Let’s be honest—when we think about our favorite holidays, Earth Day rarely makes the top five. We simply don’t think very often about how the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat all stem from the generosity of Mother Nature. And unfortunately, this inattention has led to polluted oceans, endangered species, and a pressing climate crisis.
So today, let’s take a moment to appreciate all that the Earth does for us. By checking out the nine books below, perhaps we’ll feel more inspired than ever to care for the Earth and combat the forces that threaten it.
The Fate of Food: What We’ll Eat in a Bigger, Hotter, Smarter World
By Amanda Little
Vanderbilt University professor Amanda Little dives into the sustainable food revolution to reveal the surprising truth about what we’ll be eating in a hotter and more populous future. View on Amazon
The World for Sale: Money, Power, and the Traders Who Barter the Earth’s Resources
By Javier Blas and Jack Farchy
Two acclaimed journalists take the reader into the back alleys of high-powered global trade, showing how capitalism really works and who really profits. View on Amazon
How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need
By Bill Gates
Bill Gates lays out a practical and accessible plan for how the world can get to zero greenhouse gas emissions in time to avert the worst outcomes of the climate crisis. View on Amazon
Probable Impossibilities: Musings on Beginnings and Endings
By Alan Lightman
In this heartfelt and mind-blowing collection of essays, MIT physicist Alan Lightman reflects on the preciousness and precariousness of life on Earth in the vast and wondrous cosmos. Read Our Conversation with the Author
Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future
By Elizabeth Kolbert
Pulitzer Prize winner Elizabeth Kolbert describes the fascinating—almost unbelievable—advancements that could save Earth from climate catastrophe, like shooting tiny diamonds into the stratosphere. View on Amazon
What Is Life?: Five Great Ideas in Biology
By Paul Nurse
Nobel Prize-winning biologist Paul Nurse explains the qualities shared by all life forms on Earth, sharing an awe-inspiring perspective on how special life truly is. View on Amazon
Food Fix: How to Save Our Health, Our Economy, Our Communities, and Our Planet—One Bite at a Time
By Mark Hyman
Dr. Mark Hyman argues that by making smarter choices about what we eat, we can improve our health, reform politics, revive economies, and heal the environment. View on Amazon
How to Prepare for Climate Change: A Practical Guide to Surviving the Chaos
By David Pogue
Emmy-winning science and technology correspondent David Pogue offers a practical and comprehensive guide to surviving what could be the greatest disaster of our time. View on Amazon
The Reducetarian Solution: How the Surprisingly Simple Act of Reducing the Amount of Meat in Your Diet Can Transform Your Health and the Planet
Edited by Brian Kateman
Food systems expert Brian Kateman brings together a variety of leading thinkers in this thought-provoking collection of essays, which makes a compelling case for reducing your meat consumption and saving the planet. Read Our Conversation with the Author
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