cautionary tale of the ancient human societies that have vanished – many of them as victims of ecological disasters. To purchase Superorganism in its entirety, go to the local bookstore nearest you or order online via Cambridge University Press or Amazon.