This book explains the basic concepts of the Tao metaphorically through the characters of A. A. Milne. There are specific examples where he describes how the western culture is battling with Nature, going against the grain. A short, simple, easy to read book that is impossible not to enjoy (unless you detest Pooh).

A Sand County Almanac
Aldo Leopold (1887-1948)

Aldo Leopold is the grandfather of ecology. The Sand County Almanac is a classic work that sets the foundation for much of the environmental thought today.

The early part of the book is somewhat of a journal format. The real "meat" of it comes later, in the Essays. "The Land Ethic" is an essay that set the stage for the deep ecology movement of today.

"This book sent me into deep depression after I read it for the first time. I couldn't come to terms with the world-changing that this book demanded. Now I count it among my favorites. This novel records a discussion between a student and his teacher. The student, hardened by decades of unrealized ideals responds angrily to a newspaper personal directed to people with "an earnest desire to save the world." An invitation extended also to the reader to explore a different way of viewing humanity's relationship to the Earth.

I doubt that Quinn intended to depress his readers, rather I imagine that he wanted to awaken them. This book conveys its message with great clarity: Humans face extinction because we have broken ecological laws; not laws like the Ten Commandments but laws like gravity. To survive we must understand those laws and live within them.

Perhaps one of the most important books of our age.

Readability: Easy."

(from http://www.coa.edu/edenquest/indexes/animism/ishmael.html)

"Rachel Carson's Silent Spring is now 35 years old. Written over the years 1958 to 1962, it took a hard look at the effects of insecticides and pesticides on songbird populations throughout the United States, whose declining numbers yielded the silence to which her title attests. "What happens in nature is not allowed to happen in the modern, chemical-drenched world," she writes, "where spraying destroys not only the insects but also their principal enemy, the birds. When later there is a resurgence of the insect population, as almost always happens, the birds are not there to keep their numbers in check."

The publication of her impeccably reported text helped change that trend by setting off a wave of environmental legislation and galvanizing the nascent ecological movement. It is justly considered a classic, and it is well worth rereading today."

(from amazon.com)

Diet for A New America (1987)
by John Robbins

Diet For A New America - How Your Food Choices Affect Your Health, Happiness, and the Future of Life on Earth, is widely considered to be one of the most influential books on health, compassion, and the environment ever written in the English language. It has sold more than 1,000,000 copies, and at the turn of the century, it was heralded as among the ten most important books of the 20th century by numerous organizations working for a joyous, fair, and sustainable world.

(from http://www.earthsave.org)

THIS BOOK CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE. Find out the truth about popular diets, genetically modified foods, mad cow disease, and the health effects of what you eat. In this long-awaited and provocative book, best-selling author John Robbins exposes the dangers behind many of today's foods and reveals the extraordinary benefits of healthy alternatives. The Food Revolution will show you how to extend your life, increase your vibrancy and vitality, and take a stand for a more compassionate and sustainable world.

(from http://www.foodrevolution.org/)

Howard F. Lyman has brought the issue of the dangers of eating beef to light like never before. A former cattle rancher-turned-vegetarian and food safety activist, in 1996, Lyman revealed, to a national television audience, how the cattle industry potentially exposed Americans to Mad Cow Disease by feeding cows the remains of live animals - including other cows. As a result of his remarks, Lyman was named a co-defendant with Oprah Winfrey in the infamous "veggie libel" case brought by Texas ranchers in Amarillo.

In this shocking and powerful book, Lyman uncovers the dangerous and potentially deadly practices of the cattle and dairy industry. MAD COWBOY is a passionate manifesto for change from an industry insider whose firsthand experiences will alter the way you think about your food, and the people who produce it, forever. "Sure, I used to enjoy my steaks as much as the next guy," writes Lyman. "But if you knew what I know about what goes into them and what they can do to you, you'd probably be a vegetarian like me."

A fourth generation dairy farmer and cattle rancher, Lyman became enamored of the "bold new age of chemically enhanced agriculture" as a student in agricultural college. Spurning the organic farming methods of his father and grandfather, he became a convert to modern chemical farming techniques: he fed his cows with hormones and antibiotics, and blanketed his farm with pesticides and herbicides. With his mind relentlessly focused on profits, he refused to acknowledge the harmful effects that this steady stream of chemicals might pose for the environment and for consumers who would later ingest these chemicals as meat. Admitting that at the time he "never met a chemical he didn't like, " Lyman says that he, like other dairy and cattle farmers, poisoned his animals and polluted his farms.

(from http://www.madcowboy.com/)

"Permaculture (permanent agriculture) is the conscious design and maintenance of agriculturally productive ecosystems which have the diversity, stability, and resilience of natural ecosystems. It is the harmonious integration of landscape and people providing their food, energy, shelter, and other material and non-material needs in a sustainable way. Without permaculture there is no possibility of a stable social order.
The philosophy of behind permaculture is one of working with, rather than against, nature."

This book should be the mainstay of the Environmental Science discipline. It is one of the most useful books ever written, containing a comprehensive entry upon almost any subject one could desire.

A manifesto for a radically different philosophy and practice of manufacture and environmentalism

"Reduce, reuse, recycle" urge environmentalists; in other words, do more with less in order to minimize damage. As William McDonough and Michael Braungart argue in their provocative, visionary book, however, this approach perpetuates a one-way, "cradle to grave" manufacturing model that dates to the Industrial Revolution and casts off as much as 90 percent of the materials it uses as waste, much of it toxic. Why not challenge the notion that human industry must inevitably damage the natural world, they ask.

In fact, why not take nature itself as our model? A tree produces thousands of blossoms in order to create another tree, yet we do not consider its abundance wasteful but safe, beautiful, and highly effective; hence, "waste equals food" is the first principle the book sets forth. Products might be designed so that, after their useful life, they provide nourishment for something new-either as "biological nutrients" that safely re-enter the environment or as "technical nutrients" that circulate within closed-loop industrial cycles, without being "downcycled" into low-grade uses (as most "recyclables" now are).

Elaborating their principles from experience (re)designing everything from carpeting to corporate campuses, the authors make an exciting and viable case for change.

*

Paper or plastic? Neither, say William McDonough and Michael Braungart. Why settle for the least harmful alternative when we could have something that is better--say, edible grocery bags! In Cradle to Cradle, the authors present a manifesto calling for a new industrial revolution, one that would render both traditional manufacturing and traditional environmentalism obsolete. Recycling, for instance, is actually "downcycling," creating hybrids of biological and technical "nutrients" which are then unrecoverable and unusable. The authors, an architect and a chemist, want to eliminate the concept of waste altogether, while preserving commerce and allowing for human nature.

They offer several compelling examples of corporations that are not just doing less harm--they're actually doing some good for the environment and their neighborhoods, and making more money in the process. Cradle to Cradle is a refreshing change from the intractable environmental conflicts that dominate headlines. It's a handbook for 21st-century innovation and should be required reading for business hotshot s and environmental activists. --Therese Littleton

(from amazon.com)

This book is a series of essays by people in the front line of conservation, traditional farmers. They focus upon the positive effects of "good" farming -- to the farm family, the local community, and the ecosystem.

Eco-economic theory calls for harmony between our economy and natural resources. Our current, untenable, profit-focused economic model, says Brown (Building a Sustainable Society), depletes forests, oil, farmland, topsoil, water, atmosphere and species beyond a sustainable level. Brown, founding director of the Earth Policy Institute, uses the Sumerians as an antimodel: as the land was overworked, water sources eventually disappeared. And he uses forestry as a counterexample: forests secure land and store water, acting as natural dams. Logging delivers paychecks, but doesn't consider flood damage from tree loss. Eco-economists would say that the logger and the town, while temporarily profiting, pay more in the end in rising insurance costs, flood damage to homes and infrastructure, increased taxes and disaster relief funds. The goal, presented here in convincing detail, is to design a profitable economy that accurately reflects the social cost of abuse of resources. Brown suggests shifting "taxes from income to environmentally destructive activities, such as carbon emissions." Individuals and towns should receive tax breaks for deploying solar and wind-generated power. However receptive to Brown's excellent, sophisticated proposals, many readers will wonder how they can become reality; for eco-economics to work, all world leaders would need to agree on what makes practices environmentally unsound. (Nov. 5)Forecast: In light of the current administration's poor reputation for eco-concern and its withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol, Brown's book will do well among students, activists and the growing environmental movement.

*

Lester Brown, "the guru of the global environmental movement" (The Telegraph of Calcutta), argues that, like the Sumerian and Mayan civilizations, our economy is fast destroying its environmental support systems, threatening future generations. The challenge is to restructure the global economy, replacing our fossil fuel-based, automobile-centered, throwaway economy with a new one that is environmentally sustainable. Brown outlines his vision of the new economy. It will be powered not with fossil fuels but with solar and wind energy. Its urban transport systems will be centered not around the automobile but around light rail and the bicycle. It will not be a throwaway economy but will be a reuse/recycle economy with a stable population. And building this new economy represents the greatest investment opportunity in history. There is no middle ground. Either we build an economy that is environmentally sustainable or stay with our existing economy until environmental deterioration leads to economic decline.

(from amazon.com)

In Natural Capitalism, three top strategists show how leading-edge companies are practicing "a new type of industrialism" that is more efficient and profitable while saving the environment and creating jobs. Paul Hawken and Amory and Hunter Lovins write that in the next century, cars will get 200 miles per gallon without compromising safety and power, manufacturers will relentlessly recycle their products, and the world's standard of living will jump without further damaging natural resources. "Is this the vision of a utopia? In fact, the changes described here could come about in the decades to come as the result of economic and technological trends already in place," the authors write.

They call their approach natural capitalism because it's based on the principle that business can be good for the environment. For instance, Interface of Atlanta doubled revenues and employment and tripled profits by creating an environmentally friendly system of recycling floor coverings for businesses. The authors also describe how the next generation of cars is closer than we might think. Manufacturers are already perfecting vehicles that are ultra-light, aerodynamic, and fueled by hybrid gas-electric systems. If natural capitalism continues to blossom, so much money and resources will be saved that societies will be able to focus on issues such as housing, contend Hawken, author of a book and PBS series called Growing a Business, and the Lovinses, who co-founded and directed the Rocky Mountain Institute, an environmental think tank. The book is a fascinating and provocative read for public-policy makers, as well as environmentalists and capitalists alike. --Dan Ring

(from amazon.com)

Paul Hawken, the entrepreneur behind the Smith & Hawken gardening supplies empire, is no ordinary capitalist. Drawing as much on Baba Ram Dass and Vaclav Havel as he does on Peter Drucker and Wal-Mart for his case studies, Hawken is on a one-man crusade to reform our economic system by demanding that First World businesses reduce their consumption of energy and resources by 80 percent in the next 50 years.

As if that weren't enough, Hawken argues that business goals should be redefined to embrace such fuzzy categories as whether the work is aesthetically pleasing and the employees are having fun; this applies to corporate giants and mom-and-pop operations alike.

He proposes a culture of business in which the real world, the natural world, is allowed to flourish as well, and in which the planet's needs are addressed. Wall Street may not be ready for Hawken's provocative brand of environmental awareness, but this fine book is full of captivating ideas.

(from amazon.com)

Ecology and spirituality are deftly intertwined in this well-written discussion of how we can save and preserve life on earth. Vermont author Thom Hartman offers a highly persuasive argument for adopting the spiritual values of our ancient ancestors, which means living with a strong connection to the earth as well as the sun that nourishes us all. Nowadays, humans often perceive themselves as separate from nature and born to dominate it, says Hartman who lays out some frightening, albeit thorough, research on the destruction of the planet. But as the book progresses, he guides readers into a convincing and intelligent vision for reversing our destructive ways.

Mostly, we could all use an attitude adjustment. For example, he explains how native and tribal cultures often considered all forms of life to be as sacred as human life--an attitude that may be one of our best shots at planetary longevity. Hartman devotes his final section to "What the Average Person Can Do," including chapters titled, "Turn Off the TV," "The Modern-Day Tribe: Intentional Community," and "Reinventing Our Daily Lives and Rituals." --Gail Hudson

(from amazon.com)

People Before Profits (2001)
by Victor Perlo

"If you wonder why the corporate world constantly lurches from malaise to oppression to governmental corruption and back, Unequal Protection reveals the untold story. Beneath the success and rise of American enterprise is an untold history that is antithetical to every value Americans hold dear. This is a seminal work, a godsend really, a clear message to every citizen about the need to reform our country, laws, and companies."
--Paul Hawken, author, Natural Capitalism

"Many consider Abraham Lincoln's famous Gettysburg Address to be the penultimate statement of our nation's spiritual mission. It's climactic words resolve that 'government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.' But we are today allowing a rise of corporate dominance that is producing a 'government of the corporation, by the corporation, and for the corporation.' Our government has lost track of its mandate to serve the public interest and seems increasingly to do the bidding of corporate interests. The consequences - for human rights, social justice, public health, and the environment - are catastrophic. How has this come to pass? And most critically, is there anything we can do about it? Unequal Protection is nothing less than an act of compelling and heroic sanity. It is THE book to read if you want to perceive corporate dominance clearly, become more able to stand in its way, and more able to uphold the true values of this nation."
--John Robbins, author The Food Revolution, and Diet For A New America

"I am grateful for this gift. It should be in the hands of every thinking American. If we do not awaken soon, democracy will be replaced by a new 'Third Reich' of corporate tyranny. To be aware of the danger is the responsibility of each of us. No one has told us the truth better than Thom Hartmann. Read it!"
--Gerry Spence, author, Give Me Liberty!

"This extraordinary book combines meticulous historical and legal research with a clear and compelling writing style to demonstrate beyond reasonable doubt the incompatibility of corporate personhood with democracy, the market economy, and the well-being of society. Complete with a practical program for essential reform to restore the rights of real persons - including model legislation - it is essential reading and an invaluable reference work for every citizen who cares about democracy, justice, and the human future."
--David C. Korten, author, When Corporations Rule The World

"Unequal Protection is a blueprint for revitalizing the spirit of American democracy. Sometimes you have to understand the bad news in order to appreciate the good news. Thom Hartmann connects the dots in a way that is a tremendous gift for our generation of Americans."
--Marianne Williamson, author, Healing the Soul of America

(from amazon.com)

Unequal Protection: The Rise of Corporate Dominance and the Theft of Human Dignity (2002)
by Thom Hartmann

Reviewer: Rob Hardy from Columbus, Mississippi USA

What if a corporation was polluting, but when a government agency wanted to check on the violation, the corporation claimed itself to be a person and that all persons have rights of privacy and freedom from governmental snooping? What if a community wanted to support local businesses and charged a chain store a larger licensing fee, and the chain store claimed it was a person who must not be discriminated against? What if when limits were set on campaign contributions by a corporation, the corporation said that it was a person and as a person it had freedom of expression (and thereby donation)? These are not "what ifs." Corporations are regarded as people, but _Unequal Protection: The Rise of Corporate Dominance and the Theft of Human Rights_ (Rodale) by Thom Hartmann shows that this is literally a legal fiction, and one based on a serious misinterpretation of the law. In addition, he demonstrates that the interpretation of corporate personhood has had ill effects for citizens, the nation, and the world.

Corporations originally had very restricted rights; Jefferson, for instance, worried about monopolies taking over the government. When corporations (starting with the railroads) became powerful in the Industrial Revolution, they were eager to be granted human rights. They especially desired to take advantage of the Fourteenth Amendment, which had been passed to grant full constitutional protection to emancipated slaves. In a curious Supreme Court case in 1886, there was a commentary written to say that a railroad was a corporate person. This "headnote" was not law and not precedent, but in true irony, the amendment to protect former slaves has been hijacked to promote corporate personhood. It used to be taken for granted that communities could regulate corporations, but now that they are persons, they are able to dodge many such regulations.

Hartmann is not a lawyer, but his research and consultation with lawyers have made his book clear and convincing. His book lists many assaults on good government, the environment, and human rights overseas that corporations have been able to sustain because they have been able to insist upon their own rights as humans. A sustained legal attack on the fraud of corporate personhood is what Hartmann would like to see, for the purpose of decreasing corporate influence in politics and restoring the power of community and state government. He proposes a grass roots movement to achieve this, and makes the results sound well-reasoned and attractive. He knows the powers which corporations have, and what he is up against, but his book is a manifesto for change. If you have been concerned that corporations have too much power, you will find it invaluable.

(from amazon.com)

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