Four Books for the Environmental Activist
In life it can be easy to get distracted from your environmental pursuits, whether it be from work, school, or other extracurricular activities. That’s why reading books by and for environmental leaders can be so rewarding; it helps to inspire and motivate you to make change in your community (I know that these books helped inspire and motivate me to create Planet Presents)! These five books are books I have read in the past three or so years that have inspired me to make change in my community, and I hope they can do the same for you!
The Book of Hope
Jane Goodall, one of the most famous environmentalists in the world, compiles the trials and rewards of her career in a series of interviews with author Doug Abrams. This book, released in the heart of the pandemic, is perfect for those especially impacted by the tragedies of modern events, with lessons thoughtfully and humorously taught by a woman who has seen so much in 89 years of life. Goodall focuses on the “four main reasons for hope: the amazing human intellect, the resilience of nature, the power of youth, and the indomitable human spirit”, in a series of interviews in locations around the world. The character of Goodall is remarkably uplifting and empowering, and by the end of the book you will be both reassured that we can change the world, and motivated to become a part of that change.
The Most Important Comic Book on Earth
The Most Important Comic Book on Earth is an anthology of 120 different comics highlighting the multitude of environmental crises our planet faces. Drawn in every style by over 300 contributors, the book is equal parts hopeful, satirical, and educational. Some of the comics aim at highlighting the change we can make as communities, and how far we have come in making society more eco-friendly. Others warn us what is to come if we don’t begin to respect the Earth; tales of apocalyptic cities and time-traveling warnings. The book also features many educational sections that expand on the issues touched on within the comics themselves, bringing awareness to some extremely interesting climate solutions you probably haven’t ever heard of (I learned about calculating the true value of real estate and avoiding foods that contain palm oil)! All in all, this book is equally as empowering and heartbreaking as it is beautifully illustrated, which is saying a lot! I highly recommend this book to everyone, but especially your friends and family who may not be familiar with the climate crisis, who would be willing to give a comic book a shot. It is truly the most important comic book on Earth!
Tools for Grassroots Activists
For those who are especially interested in beginning a nonprofit and bringing change to the world, there is Tools for Grassroots Activists. The book lays out the steps to creating a successful nonprofit that can bring real change in your community, blended with anecdotes from environmentalists and activists with established NGOs. The book is created and forwarded by Patagonia CEO Ryan Gellert, an environmental activist who runs the Tools for Grassroots Activists Conference, where a select couple dozen activists are selected to attend every other year. At the Tools for Grassroots Activists Conference, the activists learn the best practices to spread their message and raise awareness for the change they want to make. If you hope to some day attend this conference yourself, consider reading this book to get you there!
Earth in 30 Seconds
For younger kids and people who want to learn the basic workings of our ecosystems, Earth in 30 Seconds can help you learn more about the planet you live on! The book covers everything from the Earth’s layers to our atmosphere, from newly-formed island ecosystems to ancient desert biospheres. Complemented by eye-catching artwork, fun experiments, and quick summaries, 30 topics are explored in bite-sized paragraphs, each taking about 30 seconds to read. The topics are summarized in just the right amount of time to provide a good idea of a certain concept, yet insight curiosity and leave the reader wanting to learn more. The last section of the book also focuses on the climate crisis and pollution, and what we can do at home to reduce our impact on the Earth! For the youngest, most curious environmentalists, this book will leave kids spewing facts and wanting to take climate action!
We hope you found one or several books that you are interested in picking up! I have read every book on this list, and I can assure you that they will leave you and your family or friends ready to make change in the world. They helped me and motivated me to create Planet Presents, and I know they can help you create change as well! Even if you’re not planning on saving the world, the books on this list will leave you more knowledgeable, empathetic, and motivated than you ever were before!
