It's the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day today. Did you realize that there was an enviromental movement way back in 1970 - way before green was the new black? Kind of cool to think about. As with many movements, there have been many books that have influenced and drawn attention to environmental causes. In honor of Earth Day, I thought I'd list a few of them here for you. Perhaps some might make interesting book club discussions.
1. SILENT SPRING by Rachel Carson. This book was written in 1962 and is often credited with starting the environmental movement.
2. THE END OF NATURE by Bill McKibben. Published in 1989 by Random House, this book is regarded as one of the first books about climate change for a general, non-scientific audience.
3. THE LORAX by Dr. Suess. Did you even realize you were getting an enviromental message when you read this as a kid? I love how kids books can get a message to kids without being so obvious. It's like hiding broccoli in a brownie recipe.
4. THE WORLD WITHOUT US by Alan Weisman. This book came out in 2008 and might actually make for some very interesting discussions if your group were so inclined. It basically asks what would happen to the earth if mankind suddenly disappeard. Thought provoking, no?
5. HOT, FLAT AND CROWDED by Thomas L. Friedman. This one has been a huge bestseller and is a must read if you want to really know how we got here and how we can get out. (I haven't read it yet, so who am I tell to you it's a must read - but it's on my list. This may be one of those books everyone in your book club has been meaning to read but hasn't yet. Doing it together could be good for everyone!)
Have you read any of these? Any other good ones you want to share? Feel free to comment here on the blog or email me at [email protected].
--Dana Barrett, Contributing Editor
