2026 Update

It’s been a while since my last post at http://www.jonathanslaght.com, not for lack of activity but rather insufficiency of time. I’ve had an extremely demanding job the last few years – since 2023 I’ve overseen conservation activities for the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Temperate Asia Program, which includes our country programs in China, Mongolia, and Afghanistan, as well as projects with partners in Russia and Central Asia. Geopolitically this is extremely challenging, and the loss of international funding under the current U.S. administration has made things even harder. Nonetheless we’re doing great work on the ground from tigers in China to snow leopards in Mongolia and Afghanistan. This work is closely linked to community engagement and climate adaptation – factors necessary to ensure persistence of these remarkable cat species.

I’ve also engaged in literary activities; here are some recent updates:  

1. Tigers Between Empires

My second book Tigers Between Empires came out in November 2025. While this release has stayed a bit under the radar, the reviews have been excellent. Here are a few examples:

• “Exhilarating . . . Slaght not only has the skills of an intrepid wildlife adventurer, but also necessary gifts of description and advocacy to make it real.” ―Ann Kjellberg, Book Post
• “Slaght has a marvelous gift for putting the reader right inside the expeditions . . . [An] enthralling and, yes, inspiring story.” ―Jim Kelly, Air Mail
• “Remarkable . . . Part travelogue, part natural history, and part adventure tale . . . Lyrical and evocative.” ―Deborah Mason, BookPage
• “Captivating . . . Slaght brings [the tigers’] stories to life on the page with vivid detail and suspense . . . A hopeful celebration of the fight to save a vulnerable species.” ―Publishers Weekly
• “Epic . . . Slaght again shines his scientific-yet-soulful spotlight on one of the world’s most amazing creatures . . . [A] fascinating survival-revival tale.” ―Michiela Thuman, The Minnesota Star Tribune

If you’ve read Tigers Between Empires feel free to send me a note telling me what you thought. And tell your friends.

2. National Book Award for Nonfiction: 2026 judge

I am honored to be a judge for this year’s National Book Award for Nonfiction. The workload is overwhelming, the multiple piles of books in my office teetering, but wow am I reading some amazing texts. My book Owls of the Eastern Ice made the National Book Award longlist (of ten books) in 2020 and it’s been eye-opening to be on the other side of the process. Between 600-700 books are submitted annually for this award and there are so many solid contenders to choose from; not sure how Owls of the Eastern Ice rose to the top.

I’m working with four other judges to pick the longlist, which will be announced September 16. The five finalists will be announced October 6 and the winner revealed on November 18.

3. On Assignment!

I can’t provide too many details at this point, but I’ve been commissioned to travel internationally this summer to search for a rare bird species then write about it. More details to come.

That’s It For Now

Thanks for reading. I’m no longer on Twitter but can be found in social media spaces primarily on Bluesky and Instagram. Come on over and interact!