Maybe you’re beach-bound. Maybe you’re starting to take the Metro again. Maybe you’re socialed-out and could use downtime. But something tells me that you could use a great book.
You’re in luck! We asked volunteers across our DC Chapter for eco-minded book recommendations and they delivered. Below, find a selection of thought-provoking reads perfect for wherever you find yourself this summer.
Fiction
A Children’s Bible by Lydia Millet
Lara Levison, chair of our Clean Energy committee, calls this tale, “an unsettling look at society destabilized by climate change in the near future.” It follows 12 children who run away from a forced vacation when a storm descends.
This recommendation comes from volunteer Maggie Allen. A Las Vegas water knife cuts water for his boss so that her luxurious developments can bloom in the desert, “allowing the rich to stay wet while the poor get dust.”
Blackfish City by Sam J. Miller
Another recommendation from Allen: Blackfish City. Fans of cyberpunk will like this gritty exploration of political corruption, the consequences of climate change, and “the unifying power of human connection”.
How-tos
Designing Climate Solutions: A Policy Guide for Low-Carbon Energy by Hal Harvey
A breakdown of the energy policies that, if designed and implemented well, make the urgent need to curb emissions far less daunting. From volunteer Daniel Jasper.
Zero Waste Home by Bea Johnson
Can you fit all the waste you create in a year into a mason jar? Bea Johnson has, and greatly popularized the zero waste movement in doing so. Recommendation from volunteer Ellie Clarke.
How You Can Influence Congress by George Alderson
Ordinary citizens can make extraordinary change - something we already know as climate activists! For a lowdown on some of the tools we have at our disposal, check out this recommendation from volunteer Marchant Wentworth
Locally-focused
Capital Streetcars: Early Mass Transit in Washington, D.C. by John DeFerrari
According to volunteer Ayk Yilmaz, this offers a “great history of transportation, infrastructure and origin of many institutions in DC, including WMATA, Pepco and the PSC”.
River of Redemption: Almanac of Life on the Anacostia by Krista Schlyer
Find seven years of photography and research in this deep dive of the Anacostia River: The biodiversity it can provide and the neglect and abuse it’s suffered.
If you enjoy this recommendation from volunteer Marchant Wentworth, you might also enjoy Anacostia: The Death and Life of an American River by John R. Wennersten.
Springtime in Washington by Louis Halle
Marchant calls this journal a “classic”. It takes readers through a tour of the Tidal Basin, Rock Creek Park and more as winter recedes and nature blooms into life.
Poetry and essays
In this highly readable book, Kimmerer draws on her experience as a botanist, a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, a poet, and a scientist to reflect on our relationship with nature. Thank you to volunteer Trey Sherard for the recommendation.
All We Can Save edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katharine Wilkinson
This 2020 collection of essays and poems seeks to highlight a wide range of women's voices in the environmental movement, containing titles such as “Collards Are Just as Good as Kale,” “Man on the TV Say,” “Ode to Dirt” and “A Field Guide for Transformation”.
Thank you to volunteer Leah Karrer for the recommendation.
Non-fiction to sharpen your activism
Race After Technology by Ruha Benjamin
From volunteer Shonique White: “This book isn't directly environment related, but deals with ideas that activists should be aware of, specifically regarding technology. It's a great read and offers a valuable perspective for anyone who enjoys tech, uses it, or is affected by it. Aka - all of us!”
Don’t Even Think About It by George Marshall
From our chapter coordinator, Debbie Chang: “This book should be required reading for anyone working in the environmental movement. It explains not only why and how climate deniers are, but also why your friend who believes in climate change isn’t engaged in activism. This book has literally changed everything about me as a climate activist, and also how I engage in politics as well.”
Non-fiction to fuel your activism
The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert
We’re on the brink of the most devastating extinction event since the asteroid that decimated the dinosaurs. What led us here, what’s already been lost … and what can we do to stop this? Recommendation from volunteer Barbara Briggs.
This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate by Naomi Klein
In this revelatory book, Klein argues that in the fight against climate change, it’s not just carbon we need to worry about, but capitalism. Recommendation comes from Chapter Conservation Chair & Executive Committee Member Larry Martin.
Let us know what you’re reading - from this list or otherwise - by Tweeting @sierradc with the hashtag #dcfavs