Books
Because I really do think that books can change the world, I have compiled a list of the ones I like that relate to environmental issues. To make choosing between these amazing volumes easier for my readers, along with providing short descriptions, I took it upon myself to rate each book on a scale from cynical to hopeful and from practical to theoretical, and also on their readability.
If you decide to read any of these titles, do avoid buying them from Amazon if you can help it. Get them from the library, try to find used copies, buy new ones from your local bookseller, or simply borrow them from me : )
And if you have read any books you think belong on this list, let me know!
Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things
William McDonough and Michael Braungart
Cynical 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Hopeful
Practical 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Theoretical
Readability 8
Gist: The global ecological crisis is merely a design problem. If only we took the long term into account in our conceptions of products and buildings, humans could actually be good for the Earth.
Read it if you: Want hope for a future where consumerism and industry aren’t evil.
Diet for a Small Planet
Frances Moore Lappé
Cynical 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Hopeful
Practical 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Theoretical
Readability 6
Gist: Meat production is totally inefficient both ecologically and nutritionally, but protein complementarity can save humankind.
Read it if you: Have never thought of protein as a finite global resource. (Read an updated edition if you’re concerned with the accuracy of the numbers.)
The Ethics of What We Eat: Why Our Food Choices Matter
Peter Singer and Jim Mason
Cynical 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Hopeful
Practical 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Theoretical
Readability 10
Gist: Unbeknownst to most shoppers, the modern grocery store is an ethical landmine. Bridge the gap between the values you hold in your head and the food you put in your mouth.
Read it if you: Eat.
Heat: How to Stop the Planet from Burning
George Monbiot
Cynical 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Hopeful
Practical 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Theoretical
Readability 4
Gist: Drastically reducing our energy usage while preserving our current lifestyles will be incredibly complicated and difficult, but it must be done ASAP. Or else we are doomed…
Read it if you: Work better under pressure and like to confront reality head-on, with all the (technical) facts at hand.
The Hot Topic: What We Can Do About Global Warming
Gabrielle Walker and Sir David King
Cynical 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Hopeful
Practical 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Theoretical
Readability 8
Gist: The planet’s temperature is going to rise. But we can stop it from rising too much if we act now.
Read it if you: Need a quick, clearly-presented overview of the science and politics of global warming.
Ill Nature: Rants and Reflections on Humanity and Other Animals
Joy Williams
Cynical 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Hopeful
Practical 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Theoretical
Readability 9
Gist: Humans think about nature in sick and twisted ways, if they bother to think of it at all. No wonder nature is so ill.
Read it if you: Thrive on sarcasm, like your non-fiction on the poetic side, find inspiration in incredibly insightful, concise rants, and love a dark worldview.
Sleeping Naked is Green: How an Eco-cynic Unplugged her Fridge, Sold her Car, and Found Love in 366 Days
Vanessa Farquharson
Cynical 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Hopeful
Practical 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Theoretical
Readability 10
Gist: A year of eco-steps taken by a super self-deprecating Canadian hippie-hating hipster who is used to her creature comforts and shopping sprees.
Read it if you: Resent being preached at, but know deep down that your lifestyle could use an environmental makeover.
That’s Why We Don’t Eat Animals: A Book About Vegans, Vegetarians and All Living Things
Ruby Roth
Cynical 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Hopeful
Practical 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Theoretical
Readability 10
Gist: Some people choose not to eat meat because factory farms and over-fishing make animals and the Earth unhappy.
Read it if you: Like and/or have kids, care about animals, or are into illustration.
Under a Green Sky: Global Warming, the Mass Extinctions of the Past and What They Can Tell Us About Our Future
Peter D. Ward
Cynical 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Hopeful
Practical 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 910 Theoretical
Readability 6
Gist: Climate stability is actually a relatively recent development on Earth. Most mass extinctions of the past were caused by climate change, not by asteroids. We’re in for it if we let global warming continue…
Read it if you: Think in terms of eons, like chemistry or prehistoric mollusks.
Wake Up and Smell the Planet: The Non-Pompous, Non-Preachy Grist Guide to Greening Your Day
Edited by Brangien Davis with Katharine Wroth
Cynical 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Hopeful
Practical 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Theoretical
Readability 10
Gist: Just getting through the day is hard enough, but making green choices doesn’t have to be a total drag.
Read it if you: Want pragmatic tips in a designed-to-make-you-laugh format.