Here’s a list of books I’ve read and recommend. Many are available as audiobooks for those short on reading time. I keep updating the list with new reads and comments. Additionally, check out my pages for Children’s books and Cookbooks. You can often find these at your local library, so look there before purchasing. Libraries rock!
Here are the topic areas if you want to get to a specific section quickly:
Endangered Animals & Wildlife Issues
Coastal Areas & Habitat Destruction
Food, Vegetarianism & Veganism
The Textile & Clothing Industry
Natural (or Climate?) Disasters
Plastic
Plastic-Free: How I Kicked the Plastic Habit and How You Can Too
by Beth Terry
This book is from plastic-free authority and blogger Beth Terry’s myplasticfreelife.com. It’s a super-comprehensive how-to guide on getting plastic out of your life. Start with this book. Her website and book are the best places to start if you want to stop using and wasting so much plastic. She has solutions for many things but also teaches you how to think about dealing with plastic on a regular basis so that you can figure a solution even when there may not be an obvious replacement for a plastic item.
Life Without Plastic: The Practical Step-by-Step Guide to Avoiding Plastic to Keep Your Family and the Planet Healthy
by Chantal Plamondon and Jay Sinha
The authors of this book run lifewithoutplastic.com, an online store that focuses on plastic-free living. But the book offers many alternatives to plastic-free and non-toxic living beyond what they sell. In fact, this is a book that you should keep on the shelf for handy reference. The best parts of the book detailed the toxicity of certain plastics and chemicals that are part of our everyday lives. Those toxins affect our health, our children, and the environment. Finally, this book features an exhaustive and comprehensive list of sources to find plastic alternatives for so many items well as educational resources.
Say Goodbye to Plastic: A Survival Guide for Plastic-Free Living
by Sandra Ann Harris; foreword by Dianna Cohen
The author is the founder of EcoLunchbox but also a “Mother, Seeker, Environmentalist” as she describes herself in the book. She tells the story of how she came to establish her company because of a lack of options for children’s lunchboxes, and how the business developed from there. Harris offers a room-by-room guide on how to replace plastic items in your home once they need replacing. “I’m not going to ask you to do anything I wouldn’t do myself…As a busy mom with full-time employment, it has been critical that saying goodbye to plastic adds joy, ease, beauty, and value to my life – not guilt or stress.” She also notes that this is a process, not something you can transition to overnight. It’s a very practical guide, and I highly recommend this book. I also previously reviewed EcoLunchbox products if you’d like to read that.
Living Without Plastic: More Than 100 Easy Swaps for Home, Travel, Dining, Holidays, and Beyond
by Brigette Allen and Christine Wong
As the title suggests, this book offers more than 100 simple swaps for many disposable plastic items we use, organized into sections of our everyday lives: home, food & drink, health & beauty, travel, and special occasions. While this could be a great book for a beginner of the plastic-free lifestyle and includes a “30-Day Plastic Detox Program,” I learned a great deal and I’ve been striving for plastic-free for years. The photography used in the book is beautiful and this book could serve a double purpose as a coffee table book – and a great conversation starter! Finally, this book features an exhaustive and comprehensive list of sources to find plastic alternatives for so many items.
Plastic: A Toxic Love Story
by Susan Frienkel
This is the authority on the history of plastic. It is thoroughly researched and well cited. The history of plastic extends back into the late 19th century and its production exponentially increased after World War II. But plastic is made from petroleum and chemicals and is harmful to human and animal life, ecosystems, and the ocean. She calls out the corporations and politics that promote the use of plastics. But she calls on us to reduce our overdependence on plastic items and offers possible solutions. This should be a required read for all, so we become aware of the toxicity that consumes our daily lives and constantly threatens our health.
Plastic Purge: How to Use Less Plastic, Eat Better, Keep Toxins Out of Your Body, and Help Save the Sea Turtles!
by Michael SanClements
Ecologist Michael SanClements wrote this book and highlighted many of the problems with plastic toxicity, as well as the general overproduction of plastic. Written in a colloquial style, it’s an easy read, down-to-earth book that will further expand your understanding of the problems associated with plastics, especially single-use disposable plastic and packaging.
Plastics in the Oceans: Toward Sustainable Solutions
by Jean-Luc Wertz, Olivier Bédué, and Serge Perez
From the publisher: “Increasing plastic pollution, particularly in oceans, calls for a fundamental shift towards future-proof plastics throughout the circular economy…In line with this global initiative, Plastics in the Oceans investigates the problem of plastic pollution in oceans, proposes solutions relating to current and advanced materials and technologies, and offers an optimal sustainable strategy to eliminate plastic pollution by 2040…This book is aimed at technical readers in environmental engineering, chemical engineering, and polymer chemistry, as well as general readers interested in scientific solutions to the plastics pollution problem.” Some of the content is very technical, but it still offers valuable ideas and solutions.
Plastic Soup: An Atlas of Ocean Pollution
by Michiel Roscam Abbing
This book features excellent photographs and highlights all the major challenges, practices, and creative initiatives related to plastic and plastic pollution. It’s a great overview of those topics and visually provides a call to action.
Plastic Ocean: How a Sea Captain’s Chance Discovery Launched a Determined Quest to Save the Oceans
By Captain Charles Moore
This is the epic story of Captain Charles Moore’s 1997 sailing trip from Hawaii to California when he discovered the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Moore had always loved the ocean and sailing but became an environmentalist after the discovery. He has worked with other environmentalists, scientists, and organizations to come up with solutions and to raise awareness about the worldwide plastic pollution catastrophe. This is an excellent book full of extensive research and scientific findings, and a must-read!
Flotsametrics and the Floating World: How One Man’s Obsession with Runaway Sneakers and Rubber Ducks Revolutionized Ocean Science
by Curtis Ebbesmeyer and Eric Scigliano
Oceanographer Dr. Ebbesmeyer spent his life studying various aspects of the ocean for different companies. But his focus became drift patterns through the oceanic gyres across the planet. He is most known for studying the floating patterns of the container spills of plastic bath toys and Nike sneakers, but his contributions to ocean science are paramount. This book is well-cited, organized, and very well written – it almost read like a novel at some points and I had trouble putting it down. This is now one of my favorite books about the ocean.
Plastic Game Changer: How to Reduce Plastic in your Organization to Make a Difference to Plastic Pollution
by Amanda Keetley
This book was published in the UK, but it is still a good book to start with if you’re working for an organization that currently needs to know how and where to start. It’s also a quick read and offers several exceptional examples of companies that are leading the way in the battle against plastics.
The Future of Packaging: From Linear to Circular
by Tom Szaky
Tom Szaky is the founder of Terracycle, a company that makes products from waste that is generally unrecyclable. Overall, I liked this book and loved that fifteen industry leaders contributed essays to it. The selection of authors was excellent! I learned a ton about packaging, the packaging industry, and different models of packaging sustainability from this book. Corporations and companies need to do a lot more to prevent plastic waste. But consumers also have the power to convince those companies to change. Szaky wrote, “As consumers, we don’t give ourselves enough credit for how powerful we really are…View your purchases as having a direct impact on the goods and services companies choose to make.”
Paper or Plastic: Searching for Solutions to an Overpackaged World
by Daniel Imhoff
This was published in 2005 so it is slightly dated now. However, it does offer interesting history and case studies still relevant to the packaging industry. Additionally, Imhoff’s research is very well cited and led me to many other sources in my own research!
Garbage & Recycling
Year of No Garbage: Recycling Lies, Plastic Problems, and One Woman’s Trashy Journey to Zero Waste
by Eve O. Schaub
This is a fascinating book full of information regarding the facts about garbage, plastics, and recycling. I highly recommend it! Read my full book review here! You can also read about my interview with the author.
From the Bottom Up: One Man’s Crusade to Clean America’s Rivers
by Chad Pregracke, with Jeff Barrow
This is an inspiring book, especially for those who find gratification in cleaning up litter and trash. Chad Pregracke started this organization by simply cleaning up the Mississippi River, and it grew from there, into a national organization that cleans rivers across the nation with the help of sponsors, volunteers, and dedicated employees. This is the story of how he started Living Lands & Waters, which is the real deal. Since the late 1990s, they’ve removed more than 12 million pounds of trash from our rivers. This included many types of trash, such as metal barrels, plastic barrels, appliances, tires, cars, sunken boats, and all manner of smaller items. They also recycle everything they can instead of just putting it all in a landfill. Pregracke wrote, “The garbage got into the river one piece at a time, and that’s the only way it’s going to get out of the river. Each piece represents neglect, but it can also represent hope (after it’s picked up). As far as the garbage problem goes on the Mississippi, the cleanups are working. We’ve seen results time and again. People aren’t trashing the river like they once were.” I love this organization and plan to volunteer with them!
Garbology: Our Dirty Love Affair with Trash
by Edward Humes
The Waste Crisis: Landfills, Incinerators, and the Search for a Sustainable Future
Reduce, Reuse, Reimagine: Sorting Out the Recycling System
by Beth Porter
This is the best book I’ve read on the recycling system in the United States. We are only recycling about 34% of waste and less than 10% of our plastic waste. It addresses in detail the logistical and economic issues within our recycling system. The author addresses the sociological and psychological aspects of waste removal and recycling. This book is well researched and cited, engaging, and offers many solutions for the future. If you want to know more about why recycling isn’t working, start with this book.
Can I Recycle This?: A Guide to Better Recycling and How to Reduce Single-Use Plastics
by Jennie Romer
This excellent book should be the go-to guide for recycling all types of items. Romer, an attorney and sustainability expert, offers scientific information about how plastics are both made and recycled. She provided contextual information and legal regulations about how recycling, waste management, and incineration work. The book is illustrated with colorful diagrams and visuals to enhance your understanding. Even someone who knows a lot about these topics will likely learn from it. If you want a concise, articulate book to better understand recycling and waste management, this is the book. Read my full review here.
The Ocean
Ocean: A Global Odyssey
by Dr. Sylvia A. Earle
I thoroughly enjoyed this comprehensive book! From the publisher: “Everything you want to know about the ocean can be found inside these beautiful and dynamic pages. National Geographic Ocean unveils the power and significance of our planet’s watery essence: the fundamental importance of the ocean in shaping Earth’s climate and chemistry as well as its vital role in supporting a multitude of life-forms, including our own human race. World-renowned oceanographer and National Geographic Explorer in Residence Sylvia Earle–affectionately called “Her Deepness”–guides readers with her lyrical style and inspiring wisdom, describing the evolution, beauty, and impact of our ocean; the challenges it faces, such as climate change, plastic, and overfishing; and the myriad ways we can help protect it. This engaging story of the ocean celebrates dozens of ocean champions and visionaries, explores the ocean’s origin and the nature of water, and features a gallery of wondrous creatures that illustrate the spectacular diversity of life in the sea, from sponges, kelp, and zooplankton to whales, sharks, and sea turtles. More than 100 maps and diagrams, including seafloor and political maps of all Earth’s seas and oceans, elucidate Dr. Earle’s lively narrative.”
The Ocean Speaks: A photographic journey of discovery and hope
Curated by Matt Porteous & Tamsin Raine
This is a lovely book of essays and beautiful photography about the ocean and its marine life. From the publisher: “The Ocean Speaks brings together more than 45 ocean culture life enthusiasts who have taken ocean protection into their own hands, documenting the unknown and telling stories that aim to connect humans with water. Whether they are divers, marine biologists, surfers, influencers, conservationists, photojournalists, or filmmakers, each of these ocean lovers is playing a part in deepening our understanding of our planet’s largest life support system, 80% of which remains unmapped, unobserved, and unexplored.”
The World Is Blue: How Our Fate and the Ocean’s Are One
by Dr. Sylvia A. Earle
Dr. Sylvia A. Earle has spent her entire life exploring the ocean and the life it supports. Though this book is more than 10 years old, its core message in the title is always relevant: our fate is tied to the ocean in so many ways. But we are damaging the ocean through overfishing, climate change, and pollution. The ocean is vast but shows the ill effects; sea level is rising, coral reefs are dying; lower populations of fish humans eat; pollution killing birds and marine life. If we destroy the ocean, we will not survive. She offers hope though: there is still time to save it, and save ourselves.
by Isobel Carlson
This is a delightful book that intersperses maritime history, ocean science, marine biology, lighthouses, shipwrecks, poetry, ocean activities, DIY crafts related to the sea, and recipes. From the publisher: “This book celebrates oceans, coasts and shorelines the world over. Bringing together incredible stories and legends of the sea, delicious recipes and activities inspired by the coast, and fascinating trivia on everything from marine exploration to the turning tides, it will captivate anyone who is enthralled by the wonder of the sea.”
Water
by Seth M. Siegel
This is an excellent and thoroughly researched book. It features incidents of water pollution across the U.S., types of contaminants and chemicals, the various legislation on water quality and pollution, and potential solutions to our water crisis. From the publisher: “From big cities and suburbs to the rural heartland, chemicals linked to cancer, heart disease, obesity, birth defects, and lowered IQ routinely spill from our taps. Many are to blame: the EPA, Congress, a bipartisan coalition of powerful governors and mayors, chemical companies, and drinking water utilities―even NASA and the Pentagon. Meanwhile, the bottled water industry has been fanning our fears about tap water, but bottled water is often no safer. The tragedy is that existing technologies could launch a new age of clean, healthy, and safe tap water for only a few dollars a week per person…It concludes with what America must do to reverse decades of neglect and play-it-safe inaction by government at all levels in order to keep our most precious resource safe.” I consider this a must-read!
Superman’s Not Coming: Our National Water Crisis and What We the People Can Do About It
by Erin Brockovich
An excellent overview of the many industrial toxin and chemicals that pollute our drinking water in the United States. Brockovich covered stories all over the country in which people were poisoned by their water. She explained how the majority of these toxic chemicals are not regulated because they take years and millions of dollars to study. She believes that people have the right to know what’s in their water and environment. She wrote that we, as citizens, have to demand answers and solutions and work from grassroots efforts. “Superman is not coming. If you are waiting for someone to come save you and clean up your water, I’m here to tell you: No one is coming to save you. We can’t survive without access to clean water (or water at all) and yet we are losing access to our most precious resource. Without water, it is literally GAME OVER for all of us. The time has come for us to save ourselves.” Brockovich offers ways we can fight for clean water at the end of every chapter. I honestly found this book difficult to put down at times!
Bottlemania: Big Business, Local Springs, and the Battle over America’s Drinking Water
by Elizabeth Royte
Published in 2009, this book examined the exponential growth of the bottled water industry and sales up to the late 2000s. The author surveyed Poland Springs in Maine where there is an actual natural spring. That company was bought out by Nestlé which owns several bottled water companies. Royte reviewed which waters are bottled from natural springs and which are purified tap water. She explained EPA water standards, how water is recycled in municipal systems, chemicals in tap and bottled water, the plastic used in water bottles, and the marketing behind bottled water. The big question still is, who owns our water? Is water a basic human right as the United Nations declared, or should we have to pay for it? This is truly a thought-provoking read about water and the information is still relevant today. Without water, we could not survive.
Zero Waste
Zero Waste Home: The Ultimate Guide to Simplifying Your Life by Reducing Your Waste
by Bea Johnson
The book includes how to refuse and reduce, remove the excess, and offers many DIY recipes for cooking, cleaning, makeup, etc. I’ve read this book twice and it is my favorite book on zero waste.
by Julia Watkins
This is an inspiring book to get you started on a non-toxic, low-waste home. The author shares recipes and reuses for things like coffee grounds for every area of the home. She provides ways to eliminate disposable items and toxic ingredients. I love this book and I use many of the recipes in it, including the one for hardwood floor cleaner.
No Impact Man: The Adventures of a Guilty Liberal Who Attempts to Save the Planet, and the Discoveries He Makes About Himself and Our Way of Life in the Process
by Colin Beavan
This was a super impressive venture that the author and his wife endeavored. They went zero impact over the course of one year while living, working, and having a child in New York City. The goal was to as live environmentally friendly as possible, “but it was also about how one person…can become free from all the societal shoulds and find a path to meaning and purpose,” Beavan wrote. He also shares the research and environmental discoveries he made along the way. This is a truly inspiring story and one that all interested in environmental impact should read. A documentary about their journey is also available.
101 Ways to Go Zero Waste
by Kathryn Kellogg
This book was written by a genuine zero waster, who founded goingzerowaste.com. Kellogg provided 101 ideas on how to go zero waste and offered several tips within each idea. This book was full of great ideas, with some topics even I had not seen or thought about before. She provides many recipes for DIY cleaners, make-up, and bath products. I appreciated her honesty when she’d admit that sometimes there are no decent DIY replacements for certain things. In those situations, she offered tried and true advice on companies that produce low waste products. Kellogg’s biggest message was that reducing the amount of waste we produce is more important than striving for true zero waste – because that’s almost impossible in our current society.
Make Garbage Great: The Terracycle Family Guide to a Zero-Waste Lifestyle
by Tom Szaky and Albe Zakes
I genuinely enjoyed this book about TerraCycle’s story and how recycling works within the greater waste management system. One example: between 1960 and 2011, Americans exponentially increased their plastic waste from 400,000 tons to 32 million tons. Additionally, only 8% of that plastic is recycled. Those numbers are astounding! Everyone should read this book! The book also offers a ton of ideas on how to reuse, recycle, and upcycle materials. It also features DIY projects, like a plastic bottle bird feeder, using materials normally disposed of in the average household.
Climate Change
Inconspicuous Consumption: The Environmental Impact You Don’t Know You Have
by Tatiana Schlossberg
This book is witty and funny, but serious about the climate science issues. From the publisher: “By examining the unseen and unconscious environmental impacts in four areas-the Internet and technology, food, fashion, and fuel – Schlossberg helps readers better understand why climate change is such a complicated issue, and how it connects all of us: How streaming a movie on Netflix in New York burns coal in Virginia; how eating a hamburger in California might contribute to pollution in the Gulf of Mexico; how buying an inexpensive cashmere sweater in Chicago expands the Mongolian desert; how destroying forests from North Carolina is necessary to generate electricity in England…Most importantly, this is a book about the power we have as voters and consumers to make sure that the fight against climate change includes all of us and all of our stuff, not just industry groups and politicians. If we have any hope of solving the problem, we all have to do it together.” I really enjoyed this one.
A Life on Our Planet: My Witness Statement and a Vision for the Future
by Sir David Attenborough
This English broadcaster, writer, and naturalist has seen the world go through many changes over the course of his lifetime. Some of the most striking are the immense increases in the throwaway economy and the wastefulness of our lifestyles. Attenborough observed many climate and landscape changes and the loss of biodiversity over time. “I have been witness to this decline. A Life on Our Planet is my witness statement, and my vision for the future. It is the story of how we came to make this, our greatest mistake — and how, if we act now, we can yet put it right…We have one final chance to create the perfect home for ourselves and restore the wonderful world we inherited.” Though his accounts sometimes made me feel despair, he offered ideas for solutions and hope throughout. We can still save our own beautiful habitat and ourselves.
The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times
by Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams, with Gail Hudson
I recommend the audiobook version of this title, as Jane Goodall narrates her responses to Douglas Abram’s questions. The book focuses on her “Four Reasons for Hope”: The Amazing Human Intellect, The Resilience of Nature, The Power of Young People, and The Indomitable Human Spirit. It offers so many ways to remain hopeful in these trying times.
by Christina Gerhardt
I learned so much geography from this book and loved searching Google Earth for the islands described in it. From the publisher: “Atlases are being redrawn as islands are disappearing. What does an island see when the sea rises? Sea Change: An Atlas of Islands in a Rising Ocean weaves together essays, maps, art, and poetry to show us—and make us see—island nations in a warming world. Low-lying islands are least responsible for global warming, but they are suffering the brunt of it. This transportive atlas reorients our vantage point to place islands at the center of the story, highlighting Indigenous and Black voices and the work of communities taking action for local and global climate justice.” Though at times this book made me sad, because of the global losses we are experiencing, I highly recommend it.
by Lauri David and Heather Reisman
This is a great book, even if you’re not just starting your healthier-planet -and-healthier-life journey. I learned many things from reading it. From the publisher: “In Imagine It!, the documentary filmmakers behind Writing on the Wall, Fed Up, The Biggest Little Farm, The Social Dilemma, and the Academy Award–winning An Inconvenient Truth highlight the need to change some of our food, clothing, and transportation habits and meaningfully lower our use of plastic, paper, water, and harmful chemicals. They call the changes in these areas lifestyle shifts, and there is a chapter devoted to each one of them in the book…[that] provides clear steps for replacing old habits with new ones to create lasting change.” I highly recommend this book!
The Loneliest Polar Bear: A True Story of Survival and Peril on the Edge of a Warming World
by Kale Williams
This book examines the stories of polar bears living in zoos, specifically one named Nora that almost did not survive after being born at the Columbus Zoo. The author juxtaposes the tragic consequences of climate change and its effect on wild polar bears to that of captive polar bears. It “explores the fraught relationship humans have with the natural world, the exploitative and sinister causes of the environmental mess we find ourselves in, and how the fate of polar bears is not theirs alone.” I really enjoyed this book and recommend it.
No One is Too Small to Make a Difference
By Greta Thunberg
“In August 2018 a fifteen-year-old Swedish girl, Greta Thunberg, decided not to go to school one day in order to protest the climate crisis. Her actions sparked a global movement, inspiring millions of students to go on strike for our planet, forcing governments to listen, and earning her a Nobel Peace Prize nomination.” This is a collection of her speeches from addresses to the United Nations and Capitol Hill and climate strikes. It is inspiring to read (as well as listen) to her calls for change and her beratement of politicians who stand by and do nothing.
Our House Is on Fire: Scenes of a Family and a Planet in Crisis
by
This book documents the struggles of one family’s battles with mental health disorders, while also becoming activists for the climate crisis. It was refreshing to read such an open, honest account of raising a family with these issues, and the struggle with the sometimes fine line of protecting your children and letting your children flourish in their own way. Greta ignited a worldwide rebellion through her school strikes for the climate. She is now a worldwide speaker and climate expert, and the book explains a lot about climate change and different perspectives regarding it. I got a lot out of this book!
by
This is a wonderful graphic novel that explains the science of climate change with humor and illustrations. From the publisher: “When The Cartoon Introduction to Climate Change was first published in 2014, it offered something entirely new: a fun, illustrated guide to a planetary crisis. If that sounds like an oxymoron, you’ve never seen the carbon cycle demonstrated through yoga poses or a polar bear explaining evolution to her cubs…Sociologists have argued that we don’t address climate change because it’s too big and frightening to get our heads around. The Cartoon Introduction to Climate Change takes the intimidation and gloom out of one of the most important challenges of our time.” This book makes this information very accessible and fun to read.
Save the Humans!
by Rob Stewart
This book by award-winning documentary filmmaker and shark activist Rob Stewart (which has several covers, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t find this cover – it’s all the same book!) is fascinating! If you aren’t familiar with his work, I recommend watching his films first (Sharkwater, REvolution, and Sharkwater Extinction) so that you can better understand his story. He explains his experiences, from childhood to college and into adulthood, that led him to become a shark activist. He came to understand that saving sharks and climate change were directly linked and that in order to save ourselves, we must protect both sharks and the climate. He traveled the world while filming and met dozens of people on both sides of the shark and fishing industry (those who want to preserve it and those who make massive amounts of money from it). From the publisher: “With his efforts to save sharks leading to tangible policy change in countries around the world, Stewart sets his sights on a slightly bigger goal: saving humanity. Criss-crossing the globe to meet with the visionaries, entrepreneurs, scientists and children working to solve our environmental crises, Stewart’s message is clear: the revolution to save humanity has started, the only thing missing is you!” Though Stewart tragically passed away during the filming of Sharkwater Extinction, his work remains inspirational and important.
Human Nature: Planet Earth In Our Time, Twelve Photographers Address the Future of the Environment
edited by Geoff Blackwell and Ruth Hobday
This book features interviews and photography with twelve of the most renowned photographers in the world. The interviews explain how each professional photographer came to use their talent to teach their audiences, many through the reach of National Geographic, about environmental problems and climate change. The photographs are stunning and the stories are fascinating!
Climate Change Simplified: A Comprehensive Guide to Global Warming and Sustainable Living with 101 Essential Tips for a Greener Future and Reduced Carbon Footprint
by Alexa Ingram
This honestly wasn’t my favorite book, as some facts were slightly off. For example, the author indicated that “many plastic goods do, in fact, end up getting recycled,” which unfortunately just isn’t true. We know that less than 9% of plastics are recycled.
However, the book did offer an overview of most environmental problems as a whole and had some simplified explanations of topics that I think some would find very helpful. So for those purposes, I recommend it.
Eco-Anxiety: Saving Our Sanity, Our Kids, and Our Future
by Heather White
I honestly don’t love books that have a quiz and then put you into a specific category, as for me, nothing ever seems to be a good fit. Other than that, this book offers plenty of good advice on how to take action while mitigating your anxiety about environmental harm. It also addresses how to help our children with the overwhelm.
Toxic and Poisonous Stuff
Silent Spring
by Rachel Carson
This classic work is credited with launching the environmental movement. Carson wrote about the effects of various chemicals and pesticides on human, animal, and environmental health. She wrote, “How could intelligent beings seek to control a few unwanted species by a method that contaminated the entire environment and brought the threat of disease and death even to their own kind?” The most notorious chemical was the highly poisonous DDT, a chemical used for pesticides. Its toxicity was well documented but the information was scattered throughout the scientific literature. “It was Rachel Carson’s achievement to synthesize this knowledge into a single image that everyone, scientists and the general public alike, could easily understand,” Edward O. Wilson wrote in the afterword of this book. Carson “stirred an awakening of public environmental consciousness,” wrote her biographer, Linda Lear. She also did this during a time when the scientific world was male-dominated. Noting how her work changed how people viewed their relationship with nature, author Beth Porter wrote: “The interconnectedness that flows throughout Carson’s work is a sobering reminder of why we must approach problems through a systems-thinking lens. We can’t expect long-lasting, thoughtful solutions when we consider only one piece of a much larger, multifaceted system.” Originally published in 1962, the same types of problems and issues exist today. This is a must-read.
by Darin Olein
The title of this book is perfect, and one I wish I’d written myself. This book is potentially life-changing for those who aren’t aware of the toxic products surrounding us and our families. This is one of my top favorite books. From the publisher: “These things—from deodorant, cosmetics, dental floss, and sunscreen to laundry detergent, air fresheners, carpets, and crayons to candles, tea bags, cell phones, and chewing gum—are ubiquitous in daily life . . . and they are wreaking havoc on our health and our planet. The environmental toxins found in these products create a cascade of problems, including chemical sensitivities, auto-immune issues, obesity, chronic health diseases, and more.” This is a must-read for everyone!
Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry
This book was life-changing for me – I really mean life-changing. I had no idea about the toxic ingredients in so many products that I used during my adolescence and through all of my adult life until I read this book in 2017. I immediately removed a ton of products containing toxic ingredients from our home after reading this research. The author is a co-founder of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and their work to advocate for safer ingredients. This book was also my introduction to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting human health. Their goal is to is inform and educate people about toxic ingredients in make-up, shampoos, perfumes, household cleaners, food, tap water, pesticides, etc.
To Dye For: How Toxic Fashion Is Making Us Sick-and How We Can Fight Back
by Alden Wicker
This is an informative book and one of my top favorites. The author’s narrative is engaging, interesting, and hard to put down at times. The book is about much more than chemical dyes in our clothes. The author writes about many of the toxic chemicals used in fashion items that people buy and wear every day. She covers other products those chemicals are used for and their potential toxicity to humans. Synthetic chemicals and dyes, derived from fossil fuels, are linked to so many illnesses, including autoimmune diseases, infertility, asthma, eczema, cancer, etc. And there’s very little regulation of those toxins. From the publisher: “A Silent Spring for your wardrobe, To Dye For is a jolting exposé that reveals the true cost of the toxic, largely unregulated chemicals found on most clothing today.”
Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands
by Kate Beaton
This is an excellent graphic novel about working in the tar sands in Alberta, Canada. From the publisher: “Beaton’s natural cartooning prowess is on full display as she draws colossal machinery and mammoth vehicles set against a sublime Albertan backdrop of wildlife, northern lights, and boreal forest…an untold story of Canada: a country that prides itself on its egalitarian ethos and natural beauty while simultaneously exploiting both the riches of its land and the humanity of its people.” This book also addresses sexual harassment in typically male-dominated fields.
A Trust Betrayed: The Untold Story of Camp Lejeune and the Poisoning of Generations of Marines and Their Families
by Mike Magner
The North Carolina United States Marine Corps base’s water was toxic for decades and caused countless miscarriages, birth defects, birth deformities, long-term cancers, and cancer-related illnesses. All families who lived and worked at the base and drank, swam, or showered in the water were exposed to very high levels of industrial solvents trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE), benzenes, and other chemicals. Areas affected enlisted-family housing, barracks for unmarried service personnel, base administrative offices, schools, recreational areas, the base hospital, and even the child care center. From the publisher: “For two decades now, revelations have steadily emerged about pervasive contamination, associated clusters of illness and death among the Marine families stationed there, and military stonewalling and failure to act. Mike Magner’s chilling investigation creates a suspenseful narrative from the individual stories, scientific evidence, and smoldering sense of betrayal among those whose motto is undying fidelity. He also raises far-reaching and ominous questions about widespread contamination on US military bases worldwide.” This is a fascinating read.
Paradise Falls: The True Story of an Environmental Catastrophe
by Keith O’Brien
This is the story of Love Canal, a neighborhood in Niagara Falls that was intensely chemically polluted in the 1970s. It made hundreds of people, including children, very sick – sometimes fatally. This book features the group of mothers who discovered Hooker Chemical’s intentional chemical and hazardous waste dumping. This has been one of America’s most devastating toxic waste disasters. The events there are often credited with sparking the modern environmental movement. It is an excellent book!
The Real Cost of Fracking: How America’s Shale Gas Boom Is Threatening Our Families, Pets, and Food
by Michelle Bamberger and Robert Oswald
Though this book was written in 2014, it is still just as relevant and it explains the hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” process very well. From the publisher: “Across the country, fracking—the extraction of natural gas by hydraulic fracturing—is being touted as the nation’s answer to energy independence and a fix for a flagging economy. Drilling companies assure us that the process is safe, politicians push through drilling legislation without a serious public-health debate, and those who speak out are marginalized, their silence purchased by gas companies and their warnings about the dangers of fracking stifled. The Real Cost of Fracking pulls back the curtain on how this toxic process endangers the environment and harms people, pets, and livestock. Michelle Bamberger, a veterinarian, and Robert Oswald, a pharmacologist, combine their expertise to show how contamination at drilling sites translates into ill health and heartbreak for families and their animals. By giving voice to the people at ground zero of the fracking debate, the authors vividly illustrate the consequences of fracking and issue an urgent warning to all of us: fracking poses a dire threat to the air we breathe, the water we drink, and even our food supply.”
Big Box USA: The Environmental Impact of America’s Biggest Retail Stores
edited by Bart Elmore, Rachel S. Gross, and Sherri Sheu
From the publisher: “Big Box USA presents a new look at how the big box retail store has dramatically reshaped the US economy and its ecosystems in the last half century…Contributors join a growing conversation between business and environmental history, addressing the ways American retail institutions have affected physical and cultural ecologies around the world. Essays on Walmart, Target, Cabela’s, REI, and Bass Pro Shops assess the ‘bigness’ of these superstores from ‘smokestacks to coat racks’ and contend that their ecological impacts are not limited to the footprints of parking lots and manufacturing but also play a didactic role in educating consumers about their relationships with the environment.”
Minimalism
Minimalism: Live a Meaningful Life
by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus
If you are new to minimalism or are interested in The Minimalists, start with this book. They also have a film. You can read about both in this post.
Everything That Remains: A Memoir by The Minimalists
by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus
Essential: Essays by The Minimalists
by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus
The Minimalist Home: A Room-by-Room Guide to a Decluttered, Refocused Life
by Joshua Becker
Becker provides a how-to go minimalist guide in this book but also offers the why. He explains minimalism as a mindset, like the Minimalists, and not just an effort to declutter. This guide can help you get started, room by room while teaching you the reasons for letting go of items you don’t need or use.
The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own
This book is about minimalism and finding happiness in a simpler lifestyle with less stuff, and more money for generosity from buying and spending less. The author tells his story and those of others who stumbled upon the concept of minimalism. He also provides ways to start getting rid of things.
Clutterfree with Kids: Change your thinking. Discover new habits. Free your home
.
.by Joshua Becker
I love this book, and I’ve read it twice now. Becker breaks down minimalism and provides an understanding of minimalism, but is not a how-to guide. Becker provides the thought process to guide you through going minimalist with children so that we can actually connect better with our children. “Don’t just declutter, de-own. It is better to own less than to organize more.” Less organizing, less cleaning, and less shopping equal more time with the people we love most. This book is a short read that will leave you ready to start clearing out the clutter!
Soulful Simplicity: How Living with Less Can Lead to So Much More
by Courtney Carver
Carver writes about living better with less through minimalism and no debt. She focuses on listening to your heart and soul for a more meaningful life. This book really spoke to me, and I highly recommend it. Be sure to check out her blog at bemorewithless.com/. She also started a minimalist fashion project called Project 333.
Project 333: The Minimalist Fashion Challenge That Proves Less Really is So Much More
by Courtney Carver
The author began this project several years ago after she went minimalist. I have been participating in Project 333 for a while and was thrilled when I found out Carver was publishing a book about it!
by Rose Lounsbury
This book is by a minimalism coach that is also the mother of triplets. She takes a practical approach to decluttering your home and simplifying your life, with step-by-step methods. I enjoyed this book!
by Anthony Ongard
A guide to minimalism and intentional living; this one that identifies “the Twitch—the impulsive, unproductive responses we have to discomfort—minimizing those distractions, kicking the clutter, and doing more of what matters.”
by Rachelle Crawford
This book is a funny, honest account of living a minimalist lifestyle with a family. From the publisher: “Laying out practical strategies for reducing waste, curbing consumption, decluttering, and finding lots more joy, Crawford offers no-nonsense solutions for the rest of us. Learn to become a more conscious consumer, create a capsule wardrobe, inspire family members to join you, free up more time for the things that matter, and create a tidy(ish) home. The messy minimalist way is a no-judgment zone, one in which we learn sustainable habits and grace-based practices. It’s about living lightly on the earth and making room for purpose. Becoming a messy minimalist is not about turning into someone else; it’s about clearing away clutter and expectations to unearth who you really are. It’s about carrying fewer things so that we find ourselves holding onto what truly matters.”
by Zoë Kim
This book is a great introduction to minimalism and a helpful overview of how to go room by room with your family. From the publisher: “Spend less time stressing about your stuff and more time together. Filled with practical advice to help you and your family clear out your house, Minimalism for Families helps you build stronger bonds, spend more time together, and start enjoying the benefits of living clutter-free.”
Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World
by Cal Newport
While this book may not focus on the physical items bogging down our lives, it does fall in line with the chaos in our minds. How much of that chaos comes from digital sources, such as email, social media, and 24-hour news? On top of that, the information is concentrated on our smartphones, which makes for a constant stream of distraction, anxiety, and dissatisfaction. Newport calls this “mindless digital activity” and encourages you to stop being overwhelmed by constant notifications and updates. He provides strategies to disconnect from the digital world and reconnect with the inner self and the physical world. This book was imminent in my views of social media. I removed myself from Facebook and other social media sites. I decided to focus less on what others were doing and to stop comparing myself to others, which is one negative that social media encourages. I was also finding myself engaging in petty arguments with people I didn’t really know or care about – what a waste of time and energy, as author Sarah Knight (see below) would also say. This is a must-read if you’re feeling overwhelmed and have a desire to reclaim mental peace.
Decluttering
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing
by Marie Kondo
While this does not technically fall under minimalism, I feel like many of Marie Kondo’s approaches are useful in downsizing and beginning the path to minimalism. I say that because that’s how it’s worked for me!
Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up
by Marie Kondo
This is essentially a sequel to the previous book.
by
This is a great and easy-to-follow book by Matt Paxton, the cleaning expert on Hoarders and then Legacy List. From the publisher: Paxton “has identified the psychological roadblocks that most organizational experts routinely miss but that prevent so many of us from lightening our material load. Using poignant stories from the thousands of individuals and families he has worked with, Paxton brings his signature insight to a necessary task…Whether you’re tired of living with clutter, making space for a loved one, or moving to a smaller home or retirement community, this book is for you. Paxton’s unique, step-by-step process gives you the tools you need to get the job done.” I highly recommend this book if you are cleaning out, especially if you have no idea where to start.
The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter
by Margareta Magnusson
If you’re already a minimalist, you won’t need this book! The premise of this book is that as you age, you accumulate clutter, and you should clean it out before you pass on so that it does not become a burden on your loved ones. On the over-consumption of stuff, she wrote: “[It] will eventually destroy our planet – but it doesn’t have to destroy the relationship you have with whomever you leave behind.”
The book offered beautiful little nuggets related to minimalism. For example, she indicated that an added benefit of death cleaning is “thinking more about how to reuse, recycle and make your life simpler and a bit (or a lot) smaller. Living smaller is a relief.” It’s a cute and easy read.
Marie Kondo’s Kurashi at Home: How to Organize Your Space and Achieve Your Ideal Life
by Marie Kondo
From the publisher: “Inspired by the Japanese concept of kurashi, or ‘way of life,’ Kurashi at Home invites you to visualize your best life from the moment you wake up until the end of each day. By applying Marie Kondo’s time-tested query—“Does it spark joy?”—to your mindset and behaviors, you are invited to take an even more holistic and personal approach to curating your environment by imagining what your life could look like full of connection and free from any limitations. This ideal vision then becomes a touchpoint that helps you make conscious, mindful choices—from how you use every corner of your living space to how you take advantage of every moment.” The book includes beautiful photographs that inspire a tidy or minimalist home. I enjoyed this book!
Endangered Animals & Wildlife Issues
A Year with the Seals: Unlocking the Secrets of the Sea’s Most Charismatic and Controversial Creatures
by Alix Morris
From the publisher: “Environmental journalist Alix Morris spends an eye-opening year getting to know these elusive, intelligent creatures, investigating the effects of their extraordinary return from the brink of extinction and how we can try to bring nature back into balance…
A Year with the Seals is a rare look at what happens when conservation efforts actually work, and how human tampering with ecosystems continues to have unexpected consequences. But it’s also a gripping adventure story of a journalist determined to understand seals and our relationship with them for herself.” This book reads like a novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Crossings: How Road Ecology Is Shaping the Future of Our Planet
by Ben Goldfarb
From the publisher: “Some 40 million miles of roadways encircle the earth, yet we tend to regard them only as infrastructure for human convenience. While roads are so ubiquitous they’re practically invisible to us, wild animals experience them as entirely alien forces of death and disruption. In Crossings, environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb travels throughout the United States and around the world to investigate how roads have transformed our planet. A million animals are killed by cars each day in the U.S. alone…Creatures from antelope to salmon are losing their ability to migrate in search of food and mates; invasive plants hitch rides in tire treads; road salt contaminates lakes and rivers; and the very noise of traffic chases songbirds from vast swaths of habitat. Yet road ecologists are also seeking to blunt the destruction through innovative solutions…Crossings is a sweeping, spirited, and timely investigation into how humans have altered the natural world―and how we can create a better future for all living beings.” This is a fascinating book!
by Carl Safina
All seven species of sea turtles are endangered, mostly because of human activities. The decline of sea turtles worldwide is distressing and humans have to stop the actions that are harming them and work on recovery. Many biologists and scientists are working on ways to recover populations. Safina mainly focuses on leatherbacks but discovers problems with each sea turtle species. From the publisher: “Writing with verve and color, Safina describes how he and his colleagues track giant pelagic turtles across the world’s oceans and onto remote beaches of every continent. As scientists apply lessons learned in the Atlantic and Caribbean to other endangered seas, Safina follows leatherback migrations, including a thrilling journey from Monterey, California, to nesting grounds on the most remote beaches of Papua, New Guinea…In his peerless prose, Safina captures the delicate interaction between these gentle giants and the humans who are finally playing a significant role in their survival.”
Vanishing Treasures: A Bestiary of Extraordinary Endangered Creatures
by Katherine Rundell
This is a great book and I truly enjoyed reading it. It features 23 unique creatures across the world that are facing endangerment or extinction. From the publisher: “This urgent, inspiring book of essays dedicated to 23 unusual and underappreciated creatures is a clarion call insisting that we look at the world around us with new eyes—to see the magic of the animals we live among, their unknown histories and capabilities, and above all how lucky we are to tread the same ground as such vanishing treasures.”
by Tom Mustill
I loved this book. It was about far more than whales; it was about how all animals communicate. The studies and findings show that animals are far more advanced in communication than most realize. It is full of fascinating studies, information, and history. From the publisher: “Drawing from his experience as a naturalist and wildlife filmmaker, Mustill started investigating human–whale interactions around the world when he met two tech entrepreneurs who wanted to use artificial intelligence (AI)—originally designed to translate human languages—to discover patterns in the conversations of animals and decode them. As he embarked on a journey into animal eavesdropping technologies, where big data meets big beasts, Mustill discovered that there is a revolution taking place in biology, as the technologies developed to explore our own languages are turned to nature.”
100 Heartbeats: The Race to Save Earth’s Most Endangered Species
by Jeff Corwin
A truly inspiring must-read about the sad state of Earth’s many beautiful species that are threatened and endangered. This is the best book I’ve read on the topic. Please read my full review!
The Last Elephants
Complied by Dr. Don Pinnock and Colin Bell
This is a book of photographic essays, and the photography is outstanding. The essays feature narratives from researchers, scientists, and conservationists calling for the preservation of African elephants. We can’t afford to lose any more of these beautiful, intelligent, emotional creatures. These mammals are both keystone species and ecosystem engineers – meaning they are essential for our planet, our ecosystems, other species, and ourselves. From the publisher: The book “was inspired by the devastating results of the continent-wide Great Elephant Census of 2016, undertaken by Elephants without Borders in tandem with the world’s most prominent conservation groups. The book joins together the voices and vision of scientists, lawmakers, rangers, conservationists, and on-the-ground researchers to speak out against elephant killings, to close loopholes in international law that allow the ivory trade to continue, and to pay tribute to the thousands who work to protect the animals, including African communities who have elected to preserve and protect their elephant neighbors. Offering both profiles of preservation plans that work and hope for elephants’ future, this is a must-read for everyone concerned for the future of one of Earth’s most captivating species.”
by Rowan Jacobsen
This book is a great overview of the challenges that pollinators face, and the consequences of those issues. From the publisher: “Many people will remember that Rachel Carson predicted a silent spring, but she also warned of a fruitless fall, a time when ‘there was no pollination and there would be no fruit.’ That fruitless fall has nearly arrived as beekeepers have watched a third of the honey bee population mysteriously die over the past two years. Rowan Jacobsen uses the mystery of Colony Collapse Disorder to tell the bigger story of bees and their essential connection to our daily lives. With their disappearance, we won’t just be losing honey. Industrial agriculture depends on honey bees to pollinate most fruits, nuts, and vegetables—more than a third of the food we eat. Yet this system is falling apart.”
Living on the Edge: Amazing Relationships in the Natural World
by Jeff Corwin
An interesting read about animal species and Corwin’s experiences in different regions of the world. He’s a true advocate of all species and a protector of the habitats. He has had several television shows over the years.
Beneath the Surface: Killer Whales, SeaWorld, and the Truth Beyond Blackfish
by John Hargrove
This book was difficult to put down. It was written by a respected former senior orca trainer who never intended to become a whistleblower but did by circumstance. After being on medical leave for injuries received over the years from working at SeaWorld, he decided that he could not return because he could no longer support or be a part of SeaWorld’s actions and mistreatment of the orcas. He grieves being with the whales but has become an orca advocate, first through the documentary Blackfish, and from there through many talks, interviews, and this book. This book made me mad, it made me cry, and it made me love these whales. Sadly, I will never be able to go to SeaWorld now that I’ve seen and read multiple accounts of animal and employee mistreatments, poor breeding actions, and greed on SeaWorld’s part.
National Geographic The Photo Ark: One Man’s Quest to Document the World’s Animals
by Joel Sartore
This book is about the Photo Ark project, created by photographer Joel Sartore. His goal is to document all of the Earth’s species, especially those that we are endangered or close to extinction. The photographs are astonishing! Read my post about Sartore and check out his other books.
Rare: Portraits of America’s Endangered Species
by Joel Sartore
Released in 2010, this was a photography book early into the Photo Ark project. This book features 80 images of animals, including two different turtle species from the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, Tennessee. “Do we choose to save things that may contribute nothing to our bottom line? If money is all that matters, then we’re headed for a very poor world indeed. Can you imagine a planet without wolves? Without frogs? Without pollinating insects?”
National Geographic The Photo Ark Vanishing: The World’s Most Vulnerable Animals
by Joel Sartore
This is the newest book from the Photo Ark project. Just released in September 2019, the project is in its 15th year of photo-documenting the Earth’s creatures. Sartore wrote about the experience of photographing Nabire, one of the last Northern White Rhinos, who was sweet and patient during the photoshoot but died just a week after. The next time he saw her, she was taxidermied and in a museum exhibit. He felt heartbroken. Sartore posed rhetorical questions such as, “How hard must we be on our planet to cause even insects to vanish?” The photography is beautiful. “All animals, regardless of size or shape, are glorious. Each is a living work of art,” he wrote.
Birds of the Photo Ark
by Joel Sartore and Noah Strycker
The birds of the Photo Ark in this book gave me an even larger appreciation for these creatures. They are unique, beautiful, adaptable, and incredibly intelligent. There were dozens of birds I’d never heard of or read about, so I thoroughly enjoyed this photography book.
National Geographic Photo Ark Wonders: Celebrating Diversity in the Animal Kingdom
by Joel Sartore
National Geographic photographer has Joel Sartore has done it again, by publishing another beautiful book showing us portraits of animals that feature their shapes, patterns, and expressions. The Photo Ark continues to grow and document our world’s species before we lose more to extinction.
Of Orcas and Men: What Killer Whales Can Teach Us
by David Neiwert
This is the best book on orcas that I’ve read and I found it hard to put down at times. It covers both captive and wild orcas, their anatomy and physiology, habitats, lifestyles, culture, and challenges. “Benign and gentle, with their own languages and cultures, orcas’ amazing capacity for long-term memory and, arguably, compassion, makes the ugly story of the captive-orca industry especially damning. In Of Orcas and Men, a marvelously compelling mix of cultural history, environmental reporting, and scientific research, David Neiwert explores how this extraordinary species has come to capture our imaginations―and the catastrophic environmental consequences of that appeal.” If you are going to read just one book about orcas, read this one!
by Captain Paul Watson and Tiffany Humphrey
This is a full account of all the known orcas in captivity, both past and present. About 60 orcas are living in captivity now, and this book includes their photo, personal history, how many times they have been relocated to other parks, and notable incidents that have occurred during their captivity. Unfortunately, at least two orcas have passed since this was published in 2020. If you are interested in learning about killer whales in captivity, this is a must-read.
Fathoms: The World in the Whale
by Rebecca Giggs
This book was fabulous! Written with informative, poetic prose, it provided viewpoints from the world of whales that I had always wondered about. From the publisher: “When writer Rebecca Giggs encountered a humpback whale stranded on her local beachfront in Australia, she began to wonder how the lives of whales reflect the condition of our oceans. [The book] blends natural history, philosophy, and science to explore: How do whales experience ecological change? How has whale culture been both understood and changed by human technology? What can observing whales teach us about the complexity, splendor, and fragility of life on earth? In Fathoms, we learn about whales so rare they have never been named, whale songs that sweep across hemispheres in annual waves of popularity, and whales that have modified the chemical composition of our planet’s atmosphere. We travel to Japan to board the ships that hunt whales and delve into the deepest seas to discover how plastic pollution pervades our earth’s undersea environment.” I highly recommend this award-winning book.
The Lost Whale: The True Story of an Orca Named Luna
by Michael Parfit and Suzanne Chisholm
This is the sad but heartwarming story of Luna the Orca, who lived in the waters of the Northwestern coast of the United States-Canadian border near Vancouver. Separated from his family at a young age for unknown reasons and living alone, Luna became famous because he tried to establish friendships with humans. But those relationships became controversial as government scientists struggled with figuring out if this was healthy for the whale. This account was written by two people who experienced it first hand while residing in the area. “Here was a creature who seemed to have a complete awareness of life, who used nothing that resembled our language, but who nevertheless could build social relationships that worked…Luna has never asked us for anything but friendship…But we think we know better. Once, trying to keep people away from him was a great idea, an experiment in tough love, to see if the starvation of solitude would push him toward home. But it didn’t work.” This book shows how humans and other mammals really aren’t that different in many ways. We all have emotions and the deep-rooted need for relationships.
The Last Rhinos: My Battle to Save One of the World’s Greatest Creatures
by Lawrence Anthony with Graham Spence
Lawrence Anthony was the head of conservation at the Thula Thula animal reserve in Zululand, South Africa for more than a decade. From the publisher: “When he learned that there were only a handful of northern white rhinos left in the wild, living in an area of the Congo controlled by the infamous Lord’s Resistance Army, he was determined to save them from extinction…What followed was an extraordinary adventure, as Anthony headed into the jungle to ask the rebels to help protect the rhino. Sometimes funny, sometimes moving, and always exciting, The Last Rhinos tells the story of his fight to save these remarkable creatures.” The northern white rhino is now extinct in the wild. Only two females are living, under constant protection from poachers, in Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy. This book was well-written, but Anthony’s story made me sad and brought me to tears many times. Besides the wild extinction of the northern white rhinos and the decline of elephants and other species, he also witnessed violence and death toward both humans and animals.
The Odyssey of KP2: An Orphan Seal, a Marine Biologist, and the Fight to Save a Species
by Terrie M. Williams
This scientist’s heartwarming story about KP2, a Hawaiian monk seal, is a fascinating story about a seal with a unique personality. KP2 was abandoned by his mother and required human intervention to survive. Williams and her team transported, cared for, and studied the seal into his young adulthood. The seal lost also its sight at a young age and thus resides at Waikiki Aquarium. Williams wrote: “With help from my team, KP2 had more than proven that it was possible to aid wild populations through research on an individual under human care, on an animal once considered an expendable castoff to be euthanized.” The book also addresses the huge amounts of plastic pollution that kill many species of seals and whales each year.
Behind the Dolphin Smile: One Man’s Campaign to Protect the World’s Dolphins (2012 edition)
by Richard O’Barry with Keith Coulbourn
Richard O’Barry was the original Flipper the Dolphin trainer and worked with the Miami Seaquarium for many years. Through his experience with capturing dolphins and keeping them in captivity, he became an activist for dolphins. He is the founder of the Dolphin Project and the star of the documentary The Cove. In his book, O’Barry explains his background and experiences and how those culminated in his activism. How could he put straw hats on dolphins and make them do tricks in his early career? “It was my job,” he wrote. “And I was ambitious and sometimes very stupid.” He has dedicated decades of his life since to both freeing captive dolphins and educating people all over the world about dolphins. While reading this book, there were parts where I laughed out loud, and there were parts where I cried. I highly recommend this book, especially if you’ve already seen The Cove.
Coastal Areas & Habitat Destruction
Wild Sea: Eco-Wars and Surf Stories from the Coast of the Californias
by Serge Dedina
The author is the co-founder and Executive Director of WildCoast, an international non-profit that works to conserve coastal and marine ecosystems and wildlife. Dedina is a life-long surfer and an eco-warrior; as well as a resident and authority on the Southern and Baja California coastlines. This book is a collection of articles outlining the work, activism, and research that he and others have initiated and participated in to make a difference in preserving the habitats, animals, and natural resources of the California coastline. The book is a call to action and it’s very inspiring! Read my full review here.
Shadows on the Gulf: A Journey through Our Last Great Wetland
by Rowan Jacobsen
This book centers around the 2010 BP oil spill, otherwise known as Deepwater Horizon. Jacobsen explained what happened and what led up to the explosion. But he offers an exploration of the great wetlands in the Gulf of Mexico. The author captures the true beauty of these wetlands but provides an overview of the human effects and devastation from the last half-century. The combination of oil exploration, drilling, lack of laws regulating oil companies’ practices, overfishing, climate change, the rise of sea level, and increasingly stronger storms have created a situation that is unlikely salvageable. There is hope, however, amongst people local to those areas. Jacobsen interviewed many locals and learned about issues not typically presented through common media outlets. Problems surrounding landscapes, tourism, irregular storm surges, oystering, and local culture are just a few of the issues covered. This book was difficult to put down and led me to research these topics more thoroughly while giving me a genuine appreciation for the geography of the wetlands in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Living Shore: Rediscovering a Lost World
by Rowan Jacobsen
Before reading this enthralling piece, I had no idea that oysters were so fascinating. I had trouble putting this book down. The author went on expeditions with scientists studying oysters, discussed different oyster species and geography, and explained the importance of oysters in human history. Life began in the ocean, and human history developed from living in coastal areas. The evolution and rapid growth of the human brain may have been tied to the high amounts of DHA (a type of omega-3 fat) in edible sea life. Today, though oyster beds are diminished from overconsumption, habitat restoration efforts could help restore our oceans and reverse some of the damage humans have caused.
Nature & Science
Forest Euphoria: The Abounding Queerness of Nature
by Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian
This is an excellent and fascinating read by a renowned mycologist! From the publisher: “A thrilling book about the abounding queerness of the natural world that challenges our expectations of what is normal, beautiful, and possible.” I highly recommend this book.
Food, Vegetarianism & Veganism
Eating Animals
by Jonathan Safran Foer
My friend and colleague recommended this book, saying that it was what made her become a vegan. While I knew some about the farmed animal and slaughterhouse businesses, I did not know the depth of the inhumane, unsanitary, and disgusting practices that are now normalized so that the western world can eat meat daily. This book is an investigative memoir and is well researched and well written. I recommend this to anyone who is curious about the truth of farmed animal practices.
Harvest for Hope: A Guide to Mindful Eating
by Jane Goodall with Gary McAvoy and Gail Hudson
Though this book was published in 2005, the information is just as relevant now as it was were then. Global agriculture and food production are not equitably supplying food to all populations, as much food is shipped to other countries to feed livestock or bought by large supermarket chains for those living in developed nations. Food production practices are harming human health, the environment, and wildlife habitats. She cites scientific studies that warned of a global pandemic, much like COVID-19, fifteen years before it happened. Goodall offers ways we can help make things better in every chapter. “Remember, every food purchase is a vote,” she wrote. She reminds us that any action we take, no matter how small, can make a difference. I highly recommend this book as it is true to its title: it offers hope.
Caffeine: How Caffeine Created the Modern World
by Michael Pollan
Renowned author and journalist on the social and cultural impacts of food, Pollan has written and narrated an Audible Original about caffeine. He explores the history of caffeine and the pursuit of it throughout the world. He examines the science behind caffeine addition and how this has altered the human brain. Pollan even experiments with breaking his own addiction to caffeine when he wrote this book. Humans now consume more than 2 billion cups per day worldwide and the pursuit of caffeine shows no sign of slowing, despite the environmental damage and human poverty coffee production creates. This is a fascinating audiobook!
Year of No Sugar: A Memoir
by Eve O. Schaub
This was Schaub’s first experiment with her Year of No’s (read my review of Year of No Garbage). Sugar is hidden in almost every type of processed food, beverage, and restaurant food, so it’s difficult to avoid. It’s a cheap filler food that makes food taste good. The book introduced me to doctors and authors who contend that sugar is the root cause of most of the major diseases we struggle with, such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, cancer, etc. It’s a fascinating memoir about the Schaubs’ journey of one year of no sugar. They followed a set of rules and did have exceptions at times, such as when traveling in Europe. It’s a fun read and it will lead you to want to know more about sugar’s negative health effects.
Gardening & Composting
Square Foot Gardening: The Revolutionary Way to Grow More in Less Space
by Mel Bartholomew
Leaders & Companies
Guardians of Life: Indigenous Knowledge, Indigenous Science, and Restoring the Planet
by Kiliii Yüyan
From the publisher: This photography book “takes readers on an extraordinary visual odyssey–from the Amazon rainforest to Greenland’s sea ice–revealing Indigenous communities as Earth’s most powerful protectors…This stunning volume…is powered by the collective wisdom of more than two dozen Indigenous voices…their expertise is brought forward through National Geographic photojournalist Kiliii Yüyan’s striking imagery, the editorial mastery of bestselling author (1491) Charles Mann, and writer Gleb Raygorodetsky’s insights. Together, this collection of powerful images and stories proves how traditional knowledge and modern innovation unite to safeguard the planet. Witness profound stewardship in action.” This book is important because it reveals how Indigenous communities are conserving the environment and caring for natural habitats in ways I had never thought about before. Reading it broadened my perspective and showed me that we can all learn from their knowledge and practices to build a more sustainable relationship with the natural world. I highly recommend it!
Our Only Home: A Climate Appeal to the World
with Franz Alt
From the publisher: “Saving the climate is our common duty. With each passing day, climate change is causing Pacific islands to disappear into the sea, accelerating the extinction of species at alarming proportions and aggravating a water shortage that has affected the entire world. In short, climate change can no longer be denied—it threatens our existence on earth…the Dalai Lama, one of the most influential figures of our time, calls on political decision makers to finally fight against deadlock and ignorance on this issue and to stand up for a different, more climate-friendly world and for the younger generation to assert their right to regain their future.” The Dalai Lama is inspiring!
Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman
by Yvon Chouinard
This book, by Patagonia’s founder, had a profound impact on me. Chouinard did not set out to own a company, he was a climber and outdoors person who wanted to create better and more responsible gear for himself and his friends. This grew into a small business that eventually grew into what Patagonia is today: A large outdoor retailer that bases all its decisions on ethics, sustainability, and environmental responsibility. This company was a leader in personnel and human resource policy, health insurance, maternity and paternity leave, vacation, etc. Patagonia also established some of the earliest onsite childcare facilities to help working parents. I was truly impressed with Patagonia’s treatment of employees and their ethics surrounding the creation and manufacturing of their products. I did not know that a company with such high standards existed and it gave me hope that consumer culture will not destroy us. I hope it inspires other companies to follow suit. Further, Chouinard wrote about big picture environmental problems such as agriculture, fair trade, global warming, water conservation, organic farming, our disposable economy, and other problems contributing to environmental problems across the world.
Greenpeace Captain: My Adventures in Protecting the Future of Our Planet
by Peter Willcox
Have you ever wanted to know what it’s like to work for Greenpeace? If so, this book will fascinate you. From the publisher: “Peter Willcox has been a Captain for Greenpeace for over 30 years. He would never call himself a hero, but he is recognized on every ocean and continent for devoting his entire life to saving the planet. He has led the most compelling and dangerous Greenpeace actions to bring international attention to the destruction of our environment. From the globally televised imprisonment of his crew, the “Arctic 30,” by Russian Commandos to international conspiracies involving diamond smuggling, gun-trading and Al-Qaeda, Willcox has braved the unimaginable and triumphed. This is his story–which begins when he was a young man sailing with Pete Seeger and continues right up to his becoming the iconic environmentalist he is today. His daring adventures and courageous determination will inspire readers everywhere.”
Planetwalker: 22 Years of Walking. 17 Years of Silence.
by John Francis, Ph.D.
John Francis, Ph.D. wrote about how an oil spill in San Francisco on January 18, 1971, prompted his desire to stop using motorized vehicles. That spill, caused by the collision of two oil tankers, spilled 840,000 gallons of crude oil into the bay underneath the Golden Gate Bridge. Francis wrote, “The fog that gathers close for a few hours hides the dying birds, fish, and seals whose bodies clutter the sandy beaches and rocky shores, mouths and lungs filled with black iridescent tar.” He also took a vow of silence in order to allow him greater listening and understanding. After the oil spill, John Francis walked everywhere he went and across the U.S. over the course of the next 22 years. He was silent for 17 years but earned a Master’s and a Doctorate degree during that time. “The walking and silence save me. They not only give me the opportunity to slow down to listen and to watch others; they afford me the same opportunity within myself.” This is an interesting read, and I recommend it to anyone who thinks doing what they want to do isn’t possible – because it is, as Francis showed us.
The Textile & Clothing Industry
Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion
by Elizabeth L. Cline
In this book, Cline investigated and revealed fast fashion’s hidden toll on the environment and on garment workers worldwide. Many workers do not earn a living wage, some work in deplorable conditions, and others are exposed to dangerous chemicals and toxins. She explored our relationship with our clothes and the fashion industry, as well as where the clothes we donate or dispose of end up. She explained that we need to change our disposable attitude toward clothing by buying less, buying better quality, and repairing what we already own. This was an eye-opening piece!
The Conscious Closet: The Revolutionary Guide to Looking Good While Doing Good
by Elizabeth L. Cline
In Cline’s second book, she explores the current state of the textile and clothing industry, which is unsustainable. This book explains how we can change the way we shop so that we can stop supporting bad employment practices in other countries, create living wages for those workers, limit the environmental toll that the textile industry takes, and create less waste. We can all dress the way we want without causing so much harm, and this book provides the tools and guidelines. She also provides plenty of information on taking better care of our clothes by doing laundry better and by repairing clothing, and even offers detailed mending techniques in one of the chapters. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested but especially to anyone who is interested in being fashionable and sustainable!
by Dana Thomas
This book covers the history, the present, and the future of fashion. From the publisher: “Today, the clothing industry churns out 80 billion garments a year and employs every sixth person on Earth. Historically, the apparel trade has exploited labor, the environment, and intellectual property—and in the last three decades, with the simultaneous unfurling of fast fashion, globalization, and the tech revolution, those abuses have multiplied exponentially, primarily out of view. We are in dire need of an entirely new human-scale model. Bestselling journalist Dana Thomas has traveled the globe to discover the visionary designers and companies who are propelling the industry toward that more positive future by reclaiming traditional craft and launching cutting-edge sustainable technologies to produce better fashion.” This is an excellent read!
Mending & DIY Projects
by Agnes Hsu
This book offers “I wish I’d had this book when my son was a toddler. It features so many learning and sensory activities and I would’ve probably made all of them! In hindsight, we did do stuff like this sometimes – but now it’s all in one colorful, easy book! The author runs hellowonderful.co. If you have toddlers, get this book!
by Sophie Benson
This book teaches you how to create a more sustainable and eco-friendly wardrobe without spending a fortune. Discarded clothing is having a devastating effect on the planet. We can change our habits as consumers, take better care of our clothes, and mend or upcycle them when they are no longer wearable. The author even provides tutorials! From the publisher: “Sophie Benson, a journalist specialising in sustainable fashion, will guide you through – breaking down the issues and explaining how we can mitigate them at home: from the clothes we purchase, to the way we care for them, to how we dispose of them.” This is a great book!
Make Thrift Mend: Stitch, Patch, Darn, Plant-Dye & Love Your Wardrobe
by Katrina Rodabaugh
This book has easy-to-follow instructions with photographs on how to mend and extend the life of your clothing. From the publisher: “Slow fashion influencer Katrina Rodabaugh, bestselling author of Mending Matters, teaches readers how to mend, patch, dye, and alter clothing for an environmentally conscious, reimagined wardrobe.”
Modern Mending: How to minimize waste and maximize style
by Erin Lewis-Fitzgerald
This is both an enjoyable book to read and one you need to keep on the shelf as a reference book. It provides step-by-step mending instructions, shows techniques, and explains the required tools. Mending allows to you keep your clothes longer and also allows you to be creative. Mending also embraces slow fashion, an idea that we care for what we already have and make it last longer. This makes fashion more sustainable and rejects fast fashion. I highly recommend this book, even if you are a beginner!
Mend it, Wear it, Love it!: Stitch Your Way to a Sustainable Wardrobe
by Zoe Edwards
This is a great book with illustrated tutorials on how to mend, repair, and extend the life of your clothing.
Mending Life: A Handbook for Repairing Clothes and Hearts
by Nina and Sonya Montenegro
This book is full of encouragement, kind words, and fundamental sewing methods. It also has many helpful, step-by-step instructional graphics. This is a great starter book if you’re learning how to sew and stitch.
by Sasha Duerr
This inspiring book provides step-by-step instructions on using plants to dye fabrics, both for clothing and home textile projects. It is organized by season, using what will be in season to harvest for making the dyes. When I have extra free time someday, I plan to try some of these projects!
Environmental Justice
The Intersectional Environmentalist: How to Dismantle Systems of Oppression to Protect People + Planet
by Leah Thomas
From the publisher: “The Intersectional Environmentalist examines the inextricable link between environmentalism, racism, and privilege, and promotes awareness of the fundamental truth that we cannot save the planet without uplifting the voices of its people — especially those most often unheard…this book is simultaneously a call to action, a guide to instigating change for all, and a pledge to work towards the empowerment of all people and the betterment of the planet.” I learned a lot from this book and found it inspiring! Thomas wrote, “Together, we can transform the future of environmentalism and, with collective action, spread our message across the globe and change enough hearts and minds to positively alter the future.”
Living Better
Hunt, Gather, Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans
by Michaeleen Doucleff, PhD
I don’t typically read or recommend parenting books, but this one is potentially life-changing! From the publisher: “When Dr. Michaeleen Doucleff becomes a mother, she examines the studies behind modern parenting guidance and finds the evidence frustratingly limited and often ineffective. Curious to learn about more effective parenting approaches, she visits a Maya village in the Yucatán Peninsula. There she encounters moms and dads who parent in a totally different way than we do—and raise extraordinarily kind, generous, and helpful children without yelling, nagging, or issuing timeouts. What else, Doucleff wonders, are Western parents missing out on? In Hunt, Gather, Parent, Doucleff sets out with her three-year-old daughter in tow to learn and practice parenting strategies from families in three of the world’s most venerable communities: Maya families in Mexico, Inuit families above the Arctic Circle, and Hadzabe families in Tanzania. She sees that these cultures don’t have the same problems with children that Western parents do. Most strikingly, parents build a relationship with young children that is vastly different from the one many Western parents develop—it’s built on cooperation instead of control, trust instead of fear, and personalized needs instead of standardized development milestones…[This book] helps us rethink the ways we relate to our children, and reveals a universal parenting paradigm adapted for American families.” I liked it so much, that I’ve read this book twice. And if I had to pick a favorite book on parenting, this would be the one!
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
by James Clear
I was first introduced to James Clear by listening to a podcast by The Minimalists, where they interviewed Clear. I loved this book! His concept of building small habits to create your best life is fascinating and most of the ideas are easy to incorporate into your busy life. “Build habits that reinforce your desired identity,” Clear wrote. If you want to be a writer, identify yourself as a writer. Then make time, even just a few minutes per day, to write. You will be able to build the habit from just those few daily minutes. If you’re struggling with finding time in your life for the things you really want to do, this is a must-read. I plan to listen to the audiobook again this year.
Gentle: Rest More, Stress Less, and Live the Life You Actually Want
by Courtney Carver
From the publisher: “[This] is the ‘don’t do it all’ self-help book you need to live with less stress and more ease, less overwhelm and more joy by uncovering the Gentle You. Grounded in self-compassion and a fierce commitment to less, becoming the Gentle You isn’t about taking the easy road. It’s a practice of real self-care that, over time, will soothe your nervous system and strengthen your relationships. Organized into three parts—Rest, Less, and Rise—30 challenges and simple practices will help readers radically and (yes) gently shift their pace, headspace, and heart.” I highly recommend this one!
Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging
by Sebastian Junger
From the publisher: “We have a strong instinct to belong to small groups defined by clear purpose and understanding -‘tribes.’ This tribal connection has been largely lost in modern society, but regaining it may be the key to our psychological survival…combining history, psychology, and anthropology, Tribe explores what we can learn from tribal societies about loyalty, belonging, and the eternal human quest for meaning. It explains the irony that – for many veterans as well as civilians – war feels better than peace, adversity can turn out to be a blessing, and disasters are sometimes remembered more fondly than weddings or tropical vacations. Tribe explains why we are stronger when we come together, and how that can be achieved even in today’s divided world.” A very interesting read!
Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times
by Katherine May
This book is brilliant. I love winter and have always missed the harsh winters of the north, but I’ve never understood why until I read this book: Wintering is a form of healing. From the publisher: “Sometimes you slip through the cracks: unforeseen circumstances like an abrupt illness, the death of a loved one, a break up, or a job loss can derail a life. These periods of dislocation can be lonely and unexpected. For May, her husband fell ill, her son stopped attending school, and her own medical issues led her to leave a demanding job. Wintering explores how she not only endured this painful time, but embraced the singular opportunities it offered. Ultimately Wintering invites us to change how we relate to our own fallow times. May models an active acceptance of sadness and finds nourishment in deep retreat, joy in the hushed beauty of winter, and encouragement in understanding life as cyclical, not linear.”
The Space That Keeps You: When Home Becomes a Love Story
by Jeremiah Brent
I loved this book so much that I had to share it, and it relates to better living. From the publisher: “For years, Jeremiah Brent and his family lived in one beautiful home after the next. Yet after a short time, they always felt the pull to move on. Curious to understand why, he embarked on a deeply personal mission to discover what makes a home a space that keeps you. The Space That Keeps You isn’t just a study of beautiful interior design; it’s an emotional design book that explores what gives spaces meaning. Through candid conversations with nine individuals and families varying in backgrounds, lifestyles, and geographic locations, Jeremiah reveals how and why the spaces we inhabit come to feel like they truly belong to us—the memories, emotions, and stories that shape what home signifies.”
Slow: Simple Living for a Frantic World
by Brooke McAlary
From the publisher: “Are you constantly striving to keep up with life’s busy expectations? It’s easy to feel consumed with the desire to ‘succeed’ and ‘acquire’ and miss the simple opportunities waiting for you to slow down: a walk in the forest, sharing laughter with family, a personal moment of gratitude…Slow is an inspirational guide on creating a life filled with the things that really matter, and it is meant for anyone seeking peace, meaning, and joy in their otherwise rapid lives.”
The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck: How to Stop Spending Time You Don’t Have with People You Don’t Like Doing Things You Don’t Want to Do
by Sarah Knight
This book is a great book if you are anti-conformity or are just tired of worrying about what people think of you. Don’t participate in mass-marketed materialism or use Styrofoam plastic take out containers just because everyone else does. Be plastic-free and weird!
You Do You: How to Be Who You Are and Use What You’ve Got to Get What You Want
by Sarah Knight
This book teaches you how to just be yourself, and not worry about what the neighbors think. We never put our garbage out anymore, because we don’t have much. But I think our neighbors suspect we are lazy or irresponsible, but we are doing we and achieving what we want. You Do You.
10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works–A True Story
by Dan Harris
The author of this book made changes to his life to reduce stress and anxiety while slightly increasing his satisfaction and happiness in life. But it took a panic attack on national television for him to realize he needed to seek help. He outlined his journey through the discovery of the practice of meditation. I listened to the audiobook version, narrated by Harris himself, and I recommend this book if you’re looking for a place to start.
The 5 Second Rule: Transform your Life, Work, and Confidence with Everyday Courage
by Mel Robbins
I can’t say enough about how much I love Mel Robbins. If you need someone to teach you how to love yourself and be confident, especially if you’re a woman, then you need Mel Robbins. She’ll teach you all about building self-confidence, courage, and the power of you! She’s got several books and audiobooks (which she narrates herself), but this is the one I started with. Be sure to look up her TED Talks as well.
Momma Zen: Walking the Crooked Path of Motherhood
by Karen Maezen Miller
Again, I don’t usually have recommendations on parenting books because I feel that many of them can lead us astray. Those types of books have good intentions but I reached a point in early motherhood that I became anxious and stressed out with constantly worrying that I wasn’t being a good mommy. So I stopped reading parenting books, completely. However, my husband found this memoir and asked me to read it. I was skeptical at first but this was absolutely a worthwhile read. It offers straightforward practical advice on mothering that incorporates spirituality and meditation. As Amazon’s listing reads, “Miller explores how the daily challenges of parenthood can become the most profound spiritual journey of our lives.” Yeah, exactly. Thanks to the author for writing this book.
Earthing: The most important health discovery ever!
by Clinton Ober, Stephen T. Sinatra, M.D., Martin Zucker
From the publisher: “‘Earthing’ introduces readers to the landmark discovery that living in contact with the Earth’s natural surface charge – being grounded – naturally discharges and prevents chronic inflammation in the body. This effect has massive health implications because of the well-established link between chronic inflammation and all chronic diseases, including the diseases of aging and the aging process itself.
Natural (or Climate?) Disasters
The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea
by Sebastian Junger
From the publisher: “In October 1991, three weather systems collided off the coast of Nova Scotia to create a storm of singular fury, boasting waves over one hundred feet high. Among its victims was the Gloucester, Massachusetts-based swordfishing boat the Andrea Gail, which vanished with all six crew members aboard.” This is one of my favorite books of all time.
1 Dead in Attic: After Katrina
by Chris Rose
From the publisher: “[This book] is a brilliant collection of columns by an award-winning Times-Picayune journalist chronicling the horrific damage and aftermath wrought by Hurricane Katrina in 2006…it is a roller coaster ride through a devastated American wasteland as it groans for rebirth. Full of the emotion, tragedy and even humor—which has made Chris Rose a favorite son and the voice of a lost city—these are the stories of the dead and the living, of survivors and believers, of destruction and recovery, and of hope and despair.”
Come Hell or High Water: Hurricane Katrina and the Color of Disaster
by Michael Eric Dyson
From the publisher: “This work examines what Hurricane Katrina reveals about the fault lines of race and poverty in America – and what lessons we must take from the flood. When Hurricane Katrina tore through New Orleans, hundreds of thousands were left behind to suffer the ravages of destruction, disease and even death. The majority were black, and nearly all were poor. The Federal government’s slow response to local appeals for help is now notorious. Yet despite the cries of outrage that have mounted since the levees broke, America has failed to confront the disaster’s true lesson: to be poor, or black, in today’s ownership society, is to be left behind…Combining interviews with survivors of the disaster with his deep knowledge of black migrations and government policy over decades, Dyson provides the historical context that has been sorely missing from public conversation.”
Displaced: Life in the Katrina Diaspora (The Katrina Bookshelf)
edited by Lynn Weber and Lori Peek
From the publisher: “Hurricane Katrina forced the largest and most abrupt displacement in U.S. history. About 1.5 million people evacuated from the Gulf Coast preceding Katrina’s landfall. New Orleans, a city of 500,000, was nearly emptied of life after the hurricane and flooding. Katrina survivors eventually scattered across all fifty states, and tens of thousands still remain displaced…The contributors to Displaced have been following the lives of Katrina evacuees since 2005. In this illuminating book, they offer the first comprehensive analysis of the experiences of the displaced…Displaced reveals that Katrina took a particularly heavy toll on households headed by low-income African American women who lost the support provided by local networks of family and friends.”
Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans: A Graphic Novel – The Sibert Honor History of Tragedy and Triumph
by Don Brown
This graphic novel captures the disaster and aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. From the publisher: “Don Brown’s kinetic art and as-it-happens narrative capture both the tragedy and triumph of one of the worst natural disasters in American history.” Reading the graphic novel version offers a different way to understand this hurricane’s devastation.