House of Fragile Things

Winner of the 2026 River Teeth Literary Nonfiction Prize, these essays explore connections between humans and the natural world. Earth is a house full of fragile things: people and protozoa, redwoods and sun beetles, sea anemones and fleas. Like the Earth, humans are each houses unto themselves. Vulnerable, exposed to the elements, we are wildly creative but also capable of hurting each other and our surroundings. These essays suggest that though we are only here for a short time, our transience can be a source of strength. They explore the loss of loved ones and remember the beauty of place. And they call for understanding others, even when opening ourselves up causes pain. Luminous and rich in insight, House of Fragile Things should be required reading in our uncertain times: a reminder of the power—and importance—of empathy for ourselves, other species, and Earth itself. The essays are accompanied by fourteen original line drawings by Annie Zeybekoglu.