Environmental Book Club discussion

Please use this discussion to suggest books that you are really keen to be chosen as upcoming reads! :)

12 Small Steps to Save Our World by WWF

Joanne wrote: "12 Small Steps to Save Our World by WWF"

great I'll add to the list!

Polly Barks has a big list of zero waste books. She has it sorted into categories, like getting started, environmental justice, etc.

Anne wrote: "Polly Barks has a big list of zero waste books. She has it sorted into categories, like getting started, environmental justice, etc."

Great thanks! I'll go through them now :)

No Impact Man by Colin Beavan
A story of a real guy, trying to be the best he can for the environment as an experiment.

Kelsey wrote: "No Impact Man by Colin Beavan
A story of a real guy, trying to be the best he can for the environment as an experiment."

Excellent I will add!

The Uninhabitable Earth by David Wallace-Wells!

Logan Hackney wrote: "The Uninhabitable Earth by David Wallace-Wells!"

This one is on the list! I really want to read it soon :)

Sophie of Portal in the Pages (YouTube) did a video with book recommentations relating to climate change. Some of the books she discussed are:

This Is Not A Drill: An Extinction Rebellion Handbook by Extinction Rebellion - She noted that while she doesn't agree with everything Extinction Rebellion says, she found it to be a good overview.

Wilding: The Return of Nature to a British Farm by Isabella Tree - This is about some farmers who decided to let nature take over their farm. I believe this talks about their experience, loss of biodiversity in general and how re-wilding is done across Europe.

Losing Earth: A Recent History by Nathaniel Rich - Basically a history of climate action, starting with how scientists knew we had an issue in the 70's.

Turning the Tide on Plastic: How Humanity (And You) Can Make Our Globe Clean Again by Lucy Siegle - All about plastic pollution and how to take action.

She mentioned a couple other books, but these were the ones that caught my attention.

Anne wrote: "Sophie of Portal in the Pages (YouTube) did a video with book recommentations relating to climate change. Some of the books she discussed are:

[book:This Is Not A Drill: An Extinction Rebellion H..."

Thank you I have added the ones that we didn't already have on the list!

Two more suggestions:

Call of the Reed Warbler: A New Agriculture – A New Earth by Charles Massy who's a radical farmer. It sounds like it might be a bit like Wilding: The Return of Nature to a British Farm, but set in Australia. The book summary says that it "explores transformative and regenerative agriculture and the vital connection between our soil and our health."

Another Australian book is Understory: a life with trees by Inga Simpson. I feel like I've already seen this suggested somewhere, but I can't remember if it was you folk and someone else - apologies if this is a repeat. This is a nature writing-memoir and every chapter looks at a different tree: description, natural history, etc. It's focus is trees in the Sunshine Coast hinterland (eastern coast of Australia).

Given the current (much needed) focus on racism, I thought I’d compile a list of books related to environmental racism and environmental justice.

It’s important to read about these issues because environmentalism should be intersectional. We need to be aware of how and why some communities are more likely to be affected by pollution and climate change, we need to understand how people are further marginalized when we assume that they “choose” to live in a high risk or industrialized area, and we need ensure that they’re welcome in natural spaces and the environmental movement.

Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson (@ayanaeliza on Instagram) wrote an article about how racism derails efforts to save the planet. In it, she notes that black (57%) and Latinx (70%) people are more concerned about climate change that white (49%) people. So, we all need to do a better job of listening to them and giving them space in discussions about environmentalism.

I’d like to acknowledge that many of these are not written by BIPOC authors and that we should strive to read own voices accounts, where possible. Also, these books are all American or Canadian because I haven’t yet had a chance to look for books from other places. While many of them discuss global issues, it’s important to read books from other countries (especially countries that have been colonized or that are marginalized due to poverty, war, etc.). I have more books in my bookshelves and I'll continue to add more as I find them (you can see by shelves in my profile).

Books about the BIPOC experience in nature:

The Colors of Nature: Culture, Identity, and the Natural World by Alison Hawthorne Deming and Lauret Savoy (editors) – Explores the history, displacement, return, and relationship to place of POC (People of Colour) through 17 essays. BIPOC editor (Savoy)

Trace: Memory, History, Race and the American Land by Lauret Savoy – The author looks at how history and the idea of “race” have affected her and the land through personal anecdotes and historical research. Note: This is the first book/item being read as part of the #alliesinthelandscape reading group (on Twitter), which was created by @jessicajlee (Twitter) to combat anti-Black racism in nature and the outdoors. BIPOC author

Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors by Carolyn Finney - In this book, the author argues that the legacies of slavery, Jim Crow, and racial violence have shaped cultural understandings of the great outdoors and determined who should and can have access to natural spaces. BIPOC author

Books about or relating to environmental racism:

There's Something in the Water: Environmental Racism in Indigenous & Black Communities - by Ingrid R.G. Waldron – This looks at the legacy of environmental racism and its health impacts in Indigenous and Black communities in Canada. This is now a documentary on NetFlix. BIPOC author Canadian

As Long as Grass Grows: The Indigenous Fight for Environmental Justice, from Colonization to Standing Rock by Dina Gilio-Whitaker – A history of Indigenous resistance to government and corporate incursions on their lands and offers new approaches to environmental justice activism and policy. BIPOC author

If You Poison Us: Uranium and Native Americans: Uranium and Native Americans by Peter H. Eichstaedt – This is about the health, environmental and spiritual impact of uranium mining on the Navajo Reservation.

Toxic Communities: Environmental Racism, Industrial Pollution, and Residential Mobility by Dorceta Taylor – This examines the connections among residential segregation, zoning, and exposure to environmental hazards. BIPOC author

The Rise of the American Conservation Movement: Power, Privilege, and Environmental Protection by Dorceta Taylor - This book shows how race, class, and gender influenced every aspect of the conservation movement. BIPOC author

Dispossessing the Wilderness: Indian Removal and the Making of the National Parks by Mark David Spence – This looks at how the establishment of America’s most cherished parks involved the displacement of Native communities. BIPOC author

Books that are relevant, but may not be specifically about eco-justice or environmental racism:

The Rights of Nature: A Legal Revolution That Could Save the World by David R. Boyd – This is about environmental rights in general, but there’s a lot of discussion about Indigenous groups fighting to save their lands and sacred places. Canadian

Finding Our Niche: Toward a Restorative Human Ecology by Philip A Loring – A look at mistakes we’ve made, how to reconcile our settler-colonial histories and how to move towards a more sustainable and just future.

Noxious New York: The Racial Politics of Urban Health and Environmental Justice by Julie Sze - An analysis of the culture, politics, and history of environmental justice activism in New York City. BIPOC author

Rising: Dispatches from the New American Shore by Elizabeth Rush – A look at some of the places in the US where rising sea levels are having the most dramatic effects. Includes some discussion about marginalized communities and racism.

On Fire: The Burning Case for a Green New Deal by Naomi Klein – A collection of essays talking about how a bold new green deal could lead to a just and thriving society. There essays are about a diverse range of topics, including the rise of white supremacy.

Anne wrote: "Given the current (much needed) focus on racism, I thought I’d compile a list of books related to environmental racism and environmental justice.

It’s important to read about these issues because..."

Thanks so so much for these Anne! Excellent list and I really hope we can start reading some

You're welcome :)

Another recent book
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

Ryan wrote: "Another recent book
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5..."

Great I will add it to the list!

Wanderland

The Way Home: Tales from a Life Without Technology

The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable

I've also been planning to read my copy of The Uninhabitable Earth

Charles wrote: "Wanderland

The Way Home: Tales from a Life Without Technology

The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable"

Great all added to the bookshelf!

Nita S. (ecobookworm) wrote: "I've also been planning to read my copy of The Uninhabitable Earth"

Yesss I have a copy aswell that I haven't read yet! We can add it to the next poll after the August book

I managed to get an early copy of Miracle Country, which I just finished and really enjoyed!

forsanolim wrote: "I managed to get an early copy of Miracle Country, which I just finished and really enjoyed!"

Great recommendation thanks! I'll add it to the fiction list on our book shelf :)

I don't know if this is where I can post some suggestions, but for maybe a future reading I would like the suggest (I also named 2 in my introduction which I just posted but will repeat them here). I am very much into factual books which make me aware of certain information and processes, so most of my suggestions might not necessarily the best story but they are highly relevant works:

- The best of times, the worst of times by Paul Behrens
- How are we going to explain this by Jelmer Mommers
- Silent Spring by Rachel Carson (from 1962 but essentially a piece of art which I have been meaning to read more off)
- The Future we Choose, Surviving the Climate Crisis by Christiana Figueres and Tim Rivett-Carnac (on the paris agreement, it's a bit simple but still relevant)
- Limits to Growth by Donella Meadows, Jorgen Randers and Dennis Meadows (the 30-year update) (it's more global, but so insightful about our planet and its limits)

I should probably leave it at this before I overload the suggestions! Other than that, since we got a lot of climate interested people here, in my research I sometimes stopped and asked myself: 'we set all these goals and countries make pledges, are there sources where I can actually track the progress of these things?'. I came across this institution which tries to do this and posts relevant updates, just wanted to drop it here:

https://climateactiontracker.org/

Glenn wrote: "I don't know if this is where I can post some suggestions, but for maybe a future reading I would like the suggest (I also named 2 in my introduction which I just posted but will repeat them here)...."

Hi Glen, yes this is the best place to offer general suggestions. And then when we are coming up to the time to choose a new book we normally make a new discussion to take specific suggestions for that- sometimes on a particular theme!

Thanks so much for these suggestions! I've added all the ones to this list that weren't already on there. We actually read The Future We Choose last year- but can thoroughly recommend it!

We haven't read Silent Spring yet so would love to be able to do that this year.

And thank you for the climate action tracker website, I haven't come across that yet :)

I know How Bad Are Bananas?: The carbon footprint of everything is already on the list but I recently discovered that an updated and expanded edition was published in September 2020 which has reignited my interest in it. The climate is always drastically changing and it's nice to have more up-to-date information. So I figured I'd share in case anyone (like me) wasn't aware of the new edition.

During my research I came across the name of another book which seems to fit the bill for this group: The New Climate War: The Fight to Take Back Our Planet. Just came out, which is always nice because it's updated generally with the ever changing new findings and research.

Glenn wrote: "During my research I came across the name of another book which seems to fit the bill for this group: The New Climate War: The Fight to Take Back Our Planet. Just came out, which is..."

That book sounds very interesting. Thanks for mentioning it.

Thanks very much everyone I'll add The New Climate War to the list and take not there is a new How Bad are Bananas! It's an amazing book!

Sarah Wilson’s ‘This one wild and previous life’. I couldn’t put it down, it really spoke to me and called me to action.

Emma wrote: "Sarah Wilson’s ‘This one wild and previous life’. I couldn’t put it down, it really spoke to me and called me to action."

Emma! thankyou for the suggestion. I will add it to our list :)

How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need
by Bill Gates

Sammi wrote: "How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need
by Bill Gates"

Sammi! This is a new one right? Will be added to the list. Thank you for suggesting it!

You should consider reading

A Life on Our Planet by the great Sir David Attenborough

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

It's so good. One of my favourite books of all time.

A sand county almanac - Aldo Leopold :)

The Nature of Nature: Why We Need the Wild
by Enric Sala

Book has positive reviews. I read a piece by him in a National Geographic article about ocean protection. A Good writer.

You might like John Junker’s Writing for Animals.

I host a climate justice bookclub and we're currently reading this one:
The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man's Love Affair with Nature J. Drew Lanham

We're reflecting on these questions, written by Jessica J. Lee:

- “But since I last fell under any of my grandmother’s spells, I’ve been trained extensively.” (Mamatha Takes Flight) What layers of knowledge does Lanham carry with him, and what kinds of power are they afforded?

- “I sometimes question why I choose to do such things. Was I crazy to take this route up here, so far from anything?” (Birding While Black) How are people of colour forced to carry the extra burden of safety in spaces white visitors may see as restorative?

- Offline reflection: In what ways have I, in the past, been complicit in outdoor/nature spaces feeling or being unsafe or less accessible to people of colour? How can I work to rectify this in future?

- Practical question: Lanham says place, land, & nature are tied to our senses of self. What material support can you offer to those looking to connect with the landscape & how can you make space for forms of connection that may be different from your own?

Although the majority of my reading is non-fiction, I've put this "CliFi" book on my TBR list:
The Ministry for the Future

Jennifer wrote: "Although the majority of my reading is non-fiction, I've put this "CliFi" book on my TBR list:
The Ministry for the Future"

Oh, that looks really interesting. I'll have to add that to my TBR, too.

I am currently reading a book, and I think it is going to be a bit out of place for this group but I will let you decide anyways! The book consists of lectures from the reasonably well known intellectual Noam Chomsky & Marv Waterstone: Consequences of Capitalism. Now let me quickly add why it is interesting and think that it might still be a notable book (it's actually not really a book, more lecture recordings which makes it read a bit strange sometimes). Besides the fact that it does include some relevant conclusions and looks into capitalism interlinked with climate, it is a book that gets to the core of capitalism, which in the end drives our everyday lives. I personally already knew a fair amount about this, but it's like this gap in knowledge that one kinda needs to fill to link it all together. I recall also people really enjoying Naomi Klein, she also did a remarkable job at this! Unlikely it will be picked up, but hey maybe some individual reads this title and gets it and that would already make this post worth it =)

Glenn wrote: "During my research I came across the name of another book which seems to fit the bill for this group: The New Climate War: The Fight to Take Back Our Planet. Just came out, which is..."
That's next on my list.

I just read The Hidden Life of Ice - Dispatches from a Disappearing World. I'm not sure it would be a good main book as it isn't specifically about climate change or the environment, but it would be a great secondary book. It's a really interesting book full of all sorts of important topics (they effects of climate change on the arctic, the lack of supports for the people of Greenland, sexism in science, etc.).

I would also like to read something about food waste, it’s a topic we are daily confronted with. I’ve stumbled across some TED Talks and realized that I never thought about this very much
So I would like to suggest “Waste” by Tristram Stuart :)

Concerning "The Hidden Life of Ice":
I never heard of this book, so I can only comment based on the blurb. It sounds fascinating. Most people think of Greenland as a big chunk of ice. Ironically, climate change will make it a more interesting place to study (too high a price of course). It is very much about environment, a suitable addition to the list.

Thanks for so many recommendations! I am just new to studying books and materials about ecology and endangered species. It was a little difficult for me to understand the scientific articles, so I decided to read some information at https://envrexperts.com/free-essays/e... because there are posts here that explain everything (especially for beginners like me) ... I will definitely read all your recommendations too!

Alexander von Humboldt Cosmos : a Sketch of a Physical Description of the Universe

I listened to the Introduction at Librivox after discovering Alexander von Humboldt in Paul Hawken's 2017 Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming book.
Humboldt is one of the most important scientists in history, identifying human-induced climate change in the year 1800 and 1831 which made me see the problem of science communication and private industry profits in a new perspective/historical context.

To quote Paul Hawken describing Humboldt: "When he listed the three ways in which the human species was affecting the climate, he named deforestation, ruthless irrigation, and, perhaps most prophetically, the "great masses of steam and gas" produced in the industrial centers. No one but Humboldt had looked at the relationship between humankind and nature like this before".

Since November is Indigenous Peoples Month, I suggest the book

THE ARCHIPELAGO OF HOPE: Wisdom and resilience from the edge of climate change by Gleb Raygorodetsky

🏆 Nautilus Book Award Grand Prize Winner 2017

Homo Unus: Successor to Homo Sapiens by Kinchit Bihani

Kindle FREE 19th March 2023

The world around us (economic crisis, climate change, pandemic, war etc.) and the world inside us (loneliness, broken relationships, mental health) is crumbling. Why so? Who is responsible? What will it take humanity to survive and thrive in the tough times ahead? The book is an attempt to unearth answers to these questions.

https://www.amazon.in/dp/B088PX7V34?r...

A magnificent, moving ecological fable: welcome to The Real, where Pyn-Poi's people live in harmony with nature - until a killing stink threatens their whole world.

Pyn-Poi's mother Marak wants her to grow up to be the matriarch of the tribe, learning how to cook, to make medicines, how to care for everyone, but Pyn-Poi would rather be out among the trees like her father Sook-Sook, learning how persuade tree roots into bridges, to feel when shoots are too crowded, when drooping leaves need attention.

'A moving ecological fable, written with her signature grace and compassion' Elaine Isaak, author of The Singer's Legacy

Then something starts going wrong in The Real: when the rains come, instead of nourishment, they bring a noxious stench that's poisoning people and plants alike. Pyn-Poi is the treewoman now: it's her job. Their only chance is for her to climb to the land beyond the Wall, where the Ancestors live, to plead for their intercession

https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-nigh...