This bibliography concentrates on books on the literature related to environmental planning, including but not limited to: climate change, sustainability, history, biological resources, animal behavior, and other personal growth and development resources. As the green business profession is rapidly changing, we as professionals should take a global view of how inter-related the world is. While there has been an onslaught of comprehensive literature addressing climate change and the new economy that can make reading choices daunting, this list is just a sample of new information. These are not all bestsellers, but most of these books should be readily available in the local library.
Marshall III, Joseph M. The Power of Four: Leadership Lessons of Crazy Horse. New York: Sterling Publishing, Co., Inc., 2009. 168 p.
There are many new “little” books out there that are quick reads. Marshall has written one of these little books that is packed with pearls of wisdom. Everyone has heard of Crazy Horse and Custer’s Last Stand, but how many people know what a humble leader of the Lakota tribe this leader was? The Lakota lead by the Power of Four: Know Yourself, Know Your Friends, Know Your Enemies and Take the Lead. In pre-reservation days when the tribe felt that a leader was unfit to lead, they just stopped following him. Think of how much better this country might be if we could have walked away from 8 years of poor leadership. Selflessness, morality, experience, honesty and responsibility were the traits a leader were required to possess. Respect for a Council of Elders, not forced retirement, was the standard practice. Joseph Marshall is the author of The Lakota Way and we have much to learn from these simple concepts.
Grann, David. The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession. New York: Doubleday. 2005. 277 p.
Grann has produced an unbelievably fascinating story - part adventure, part mystery. This book confirms that truth is stranger than fiction. What happened to the Amazon explorer Percy Harrison Fawcett and his son Jack? Did they ever find the City of Z? Did the City of Z ever exist? Why were Antarctic explorers more respected than those who walked the killer jungles of South America? All of these questions are mostly answered in this riveting tale through the comprehensively exhausted research by David Grann, an eminent reporter for The New York Times, the Atlantic and other well-known journals and magazines. Absolutely riveting – a book to race through - besides you have to get to the very end to understand what really happened. Even the list of sources was interesting to peruse. Grann not only researched the intriguing history of the competitiveness of explorers in the early 1900s, he traced the route of Percy’s last trek for the hidden clues that would reveal the truth. Without the brave and daring men like Percy, willing to walk these treacherous jungles, mapping of the part of the world would have taken far longer.
Jones, Van. The Green Collar Economy: How One Solution Can Fix Our Two Biggest Problems. New York: HarperCollings. 2008. 200 p.
A quick and dirty treatise of how we can fix the some of the political and economic mess this country is in. The example of environmental injustice and indignity heaped upon the poorer citizens of New Orleans brings home the need for a deep-rooted change in the way Americans perceive themselves. Van Jones is now Obama’s top “Green Economy” guru on his staff. Oakland’s loss is Washington’s gain. This book was written just before Obama’s election, but quietly presages the need for the sweeping change that election brought. Without picking on the previous administration too heavily, Jones demonstrates how a combination of ecology + social justice is the leap we need to make in this era to be successful at a Green Movement.
Warwick, Hugh. The Hedgehog’s Dilemma: A Tale of Obsession, Nostalgia, and the World’s Most Charming Mammal. New York: Bloomsbury USA. 2008. 256 p.
Warwick takes a subject that most Americans may only liken to a video game and turns this adorable creature into another one to put on the Save This list. This seemed like the oddest title for an assuming creature such as the hedgehog. This book turned out to be a most interesting story about the lives of hedgehogs, which probably most people in the U.S. are not aware of since hedgehogs are not native to America. The concept of the Hedgehog’s Dilemma is an interestingly universal theme in this electronic age. How to get to know an individual when you are hurt by their presence, but lonely without them?
Warwick takes us to the International Hedgehog Olympic Games, where sprints and tunnel navigation are among the events; he highlights the rescue efforts of the British Hedgehog Preservation Society; and he even shares a recipe for hedgehog spaghetti carbonara. From Sonic the Hedgehog to Beatrix Potter’s fairy tale character Mrs. Tiggywinkle, hedgehogs have long been a part of popular culture yet how many of us have ever thought of what it would be like to be one.
Poulsen, Else. Smiling Bears: A Zookeeper Explores the Behavior and Emotional Life of Bears. Vancouver, BC Canada: Greystone. 2009. 229 p.
From elephants to hedgehogs to bears - who can get enough of reading about the secret lives of our animal friends? Else’s book should leave you in tears reading about the bear bile farms of China and Vietnam. Anyone else who hasn’t heard about this ongoing inhumane bear torture, far worse than the cruelty of circuses, can check out www.animalsasia.org. The author has written a simple, wonderful story about her dedicated work with bear rehabilitation. The sex life of grizzlies, pacing polar bears on prozac, unusual jungle spectacled bears, and an overly-playful little black bear cub, will all win your heart. Do bears really think, or does work like Else’s actually create a “thinking” bear?
Obama, Barack. The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream. New York: Crown Publishing Group. 2006. 375 p.
Obama is an excellent writer and it is interesting to see his distanced perspective on some of the worst American political times in recent history. The book ends with his now famous speech at the Democratic convention as he nervously prepares to give the oration that was the defining moment in his public career. The book’s style make you feel like Obama is speaking directly to you. The country so desperately needed the inspiration and positive image he creates. How wonderful that his ambitions were not for one moment deterred by the improbability of his election as the first U.S. black president. We are so blessed to have him to move this country back to a place of political respect in the world.
Miller, Dan. No More Mondays: Fire Yourself – and Other Revolutionary Ways to Discover Your True Calling at Work. New York: Doubleday. 2008. 251 p.
For all of us directly or indirectly affected by the radical shift in the economy, Miller gives us his personal account of how those who want to take charge of their lives and not leave their career, their income or their future to someone else’s whims can do so with grace and good humor. Be the “Revolutionary” you always wanted to be and make the greatest impact you can by doing some simple things. Miller inspired me to make the goal of reading a book-a-month to where I not only re-discovered how much I loved reading books that all seem to be related in purpose, but now I read a book-a-week or more and learn more than I ever imagined I could about important topics of the day. Whether Miller’s ideas inspire you to start your own business or move into a new career, there is something for everyone to use in some practical manner.
Weil, Josh. The New Valley. New York: Grove Press. 2009. 341 p.
Weil has written these three novellas written in a form that is eerily gripping. Three people who are living in personal worlds that are just different enough that verbal communication is almost a stretch of the imagination. Not quite in quiet desperation, but lives just off the edge of what might be considered normal. The writing style is at times disconcerting in its awkwardness, but nonetheless you are forced to continue trying to make sense of the way these people think and feel living in isolated, rural areas of America that most of us may never even visit.
MacFarlane, Robert. The Wild Places. USA: Penguin Classics. 2008. 352 p.
MacFarlane has written a wonderfully descriptive book of his travels in a place that is utterly fascinating: the British Isles. The search for wilderness in this overly developed area, brings new insight to England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. MacFarlane walk, climbs, sleeps, and boats through primarily desolate areas such as: beechwood, island, valley, moor, forest, cape, summit, and other landscape descriptions we normally don’t use. MacFarlane’s unique travelogue will intrigue readers of natural history and adventure. Only a tangential mention is made of the effects of climate change on the wild places as clearly wilderness will ultimately reclaim the earth.
Janet Palma, AICP
Principal: J. Palma & Associates – March 2009 to present
Treasurer: AEP San Francisco Bay Chapter – 2008 to present
Tags: Bibliography, Green Reading
Janet,
Very interesting list. I am an avid reader and have only read one of these. I read 2 to 4 books a week and always am in the middle of 5 to 10 books. I read literature and a lot of non-fiction. I do read the papers some and surf the Net a lot, but the most potent way I learn and grow is through reading from subject matter expertise, to loving the language of literature, to getting out of my comfort zone, to seeing other perspectives. since I try to read botrh sides of any issue and try to read a variety of authors, it keeps my mind open and helps me to continually question and update my mental models of the world.. It concerns how readng is not a priority for most people and particularly the under 40 crowd. I don’t think there is anything we can do about it, bit it alarms me from a learning perspective. The complex systems and issues we face take stepping back, seeing the whole, reflecting, continous learing.
I like your list because it so eclectic with heartfelt assessments of the books. I have read a number of books that have been life-changing for me. Guns, Germs, and Steel (why the West has so much of the stuff of the world), Collapse (why societies collapse or succeed–depressing, but powerful), Mountains Beyond Mountains (the story of Paul Farmer and his impact on poverty and world health–incredible), Hot, Flat, and Crowded (I like everyting Friedman writes. This book gives a great snapshot of current reality. It is depressing, but a great way to update mental models of the current world reality), The Fifth Discipline (a handbook for becoming a better leader and person, for enabling a learning organization, and a foundation in systems thinking), and a lot more.
The two books that I consider the most actionable, easiest too read, and life changing are:
Systems Thinking: A Primer by D. Meadows
Short, easy to read primer that truly improves your ability to think and think in systems. It is life changing from the standpoint that you probably won’t look at the world or any issue again the same. Anyone can get the basics of systems thinking. Everyone should get the basics of systems thinking. I only wish the President (I’m a big Obama fan too) and his team and Congress would ground their legislation and action in systems thinking, i.e., understanding how to leverage complex systems, what actions change the behaviors of complex systems to more of the results we desire. Almost all that I see going on won’t change the underlying behavior of the systems we are trying to address. Reading this simple book helps change mental models and understand the concepts of systems thinking.
The Natural Step: Seeding A Quiet Revolution by K. Robert
Short, easy to read primer on the best sustainability framework I have reviewed. The Natural Step sustainability framework is scientifically based presenting 4 unarguable principles of a sustainable society. It also has tools and ways of communicating, including a couple of key metaphors that are address the complexity of sustainability. As importantly, it is a story of one man, a cancer doctor or researcher, and what he has been able to bring to the world. I used to sometimes think to myself, ‘I am just one person’, just like almost all of us. His story, the success of The Natural Step, the truth of The Natural Step, etc. slams the self-defeating images we have that we are ‘just one person’. Many great companies now use The Natural Step as their sustainability framework. Again, this book is a foundation for learning.
I am going to have to get cracking on your list. Hope you’ll have time to try my top two.
Debbie
Debbie,
Thank you for the though provoking review of my book list. Since I was laid off four months ago, I decided to jump start my reading again and I am up to about 1-2 books a week. There are so many new books on the library shelves that all my purchased books are still sitting at home also waiting to be read. I started Hot, Flat and Crowded, but since I had not read the first book, I decided to go back to the beginning. Despite the fact that kids (and some adults) these days are more interested in Facebook and games than reading non-fiction and literature, there still seems to be a proliferation of writers pumping out great books. For them I am indebted and grateful. I have done much writing in the last 10 years, but mostly Environmental Impact Reports where I don’t get to express my own viewpoint, but analyze the facts. I have been enjoying blogging, reading and reporting on the works I read.
I will be getting to your books eventually I’m sure. Right now I feel swamped with the backlog of great works to go through and every time I return a book to the library I find something else new. I like the smaller works that are quick reads, but pack a punch too.
Please keep in touch and let me know what you think of my suggestions.
Janet