Question of the Week: What books have you read that influenced your thinking about the environment?
Posted on June 1st, 2009 - 10:30 AM
Henry David Thoreau, Rachel Carson, Aldo Leopold - many authors have inspired us to think deeply about protecting the environment. Share which books you’ve read.
What books have you read that influenced your thinking about the environment?
Each week we ask a question related to the environment. Please let us know your thoughts as comments. Feel free to respond to earlier comments or post new ideas. Previous questions.
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Question of the Week
June 1st, 2009 at 10:35 am
Dr. M.S. Swaminathan’s Survey of the environment while I was growing up in India in the 80’s.
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June 1st, 2009 at 10:40 am
Silent Spring, Rachel Carson
A Sand County Almanac, Aldo Leopold
Of Men and Mountains, Justice William O. Douglas
Mountains Without Handrails, Joseph Sax
Something New Under the Sun, J.R. McNeill
The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Michael Pollen
Walden, H.D.Thoreau
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June 1st, 2009 at 10:53 am
“The Lorax” by Dr. Seuss. I now read it to my children every chance I get.
Also “A Civil Action” and “The Waters Turn to Blood”
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June 1st, 2009 at 11:12 am
Holy Bible
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Jimmy McCurry reply on June 1, 2009 2:23 pm:
Amen!
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Charles reply on June 3, 2009 3:54 pm:
Many people say the Bible means a lot of things that it actually doesn’t mean at all - apart from a narrow or self-serving interpretation. Not saying that yo uare making any sort of unfounded claim. Nevertheless, what exactly does the Bible say about protecting the environment?
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J reply on June 4, 2009 7:39 am:
The Bible - Specifically - Book of Genesis; Psalm 1; Psalm 8; Psalm 19; Psalm 23; Psalm 104; Psalm 139
Redeeming Creation: The Biblical Basis for Environmental Stewardship (Paperback)
by Fred Van Dyke (Author), David C. Mahan (Author), Joseph K. Sheldon (Author), Raymond H. Brand (Author)
For the Beauty of the Earth: A Christian Vision for Creation Care (Engaging Culture) by Steven Bouma-Prediger
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June 1st, 2009 at 11:23 am
Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver is the most memorable. Even her fiction books have an Environmental/Conservation thread that runs through as part of the plot.
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June 1st, 2009 at 11:38 am
Silent Spring, Rachel Carson
Travels with Charley, John Steinbeck
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June 1st, 2009 at 11:40 am
-Silent Spring; Rachel Carson
-Plan B 2.0: Rescuing a Planet Under Stress and a Civilization in Trouble; Lester Brown
-The Swamp: The Everglades, Florida, and the Politics of Paradise; Michael Grunwald
-The Lorax; Dr. Seuss
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June 1st, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey gave me new appreciation for an unspoiled southwest; Coming Into the Country by John McPhee did the same for Alaska.
More recently, I was drawn to the visually arresting Running the Numbers: an American Self-portrait by Chris Jordan, an artist’s look at the immensity of our wastefulness. I noted RtN and some other promising “green” books on The Baltimore Sun’s book blog: http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/books/blog/2009/05/running_the_numbers_and_more_g.html
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Peter reply on June 3, 2009 4:31 pm:
Absolutley! Desert Solitaire is an incredible tale and brings home man’s relationship with the fragile planet on which we live.
Another masterpiece is Cadillac Desert by Mark Reisner. A definitive study of water (and thus the environment) in the American West.
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June 1st, 2009 at 12:10 pm
“The Control of Nature” by John McPhee
“Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed” by Jared Diamond
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June 1st, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
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June 1st, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Edward O. Wilson’s The Future of Life
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June 1st, 2009 at 12:20 pm
“Earth in the Balance”, by Al Gore, was the first of many….
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June 1st, 2009 at 12:24 pm
A real good beginners read would be;
GO GREEN: HOW TO BUILD AN EARTH FRIENDLY COMMUNITY (Taylor)
It touches on almost every aspect of how a community can live ‘green’. Very well layed out with lots of short case studies.
A more intense read would be;
PLAN B 3.0: MOBILIZING TO SAVE CIVILIZATION (Brown)
This book reaches down deep to try and surface many underlying issues of failing civilizations. A read you can’t put down.
A more specifically focused book worth reading is;
HEMP: A LIFELINE TO THE FUTURE (Conrad)
An interesting read that talks about the past, present and future benefits of hemp. The most unique factor about this book is the fact it touches on the hot button topics of today, yet it was written in the early 90’s under the Clinton administration.
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Judith reply on June 6, 2009 11:49 pm:
Along similar veins (building a community with the ideals and innovation needed to create a sustainable “topia” where we live in harmony with nature) is the book:
GAVIOTAS: A VILLAGE TO REINVENT THE WORLD
This fascinating case study of a community in the harsh savanna of Columbia will transform your perception of what we are truly capable of.
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June 1st, 2009 at 12:27 pm
A Civil Action
When Smoke Ran Like Water
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
Silent spring
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June 1st, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation, edited by Gennadios Limouris; When Elephants Weep by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson and Susan McCarthy
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June 1st, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Out of Control: The New Biology of Machines, Social Systems, and the Economic World, 1993
Gave me such an appreciation for nature’s intelligence ..
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June 1st, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Craig Pittman’s PAVING PARADISE…Florida’s Vanishing Wetlands and The Failure of No Net Loss. We are losing our wetlands because every permit for destruction of wetlands gets approved by the Army Corps of Engineers. We also have to contend with phosphate mining which is destroying Central Florida.
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June 1st, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Linengen Versus The Ants - because nature has a nasty way of reminding you how powerful it is. Plus, it teaches you how valuable a moat full of burning petroleum is to keep out the undesirables!
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June 1st, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Paradise in the Sea of Sorrow: Our Minamata Disease by Ishimure Michiko
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June 1st, 2009 at 12:57 pm
The Lorax - Dr. Seuss
Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
Serve God, Save the Planet - Dr. J. Matthew Sleeth
The Bible - Green Lettered Bible - http://greenletterbible.com/index.php
The Bible - Specifically - Book of Genesis; Psalm 1; Psalm 8; Psalm 19; Psalm 23; Psalm 104; Psalm 139
Redeeming Creation: The Biblical Basis for Environmental Stewardship (Paperback)
by Fred Van Dyke (Author), David C. Mahan (Author), Joseph K. Sheldon (Author), Raymond H. Brand (Author)
For the Beauty of the Earth: A Christian Vision for Creation Care (Engaging Culture) by Steven Bouma-Prediger
The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Michael Pollen
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Dr. Spaceman reply on June 1, 2009 1:55 pm:
I’m just curious as to how God and religion fit into this category. Why would someone need to read a book about serving God and saving the planet?
If there is a divine plan and the earth is meant to rid itself of humans, then how is man supposed to change that? Or if the plan is for humans to change their way of living to help save the planet, why would they need a book to tell them that?
I guess I don’t understand how you can have a Christian based book on how to change something on such a grand scale such as saving the planet.
I always keep an open mind as well as try to interject logic into certain situations.
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JP reply on June 1, 2009 2:17 pm:
I think that God can fit into this category just as any other reason for people to decide to do something about it. For me, it is the plight of sharks that opened my eyes to environmental destruction, for others, it may be religious teachings.
If you take a closer look at the bible, it describes mankind as the stewards of the earth. Some people take that to mean that God left this bountiful earth for us to ‘exploit’, others take it to mean that we must take care of the earth and all beings that live here.
I think it really depends on your interpretation of the bible, but I do not see it as being counter to protecting the environment.
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Jimmy McCurry reply on June 1, 2009 2:45 pm:
When God created the Earth, he gave man dominion over all the Earth. The Garden of Eaden was perfect in all ways and man’s place in his environment was perfect. The downfall of man was when Adam and Eve broke God’s “rules” and eat of the forbidden fruit. Ever since that time Man and Nature have been at odds. In the New Testament it states that even creation itself (mother nature) yearns for Christ’s return. Christ is 100% God and !00% man and during his reign on earth everything will be in balance again. (The kid goat will lay down with the lion etc and so on.) Man’s attempt to be in balance with nature is futile. If we all would repent, get down on our knees and ask God to mend our lands we would accomplish more than any EPA or GREEN program that is presented by government or Judicial office. Of course, as stated in the Bible, all this is silly to the logical (carnal) man that does not understand the deeper teachings of the Word of God. ie the Bible.
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Jennifer reply on June 3, 2009 2:02 pm:
What happened to God helps those who help themselves?
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Dr. Spaceman reply on June 10, 2009 8:28 am:
Well Jimmy, I guess all I can say is I hope the invisible man in the sky hears you.
I’ll just keep making an actual difference, with the EPA, by engineering our future.
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June 1st, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Silent Spring-Rachel Carson
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek- Anne Dillard
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June 1st, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Blue Gold: World Water Wars, By Maude Barlow.
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June 1st, 2009 at 1:20 pm
- Natural Capitalism by Amory Lovins, Hunter Lovins, and Paul Hawken
- Cosmos - Carl Sagan
- Biomimicry - Benyus
- Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors - Carl Sagan
- The Lorax - Dr. Suess
- National Geographic magazine
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Bill Sekerak reply on June 1, 2009 2:29 pm:
Atlas Shrugged , The Return Of The Primitive , Capitalism The Unknown Ideal , Riki Tiki Tavi , Rascal , Never Cry Wolf , A Hive of Bees. Saving habitat is good, but only if it is accomplished by purchasing property with the owners true consent. Leave the guns out of it , political power is always projected at the point of a gun.
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June 1st, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Design with Nature (Ian McHarg, 1972 ish)
On the Ecology of Micromotives (public affairs, 1970; Thomas Schelling)
The End of Nature (Bill McKibben, 1988 ish)
Club of Rome (Meadows et. al., 1970 ish)
Counterintuitive Behavior of Complex Systems (MIT, Jay Forrester, 1969 ish)
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June 1st, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Among the books that I’ve read in the last year with an environmental angle–Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution - and How It Can Renew America—I highly recommend it.
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June 1st, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Ecotopia: The Notebooks and Reports of William Weston, by Ernest Callenbach, 1975.
I read this as a high school student about 30 years ago. I re-read it about a year ago and it now seems dated, but it made an impression on me at the time.
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June 1st, 2009 at 2:29 pm
I have been influenced by many of the above, and most recently, The World We Have by Thich Nhat Hanh.
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June 1st, 2009 at 2:35 pm
I read my own books, I do not need to be told, unless I must be mentally disabled, to NOT recongnize my suroundings and THE vast scope of disasters, “unfortunatly this is what mankind dose to itself, digging its own grave by few”.
I believe everyone in concious mind would like to help, in this crucial moments of history, “WHAT ABOUT THE OIL INDUSTRY? ARE YOU GONNA OFFER ANYTHING AT THIS CRUCIAL TIMES AT ALL OR SIMPLY EVERYTHING IS FOR TAKING”. Believe me everything has its ending at any given time NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE.
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Bruce reply on June 11, 2009 10:00 am:
Reread the question, stop preaching and use spell check.
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June 1st, 2009 at 2:46 pm
The Bible.
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June 1st, 2009 at 2:50 pm
The Sheep Look Up, a dystopian/science fiction novel by John Brunner (1972). The Collapse of Complex Societies by Joseph Tainter (1988). The Tainter book prefigures Jared Diamond’s book Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed. One of Tainter’s key concepts is the idea of diminishing returns. Societies go into collapse partly because they choose to continue behaviors which, while benefiting them in the past, are now causing harm. Such a behavior in our society might be the continued widespread use of petrochemical products.
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June 1st, 2009 at 3:00 pm
I must agree that the Bible is the most profound book I have ever read. It addresses the questions of why man is out of balance with nature as well as how we can ask God to mend our land. It also tells how man can regain his relationship with God through Jesus and how when Jesus returns again how nature and man will be restored back into balance during his millennial reign. All this is weak-minded to many educated men but that also is addressed in the Bible. After all if man could explain all of God’s creation, why would be need to have faith to re-establish our relationship with him. God’s plan is of a higher intellect than the human mind can grasp. We must believe by faith in the gospel and “his” plan as a child believes an adult who is older and wiser. It is His way of bringing man back into a relationship with Himself.
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June 1st, 2009 at 3:27 pm
Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv and Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
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Pat reply on June 2, 2009 2:55 pm:
nice choices, last child in the woods is a must read for anyone with kids. it has a great sense of balance and is very holistic.
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June 1st, 2009 at 6:18 pm
The World Without Us by Alan Weisman.
The most thought-provoking environmental book I’ve ever read.
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June 1st, 2009 at 7:15 pm
A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle has been added to my reading after I read parts of the Bible that talks to me about taking care of my earth. I am of First Nation descent and we have always been taught to honor the earth.. If you take from the earth, you return something to the earth.
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June 1st, 2009 at 8:09 pm
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver
The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan
National Geographic
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June 1st, 2009 at 9:14 pm
DRILL HERE, DRILL NOW!
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June 1st, 2009 at 9:37 pm
EARTH:THE SEQUEL by Fred Krupp and Miriam Horn
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June 1st, 2009 at 11:00 pm
Robert Seviour & Per H Nielsen:
The new edition of this book, written for both microbiologists and engineers, has been updated with the enormous amount of information made available in the past 6-7 years. The contributors are all internationally recognized as leading research workers in activated sludge microbiology, and all have made valuable contributions to our present understanding of the process. The Microbiology of Activated Sludge critically reviews our current understanding of the microbiology of activated sludge, the most commonly used method for treating both domestic and industrial wastes. It pays particular attention to how the application of molecular methods has changed our perceptions of the identity of the filamentous bacteria causing the operational disorders of bulking and foaming, and the bacteria responsible for nitrification and denitrification and phosphorus accumulation in nutrient removal processes.
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June 1st, 2009 at 11:24 pm
Among the many classics that have already been mentioned, I add:
“On the Origin of Species” by Charles Darwin
and “How Shall I Live My Life” by Derrick Jenson
Although, I admit that it seems kind of crazy to put these two in the same category..
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June 2nd, 2009 at 12:08 am
Cadillac Desert - Marc Reisner
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June 2nd, 2009 at 8:42 am
Ominvore’s Dilemma–it really put into perspective what a profound effect how and what we eat impacts the environment, not to mention our health, the economy, etc.
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Jacklynlh@neuf.fr reply on June 5, 2009 2:12 am:
Les 100 meilleurs aliments pour votre santé et la planète” by Doctor L. CHEVALLIER
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June 2nd, 2009 at 9:13 am
“Sustainable Energy — without the hot air” by David McKay
“Heat: How to Stop the Planet From Burning” by George Monbiot
“Food, Energy, and Society” by Pimentel and Pimentel
I find these books completely terrifying in that they demonstrate how our government continues to do things which are ineffective, wrong-minded, and too little too late! At the very least WHY are we still pushing ethanol????
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June 2nd, 2009 at 9:38 am
Lost Mountain by Eric Reese
Several essays from Wendell Berry’s collections including “Citizenship Papers” and “Another Turn of the Crank”
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June 2nd, 2009 at 10:26 am
The Song of the Dodo: Island Biogeography in an Age of Extinctions by David Quammen
“The Song of the Dodo” mixes both wit with facts and makes for a very enjoyable read for adults. Quammen speaks about extincitions and how they impact the world on every level. From thylacines to Dodos, all are covered. The chapter dealing with the Dodo almost brought me to tears, as I see it as an allegory for how humans sometimes treat the environment around them.
I highly recommend this book.
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June 2nd, 2009 at 11:11 am
Collapse - by Jared Diamond.
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June 2nd, 2009 at 11:19 am
Reading the Rocks by Marcia Bjornerud
It’s an autobiography of the Earth’s history told by a geologist. It’s an inspiring book that motivated me to reevaluate my values and actions taken towards the planet. It’s a great read for non science reader!
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June 2nd, 2009 at 1:39 pm
“Organic Chemistry”
“The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics”
It helped me to realize that Al gore and the EPA are full of Bologna
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June 2nd, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Bill McKibben, “The End of Nature”
E.O. Wilson, “Biophilia”
James Gustave Speth, “The Bridge at the End of the World”
John Barry, “Rising Tide”
David Abrams, “The Spell of the Sensuous”
Annie Dillard, “Pilgrim at Tinker Creek”
Bill McKibben (Ed.), “American Earth: Environmental Wiritings Since Thoreau”
Anything by Loren Eiseley
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Roseann L. reply on June 3, 2009 8:31 am:
Reading this list, I had forgotten about Loren Eiseley! Immense Journey was a lif altering reading experience for me. Though I have read it twice over the years, I think I’m over due to read again.
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Steve reply on June 3, 2009 11:18 am:
Immense Journey is pretty awesome, but my favorite Eiseley is The Unexpected Universe. The chapter titled “The Star Thrower” is one the most haunting and inspiring things I’ve ever read.
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Jaymee reply on June 3, 2009 3:24 pm:
Spell of the Sensuous - what an eye opener!
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June 2nd, 2009 at 2:16 pm
Tragedy of the Commons by Garrett Hardin (article). So simple and yet it explains all our ecological problems (and why we are SOL to stop them).
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June 2nd, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Some years ago I read Earth in the Balance by Al Gore. I really liked the way he brought to the forefront for me, the real cost of doing business when you take into consideration the restoration work, or even taking care of the gargage. This caused me to equate ecology and economy systems. We all make choices each day that have a consequence in the bigger picture. Possibly we should be coining a new word like Echo-Me to make the point that my choices are not isolated in a sound proof chamber. We all affect the Earth we share.
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June 2nd, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Mostly as a child, my school science text books. I loved my science classes, especially Earth Science in Junior High. As a small child, learning about the earth and how it works was so fascinating that I wondered why would any one would pollute it.
In college I became a geology major and one of the books I read that made an impression was “On the Origin of Species” by Charles Darwin
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June 2nd, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the way we make things.
The two authors are working towards a world where economic growth is synonymous with environmental protection.
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June 2nd, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Actually, I have read several books that influenced that decision, mostly nonfiction but some were fiction as well, for instance The Lord of the Rngs and Th Hobit, in book form, are excellent environmental book. One book that was very interesting was Environmental Endgame. This book talks about neoclassicism and how business owners get around environmental regulations by housing their work in free trade zones, outside of the US, where they don’t have to follow rules. They then dump whatever they feel they need to at those sites and degrade the environmental as much as possible. The coincidence is that these free trade zones are located in the poorest countries with the largest environmental issues. Kind of mind boggling how people could abuse so much over so little profit.
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June 2nd, 2009 at 7:29 pm
“Hot Flat and Crowded” by Tom Friedman
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June 2nd, 2009 at 7:44 pm
I have read books that share extremely different views on the environment. The last two that I finished in May (Green Hell and Red Hot Lies) finally give the regular citizen the opportunity to learn about the tactics and twisted “facts” that liberals use to push their Green Agenda. Even though the environment does deserve our attention, with high priority, the general public has not been fortunate enough to hear the common sense arguments that would be a sobering experience that could help address the draconian measures that government is ready and willing to take at the cost to the people they are claiming to help
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June 2nd, 2009 at 11:32 pm
“Ishmael” by Daniel Quinn. It was required reading for my ecology class in college. It is extremely thought provoking. “With man gone, will there be hope for gorilla?”
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June 3rd, 2009 at 12:24 am
I recently read Sally Ride’s new books about the environment. She has a very interesting perspective based on her experience as an astronaut and scientist. Highly recommend ‘Mission Planet Earth’ and ‘Mission Save the Planet.’
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June 3rd, 2009 at 8:30 am
The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. A compelling story of the necessity of environmental, health, and safety protection.
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June 3rd, 2009 at 10:32 am
When I was a child, I read the Foxfire series, and read every Mother Earth Magazine I could. I also studied a lot about the Native Americans and how they treated the Earth.
Their philosophy that the Earth is a living thing that gives us life and nourishment, deserves to be respected and honored has become my philosophy. We can take; yes. It is necessary to give back and not take too much and not with unfettered greed.
The Earth is amazing in her ability to heal, but let us keep in mind; a living thing can be killed. If we kill our host, we will follow shortly.
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June 3rd, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Anything written by H.T. Odum.
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June 3rd, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Much of Teilhard de Chardin’s writing in “Toward the Future”, was written in the 1930’s. A scientist and Jesuit, he was often forbidden to publish his works. His concepts are seminal to the environmental movement.
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June 3rd, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Several books like Environmental Law IN A NUT SHELL. This book delivers a quick look at the laws and provides a quick look at what government and industry are mandated by Congress to follow. I beleive that once one has read the book, one will be provided a good look at what is wrong with many of our environmental issues. Another required reading is the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). This will provide the answers to many questions concerning what laws are being violated by government agencies.
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June 3rd, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Rachel Carson- The Silent Spring
Thomas Friedman-Hot, Flat and Crowded
The Creation-can’t recall the author
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June 3rd, 2009 at 3:06 pm
The Wump World- Bill Peet
Farewell to Shady Glade- Bill Peet
The Skeptical Environmentalist- Bjorn Lomborg (what a joke!)
The Monkey Wrench Gang- Edward Abbey
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June 3rd, 2009 at 3:26 pm
Desert Solitaire and Monkey Wrench Gang, both by Edward Abbey
Of Wolves and Men, Barry Lopez
The Legacy of Luna, Julia Butterfly Hill
Anything by Jane Goodall
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June 3rd, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Pollution and the Death of Man by Francis Schaeffer; Silent Spring by Rachel Carson; The Bible, especially the passages on treating your neighbor as you would want be treated (Jay and Jimmy, I’m with you!); Metcalf & Eddy’s Wastewater Treatment (any edition!); Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater.
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June 3rd, 2009 at 7:53 pm
These are just some of the great books that I have read and I recommend them highly for improving your awareness on the seriousness of todays environment concerns. For our future and our children’s future. “For the Health of Our Nation”
“Hot, Flat, and Crowded” by Thomas L. Friedman.
“Under the Weather” by Pat Thomas.
“Poisened Profits” A must read for parents, soon to be parents and grandparents and anyone that wonders why society has so many behavior problems.
An Inconvienent Truth” by Al Gore.
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June 3rd, 2009 at 8:18 pm
Generation Green By Linda and Tosh Sivertsen
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June 3rd, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Anything by Wendell Berry, Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed by Jared Diamond
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June 3rd, 2009 at 10:16 pm
The End of Nature, Bill McKibben
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June 4th, 2009 at 9:46 am
Edward Abbey’s Desert Solitaire and The Monkey Wrench Gang. The former is a non-fiction classic capturing the beauty of the Southwest. The latter is a rollicking tale of eco-terrorism against unfettered development of the wilderness.
Coming into the Country by John Mcphee. The author is one of the most lyrical writers of the 20th century. Any of his books are a delight. This book captures the essence of America’s last frontier.
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June 4th, 2009 at 11:35 am
I forgot to mention “The Road” by Cormac McCarthy.
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June 4th, 2009 at 11:49 am
In the beginning:
Silent Spring - Rachel Carson
Sand County almanac. With other essays on conservation from Round River - Aldo Leopold
Also: The Lorax
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June 4th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Anything by John Muir
Sand County Almanac (Aldo Leopold)
Silent Spring (Rachel Carson)
Cadillac Desert (Marc Reisner)
The Writings of Henry David Thoreau
The Lorax (Dr. Seuss and Theodor Seuss Geisel)
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June 4th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
A Sand County Almanac, Aldo Leopold
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June 4th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
The books of Jean Stratton Porter that I read as a kid, particularly The Harverster and Freckles.
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June 5th, 2009 at 11:37 am
In Defense of Food, by Michael Pollan
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June 5th, 2009 at 11:49 am
With some unexpected time-off work this spring due to rotator cuff surgery, I found myself unable to do the things I usually do since my right arm was in a sling for 6 weeks. (I am right handed)
My Division Director, Emma McNamara, who happens to be a librarian, suggested that: “It was a good time to catch up on some reading” - she is one of the most intelligent women I know.
Well, I discovered that my local library had these “Play Aways” i.e. digital books. So, I got a number of books that were read to me - and I didn’t have to use my right arm to change the pages!
The one book that I had read to me which I had read over 30 years ago, still made the most profound impact on me concerning the environment and the mission of EPA.
It is Silent Spring, by then NOAA scientist Rachel Carson. Although Dr. Carson’s book was published in 1962, she never got to see her thougths and theories come to fruition. She died an early and untimely death of breast cancer in 1964. She was at that time… a mere civil servant - like many of us. She was also a brilliant marine biologist who wrote many other books about the Sea and marine biology - although she is best know for Silent Spring. I believe women like Rachel Carson and Lois Gibbs (Love Canal - 1960″s) were the impetus behind the grassroots movements that founded the first “Earth Day” in 1970 and that led to the formation of the Environmental Protection Agency on November 11, 1970.
Now, 39 years later I can attest to our progress and success. As I mentioned earlier, I was off work for most of the month of April, hence spent a lot of time outdoors doing one-armed gardening.
I dare say, this April was the most “Unsilent Sping” I have ever experienced. The birds, butterflys, spring peepers, deer, copperheads, frogs, crickets and salamanders were abound in my garden. I put in a rain garden on April 22nd in celebration of the 39th Anniversary of Earth Day - and it has mostly been raining ever since, including this Friday June 5th. Sorry about that - I plan on planting some sunflowers this weekend to cheer everyone up!
Back to Rachel Carson’s book - I think it should be suggested reading for everyone at EPA. I also think we should hold a huge celebration next spring on the Anniversary of her Birthday. Hey - we could have it in the Rachel Carson Green Room - or better yet - we could go out in the courtyard and enjoy the beautiful flora and fauna.
Thank you Rachel - you are one of my two heroes (my mother is the other one) - I am wearing pink today in honor of “Breast Cancer Awareness Day” and I’ll be walking in the Race for the Cure with your name on the back of my T-Shirt.
Thanks for the opportunity to comment.
Darlene H. Boerlage
Office of Water (The Next One)
P.S.
(I’ve worked in 4 AA-Ships at EPA and would like to work in most of them before I retire). I have also worked in 3 other Federal Departments/Agencies- EPA, by far is the most progressive.)
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June 5th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
“Cradle-to-Cradle: Remaking the Way we Make Things”
By William McDonough & Michael Braungart
This book demonstrates that nature-inspired design principles are possible.
It truly makes you think about all the wasteful things that surround us…and it has changed my thoughts on recycling (in the traditional sense).
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June 5th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
The Diversity of Life by E.O. Wilson
The Log From the Sea of Cortez by John Steinbeck
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June 7th, 2009 at 11:02 am
Ishmael - Daniel Quinn
The Botany of Desire- Michael Pollan
Something New Under the Sun - J R McNeil
Guns, Germs, and Steel - Jared Diamond
Hot Flat and Crowded- Thomas Friedman (some of it)
Though it may be too large a subject to approach in this venue, the real root problem of humanity and the natural environment is the conceit that they are separate things. Nature, ‘The Wild”, etc… are not something outside of us. We are merely something inside of it. The driving force behind all of our environmental problems is the myth that unlimited growth is the ultimate good. In response to some earlier comments on the Bible as an environmentally friendly text, I would like to make a point without being unnecessarily hostile. I have myself read the bible in several translations and cannot ignore the basic premise that is established in creation. I understand this story is not taken literally by most people today, but the main underpinning of the world view is not abandoned along with the literal details. The basic world view goes like this: The world is made for man. Man is to subdue all other life to his purposes. Humanity is the final product of creation. He and his descendants are to be fruitful and multiply.
This is exactly what we have done and continue to do. As long as we live like this is the one right way (unlimited growth philosophically underwritten by the idea that humans are the pinnacle of creation) we are doomed to live out the prophecy of John. The worldview in Genesis cannot not really undone by the later books. Wether we really believe this consciously is irrelevant. We live it. Look at every nation in the world. They seek one thing universally. Growth. If we follow these instructions we will fulfill the apocolypse ourselves. The World is not in trouble. It is we who are in trouble. There is hope yet, though time grows shorter every day.
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June 8th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Barry Commoner’s “The Closing Circle” had a tremendous effect because it put man’s impact on our environment into perspective.
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June 15th, 2009 at 10:08 am
These books have an enormous amount of information and insight. They go beyond the typical “take these steps/suggestions to better the environment and stop global warming”. Be prepared when reading them, as the information is shockingly vivid and disheartening, yet factual.
Cradle to Cradle, McDonough and Braungart
Omnivore’s Dilemma, Michael Pollan
Walden, Henry David Thoreau
Crimes Against Nature, Robert F Kennedy Jr.
This Moment on Earth, John Kerry
World Changing, Alex Steffen
Next on my list is Silent Spring by Rachel Carson!
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June 15th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
The Silent Spring - Rachel Carson
Small is Beautiful - Schumacher
Limits to Growth - Meadows
His Dark Materials - Phillip Pullman, climate change is one of the themes used in this fantasy trilogy so wouldn’t say prompted to think - rather i made the connection there
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June 16th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
River of Grass - Marjory Stoneman Douglas
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June 17th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
All of Frank Ackerman’s books- especially Why do we Recycle and Poisened for Pennies
Our Stolen Future by Theo Colborn, Dianne Dumanoski, John Peter Meyers
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June 20th, 2009 at 9:46 am
Along with many of the previously listed books, I have recently read “Green Kingdom Come” by Joe Grabill. It’s a great new perspective on the green movement.
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July 6th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
glenn beck’s an inconvenient book…go read!
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September 15th, 2009 at 11:56 pm
What?
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