Article Contributed on: 3/27/2007 10:48:42 AM
During the 1968 Apollo 8 lunar mission, the crew took what is now a legendary photograph of the earth rising above the surface of the moon. "Earth Rise" literally became the poster child for the fledgling environmental movement of the 1970s. The image of that bright blue orb, its finite borders clearly outlined against the vastness of space, was something of a wake up call -- this was visual proof that Earth is indeed the only home we have. Here are some titles to help you celebrate this earthly home.
Any list of books about the environment would be incomplete without the classics: Henry David Thoreau's "Walden," Aldo Leopold's "A Sand County Almanac," Edward Abbey's "Desert Solitaire," Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring" and even Dr. Seuss' "The Lorax." But there's a whole new generation of writers adding their voices to the field of environmental literature: Gretel Ehrlich, Rick Bass, Barry Lopez and Terry Tempest Williams, just to name a few. Their works are also destined to become classics.
John McPhee is not a new voice, and his book "Encounters with the Archdruid," written in 1971, is not new either. Few readers are familiar with this profile of Friends of the Earth founder David Brower, who is considered by some to be one of the most influential American environmentalists in the late 20th century. In this book, McPhee chronicles conversations between Brower and a mining geologist, a resort developer and a former Secretary of the Interior. It's a well-written and well-balanced (and still timely) look at both Brower and his antagonists.
A couple of years ago, I discovered "Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses" by Robin Wall Kimmerer, and it's since become one of my favorites. I know what you're thinking: "A whole book about mosses? How boring is that?" Kimmerer, a biology professor at SUNY, has a knack for taking what could be dry, technical information and transforming it into lyrical prose with a subtle environmental message. Give the book a try; I don't think you'll be disappointed.
On a not-so-subtle note, Derrick Jensen is angry and thinks you should be angry, too. In his book, "A Language Older Than Words," Jensen argues that only our anger will get us past giving lip service to the problems facing our planet and to demanding that solutions be found. Gritty and honest, it's not an easy book to read, but it's highly recommended.
In sharp contrast to Jensen's gloomy outlook, William McDonough and Michael Braungart offer a more positive approach to environmental problem solving. In their book, "Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things," they suggest instead of settling for waste reduction and recycling, we eliminate the concept of waste altogether. It's an inspiring "outside the box" look at environmental protection.
You can check out these books and more at any Jefferson County Public Library. Look for them on our web site at http://jefferson.lib.co.us, or ask one of our librarians for more reading suggestions.
Joyce Deming is the information services librarian, Golden Library