I’ve been enjoying climate books recently. I’ve just finished How to be a Climate Optimist by Chris Turner, and before that The Ecology of Commerce by Paul Hawken.
Are there any books that you consider foundational/required reading for climate issues?
Some users from c/degrowth recommended The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber & David Wengrow and Survival of the Friendliest by Brian Hare & Vanessa Woods which I’m looking forward to checking out.
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Not just about climate, but Less Is More by Jason Hinckel. It is anticapitalist and pro-animist (!), and I found the historical parts interesting, particularly the philosophical angle of how separating the human from the rest of nature happened (and how it played into abuse of both nature and humans)
Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid by Thor Hanson is about climate change, how animals adapt to it, how forests can migrate, and local climate anomalies.
I noticed there is an animist community here, that’s something I’d like to learn more about. I believe it’s about respecting non-living things? It reminds me of the Japanese idea of tsukonogabi, where items gain a spirit after 100 years.
I am not too familiar with animism either, but as far as I understand from the book, it’s the belief-idea-philosophy that humans are a part of nature, including both living and non-living things. (Contrary to modern idea of separating the “human” and “natural” worlds). In addition to awareness and careful choices, it believes in reciprocity, giving back what was taken from the ecosystem. Similar to what was/is practiced by many native communities.
(Please correct me if I am wrong)
I recently listened to the solutions are already here by Peter Gelderlos, which I found quite enjoyable. Once folks like Bill Gates recommend a book on clima e I kinda lose interest. This one he probably won’t recommend. ;)
It’s also available as an audiobook on the audible anarchist podcast.
The dawn of everything isn’t strictly about climate, but still quite good.
Thank you! If it’s climate adjacent I’ll check it out :)
You can find some relevant book titles in this audiobook community and download them from Anna’s Archive
Thank you Solo 🙏
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For some less optimistic, but still combative climate literature:
Climate Change as Class War, by Matthew T. Huber
Slow Down, by Kohei Saito
and right now I’m reading I Want a Better Catastrophe, by Andrew Boyd, and so far it’s interesting (and accessible).
Cheers!
Not The End Of The World by Hannah Ritchie is supposed to be good https://www.nottheendoftheworld.co.uk/
Climate Optimism by Zahra Biabani: https://www.amazon.com/Climate-Optimism-Celebrating-Systemic-Change/dp/1684811589
Anything and everything on this list: https://bookshop.org/lists/climate-and-optimism-books
Cheers, I’ve added them to the list!
On Time and Water by Andri Snær Magnason. A bit more philosophically inclined book about the subject.
I enjoy philosophy, thank you!
