Summer is a time when many people catch up on their reading list or take a moment to explore a book they might not normally pick up. If you’re like me, the Warren Zevon quote rings true:
“We love to buy books because we believe we’re buying the time to read them.”
My list is always longer than I have time to read, but I'd still like to take a moment to highlight some of the books that have been on my reading list, ones that I've recently read, or that I've heard others in the climate community talk about. Since we're already halfway through the summer, you might not get to them now but you can add them to your queue.
I am currently reading a digital copy of What If We Get It Right from my local library1. It covers positive interviews and stories about the possibility of solving the climate crisis with real examples of how it is happening. Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson provides helpful annotations in each of the conversations to call out insights, poignant points, and key terms. I recommend Dr. Johnson’s writing and podcast frequently. Her realistic, humanistic, and passionate perspective is always spot on.
We are Eating the Earth: Almost two years ago, I gave up red meat when I learned specifically how much more destructive beef and lamb are to our environment. The author of this book, Michael Grunwald, made a similar choice as he researched our food systems and their impact on our global climate. I haven’t yet read his book, but it’s in my queue after hearing Michael’s recent interview on the Volts podcast. Food and agriculture account for about a third of global climate emissions, yet receive only a tiny fraction of climate finance and attention. In his interview, Michael shared how the book highlights some of the problems with biofuels, the need to increase crop yields, and the promise (and limitations) of other food tech.
Another book in my queue is Human Nature: Nine Ways to Feel About Our Changing Planet by Kate Marvell. On a daily basis, I feel all 9 of the emotions that Dr Marvell uses to educate her readers about how rapidly our planet is changing. She reminds us what is happening to the best planet in our universe. Reviewers praise how the book is both scientifically sound and emotionally resonant, making climate change feel personal, urgent, and still solvable.
The recent legislative and corporate climate setbacks have been demoralizing. I admit that at my lowest moments, I have asked myself if it’s too late. The title of this book I read, Not Too Late, answers the question head-on in the title, No, it’s NOT! If you’re feeling anxious and want a dose of leadership and inspiration backed by facts and stories of progress, this collection of essays is the book to pick up. It’s accompanied by a study guide you can download from the website. I appreciated the strong female perspective and the book’s practical, empowering approach to climate change. It emphasizes that hope is not passive, but something created through action and community. Two standout quotes from my highlights:
“Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well but the certainty that something is worth doing no matter how it turns out.”
“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”
Two Fundamental Circularity Reads
Even though it was published more than 20 years ago, I still feel that Cradle to Cradle is a must-read for anyone interested in a better way at creating an abundant and sustainable society. My favorite part about the print copy is that it was made on a special paper that is waterproof and can be recycled indefinitely for the creation of other books - a physical example of how circularity can work. McDonough has continued to publish and update his work, and the Cradle to Cradle Certified program is now a global standard for product circularity.
Another foundational read on Circularity and sustainable economies is Kate Raworth’s Doughnut Economics: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st-Century Economist, published in 2018. Her sweet spot of human prosperity illustration and the framework on how we can change our local and global economies have inspired the work and writings of many others.
Energy Systems
I like books that inspire action with specific facts and stories. In his book, Electrify, An Optimist’s Playbook for Our Clean Energy Future, the founder of Rewiring America, Saul Griffith, wrote a playbook for how we can drive the energy transition. Individual choices we make influence the broader energy systems. Saul helps readers understand this with logical and engaging examples of how to swap out appliances and home goods. Even in 2022, he saw the demand growth of electricity that we’re experiencing in the US today, forecasting that we’d need to triple our generation in order to electrify everything. That said, the book challenges conventional wisdom about baseload power requirements, suggesting less may be needed due to four key factors: EV storage capacity, shiftable thermal loads in buildings, commercial/industrial load-shifting opportunities, and alternative storage solutions like biofuels and batteries.
You might also want to check out The New Map: Energy, Climate, and the Clash of Nations by the economic historian, Daniel Yergin. My friend, David J. Neff, recommended it. Even since this book has been published, there have been massive shifts in the energy and economic policies between nations. Yergin’s research gives you more context on the intricate relationship between energy, climate change, and global power dynamics are reshaping the world order.
Fiction
If fiction is more your pace, and you haven’t yet read Kim Stanley Robinson’s The Ministry for the Future, then it should be your next read. It blends hard science, global policy, and ethical dilemmas into a thought-provoking narrative about humanity’s response to the climate crisis. The audio version is up next in my Libby queue. I can’t think of any other fiction books that have received reviews from Bill Gates, the Sierra Club, and Yale! Reviewers highlight its realistic depiction of climate catastrophe. Perhaps too realistic, as it kicks off with a heatwave in India not that much different than what is going on now. Reviews all agree that Robinson’s story offers a uniquely comprehensive and hopeful vision for addressing climate change, making it essential reading for anyone interested in the intersection of science, policy, and the future of our planet.
In just a few weeks, a new Solarpunk novel called How to Surf a Hurricane will be released. The fiction heist story involves a colorful cast of characters including a professional hurricane surfer, an Alaskan oil worker, and a French salt farmer. I was in cohort 5 of the Climatebase Fellowship with the author, Todd Medema, and I enjoyed hearing him pitch this project during our capstone project presentations. It’s exciting to see the project ready to launch. If you want more reading recommendations, you’ll find many more on the about page of his website.
Shows and movies:
If you’re not a reader, but find that you have time to catch up on your video queue, I have some recommendations as well. I’ve been enjoying these series or climate-aligned programs:
Waterbear.com: Tardigrades might be my favorite animal on the planet, so I love that WaterBear named their free streaming platform after these micro-animals. The site includes high production value documentaries across climate, ocean, food, lifestyle, and more. There’s something for everyone.
Shiftmakers Climate: This series is from a partnership of studios working to bridge a critical gap in awareness about climate solutions and to engage broader audiences. Each film is about 10 mins long and is a great bite-sized snack of engaging inspiration about climate impact a startup is making.
I’m surprised that Extrapolations on Apple TV didn’t get more buzz when it was released in 2023. The series paints a dire picture of the future we are facing if we continue down the path we are on in eight episodes. It has a great cast, including Meryl Streep and Kit Harington. If you like the Black Mirror series, I think you’ll enjoy this.
For an inspiring look at what we have to save, watch the latest documentary from David Attenborough, Ocean. Attenborough tells the story of our oceans like no one else can, sharing how much is at risk but also the potential for how the aquatic systems can heal. The documentary was released this year on his 99th birthday.
Some of the favorites I’ve shared have been published for a while, but I hope I’ve helped you find something new that would be of interest. In April, I talked about my robust media diet of podcasts and Substack subscriptions that keep me current on breaking news. It’s nice to take a break from constant updates and consume longer form content. I’d love to hear what else you’re reading or watching. Share it in the comments or by replying via email. I’m sure there are more recent books and programs that are worth adding to my list. Share what you’re learning and inspired by!
BTW: Libraries are one of the best methods of supporting a circular economy with your reading habits. A single printed book can be used much more than if you buy it and put it on your shelf. Digital public libraries make it even easier. Install the Library Extension Chrome app to make it even easier to find out if your local library has books that you’re considering getting.