David Sattler's book, "The Miracle of Life at La Jolla Cove," wins two national book awards

Western Washington University professor David N. Sattler's new book, "The Miracle of Life at La Jolla Cove," has received two prestigious national book awards: Independent Publisher Book Award and Feathered Quill Book Award.

Jane Goodall, the world-renowned primatologist and conservationist best known for her landmark study on the behavior of wild chimpanzees in Tanzania, wrote the book's Foreword; nearly 5,000 books were entered into this year's Independent Publisher Book Award program.

"The book is testimony to the natural beauty and diverse wildlife that make La Jolla Cove one of San Diego, California's top attractions. Locals and visitors from around the world cherish the cove," Sattler said. "The Miracle of Life at La Jolla Cove" showcases more than 140 of Sattler's images of stunning coastal landscapes and diverse marine life and discusses past and current environmental threats to wildlife along the Southern California coastline.

Goodall, a United Nations Messenger of Peace and founder of The Jane Goodall Institute, states in her foreward that "David Sattler has the eye of an artist and the voice of the poet, and the combination of these gifts with the extraordinary beauty of La Jolla Cove has resulted in this magnificent and memorable book." Goodall poignantly shares her experiences growing up near the ocean prior to her landmark work in Africa. While she has deep concerns about threats to habitats around the globe, Goodall speaks with optimism about her programs that provide opportunities for children to connect with nature.

Sattler teaches courses in environmental psychology and social psychology at Western. He conducts research focusing on environmental issues around the world.