Of all the Read Harder blog posts I signed up to write, I have put this one off the longest. The last thing I want to think about right now is that we have another imminent threat to humanity’s survival which is totally overcomeable but our ability to do so is dependent on our capability of taking in the research offered by credible scientific sources and working together to adjust our lifestyles in mildly inconvenient ways to help ourselves as a collective human species.
Unprecedented times indeed.
I will admit that I have had to set down and walk away from every book I tried to read for this task because I got so angry and frustrated with the state of things.
Anyway, here are some books about climate change.
The Cartoon Introduction to Climate Change: A surprisingly comprehensive, surprisingly funny overview of the science behind climate change, predictions about its trajectory, and policy changes that could affect it. “Stand-up Economist” Yorum Bauman and illustrator Grady Klein deliver a work that lives it to its name; it is well-illustrated, funny, and offers a solid introduction to this overwhelming issue.
No One is Too Small to Make a Difference: This collection of speeches from climate activist Greta Thunberg is blunt, demanding, and powerful, just like their author. This fiery 15-year-old gives me hope, and she does not shy away from pointing out hypocrisy on the part of our political leaders. I think these speeches hit a good balance between acknowledging that massive policy changes will be necessary to halt and reverse climate change while also empowering the individual to examine how their daily routines can be changed to make a difference.
Flight Behavior: This novel follows a frustrated Appalachian farm wife as she encounters an actual miracle in the form of a colony of monarch butterflies…in the dead of winter. Though this may sound underwhelming as far as miracles go, it has fascinating implications for climate scientists, environmentalists, politicians and religious leaders alike.
The Archipelago of Hope: Biology and culture intertwine in environmentalist Gleb Raygorodetsky’s exploration of the responses and resilience of indigenous groups around the world to climate change. The picture painted is ultimately a hopeful one, suggesting that through biological and cultural diversity (along with political savvy), the effects of climate change can be mitigated.
The Water Walker: This is the adult’s blog, but I am just too whimsical of a person not to include a picture book. This book illustrates the life and mission of Ojibwe grandmother Josephine Mandamin and her passion for preserving our planet’s clean drinking water. Many people have joined her in her water walks around all of the Great Lakes.
I tried to skew the books in this post a little more toward the optimistic side of things in an imbalanced attempt to counter the pessimism in this post’s introduction. But, as per usual, you can find a more complete list in Bibliocommons. Be sure to connect with us on the Read Harder Facebook page too!
