A Tao for the Anthropocene

by Steven H. Miles

This is a frightening time. Humanity is besieged by global warming, rising seas, powerful storms, immense fires and floods, and of the migrations and extinctions of countless species. Scientists warn that these disasters are so severe and so interrelated that they signify a new geological age: the Anthropocene Epoch.
2400-years-ago, a Chinese book, the Tao Te Ching, said that all life forms are so interdependent and so interrelated as to be one life form. It said that humans would face disaster if they did not live in harmony with the entire biosphere. The Anthropocene Epoch disasters seem to bear out the wisdom of the Tao Te Ching. Drawing from his own gardening experience, the author reflects on what the Tao Te Ching can teach us about how to live in harmony with nature's way.
Dr. Miles is a noted bioethicist who gardens in Minneapolis.

Paperback

Published February 1, 2024

About the author

I am a retired geriatrician and Professor emeritus of medicine and bioethics at the University of Minnesota. My diverse career has included working in refugee camps, public hospitals, and nursing homes.
I spent more than a decade studying and testifying against doctors who torture for their governments. I wrote two non-fiction books and one novel based on those experiences.
Since retiring, I have become a Master Gardener. My latest book is on gardening, The Tao Te Ching, and the Anthropocene.

Reviews

[Andi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring. This book is a quick and easy read, but the deeper message behind the gardening anecdotes is wholly inspiring. I will be delving further into the Tao (and my garden).