DCL
Join the storied American tradition of reading green.
Nobody reads anymore. The novel is dead. Everyone just sits around in front of the TV all the time. Sound familiar? While there's some truth to those exaggerations, I refuse to believe that the act of reading a good book has gone quietly into the night. And the millions of books on bookshelves across the country attest to the fact that it hasn't.
What's more, reading a good book is a great way to engage yourself with environmental ideas—t seems that when I'm on the couch, or in bed, or wherever, with a book in hand, it's one of the few moments of true peace and quiet I get any more. So it's a prime time to reflect on the world and the environment around us.
And believe it or not, there's a rich American tradition of writing with the environment in mind—from transcendentalists like Thoreau and Emerson to fabulists like Dr. Seuss to environmentalists like Rachel Carson.
Here's a quick list of recommended green reading for anyone who's looking to expand their environmental horizons:
Walden (1854) Henry David Thoreau's account of living in relative isolation by Walden Pond is one of the most famous non-fiction books in American history. If you didn't have to read this in high school, you should read it now—Thoreau's ruminations on nature and human society endure over 150 years after its initial publication
Leaves of Grass (1855) This collection of poems was extremely controversial in its day—Walt Whitman lost his government job upon its publication. It's a still relevant, still highly readable celebration of the self, nature, and the human spirit.
East of Eden, Grapes of Wrath (1952, 1939) John Steinbeck wasn't an environmentalist, per se. But he delved so richly into detailing the environment—his beloved Salinas Valley is immaculately rendered in Eden—that it becomes as large a part of his works as any of the memorable characters.
Wilderness Letter (1960) Wallace Stegner was famous both for his Pulitzer Prize winning novel Angle of Repose and for his ardent environmentalism. He wrote this fine Wilderness Letter to the Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission.
Silent Spring (1962) Rachel Carson helped jumpstart the modern environmental movement with the publication of this classic, which helped bring about the ban of DDT. The Lorax (1971) Yes, it's Dr. Seuss. Yes, it's a children's book. Yes, it's one of the most touching pleas to respect our environment ever made. Read The Lorax. Ishmael (1992) Okay, so this is the one book on the list I won't wholeheartedly recommend—it's weird and pedantic. But Daniel Quinn's "novel" about a telepathic gorilla and a resentful ex-hippie discussing things like overpopulation and the falsity in believing in a human-centric history ignited a dialogue when it was originally published. It still has loyal fans, as it effectively raises a slew of important environmentally related issues.
