I get asked a lot about books worth reading on all sorts of environmental subjects ranging from home building to simple living to food choices and beyond. So I thought I’d pass on a few favorites, some lesser known than others but all, in my personal opinion, worthy of a read. Down the road, on days like today when I’m sick home with the flu, I’ll pass on a few more. As always, if you’ve read any of these, please let us know your thoughts, and if not, please offer up any you may suggest.

The Lorax
By Dr. Seuss

Yes, that Dr. Suess. The Lorax is probably one of the best books ever written on the problems of conspicuous consumption and how it affects our planet. Kids love it, parents love it, and most importantly, it’s a simple way to begin a dialogue about the environment with children. From the Grickle-grass to the Brown Bar-ba-loots to the problems with Thneeds (which everyone needs), The Lorax is a book for all humanity.

The Treasures of Simple Living: Radical Simplicity and the Fourth Step
By Tyra and James Arraj

Ever want to just step out of the rat race and live off the land as sustainably as is possible? Tyra and James Arraj did just that, leaving good paying jobs, a house and “civilization” behind as they moved to a piece of land in the wilderness they had purchased but knew little about. For the authors, it was a return to nature. This book follows their successes and failures as homesteaders and is a great lesson on the power of simplicity and understanding what is truly important. And if you ever wondered how to make your own tofu, it’s got a recipe for that as well!

Cradle to Cradle: Remaking The Way We Make Things
By William McDonough and Michael Braungart

“This book is not a tree.” 

Thus begins one of the most important books ever written on the subject of sustainability. Grappling with the question of how we put environment first while allowing commerce to thrive, Cradle to Cradle is a call to a higher environmental consciousness, and should be read by everyone on the planet.  Read this once and you’ll never think the same about the products you buy.  Read it twice and who knows, you may never buy them again at all.

The Way We Eat: Why Our Food Choices Matter
By Peter Singer and Jim Mason

Singer and Mason have written an extremely compelling read on the foods we eat and the impact these choices have on our planet. They take three typical American families - one meat and potatoes, one “compassionate” meat eaters, and one vegan – and follow their food choices back to their sources. Don’t be fooled by the choices, they find out much more than what you’d expect, and what may seem like the “best choice” on the surface isn’t always the case once you look a little deeper. Be forewarned though, this book investigates factory farming and some of the reading is not for the faint of heart.  Having said that, it is a compelling and eye opening read that will leave you thinking quite differently about the food chain and your place within it.

Who Owns the Sky: Our Common Assets and the Future of Capitalism
By Peter Barnes

Wouldn’t it be great if every child born was guaranteed some financial security regardless of their socio-economic status? Modeling his Sky Trust on the same principle as the Alaskan Oil Trust, Barnes sets up a logical plan for ownership of the air by the common individual. Instead of companies being allowed to pollute as much as they’d like, he suggests requiring them to buy those rights from the Sky Trust, the proceeds of which would go to the people. While this may seem far-fetched at first, give it a read and you may well find yourself a believer. And when your done, you can check out his website and buy your own share of the Sky Trust.

And one more for good measure, because it’s such a favorite….

The True Patriot
by Eric Liu and Nick Hanauer

The True Patriot is one of those rare books that comes along none too often that screams something that needed to be screamed. An amazing read, it is a blend of classic American speeches from some of the greatest orators this country has known, and a call for a New American Patriotism. Liu and Hanauer declare that patriotism needs to be redefined, and then set out to do so, detailing their thoughts in a well conceived multi-part plan. With a belief that the right has co-opted the concept of what it means to be a Patriot and the left has abandoned it, they redefine what it means to be a strong American and ask of each of us to take part, and make the US the beacon that it can be, should be, and hopefully will be again.

This is a book that every American should read and a primer for anyone wishing for a stronger civilization as a whole.

Dave Chameides is a filmmaker and environmental educator.  His website and newsletter are designed to inspire thought and dialogue on environmental solutions and revolve around the idea that no one can do everything, but everyone can do something. “Give people the facts, and they’ll choose to do the right thing.”