Eco-Books for Your Library: Some New, Some Old, Some Favorites

By Rebecca Buchanan
April 1, 2006

I'm a book-fiend. A complete and total junkie, no cure in sight. I'm not complaining. :) My recent whole-hearted conversion to the cause of environmentalism saw an influx of such books into my personal library — and boy was I happy to see just how many books are available on this subject. :)

The following is a selection, a brief selection. There are many many many many titles that deal with ecology, sustainability and social justice. Some are building guides, others are fiction; some deal with religion and the earth, while others discuss agriculture. Happy reading! :)

Oh, and, uh, let me know how that green house and garden work out. :)

Black Jewels Trilogy and Tir Alainn Trilogy by Anne Bishop: these two fantasy trilogies (Jewels is available as a single compilation also) feature strong female characters, and ask important questions about the relationship between people and the land and what happens when we turn our backs on nature.

Building Green: A Complete How-To Guide to Alternative Building Methods by Clarke Snell and Timothy Callahan: a builder and contractor by trade, Snell and Callahan follow the construction of an earth-friendly home from site selection up through the final interior details. Lots and lots and lots of photographs, with lots and lots and lots of great advice and suggestions for building your own green home.

Dharma GAIA: A Harvest of Essays in Buddhism and Ecology edited by Allan Hunt Badiner: with essays by a number of prominent and little-known Buddhists (such as the Dalai Lama) and illustrations by Mayumi Oda, this volume examines the relationship between a faith based on compassion and the world.

Diet for a Small Planet and Hope's Edge: The Next Diet for a Small Planet by Frances Moore Lappe, Anna Lappe and Marika Hahn: wanna save the world? Change how you eat! The Lappes and Hahn examine the relationship between environmentalism, agriculture and health in this classic volume and its sequel.

Earth Democracy: Justice, Sustainability, and Peace by Vandana Shiva: a physicist and activist, Shiva here analyzes the "attitude of disposability" that pervades and threatens the modern world. Shiva's solution is earth democracy, an ethic of respect and sustainability.

Ecotopia: The Notebooks and Reports of William Weston by Ernest Callenbach: twenty years after Washington, Oregon and northern California seceded from the union to establish a stable-state, a reporter crosses the border to see this "new world." Eye-opening.

The Eco-Foods Guide: What's Good for the Earth Is Good for You! by Cynthia Barstow: so what exactly do natural and organic and gmo-free and ipm-certified mean? Shopping for truly healthy food can be confusing. Fortunately, Barstow is here to help. :)

The Ecology of Commerce: A Declaration of Sustainability by Paul Hawken: there is no conflict between business and the environment. In his book, Hawken outlines the means by which businesses can bring their practices in line with nature, reducing the use and abuse of the natural world — while maintaining all-important profit.

Epicurean Simplicity by Stephanie Mills: a short, lyrical and simply-written treatise on a life deliberately live dto have as little negative impact on the world as possible. Enjoy the moment. Thrive on the little joys. Find peace.

Extraordinary Chickens, Extra Extraordinary Chickens, Extraordinary Pheasants, and Extraordinary Pigeons by Stephen Green-Armytage: some of the most wonderful, funniest, most fascinating collections of photos I have ever seen. Sure to make you laugh, and ponder: how much poorer would the world be without this diversity of birds?

Family Tree by Sheri S Tepper: the earth fights back. In a near future in which the world has been over-developed, police officer Dora Henry is assigned to investigate the murder of three geneticists — and the forests are on the march.

Fields of Plenty: A Farmer's Journey in Search of Real Food and the People Who Grow It by Michael Ableman: a personal favorite, due to the yummy photography (fields of melons, baskets of apples, wheels of cheese!) and scrumptious recipes (roasted apricots, wild salmon grilled on fig leaves, blackberry sherbert, multigrain buttermilk waffles with poppy seeds). Pricey, but so worth it.

Green by Design: Creating a Home for Sustainable Living by Angela Dean: a professional architect, Dean offers suggestions on building materials, gray water, and solar and other alternative heating/cooling options. With full-color photos and case-studies, Dean make syou think about what your own green home could be.

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood: in the not-so-distant future, a totalitarian religious regime rules a polluted United States. A depressing, prescient classic.

Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded: August 27, 1883 by Simon Winchester: everyone has heard of Krakatoa — but how much do you really know? More than just a volcanic eruption, the destruction of Krakatoa had far-reaching environmental, social and political consequences.

The Naturally Clean Home: 121 Safe and Easy Herbal Formulas for Non-Toxic Cleansers by Karyn Siegel-Maier: eucalyptus, lemon juice, vinegar and baking soda. Did you know they're natural cleaners? Use raspberry leaves as wood polish! Mind-opening.

Red: Passion and Patience in the Desert and Refuge: An Unnatural History of Family and Place by Terry Tempest Williams: a devout Mormon and passionate environmentalist, in these two classics Williams examines the connections between her family and the harsh land from which they draw strength.

Silent Spring by Rachel Carson: the book that started it all. Forty years ago, Carson's study of the connections between pesticides, herbicides, insecticides and environmental degradation launched the First Wave of Environmentalism. Now available in an anniversary edition, with new forewards and afterwards.

The Spell of the Sensuous: Perception and Language in a More-than-Human World by David Abram: a magician and ecological philosophy, Abram studies "[a]nimal tracks, word magic, the speech of stones, the power of letters, and the taste of the wind" to understand the interconnection between language, perception, the senses and the world around us.

The Whole Foods Market Cookbook: A Guide to Natural Foods with 350 Recipes by Steve Petusevsky, David Watts and the Whole Foods Market Team: the largest natural and organic retailer in the United States now has its own cookbook! Thai-Style Green Curry Chicken, Red-Chili-Rubbed Salmon, Maple Butterscotch Macadamia Blondies, oh, *drool* :)

And, of yes, magazines. There are plenty of on-going magazines suited to nearly every taste. For general eco-news, consider E: The Environmental Magazine or Earth Island Journal. Into farming? Try Mother Earth News. An eco-minded urbanite? Try Organic Life.

So, there you go: a very very brief selection of recommended readings, based on personal taste and reading habits. Did I miss any really great or important titles? Let me know. I'm always on the look-out for new books. :)