Author Archives: Harry Katz
Separation of Church and Hate
I really wanted to like Separation of Church and Hate by John Fugelsang. It’s much-needed takedown of Bible-thumping fundamentalists and Christian nationalists. Unfortunately, the book gets hopelessly tangled up in its own contradictions. I read only the first three chapters and set it aside. Let me tell you why. Continue reading
The Water Remembers
The Water Remembers by Amy Bowers Cordalis tells the story of her Indigenous family’s fight against the US and California governments and powerful corporations to save the Klamath River, its salmon runs, and themselves. It’s an inspiring multigenerational memoir of perseverance in the face of injustice, betrayal, violence and genocide. Continue reading
Undammed
Most books about the environment or climate change catalog the disastrous state of our world but dangle a morsel of hope at the end. Undammed, a book about dam removal in the United States, describes real progress, genuine restoration, and actual healing of the land and its people. Continue reading
There Are Rivers in the Sky
There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak tells the story of three people connected by two rivers and one raindrop. Arthur Smyth, born into squalor on the banks of the polluted Thames River in Victorian England, discovers the … Continue reading
Braiding Sweetgrass
Robin Wall Kimmerer’s Braiding Sweetgrass weaves Indigenous wisdom, western science, and autobiography into a compelling vision of humanity’s relationship with Nature. It’s a relationship based on reciprocity, respect and gratitude, where we can begin to heal the land and heal ourselves too. Continue reading
Cruising
My wife and I just got back from our very first cruise, a leisurely two-week journey from Amsterdam to Budapest along the Rhine, Main, and Danube Rivers with stops at a dozen cities and towns along the way. Here’s my unsolicited feedback about river cruising. Continue reading
All Remaining Passengers
I retired a few years ago and I’m now eligible for Medicare, Social Security and all those wonderful senior’s discounts. I’m in good health, thankfully, and my mind is sharp. Eighty still feels a long way off. So maybe I … Continue reading
Notes from the Energy Transition
In defiance of Donald Trump’s disastrous climate and energy policies, the world is steadily transitioning away from fossil fuels towards clean energy. In this post, I want to highlight some recent reports and articles examining this trend. First, Ember, a … Continue reading
When the Forest Breathes
Back in 2021, I read and raved about Susanne Simard’s wonderful book Finding the Mother Tree. Her new book, When the Forest Breathes: Renewal and Resilience in the Natural World, is a great follow-up. It’s an urgent call to save our forests and, in the process, save ourselves. Continue reading
The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World
William Dalrymple’s book The Golden Road reveals an ancient India that shaped global trade, religion, and science for over a thousand years. From the spread of Buddhism to the invention of zero, it uncovers a forgotten “Indosphere” whose influence still underpins the modern world. Continue reading
Unsolicited Feedback 