In When Everything Beyond the Walls Is Wild, Lilace Mellin Guignard draws from emblematic moments and relationships in her own life to explore issues of gender, recreation, and environmental conservation. Born into a suburban family, Guignard wanted to get up close and personal with iconic American landscapes, but social pressures and cautionary tales told her that these spaces were not meant for her as a woman.

Reflecting on the ways our culture socializes women to remain indoors, Guignard shares her own struggles with finding her place outdoors. Refusing to stay indoors and “safe", Guignard drove cross-country with her dog, worked as a river guide, and set out to climb Mount Whitney. She recounts navigating outdoor interactions with male friends and strangers that range from wonderful to awkward to frightening. Now that she is settled with her own family, Guignard writes about how it is still more difficult for women than men to prioritize outdoor recreation time. These stories expose how cultural messages about women shape their experiences and interactions when backpacking, paddling, rock climbing, and bicycling. They broaden readers’ notions of what adventure is, what places are considered wild and worth our care, and what types of people enjoy the outdoors.

The book is published by Texas A&M University Press. The audiobook is published by University Press Audiobooks.

“A must-read for every girl and woman who has ever dared to combat the gendered privilege of men going ‘into the wild’...” (Leslie Heywood, editor of Third Wave Agenda)

“Anyone who wants to know America’s wild beauty from the eyes of a woman who loves it should read this book.” (Sheryl St. Germain, author of The Small Door of Your Death)

"A complete and captivating look into what it feels like to be a female active in the environment." (Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas)