What are the "must reads" on Environmentalism?

[Aquaduct]

I am becoming more and more aware of wanting to learn more about things like ecology, climate-change, and the oceans.

I haven't read any of the classic books on ecology and environmentalism, like Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring", Edward Goldsmith's "The Way", and Paul Hawken's "The Ecology of Commerce". But I intend to shortly.

Have any of you been inspired, horrified, felt amazingly informed, by a book on the environment? What about books that play devils advocate, and are critical of the "alarmists"?

[summermom]

Personally I don't think the "doom and gloom" approach is useful, so I prefer those who offer solutions, like Lester Brown, in Eco-Economy. http://www.earth-policy.org/Books/

I'll be back with more recomendations - you may be sorry you asked!

[Aquaduct]

I'll be waiting, and I won't be sorry!

[owensmom]

Diet for a New America.

[Geofizz]

Union of Concerned Scientists' Consumer's Guide to Effective Environmental Choices.

[Annabel_the_Sheep]

One World by Peter Singer

[AEZMama]

Woods Woman by Anne LeBastille. She took Thoreau's idea of a cabin in the woods and did it-all by herself without disturbing the land around her. She wrote a few books about her life & journeys that were wonderful.

[kate~mom]

the control of nature - john mcphee

i second silent spring and diet for a new america

[Woodchuck]

Anything by Vandana Shiva and the classic Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold.

[MamaMonica]

The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight by Thom Hartman

[Aquaduct]

That's an intrigueing title. What is it about?

I would like to add a book I have just finished reading: "Ishmael" by Daniel Quinn.

It is about the philosophical and spiritual conversation between a man and a highly evolved Gorilla...on the nature of human society and how it is the unsaid assumptions of our "mother culture" (the earth belongs to us, we can expand our economies ad infinitum....without regard to the rights of other species) which is going to destroy the biosphere.

It is a brilliant book. Anyone else read it?

[MamaMonica]

Aquaduct, Ishmael has been on my read list for years and I haven't read it yet. It sounds great- I'll look for it.

LHAS is about how the stored sunlight of milennia, in the form of fossil fuels, is being rapidly burned up in our lifetimes. It is a gripping read- he discusses the social, environmental, historical issues from an interesting perspective- not dry at all but very disturbing.

It is one of those "must read" books for sure.

[Birth Junky]

I'll second (third?) Diet for a New America--that book changed my life.

The book I just finished a couple of months ago is "Crimes Against Nature" by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. It described, in devastating detail, the current administration's long-standing record of crimes against the environment. A must-read, definitely.

[OceanMomma]

I used to like "the green history of the world" by clive poyntn(sp?) who is a british journalist. He has a chapter on diseases where he says vaccinations wiped out all those nasty diseases we used to get like smallpox. So that did put me off a bit. Other than that, it is a very sombre read & very interesting from a ecological history point of view. It's not really a revolutionary or radical book either. More just a history book if that makes sense.

[Aquaduct]

Well, thanks for all those suggestions. I have actually been reading "The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight" by Thom Hartman, Mamamonica, and yes indeed, it is a most amazing book. Got it from the public library.

It is making me look at our society in a different more knowing way.

I also would very much like to read Crimes Against Nature by Robert Kennedy Jnr., because he strikes me as someone who really cares about Life.

[SaveTheWild]

Having Faith by Sandra Steingarber:

Its awesome.

Available Here

[MamaMonica]

One more- and don't laugh at this (although the book is pretty funny as well as an eye-opener environmentally)- The Humanure Handbook. I got it from the library.

Here are some excerpts:
http://www.weblife.org/humanure/default.html

[violafemme]

Subscribing, I've been thinking alot about this topic lately as well.

[Trinitty]

Howdy from Canada!

I would recommend any books by David Suzuki, he's a biologist and show host who is really trying to change things.

I really enjoyed "Earth in the Balance: Ecology and the Human Spirit." by Al Gore. It made me sad for a while though, thinking how different the planet would be if he had stayed in the White House.

Since agriculture is the biggie when it comes to the environment, I would also recommend Fast Food Nation, and subscribe to an Agriculture newspaper if you really want to get in deep, The Western Producer is a good one, you can see what's happening in farming.

[srain]

anything by Bill McKibben
Julian Simon refutes the "shortages" claims of many environmentalists