Comment from Chris Tilley
June 13th, 2007 at 9:21 pm

My write-in vote is for ‘Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things’ by: William McDonough, Michael Braungart

The basic premise is to engineer everything with the end of life of the product and the eventual next product designed from the start. The book itself is an example of this philosophy. The paper is not paper it is a plastic that is designed to be upcycled. That is reused to create a new book the inks are designed to be easily recovered and reused.

http://www.chris-tilley.com/blog/index.php/2007/06/12/cradle_to_cradle_remaking_the_way_we_mak

Comment from Kathleen
June 14th, 2007 at 4:51 pm

On the non-fiction front I think Kingsolver's Prodigal Summer is another contender. She weaves the main characters own biological cycles in with nature and points out clearly the affects of pesticides and unsustainable practices on farming and nature.

Comment from Anna Brown
June 14th, 2007 at 5:08 pm

The Weather Makers by Tim Flannery introduced me to the site and the subject. It has done a lot to get the information out there.

Comment from Tracy
June 14th, 2007 at 5:13 pm

"Power: A Novel" by Linda Hogan (Chickasaw)

I think we need to look at literature that urges us to shift the ways in which we think about Nature. We need literature that is outside the box of Western thinking. The list provided here lacks diversity and this is an oversight of great importance that needs to be urgently addressed. I have found fiction and nonfiction works by Indigenous writers to be most influential in opening my eyes. "Power" is a controversial story, one which wakes you up to your sensory experiences of the natural world. Hogan is a magnificent author. Other modern Indigenous North American writers to check out: Leslie Marmon Silko, Vine Deloria, Oren Lyons, and John Mohawk.

Comment from Nancy Stier
June 14th, 2007 at 5:18 pm

Anything by Wendell Berry

Comment from Nancy
June 14th, 2007 at 5:46 pm

"Cape Wind" is a fascinating account of the efforts by some of the wealthiest people in the country to stop the Nantucket Sound Windfarm, including the Kennedys. I can't wait to see the outcome of this environmental battle.

Comment from Cathy
June 14th, 2007 at 6:03 pm

You are missing the book "Earth Abides". It is a wonderful book that speaks about out reliance on modern conveniences and how our Mother is a wonderfully resilient.

Also, another great book is Michael Crichton's "State of Fear".

Comment from Bebe Somerville
June 14th, 2007 at 6:22 pm

River of Grass, Marjorie Stoneman Douglas. Read it again and then again.

Comment from Rhonda
June 14th, 2007 at 6:31 pm

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver was just released in May but I think it is destined to be a life-changing read for many people. It was for me.

Comment from Teresa
June 14th, 2007 at 6:33 pm

A few more suggestions from a poll in my Graduate program. There is a ton to learn on so many topics, thanks for all the other great suggestions!

Water
Cradle to Cradle
Natural Capital
Small is Beautiful
Song of the Dodo
End of Nature
Green to Gold
Web of Life
East of Eden

Comment from Charlotte Elder
June 14th, 2007 at 6:57 pm

1. The Weather Makers by Tim Flannery
2. Heat : How to stop the planet from burning by George Monbiot

Comment from doublea1126
June 14th, 2007 at 7:03 pm

Environmental Leadership Equals Essential Leadership

Comment from Derek
June 14th, 2007 at 7:11 pm

I would recommend a children's fiction picture book called 'The Wump Word' by Bill Peet. It presents a wonderful parallel between our world and the world of the "Wumps" who live and eat amongst the lush greenness of their world. Their planet unfortunetly succumbs to invaders called "pollutions" (looking like humans) who create horrible things that take away the clear blue sky and beautiful green. Children love this stories hand drawn illustrations and the lyrical rhyming that takes place throughout the text. I recommend it to a person of any age!

Comment from Bonnie
June 14th, 2007 at 7:33 pm

THE LOST GOSPEL OF THE EARTH by Tom Hayden
"A call for renewing (and integrating) nature, spirit, and politics." I suggested this to our book club (which is not particularly an environmental focus) and the response was stunning. Almost everyone wants to get an extra copy to send to someone they know.

Comment from rachelle
June 14th, 2007 at 7:56 pm

i am shocked to find that you have neglected to include "The Secret Life of Plants," by Peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird. this volume necessitates a shift in one's concept of reality, forcing one to become more aware of precisely how one moves and behaves in the world. i tracked down a first-edition, and have given it to several people...including people i have never met. i highly recommend its inclusion in future lists!

Comment from Lenore Millibergity
June 14th, 2007 at 8:15 pm

My Year of Meat by Ruth Ozeki started me down the path away from corporate food. The more I learned about our food, the more I cared about water conservation, land use, etc. Its been a slippery and sometimes painfully steep slope.

Comment from Clive Palfrey
June 14th, 2007 at 8:18 pm

The obvious candidate is "Inconvenient Truth" which most have heard of. Its advantages are of course its extensive graphics and link to the movie. "The Weather Makers" gets most of the facts right but is written in a clunky style. Whoever recommended the idiotic "State of Fear", by phony environmental "scientist" M. Crichton, needs their head examined - it doesn't even work as a thriller. The best new book is Elizabeth Kolbert's that was taken from her New Yorker articles of last year. I read the original articles in NYker. She is a very good writer. Frankly, you still can't beat "Day after Tomorrow" no matter what scientific liberties it takes to get people's attention. If we are close to the tipping point...

Comment from Mike Hansen
June 14th, 2007 at 8:52 pm

I have a couple of suggestions:

Crimes Against Nature by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. If more Republicans read this book, they would probably start voting Democratic. As Mr. Kennedy puts it "80 percent of Republicans are just Democrats who don't know what's going on."

An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore. Everybody should read the book or see the movie while there's still time to do something about global warming.

Comment from Gina Pace
June 14th, 2007 at 9:25 pm

I recommend "The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight" by Thom Hartmann. For anyone who is not familiar with this work, it is an exploration of how the fossil fuels resources we have on this planet are being consumed at a rate far faster than anyone realizes, and with much greater harm to the planet. Hartmann really did a lot of research going into this and it's a true eye-opener.

Comment from JoDee Powers
June 14th, 2007 at 9:56 pm

One of the books that most influenced my current interest and direction in life was Jerry Mander's "In the Absence of the Sacred". It spoke so deeply to how we are disconnected from the natural world and have been indoctrinated from early on to believe that technology is progress..... no matter the cost.

Comment from Ed Wilmot
June 14th, 2007 at 10:08 pm

I just returned from the conference for the Association for the Study of Literature and the Environment (ASLE). The two books most mentioned are "Silent Spring" and "End of Nature".

However, there is one book that precedes most of the books mentioned on your list. That book is The Origin of Species by Darwin. I believe no other book has had an impact on not only environmental issues, but on our world as a whole; regardless of personal viewpoints of evolution and creationism.

Comment from Lynnine Beesley
June 14th, 2007 at 10:13 pm

Jane Goodall's Harvest for Hope kickstarted me on buying a share in an organic farm. Very readable–a good choice for someone who doesn't have a lot of background.

Comment from Mark Hogarth
June 14th, 2007 at 11:51 pm

The ECOTOPIA series by Ernest Callenbach is my choice. It may be a bit dated, but it was a powerful influence in my life.

Also, because of the book, "Ecotopia" has entered the vernacular to describe Northern California, Oregon, and Washington. This indicates its importance in American culture.

Comment from Stan Wallace
June 15th, 2007 at 12:39 am

I haven't read all these books. Of course Carson and Thoreau are the classics, but I think everyone should read Collapse.

Comment from Pat Barbutti
June 15th, 2007 at 1:42 am

Anything by Sigrud Olsen

Comment from Dan
June 15th, 2007 at 2:22 am

Heat by George Monibot

He claims that we need to reduce our carbon usuage much quicker and by much more.... 90 percent reduction.

Comment from Wena Dows
June 15th, 2007 at 5:44 am

Plan B 2.0 by Lester Brown. Outstanding!!! Read it!!! It would be my #1 on the list. Brown gives ANSWERS.

Comment from Carl Safina
June 15th, 2007 at 12:45 pm

The End of Nature by Bill McKibben was the Silent Spring of climate change, a very influential book that first brought global warming to the wider consciousness. It was translated into a score of languages and read by millions.

Comment from Sarah
June 15th, 2007 at 3:30 pm

Everyone should read Plan B 2.0 Rescuing a planet under stress and a civilization in trouble by Lester R. Brown. It is a grat book for econimists (or people who think being green is bad for the economy) to read - buy one for the person you can't convince to change! I give a copy to everyone I know for their birthday (You can order them bulk for less)!

Comment from Mark A. Cole
June 15th, 2007 at 5:54 pm

I'd highly recommend the book "High Tide" by British author Mark Lynas. He spent three years traveling around the world to far-flung places. He writes about the warming in Alaska; glaciers melting in Peru; deserts expanding in China; hurricanes; rising sea levels, etc.

Comment from Elizabeth Waldorf
June 15th, 2007 at 6:11 pm

Please include in the list:
"Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight" by Thom Hartman.
"When Corporations Rule the World" by David Korten.
"Imagine" by Marianne Williamson
"The Ecology of Commerce" by Paul Hawken
"Eco-economics" by Lester Brown

These are powerful books.

Comment from Lonnie Morris
June 15th, 2007 at 8:42 pm

"Deep Economy" by Bill McKibben.
We know the science of global climate change but underlying our energy use patterns are some important economic assumptions, namely "more is better" and a healthy economy must grow. This is a comprehensive and accessible analysis of and rebuttal to the notion that continuous economic growth is essential for happiness and quality of life. If you're looking for solutions to many environmental problems, start here.

Comment from A. Bailin
June 16th, 2007 at 3:59 am

I'm going to recommend "Last Child In the Woods" by Richard Louv here.

Though aimed primarily at parents and educators, the book makes compelling arguments for the psychological importance of interaction with nature, and provides inspiring and practical solutions to maintaining wilderness in the modern world.

Comment from Lion Goodman
June 16th, 2007 at 4:29 pm

Gaining a wider perspective is always helpful. In addition to David Korten's books, mentioned by others, I highly recommend Anodea Judith's book, "Waking the Global Heart: Humanity's Rite of Passage from the Love of Power to the Power of Love." She tells the story of our evolution through stages of civilization, explaining how we got into this mess in the first place. By cutting ourselves off from nature, surrounding our cities with walls, we became a different kind of animal. Those who don't study history are forced to repeat it, and this is the best book on our story (as opposed to HisStory) I've read. She brings us to the present, and gives us hope for the future as our evolution continues. A really good read! Her website is www.wakingtheglobalheart.com.

Comment from Daphne T Stevens
June 17th, 2007 at 7:28 pm

The Essential Gilbert White of Selborne is one of the all time great classic nature books.
Breslich & Foss, London

Comment from Larry
June 18th, 2007 at 2:30 am

Where is the Ecology of Commerce, Paul Hawken? We need solutions in addition to books crying warning. Hawken's book is a great one that is proving itself more valuable with time.

Comment from Paul
June 18th, 2007 at 4:59 pm

Journey Home by Paul Burke - the reviews are passionate!

Comment from jnn
June 21st, 2007 at 6:24 am

The Closing Circle, Barry Commoner
The Destruction of California, Ray Dassman
A God Within, Rene Dubos
The Power Elite, C Wright Mills

Much of the content of the above books can be found in the books listed. All are extremely well-written and while some of the statistics may be outdated, the messages remain pertinent today.

Happy reading.

Comment from Linnae Nelson
June 22nd, 2007 at 3:48 pm

Ishmael by Daniel Quinn. This book is life-changing.

Comment from peter
June 22nd, 2007 at 6:06 pm

I don't think anyone has mentioned Tainted Desert by Valerie Kuletz. It's a very well written account of the history of nuclear testing in the western United States. The book (written in 1998 I believe) discusses the decision making behind choosing Yucca Mountain as a depository for the waste. Whether we should increase our reliance on nuclear energy is an ongoing debate, as is whether Yucca Mountain is an appropriate depository for nuclear waste, so this book should still be relevant.

Comment from Bunny McLeod
June 24th, 2007 at 8:17 am

Hi everyone,
This vote is one by faith and slightly toungue in cheek. It is for the children's book which my co-author, Patrick Harrison and I have written "How Do Kids Fight Global Warming". We are in hopes that this book will become a best seller and great influence in helping kids to really make a difference in saving our world for themselves and for future generations. This book is in the publishing stage right now and will probably be on the book shelves in September if not before.
We have tried to make it an enjoyable and interesting book for kids (and grownups too) to read as well as informative and educational.
Sincerely,
Gail "Bunny" McLeod

Comment from onebigbarr
June 24th, 2007 at 1:51 pm

"From Eden to Sahara: Florida's Tragedy" by John Kunkel Small reprinted in 2004 by the Seminole Soil & Water Conservation District.

In the early 20th Century, scientists explored Florida much like their modern counterparts explore the rainforests of the Amazon today. Among them was John small, a noted botanist who had been collecting plants in Florida for more than twenty years for the New York Botanical Gardens.

In 1929, he wrote this prophetic book chronicling the environmental changes brought about real estate boom of the 1920s.

Mike Barr, Executive Director
KeepSeminoleBeautiful.org

Comment from John
June 25th, 2007 at 2:50 pm

The Unsettling of America: Culture and Agriculture

Examination of the crisis of character, agriculture, and culture by poet/farmer Wendell Berry

Comment from Rob Wheeler
June 25th, 2007 at 9:58 pm

The following books are all better and more important than the ones you listed and Ecotopia and Ecotopia Revisited were my favorite all time environmental books:

Saving the Planet – World Watch
Bioneers
EcoTopia
Plan B 2.0 by Lester Brown
Cradle to Cradle
Natural Capital
“The Ecology of Commerce” by Paul Hawken
State of the World Reports
Books about Findhorn and The Farm in Tennessee

Comment from julietb
June 27th, 2007 at 1:03 am

Our Stolen Future is definitely missing from this list! It is a must read about the endocrine disruptors that are everywhere in our modern world.

Comment from susannah mackintosh
July 1st, 2007 at 6:40 pm

Carbon Dreams, by Susan Gaines
Although I doubt it's most influential, it's a fun read with great scientific info. related to global warming and ecological balance in general. It's not easy to write a compelling novel with serious scientific content, and she's succeeded in doing so, with a fun romantic storyline to boot! Also, on the children's literature tip, Jean Craighead George has written many novels that are full of important ecological information while also being really fun reads. Many of her books are classics of children's literature, and are also fun reads for adults!

Comment from bruce monroe
July 3rd, 2007 at 12:31 am

Blessed Unrest by Paul Hawken, 2007}Viking...How the Largest Movement in the World Came Into Being and Why No One Saw It Coming. A taxonemy and 1000000 citations to civil action groups. Search @ earthwiser.org

Comment from jaime Reppert
July 5th, 2007 at 4:42 pm

Two of my favorite books that forecast to inspire why you personally should act now:

Jared Diamond - 1992 The Third Chimpanzee: The Evolution and Future of the Human Animal, ISBN 0-06-098403-1 Maybe one of his best books covering many subjects. Read in conjunction with E.O. Wilson - 2002 Future of Life - leaves you wondering how any topic could be more urgent than human population control.

Comment from Jeff at Green Options
July 11th, 2007 at 4:43 pm

Daniel Quinn's Ishmael series
Paul Hawken's The Ecology of Commerce

Thanks for getting this discussion going, though... it's a great one!

Comment from Mark E. Smith
July 11th, 2007 at 7:52 pm

I agree with Mike Hansen that Crimes Against Nature by RFK Jr. should be on the list.

While it is important to see the big picture, it is also important to focus in on what is happening now, and to take names and kick ass.

Comment from Eric Boyd
July 12th, 2007 at 4:58 am

Limits to Growth. It has an undeserved bad reputation, of course, but everybody should go read the 30th anniversay edition that came out a few years ago. Really eye-opening! The "Limits to Growth" are more about sinks (pollution, waste) than about sources (raw resources, oil, etc). But the biggest Limit to Growth is just the necessary end to any exponential growth on a finite amount of mass...

Comment from Gerald
July 16th, 2007 at 7:31 am

Paul Erlich's

Population Bomb - It went off; but apparently no one heard it.

Comment from Alan Palter
July 17th, 2007 at 6:49 pm

Thanks to you and to everyone here for some great suggestions.

I think we need two lists" "Most influential" and "Books that everyone should read"

Recommendation for the "should read" list:

Design with Nature

Influential?

Moby Dick?
A Civil Action?

The list is very American-centric. I wonder what books have influenced Europeans - the role of Europeans in the global environmental movement is given very short shrift in America.

Comment from Alan Palter
July 17th, 2007 at 7:01 pm

oops

can't forget:

The Monkeywrench Gang, Abbey

Control of Nature, McPhee (and anything else that he has written)

Comment from Kate
July 23rd, 2007 at 8:52 pm

A new book and an old one...

Change the World for a Fiver: We Are What We Do - a UK book, but full of wonderful and useful tips on how you can help change the old. Perfect for adults and a great learning tool for children.

East of Eden - must be on the list!

Comment from Kasey
July 24th, 2007 at 7:29 pm

Theo Colborn's "Our Stolen Future"

Comment from Jamie Crouse Gwynn
July 25th, 2007 at 8:47 pm

On the fiction list, I'd vote for Jane Smiley's _A Thousand Acres_ which (among other things) deals a lot with farming practices in the midwest. Also, I like Thoreau's _The Maine Woods_ even better than Walden though its less well-known. I'm also surprised no one has mentioned _The Lord of the Rings_ . Tolkien was really environmentally conscious.

Comment from Bill Tarbox
July 25th, 2007 at 9:09 pm

I agree with Anna Brown (earlier posting) that Tim Flannery's book "The Weather Maker" is an awesome book on global climate change.

Another good book is "The End of Nature" by Bill McKibben among his other fine work.

I also agree with whomever considered two lists influential (inspirational/motivational) and must read (for those already committed/devoted).

Regards!

Bill Tarbox
Magnolia, TX

Comment from Leah Grasso
July 25th, 2007 at 10:40 pm

I know that it has already been mentioned, but I just had to bring up Richard Louv's "Last Child in the Woods" again.

I think that unfortunately a lot of environmental groups might overlook this book, since it deals specifically with parenting and education issues. However, it is vital to get the information that it contains out to the pro-environment public, in order to ensure that we will be raising an environmentally-conscious generation in the future.

Comment from Julie Haun
July 25th, 2007 at 10:42 pm

Deep Ecology by Bill Duvall and George Sessions. Like Ecotopia, it is a bit dated, but it was groundbreaking at the time. Also, Charlene Spretnak's books were influential in the early development of my environmentalist mindset.

Comment from David Watts
July 26th, 2007 at 12:54 am

How about anything written by John Muir??

Comment from Elise Yamamoto
July 26th, 2007 at 7:30 am

Diet for a New America (1987) is an important eye-opener. John Robbins writes is such a caring way opening the mind to how diet has a profound effect on the environment as well as one's spirit. Also Helen Caldicott on nuclear energy is basic reading.

Comment from cheryl planert
July 27th, 2007 at 4:38 pm

Fantastic, eye-opening inspirational reading list. I want to start an organic Community Supported Agriculture farm in ultra conservative North Dakota. You have given me the "raison d'etre" I need to turn some minds. Thank you!

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Comment from Keaka Stevens
August 24th, 2007 at 10:47 pm

The most influential environmental book I've seen is "The Politically Incorrect Guide to Global Warming and Environmentalism" by Christopher Horner.
Not only does he make sense, he backs up what he says with facts and real scientists with actual names!
Also, unlike Algore, he doesn't demand that no one debate what he says.
And that's important, because we now know that Man Made Global Warming is an algorerhythm.

Comment from Robert Price
August 30th, 2007 at 10:16 pm

The Sacred Balance by David Suzuki, nothing more needs to be said!

Comment from gaskicker
October 5th, 2007 at 3:48 am

The most revolutionary children's book of our time on how to stop Global Warming has just been written and published:
"Who Says Kids Can't Fight Global Warming" teaches how the youngest kids can actually begin to secure a future for themselves free of worry and stress caused by the most menacing man made natural disaster of our time. Based upon one of the author's true life experience, this fictional tale sparks kids to start Kid's GWSOS Clubs in their schools supported and sponsored by teacher sponsors. With a little cunning and great deal of creativity the son of a father who represents the most environmentally friendly, least hazardous solution to our air pollution and greenhouse gas epidemic along with his two best friends, girls, come together to help Stephen's dad who has just been rudely turned down by the head of the transportation department at his local waste and disposal company for testing his product. It wasn't being turned down that prompted the writing of this soon-to-be collectible kid's book but the manner in which the father, a financially struggling customer of the waste and disposal company, was treated. After waiting a month and a half for an answer to the test results of the product the father had dropped off while paying his bill at the waste and disposal company, he phoned the head of transportation department and introduced himself. The abbreviated conversation went like this: "Hello, Mr Sharke." "Yeah, what do you want?" "I'm Paul Harrington, the rep for Product B." "So what." “Well, since we’re both in the recycle business, you must care about cleaner air? Doesn’t that matter to you?" "Look fella, are we going to play 40 questions here? I said NO. Am I going to have to get nasty with you?” If that wasn't enough, that Sharke guy, without another word, slammed the phone receiver down in his father's ear. Now it's up to you to read the rest of the story.

Comment from kpdriscoll
October 12th, 2007 at 2:24 pm

"Field notes from a catastrophe : man, nature, and climate change" by Elizabeth Kolbert

It tells it like it is

Comment from Elaine L Williams
November 7th, 2007 at 12:26 pm

I want to see more published about Hemp...also more being done to get it legal to grow in this country..I think we should be concentrating on getting this done so that we can save the trees and the farmers...plus open this country to a growing multi multi million dollar business...
Thank you
Elaine L Williams
Fall River Ma

Comment from Renee E.
December 22nd, 2007 at 4:01 pm

The two that I recommend (that I find unbelievable they did not make this list) are:

"Don Coyote" -by Dayton O. Hyde. An autobiographical account of a rancher, whose relationship with a coyote changes his perspective and motivations in life.

"Never Cry Wolf" - by Farley Mowat. An autobiographical account of a year long, "canis lupis" study in the 1960's for the Canadian government..

Both still apply to today's concerns.