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Recommended Reads
Sometime last summer Melba Whatley, our executive director,
found herself reading, The Heat Will Kill You First.
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She thought it sounded like a great place to start climate change readings since the title seems altogether plausible in Texas. She rapidly discovered the content of Heat terrifying although the narrative so well-crafted she couldn’t put the book down.
She discovered a sentence where the writer mentioned his wife was the director of the Blanton Museum of Art. Then and only then did she know that Jeff Goodell lives here in Austin. We immediately contacted him and ask him to present one of our EverGreen University’s online one-hour courses. He did. And he was great.
Highly recommended.
Jeff Goodell's climate change book recommendations:​​
Sixth Extinction and Under a White Sky by Elizabeth Colbert
For the big picture.
Our Fragile Moment by Michael Mann
For the view of a scientist.
Saving Ourselves by Dana Fisher
is about climate activism.
Fire Weather by John Valiant
is about wildfires.
Not the End of the World by Hannah Ritchie
is about the clean energy revolution.
Crossing by Ben Golfer
is about infrastructure for wildlife.
On the Move by Abraham Lustgarten
is about climate driven migration.
Our monthly
book recommendations:
His reflections on land ethics and humanity's relationship with nature are foundational to modern conservation efforts, influencing environmental policy and ethics around the world.
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An Autobiography by John Muir
John Muir, often called the "father of the national parks," details his lifelong dedication to preserving America's wilderness. His writings inspired the creation of several U.S. National Parks and fostered the growth of the conservation movement, influencing environmental activism and policy across the globe.
The Overstory by Richard Powers
This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel weaves together the stories of individuals whose lives are interconnected through their relationships with trees. Powers explores the theme of ecological interconnectedness, emphasizing the importance of forests and the damage caused by human exploitation. The Overstory has been praised for raising awareness of environmental destruction and inspiring activism, particularly regarding deforestation and conservation efforts.
A San County Almanac by Aldo Leopold
Half-Earth: Our Planet's Fight for Life by Edward O. Wilson
Wilson argues that to preserve biodiversity and avoid mas extinctions, humans must set aside half of the Earth's surface as protected wilderness. His work draws attention ot the critical importance of preserving natural habitats.
The End of Nature by Bill McKibben
Often cited as the first book for a general audience about global warming, McKibben's work introduces the idea that human activities have altered the natural world to such an extent that there is no longer a truly "wild" nature left.
Watch
Courtesy Living Springs
This film explores Austin's early efforts to preserve Barton Springs and Barton Creek, and ultimately to develop a city with publicly-accessible green spaces along Austin's waterways.
Listen
Courtesy KUT
Housing prices in Austin have exploded in the past decade, leading to a city that’s not just unaffordable — but also highly segregated. None of this happened by accident. It’s the result of decades of decisions about what — if anything — gets built in Austin and where. From a master plan to move Black and brown residents to one part of town, to fights over how to protect the environment, to an outdated land development code — all of these are pieces in a machine that’s engineered Austin’s housing market.