Reads

Christine’s mission is to inspire simple living that improves our lives and the planet. Well, she inspired us! Her book is a great way to get started or to give to someone else to encourage them to begin a sustainable lifestyle  

In addition to her book, Christina is a sustainable lifestyle blogger. Her website is simplybychristine.com. 

Take a salt tour from Egyptian Pharaoh life, the adventures of salted cod, the American salt wars, salt and independence, and much more. This salt focused through time is engaging and enlightening. We promise you will never look at salt the same again. 

Enjoy your vegetables in recipes such as tomato-peas-feta, asparagus-puff pastry, peas-parsley-vegetable stock soup, and feta-beets buns. Nigel is English and hence the recipes are in metric scale and some of the names of the ingredients use English names. Regardless, with a little translation, you will have many wonderful spring and summer vegetable-forward meals!

The Secret Life of Groceries highlights grocery stores like Trader Joe’s but also traces their products back to their origins. He takes a critical look at industrialized farming, learns how food entrepreneurs fight to break into the over-crowded industry, and tells the stories of poverty-stricken migrants trapped in the shrimping slave trade.

The first step in making a difference is for consumers to understand just how the ingredients for their next meal made it to the supermarket shelf. Lorr provides an unadulterated look at the joys and suffering that have led to the luxuries of the modern grocery store, so individuals can learn to make conscious, ethical choices in a seemingly endless sea of options.

Imagine the landfills around the world — an earth of trash heaps. We have been led to largely ignore our trash problem. It is time to open our eyes and make changes.

Humes’ book is a great way to understand our mountains of garbage, what happens to it, and explore solutions. We learn about reducing waste using the power of “no” like Bea Johnson whose family moved to a zero-waste lifestyle. Denmark is a leader in recycling on a massive scale. For the small percentage of things not recycled, Denmark has a waste-to-energy program. Garbology is a great book to explore the state of trash and potential solutions.

It is time to end our “love affair with trash” as Humes states.  Individuals, communities, businesses, and governments will need to make changes to move to a low-waste lifestyle for the benefit of all.  We recommend adding this illuminating read to your list and start reducing your trash.

Balz’s projects range from simple items like crafting newspaper liners to neatly wrap up food scraps to creating your own composter from old pickle barrels or trash cans.  Balz also offers several descriptions for larger outdoor composting, complete with space and material requirements and plenty of pictures.

The chapter that most interested me, however, was the one that shared three methods for composting on a small terrace, balcony, or patio.  I learned more about vermicomposting (composting with the help of worms) as well as terra-cotta composting and bokashi pre-composting.  As someone who lives in close quarters with my neighbors, I was curious to understand if odor-free composting was possible, and Balz’ succinct, informative book gave me the confidence to give it a try.

Each organism has its umwelt: its world as they experience it. This book is a great exploratory journey into the different worlds around us. As you read, you can expand beyond your senses and begin to perceive the world and all life in a new and inspiring way. An Immense World is a joyful discovery.

Kingsolver’s book offers a hard view of the American food system, criticizes the lengths food must travel to arrive at the grocery store, and how the promotion of our food monoculture (which values heartiness and shelf stability over variety, taste, and biodiversity) has had detrimental effects on our health and our environment.  It was this realization that made Kingsolver’s family reevaluate their food choices and challenge themselves to change their food habits.

The book weaves beautiful prose – enticing the reader to hunt morels in the forest, taste freshly-picked asparagus, and witness the beauty of a newborn chick – with a healthy dose of the harsh realities of living off the land.  Readers can agonize with Kingsolver about the planning and labor required to keep a garden that large, the early mornings and late nights of toil, the humbling act of slaughtering pesky-beautiful bumper crops, and the seemingly-monumental task of preserving a year’s worth of produce in a relatively short harvest time.  Despite the work, Kingsolver believes that the taste and nutritional value of homegrown food, as well as the beneficial impact local farming has on the planet, makes it a worthwhile endeavor.

And while we may not all have the luxury to quit our jobs and move to Virginia in pursuit of our food dreams, Kingsolver encourages us to look critically at our food origins and to start locally sourcing what we can for both our taste buds and our planet.  Do you know where your food comes from?

Jonathan’s prose combined with Lucille Clerc’s elegant illustrations invites you on an amazing journey. The book is a joy and we hope you accept the invitation. In doing so, you will learn more about trees and humanity than you ever expected.

Jonathan Drori is a Trustee of the Eden Project which is an educational charity and social enterprise focused on connecting us and the living world. The Eden Project can be visited in England where an aging china clay pit was turned into a group of enclosed biomes to emulate nature with thousands of plants. John is also featured in Ted Talks and many other organizations. For more information, please visit his website.

Your yard transforms into a living ecosystem for wildlife to feed, build their homes, raise their young, and visit on migratory journeys. Plant to feed wildlife pollinators; some are picky eaters. Monarch butterflies have been in rapid decline as the caterpillars only feed on milkweed. We need places for these caterpillars to feed and transform into butterflies. Avoid invasive shrubs; instead, plant a native wildlife shrub row to create visual beauty and give great hiding places for wildlife. We are creatures of nature too. It brings us joy. Let’s bring nature into our towns and cities. We will sustain wildlife and be happier!

The current book is the 6th edition and was published in 2017. We eagerly await the 7th edition in March of 2022.

Water is life and it touches us physically, emotionally, and intellectually. Water can give us a sense of weightlessness, floating, calm, and being fully protected. Wallace makes a strong case supported by scientists that our many connections to water are important to a happy and healthy life. 

Our planet, when viewed from outer space, looks like a blue marble. Our world, blue with water, is something to cherish. His book reminds us of how connected we are to each other and nature.

Braiding Sweetgrass is a unique and endearing “braid” of stories about our reciprocal relationship with the planet. Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer is a scientist, a teacher, and a masterful storyteller. She draws on her deep indigenous heritage to bring us inspiring stories from her cultural history and her life “that can be medicine for our broken relationship with the earth.”

If you are concerned by Fast Fashion and the harm the clothing business does to people and our planet and want to know how you can make a difference, then you will like this practical guide to becoming a conscious consumer of clothing. Elizabeth traveled around the world, promoting her book Overdressed, and through discussion, her approach to conscious dressing crystalized. She shares her approach to transforming from an impulse, fast fashion shopper to a conscious consumer. We love how she started with a wardrobe impact inventory. Amazingly we only wear about 18% of our clothing on average. It is eye-opening to take inventory – understanding the number of items in your wardrobe, percentage worn, components, fabrics, country of origin, knowledge of environmental and social issues in fashion, then making conscious changes by taking a new inventory. The results can be amazing as you join others in changing the world. Elizabeth’s book is a practical guide to saying goodbye to fast fashion, the art of less and more, sustainable fashion, making it last, and being a part of the change.

Elizabeth L. Cline is an expert in sustainability and labor rights in the fashion industry. Author of Overdressed and The Conscious Closet; and professor of Fashion Policy and Consumerism and Sustainability at Columbia University. 

Aja then takes you on a journey to understand why you consume the way you do, delving into why consumerism overshadows compassion. She shows you how you can change this behavior and gain back your power — the power to buy less and buy from sustainable companies that pay and treat employees well (with a living wage or better.

Aja Barber is a writer, stylist, and consultant whose work deals with the interaction of sustainability and fashion. Aja is a strong, influential voice about racial and fashion industry injustices. She has pledged never to take a dollar from fast fashion. Her book may convince you to do the same.

This book guides your exploration as you hone in on the actions to build your life. Learn how to handle gravity problems — the ones that are good at getting us stuck from moving forward.  Create your dashboard and identify actions for a life that makes sense.

Bill Burnet and Dave Evans are Standford University Professors of the hugely successful course “Designing Your Life.”  “A well-designed life is a life that makes sense. It’s a life in which who you are, what you believe, and what you do all line up together.” 

It is as if we are all able to attend the hugely successful Stanford University course where Burnett and Evans share their insights, technology,, and tools. Is it time to begin designing your life?

We know we are causing harm by burning fossil fuels, unsustainable manufacturing, industrialized food production, destroying forests and natural habitats, creating mountains of waste, and releasing heat-trapping CO2 beyond what our planet can absorb. At the same time, it is hard to figure out how to make a difference. Drawdown lifts us out of fear and apathy with concrete solutions for action — whether we are individuals, communities, cities, governments, or companies. Each solution has a thoughtful introduction incorporating history, science, key examples, and the most current information. The model creates a rank and impacts summary. For example, the second-highest solution is to reduce food waste. If this is done we can reduce CO2 by 70.53 gigatons! This is something that we as individuals can take action on and be an advocate for the entire food chain and reduce its waste. There are solutions across the following categories: Buildings & Cities, Energy, Food, Land Use, Materials, Transport, and Women & Girls. Combined they can reach drawdown and make our world a better place to live.

Yes, it is possible to build a climate-safe world. Read Drawdown for a path to overcome our sense that it is not possible. In addition to the book, explore the website drawdown.org for the latest information.

“When we dance, the earth trembles. When our steps fall on the earth, we feel the shudder of life beneath us, and the earth feels the beating of our hearts, and we become one with the earth. We shall not sever ourselves from the earth. We must chant our being, and we must dance in time with the rhythms of the earth. We must keep the earth.”  *page 12

We reach for our copy of this book frequently to guide us back to our love of nature. May you dance in time with the rhythms of the earth.

Fast Fashion happened fast. 

• “Up until the late 1970s, the United States produced at least 70 percent of the apparel that Americans purchased. “ By 2012, it was down to 2.5%”

The Fallout has been severe. 

• “Between 1990 and 2012, the US textile and garment industry lost 1.2 million jobs. (75% of that sector’s labor force.)”
• “Fast fashion employs 1 out of 6 people on the globe, making it the most labor-intensive industry out there – more than agriculture; more than defense. Fewer than 2% of them earn a living wage.”  
• “The World Bank estimates that the sector is responsible for nearly 20% of water pollution annually.”

We hope you take the time to read this thoughtful, informative book. It could change the way you see your closet and your choices. 

Dana also explains how future robotic innovations are moving to the forefront of the clothing industry and will bring a significant shift to the way our textiles are produced. SoftWear Automation in Atlanta, GA, began using robots that Georgia Tech scientists invented.  Known as Sewbots, these robots were optimized for the textile industry and are now in a northern Georgia factory making bath mats and towels. 

Dana also empowers readers to make a difference by being informed consumers and shopping for sustainable clothing. If your budget doesn’t allow this, she suggests buying sustainable clothes on sale or second-hand. There are many ways to curate a sustainable wardrobe on any budget!

The book is broken down into sections of practical methods for urban spaces. There are sections on container gardening, raised bed gardening, vertical gardening, and hydroponics. So if you already do some urban gardening and want to take it to the next level, reach for Kevin’s book.

This month we wanted to share Forests, A Very Short Introduction by Jaboury Ghazoul. Go on a whirlwind tour that includes forest origins, connections with human culture, disturbance, and dynamics — and where we are going in the future. This book is a good place to start building your brain about forests.

In the 1980s the Japanese National Health Program added Forest Bathing (Shinrin-yoku) for wellness. A Forest Bath is a 2-hour slow walk on a lovely forest path with no cell phones and no talking — while taking everything in through all your senses. A Forest Bath brings you into the present moment and de-stresses you. Many in Japan practice Shrinrin-Yoku regularly. Studies show that Forest Bathing can reduce blood pressure, lower stress, lift depression, improve energy, and more.

Learn how to practice Forest Bathing and how to bring the forest indoors.

In the past, as many as 100 million Atlantic salmon hatched in the Connecticut River and eventually made their way to Long Island Sound. Dams and overfishing have led to the collapse of the population. Today every Atlantic salmon is farmed. Cod was so abundant that it fueled the economies and nourished humanity from medieval times through the discovery of the Americans and into the early industrial era. (Refer to Mark Kurlansky’s micro-history in his book, Cod. You will find our summary in the OPL Library).  Today, the cod population is extremely small and fishing grounds are closed. Sea bass, also known as branzino, was once abundant in the Mediterranean. Today this species does not exist. When you order branzino you are ordering a farmed fish. Tuna are vast ocean roamers with longer reproduction cycles which makes them harder to protect. Conservationists are pushing to have bluefin on the endangered species list to ensure we do not fish them to extinction but have not yet achieved this goal.

Greenburg helps us understand how thankful we should feel when consuming wild fish, how we need to protect their habitats, and how aquaculture in a non-destructive manner is part of the answer. We recommend this important read.

There are 100 simple plant-based recipes for great meals. Lily shares how the kitchen ingredients can be used to make beauty products such as the dirty detox bath. We recommend her inspiring guide to a plant-based journey. Lily can be followed on Instagram or explore her Clean Food Dirty City website.

For example, he makes that case that the much greater availability of domesticable plants and large animals in Eurasia than in sub-Sahara Africa and the Americas made the development of agriculture and animal husbandry spread quickly. Significant physical barriers such as the Sahara Desert and large bodies of water impeded the rapid spread of these new capabilities. The title has great significance when people from these different areas engaged, resulting in conquest and rapid impact on population by diseases. While you hear so much about the conquests and imperialism, I was shocked by the devastating impact of germs and diseases killing large portions of the population that had not been previously exposed. 

Diamond is skilled at crossing disciplinary boundaries and bringing new insights to light in a thoughtful manner. If you are interested in how the world came to be, this would be a book to add to your library. The book won the Pulitzer Prize in 1977. 

We have used and fragmented habitats to the extent that many species are not surviving. As Wilson stated in 2016, habitats protected by governments and agencies already account for 15% of Earth’s land area, and it increases a little each year.  We have made progress.  Now is the time to accelerate to save our living planet.

The late Edward Wilson is one of the world’s greatest naturalists and a double Pulitzer prize winner. Half earth would work.  It is doable.  Let’s have the strength of character to make it happen.

Explore this lovely, informative book yourself.  Once you understand our living planet at a deeper level, we open the door to living green with love and respect for all the planet.

Follow along as Joanna Henry reads aloud this wonderful story.

The book, Diet for a Small Planet, digs deep into our food system to understand what drives wasteful and destructive processes and how they relate to hunger around the world.  She discovered the hidden “rules” and processes that result in a food system that can harm health, leave any hunger and hurts the planet. The book then shares how we can transform this awareness into actions.  Frances invites us to a personal revolution that is good for people and the planet.

Hope’s Edge The Next Diet for a Small Planet is the story of the journey of Frances and her daughter Anna Lappe as they travel around the world looking for glimmers of hope. They were seeking knowledge on how people are transcending consumerism to the benefit of people and the planet. It is chocked full of inspirational stories about how we can produce, enjoy, and share food in alignment with nature. It truly gives us hope.

Some of my favorites are Pizza with Tomato Sauce and Mozzarella, Pasta with Caramelized Onions, Vegetable Stock (never buy it anymore), and Hot and Sour Soup. Guided by Mark Bittman’s book,  I became a confident cook.

We are on a path to have more plastic in the ocean by 2050 than fish. Microplastics are making it into our food supply and our bodies. We need to break from the throw-away culture we have become accustomed to.

The book has practical ways to eliminate plastic in your bathroom, closet, kitchen, and on the go.  You can start from wherever you are to eliminate single-use plastic from your daily lifestyle.  You can use your voice and purchasing power to drive changes in companies.  Last but not least, you can advocate in your community, organizations, and government to reduce plastic.  As Will shares:  “every victory against plastic begins with a single person or small group.” Let Will McCallum’s book assist on your journey to break from plastic.

Our 100-person village is diverse and includes 59 people from Asia, 16 people from Africa, 10 people from Europe, 9 people from South America, Central America, and the Caribbean, 5 people from Canada and the United States, and 1 person from Oceania. The village has many farm animals, with the chicken being the most predominant.  There are a whopping 2100 chickens (21 times the number of people).     Sadly 44 of the people do not have food security.  Delve into more village information on air, water, education, work, energy health, and how the village is changing.  While this is a children’s book, it has sold over 400,000 copies to the joy of children and adults alike. It’s an essential and easy read for everyone who strives to be a global citizen.

Our 100-person village is diverse and includes 59 people from Asia, 16 people from Africa, 10 people from Europe, 9 people from South America, Central America, and the Caribbean, 5 people from Canada and the United States, and 1 person from Oceania. The village has many farm animals, with the chicken being the most predominant.  There are a whopping 2100 chickens (21 times the number of people).     Sadly 44 of the people do not have food security.  Delve into more village information on air, water, education, work, energy health, and how the village is changing.  While this is a children’s book, it has sold over 400,000 copies to the joy of children and adults alike. It’s an essential and easy read for everyone who strives to be a global citizen.

Want something fun and educational to do with kids?  Listen to our reading of this wonderful book. Enjoy!

Each tip in the book comes with background and fast facts illustrating why it is important, and steps to help you make the change. 50 Simple Things makes helping the planet foolproof – after all, if you knew that turning off the tap while you brush your teeth could save your household alone 20,000 gallons of water, wouldn’t you? Our planet is hurting, and with this book you can help it heal without hurting yourself.

Once you know your superpower, Heather’s book shares role models and guides you on creating your green thing. The 21-day kick-starter plan for each superpower is packed with ideas to make small changes that make a difference. When you make changes that align with your strengths, you leverage your power and tap into joy. Heather does not shy away from climate change. She does share many practical and impactful ways individuals can act to make a difference. We are big fans of Heather White and One Green Thing.

Dr. Amishi P. Jha is the Director of Contemplative Neuroscience and Professor of Psychology at the University of Miami. She shares her studies and how you can change your life for the better in 12 minutes a day. Learn to find your flashlight, body scan, connection practice, and how to leverage them to a better you. 

It’s a good starting place for busy people looking for peace of mind. 

This pocket guide can answer questions, such as which of the non-dairy kinds of milk are the least harmful to the environment? Learn how to avoid plastic and waste in our food supply chain. Kate shares hard facts about the food industry and steps you can take to make the grocery store a more ethical place.  Sustainable Food Shopping is a great little book for anyone who wants to help the planet. 

At the time, DDT was sprayed on farms, parks, and even in neighborhoods without considering the health impacts on humans, animals, birds, and other life. She was able to explain how the  DDT spray used to get rid of insects was actually harming birds and other life. The chemical companies that created DDT viciously fought her book and tried to discredit Rachel. Happily, it became a global bestseller and created many positive environmental changes. This is a wonderful telling of how a thoughtful, determined person can make a difference. 

Dominque has a way of diving in headfirst while staying connected to her journey and vision.

She has a deep awareness of the connection of food to our health and the environment. She shares a simple message: “that people should eat and consider where food on their plate comes from.” More importantly, she brings this into her kitchen with vegetable-forward meals from local and sustainable sources. Her chapter on “The Ethical Kitchen” includes ideas for how we can all eat healthier and sustainable for the planet. 

In her restaurant, Atelier Crenn, all the dimensions of her personality come together.  They create an adventure that flows with life. The restaurant does not even have its name outside.  The adventure begins as you search for this small restaurant and find the side door to enter. Once inside and seated,  the menu is a poem that hints at what the multi-course meal will be while never directly stating the courses. The poetry is to draw you in and connect with nature and joy. Each dish in this vegetable-forward tasting menu is with local ingredients from local farms and fisheries.  The atmosphere is a deep, elegant connection with nature and your senses. 

The book is an engaging and candid view of what drove Dominque Crenn to become an award-winning chef. 

In Chapter 7, Benedict shares his thoughts on the “Wild Economy”.  He compels us to think of the economic benefit of wild areas and how it can create jobs for rural communities.  It is interesting and helpful to link rewilding with economic factors as they will both play important roles.  By thoughtfully creating jobs and opportunities we can have more people caring for nature, more habitat and biodiversity,  and more people visiting to experience it.  As the world becomes more urban, it is important to make sure wild nature and rural economies benefit.

We love that he has envisioned a different Britain full of nature and wildlife.  As Benedict shares, Britain is not a crowded country (82% of the population lives in urban areas) and has all the needed space for nature. So yes, Britain does have options and time will tell what path they take. He outlines how to create new outcomes, let nature do the work, be messy, see the big picture, and invest in habitats of scale.

Benedict’s book is a splendid read.  The vision of rewilding on a grander scale is possible.

Peter opens our eyes and we will never look at nature the same again. It is magical and deserves our understanding and care.

On page 186 he shares scientific knowledge on trees and how they care for their families. “Beeches, as well as Douglas first and other socially-oriented species, love their families. If that sounds exaggerated it’s worth taking a moment to listen to the Canadian scientist Dr. Suzanne Simard. She discovered that mother trees can sense through their roots whether the seedlings at their feet are their own children or the offspring of other trees of their own species. They support only their own children, by providing them with sugar through connected root systems – effectively by suckling them. But that is not all. To help the young trees, the parents step back underground, leaving the little ones more room, water and nutrients.”

Rachel asked the question: “Who would want to live in a world that is not quite fatal?” Humanity had acquired the power to alter the natural world with speed and without concern for the damage to the people and the planet. Her book is powerful as we continue to damage our environment in the name of progress. Her chapters take you on a journey of the impact of chemical pollution on towns, soil, rivers, water, and animal life. The chapter on “The Human Price” is just as compelling today as the world struggles with climate change. She shows us how to understand a complex interconnected world by looking both at the big picture and the details in a thoughtful manner.  We continue to deal with the hazards that we are creating. Knowing this, we can choose to progress in alignment with nature. Humans are innovative and can change.  Do we need to accept that progress requires that we destroy nature?  Rachel would say no.  We could not agree more! Rachel Carson, we thank you for bringing your twin talents in writing and science to make a difference! 

Christine’s mission is to inspire simple living that improves our lives and the planet. Well, she inspired us! Her book is a great way to get started or to give to someone else to encourage them to begin a sustainable lifestyle  

In addition to her book, Christina is a sustainable lifestyle blogger. Her website is simplybychristine.com. 

There are chapters on vegetables, fruits, herbs, harvesting, canning, drying, baking bread, and more. Even though my home now is an urban apartment, this book is an excellent source for my container garden.

Jennifer Ackerman’s research encompasses two decades of studying birds, their habitats, intelligence, wit, songs, and vulnerabilities. It is truly a delightful and educational read.

Christiana and Tom take us through a quick tour of the terrible consequences. They ask the question where are you? The majority of people understand and “acknowledge the evidence but take no action because they don’t know what to do, or. because it is far easier not to think about climate change. It is scary and overwhelming.” It is this global majority that can make a difference and needs to act.  

The book shares 10 actions that we can take to move toward meeting the reduction targets. One of them is seeing yourself as a citizen – not a consumer.  Changing this point of view lets you step back and think. Is this something I really need? Is this good for my quality of life and the planet? Changing your point of view, opens new doors and enables you to take new actions. 

The Future We Choose is both scary and optimistic and suggests ambitious ways to make a difference.  

This evolution of our drinks has a surprising influence on history at pivotal moments of human and civilization development. Take a moment, grab this book and your beverage of choice,  and enjoy.  You may not look at your beverages the same again.

“Restoration is what is required today. ”  Terry pleads forcefully on behalf of the natural world. She inspires us to explore the national parks. Absorb the sights, sounds, and feel of the natural world.  Respect what is interconnected in ways we don’t fully understand. Protect nature.  Now is the hour of the land.

In the dynamic planet section, we learn about The Big Lagoon area of Shark Bay. It is off the coast of Australia and is home to the world’s most diverse seagrass beds.  This habitat for many marine species is at risk due to the changing temperatures. On page 46, view the fierce conditions in the Danakil Depression of Ethiopia. The beautiful colors of this natural place are from chemical reactions. It is extremely acidic and temperatures are close to the boiling point.  Are those green pastures in China (page 55)? Actually no, it is Lake Tai, one of the largest freshwater lakes in China. Thirty years ago it was clear but now in the summer, it is covered in algae.  Enjoy the beauty of amazing migrations from Zebra’s in Botswana (page 70) to flamingos in Bolivia (page 71).

Soar with these photos from a different point of view. The enormity of our impact is breathtaking. Understanding the scale of the change to landscapes and ecosystems can be overwhelming.  We agree with George and Andrew that  this is the beginning.  We have the opportunity and the wherewithal to make changes for a better future. The Human Planet has a strong voice and is deeply rooted in love for people and the planet.

Julius Caesar was appointed perpetual dictator of the Roman Republican in 47 BC;  his domain stretched from what is now called Spain to modern Greece, as far north as Normandy in France and much of the rest of the Mediterranean, a region that today contains over 30 countries. The population of these vast lands comprised around 50 million people, which was about 20% of a world population of approximately 250 million. More than 8 centuries later, when Queen Victoria ascended the British throne in 1837, the number of people living on earth had grown to something like 1 billion, a fourfold increase. Yet less than 200 years after Victoria’s coronation, the world population had increased further seven times – nearly twice the growth in a tenth of the time.” Today we are over 7.7 billion and while still growing, Paul shares his insight that there is a good chance that the global population will have stopped growing altogether by the end of the century. How is this possible?  Well, pick up The Human Tide and let Paul explain. If you love people, this unique lens on history will be fascinating. Learn about the factors that are changing our growth patterns from the reduction in child mortality, the number of children being born, and the migrations around the world. All of these play together to shape our world and our daily lives in surprising ways.

Journey around the world from one inspiring project to another. The Urban Farming office in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam is alive with greenery. The building is dripping with hanging planter boxes filled with local vegetation. This vertical farm processes food and acts as a microclimate through the building. Can you imagine the smell of the clean air?  Designing public spaces with a human-centered approach enhances the quality of life. In San Francisco, Market Street used to be a congested thoroughfare with worn infrastructure and unsafe. When it went car-free in 2020 it became a joy of the city – calmer, accessible, encouraging more people to local shops. Consider the super-green highway in Seoul, South Korea. The Seoul Skygarden is an elevated linear park soaring over half a mile.  Keep this book on your coffee table — to pick up and turn to a page and be inspired by these buildings and public places.

This is a book about hope. Hope for cities that are resourceful, accessible, shared, safe, and desirable.

Years after a human traveler has planted a seed in a new location, there can be an abundance of trees that changed to flourish in the new environment. Consider this: the trees we consider invasive have special talents. They include: a great ability to spread seeds; rapid growth; capacity to alter their form in response to environmental conditions; tolerance of multiple kinds of stress; and capability of associating with humans.

This book is a pleasure from beginning to end.

Let us share this moment in her own words: “I was in the queue at our local post office. In front of me in the queue was a young man. He got to the counter and I overheard him say he’d forgotten his money, and that he’d been hoping to post his driving license application. So, without thinking, I said, ‘I’ll pay for it.’ It cost me a bit of loose change for a stamp, no big deal. He said, ‘Thanks very much’ and went on his way. I thought about what had just happened. I thought maybe what I had done was cheered him up a bit. I realized it definitely cheered me up because I had very easily been able to make a tiny difference to another person.” This is when Bernadette decided to do a kind thing for a stranger every day for a year! 

The Little Book of Kindness is inspiring and chock full of kindness ideas. She completed her feat of kindness acts for a year. It changed her for the better and made a difference to others.  Explore her chapters in order or dive into one that intrigues you.  Some of the chapters are: be kind to yourself, be kind to strangers, be kind to those you love, be kind to the environment, be kind online, and so on. We agree with Bernadette that being kind makes you happier and healthier. Enjoy! 

Dr. Suess published this captivating book in 1971.  Today it resonates even more than when it was written. Gather the whole family around, read the Lorax, and make positive changes to care for our beautiful world. 

Want something fun and educational to do with kids?  Listen to our reading of this wonderful book. Enjoy!

Want something fun and educational to do with kids?  Listen to our reading of this wonderful book. Enjoy!

It begins in 2025, the pivotal decade to reduce CO2 to avoid the worst of climate change.  It’s the first fiction book I have read where people struggle in a plausible way to stay within the 2-degree Celsius threshold. There is much drama and competing forces as people, groups, organizations, and countries take different approaches.  The solutions used exist today, are in development, or are being discussed. At the same time, climate change is brutal, and a staggering number of people die.  The Ministry for the Future is haunting and hopeful. It hangs around my mind as I wonder how we will survive and how to help—a highly recommended read.

The book has been translated from the original Vietnamese and has readers on every continent in the world. Hanh has written more than 100 books, which have sold millions of copies in the United States alone.

Treat yourself with this book. Then begin your mindfulness journey guided by this Zen master.  Try the many practical exercises from deep breathing to washing dishes; to helping a child with homework; to contemplating interconnectedness; to liberating yourself from narrow views;to just a simple smile.  Let your meditation practice bring you to greater understanding and peacefulness.

Anna has a way of knowing what will please the taste buds in alignment with the seasons. Her recipes use creative combinations from her experiences. For example, I love lemon cake, but her lemon and cardamom upside-down cake takes it to another level.  The book shines with unexpected and wonderful flavor combinations.  Anna’s book makes cooking vegetarian an at-home culinary experience. I highly recommend it! 

Using the same format as the original, the kids’ version serves as an introduction to basic environmental conservation principles, such as recycling glass or drinking tap water instead of bottled water, and turns each action into a fun challenge that they will look forward to completing. This book makes saving the planet so easy that a kid could do it, and children and adults alike can use this book to start paying attention to how their lives affect what is going on around them.

We invite you to view and listen as we read aloud The Rabbit Listened. Peace be with you.

The first couple of pages of the chronology from 2500 BC to 2011 is a history fly by with fascinating facts, and sets the broad context.  The book then explores yoga with chapters on Health, Fit Perfection, Moods, Risk of Injury, Healing, Divine Sex, and Muse. I think you will find The Science of Yoga is informative and entertaining, and will motivate you to try yoga or expand your practice. 

As a treat for yourself, curl up with this  riveting true-life tale. Once you do, we are sure you will want to add sun salutations to your day!

This human-dominated period was coined the Anthropocene by Paul Crutzen. “Among the many geological-scale changes people have effected, Crutzen cited the following:

• Human activity has transformed between 1/3 -1/2 of the land surface of the planet.
• Most of the rivers of the world have been dammed or diverted.
• Fertilizer plants produce more nitrogen than is fixed naturally by all terrestrial ecosystems.
• Fisheries remove more than 1/3rd of the primary production of the ocean’s coastal waters.
• Humans use more than half the world’s readily accessible freshwater runoff.”

The Sixth Extinction is deeply researched and at the same time is a flowing read. She takes us on a journey and helps us understand so we can begin to act in a way that is more sustaining to all life.

One example is the farming of salmon. It takes 15 pounds of fish to create 3 pounds of fish meal to feed and grow a one pound salmon. Once again, I find myself saying, this does not make sense. 

In the chapter Throwing It All Away, we learn: “Every day, almost one billion people go hungry, while a different billion people intentionally foul enough food to feed them. We gamble our forests, freshwater, and fuel on food that we have no intention of eating and we lose every single time.”  

The Story of More is a pleasure to read even though it is shocking. A must-read for anyone that wants a quick way to become informed on our impact on the planet. 

Steven Cohen and Guo Dong discuss how we need to transform from a consumer society to a brain-based economy.  This new model is oriented towards services, entertainment, travel, and experiences and less toward possessing products. This book is a comprehensive discussion of sustainable urban systems such as water supplies (like New York’s water supply), solid waste reduction (New York has set a goal to have zero waste by 2030), food supplies, health systems, and so on. It also discusses the sustainable lifestyle, sustainably managed organizations, the role of policy and politics, and sustainable urban development.

If you lean more towards a step-by-step process, then turn to chapters 4 and 5 for salad in a container, raised bed veggie garden for the family windowsill garden, herb and scallion centerpiece, and more. Having your own little garden to supplement what you pick up at the farmer’s market is rewarding and delicious.

Walkable cities attract talent, increase property values, reduce the need for cars, are safer and healthier, strengthen communities, and are better for the environment. Jeff Speck’s has 101 thoughtful ways to make our cities more people-friendly. In walkable cities automobiles become obsolete, bike and walking networks abound, housing is attainable and integrated, lighting and layout make it intriguing and safe.  There are main streets that are only for pedestrians. Automobile travel is slow with all-way stops and city speed limits such as 20 or 25 mph.  There are trees and green everywhere.   Walkable cities are wonderful places to live.

Let’s take Jeff’s book to heart and work to make our cities more walkable so everyone in them can have a high quality of life.

Soak up this story as it is read aloud by Joanna Henry. Enjoy it here.

Jonathan’s book is “an argument for a collective act to eat differently – specifically, no animal products before dinner. That is a difficult argument to make, both because the topic is fraught and because of the sacrifice involved. “Jonathan keeps it real. He spent three years researching factory farming, wrote a book called Eating Animals, and toured making the case that factory-farmed meat should not be eaten. Jonathan was not perfect during these couple of years. He had a burger from time to time for comfort. Anyone growing up on meat can understand the challenge.

We all need to acknowledge the challenges if we are to move forward. Jonathan confronts himself in a soulful chapter. He banters with his soul in a humbling and insightful manner. None of us is perfect, but we can make a difference.

It is a way that individuals collectively can make a difference. “Changing the way we eat is simple compared to converting the world’s power grid, overcoming the influence of powerful lobbyists to pass carbon-tax legislation, or ratifying a significant international treaty on greenhouse gas emissions – but it isn’t simple. ”

He shares how he has difficulty squaring his gratitude for living with behavior that suggests indifference. Let us all look forward to the day when facing ourselves in the mirror; we can say that is when I decided to make changes.

Jonathan, thanks for the great read. 

As a recipient of the lifetime achievement award from the American Birding Association, David has a wealth of bird knowledge to share. His book is packed with pictures and information while remaining readable for all. Reading this book is like a meandering walk in nature.  On this walk, you can explore 96 birds common to North America. Each bird section starts with a life-size picture, bird information, and short essays on how birds think and live. It is easy to start with one bird and then follow the references to other pages.  It is a wandering path about birds and their connections to us.

For example, we learn that Turkeys and all birds have ears. The feather-covered ears are just below the eyes.  Many birds have better hearing than people. The name turkey comes from the mistaken impression that they arrived in Europe from Turkey. Turkeys were first domesticated in South Mexico and brought to Europe in the 1500s by Spanish explorers. In the year 1620, the Mayflower set sail for Massachusetts with several live turkeys among the cargo.

This wandering path is enjoyable for adults and children to learn about birds and how we are connected. Afterward, you will have a new appreciation for birds and their magnificent lives.

Her approach is the “5 R’s”: refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, and rot. For each category, Bea shares thoughts on how she reduced their waste.  The best aspects of her book are the questions she poses you ask yourself. It is so easy in our busy lives to get caught up in consumerism that leads to habits that harm your health and the planet.  Once you ask yourself these questions, you begin to formulate answers.  Thinking about your waste and then exploring the ideas for reduction gives you all you need to get started.

Even if you are not ready to test the extremes of zero waste, you can get started to reduce waste to gain both benefits for your life and the planet.  

We at One Planet Life particularly like how Stephanie starts off chapter 1, The Aha Moment, with a quote by Ann-Marie Bonneau, Zero Waste Chef. “We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.”  Sit back with a cup of tea, coffee, water, or wine, and let Stephanie help you get started.