The Great Outdoors

Barash ( The Whisperings Within ) here contemplates the pleasures of outdoor activities. Each one discussed is ``noncompetitive, relatively solitary, environmentally sensitive and ecologically appropriate'' and, he notes, none requires extraordinary skill or expense--though some may question the cost of keeping a horse. Barash discourses on vegetable gardening, beachcombing, birdwatching, wood-chopping, cross-country skiing, backpacking and mountain climbing. He limits star-gazing to what can be seen with the naked eye (best position is flat on one's back). Horseback riding, according to Barash, is a sensory extravaganza; and horse-keeping teaches us basic virtues such as responsibility and consistency. The author recounts his own experiences in the great outdoors in a book that celebrates nature. (Apr.)