Tag Archives: book review

The Trees Are Speaking

The Trees Are Speaking is a wonderful book about the old-growth salmon forests of Oregon, Washington, Vancouver Island and Maine and about the people trying save them. It explores the beautiful yet surprising connection between trees and salmon that sustains these forests and may very well help sustain us too. Continue reading

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How the World Made the West

How the World Made the West tells the story of surprisingly complex relationships of contact, trade and competition among small city states around the Mediterranean and Middle East starting around 4,000 years ago. In doing so, Josephine Quinn challenges conventional ideas about how civilizations develop. Continue reading

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Abundance

Ever since the November 2024 election, Democrats, liberals, progressives – whatever you want to call them – have been doing some deep soul searching, asking themselves, “How on Earth could we have lost to Donald Trump, again?” Abundance, by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson, offers an inspiring framework for finding the answers. Continue reading

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The Year Without Summer

The eruption of Mount Tambora in April 1815 is the largest known eruption of the last 2,000 years. It knocked weather patterns across Europe and the eastern US out of kilter. Crops failed. Unrest followed. The Year Without Summer details Tambora’s impact on people, economics, politics and climate. Continue reading

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Medicine Wheel for the Planet

Medicine Wheel for the Planet is equal parts autobiography and ecology. Jennifer Grenz, an Indigenous ecologist and professor at the University of British Columbia, tells the deeply personal story of her struggle to bridge the worlds of her Indigenous ancestry and knowledge and her Western scientific training, Continue reading

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What If We Get It Right?

What If We Get It Right? is a different kind of climate book. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson interviewed twenty people – scientists, activists, journalists, policy experts, entrepreneurs, and artists – for their visions of the future. They discuss what the world might look like if we implement the climate solutions we already have. Continue reading

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SEEK

How do we fix our society’s deep political polarization, personal loneliness, isolation and disconnection? Scott Shigeoka thinks curiosity is a big part of the answer. His book SEEK lays out a four-step model for using curiosity to transform your life and maybe change the world. Continue reading

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Meditations for Mortals

Oliver Burkeman’s latest book, Meditations for Mortals, is a guide to “imperfectionism.” It’s about how to lead a meaningful and fulfilling life, starting right now, with full acceptance that we are finite human beings with limited time and limited control over the time we have. Continue reading

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On Freedom

Americans often think of freedom in the negative sense, as freedom from. Timothy Snyder argues that positive freedom, freedom to, is more important. On Freedom is a deep exploration of the nature of freedom that challenges conventional thinking. Very important and worthwhile in our era of freedom under threat. Continue reading

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Nonfiction November 2024 Week 5: New to My TBR

Nonfiction November is drawing to a close for 2024 so it’s time to highlight new discoveries from fellow bloggers. This week’s topic is New to My TBR hosted by Deb @ Readerbuzz. It’s been a month full of amazing nonfiction … Continue reading

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