Green Reads

Click here for a printable version.

A Guide to Environmental Literature at the West Milford Township Library

Living with Nature

158.1 FIS
Be the Change You Want to See in the World
Fisher-McGarry, Julie
Fisher-McGarry focuses on the “little picture,” providing a list of accomplishable efforts, one for every day of the year which can be made to help keep the environment healthy.

306.3 MCK
Deep Economy
McKibben, Bill
McKibben derides development focused upon expansive growth, arguing that it is not sustainable for the environment. Instead, he advocates a model based on the farmers’ market, with its awareness of ecological capacities and its “economics of neighborliness.”

333.72 GIN
A Contract with the Earth
Gingrich, Newt
Former Republican Speaker of the House Gingrich and coauthor Maple argue that conservation is not a partisan issue and call for Americans to embrace “mainstream environmentalism.”

333.92 WIL
Cape Wind
Williams, Wendy
When plans for a clean energy wind farm off the coast of the Nantucket Sound were introduced, many influential homeowners used their political and financial might to stop the project. The authors show how personal interest, financial pressure and political influence can affect America’s willingness for environmental change.

363.73 PRE
From the Bottom Up
Pregracke, Chad
This is the inspiring and true story of Pregracke, chronicling as his effort to clean the Mississippi River grows from individually plucking out debris to the establishment of his successful corporately funded non-profit organization.

641.09 KIN
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
Kingsolver, Barbara
Fed up with their suburban lifestyle, Kingsolver moves her family to rural Appalachia. There, the family learns to appreciate the value of locally grown food for the economy, the environment, the home and the palate.

728 SAL
Little House on a Small Planet
Salomon, Shay
Salomon profiles a number of environmentally friendly homes that are physically small, yet provide the owners with everything they need to live happily. Photos, blueprints and owner interviews are included.

745.2 THO
The Designer's Atlas of Sustainability
Thorpe, Ann
Thorpe argues for an integrated approach to design and lifestyle which encompasses ecology, economics and culture. Resembling a text book, this title offers a fresh approach to anyone interested in the health of our planet.

Human Impact on Nature

304.2 WEI
The World Without Us
Weisman, Alan
“What would happen if humans no longer populated the earth?” Weisman tackles this question by outlining nature’s hypothetical reclamation of civilizations’ artifacts. You will be surprised what would perish first and what would remain intact the longest.

333.91 PEA
When the Rivers Run Dry
Pearce, Fred
Many scientists are concerned about the future availability of usable water and Pearce highlights instances where this dilemma is already playing out. He then shows how, through efficient and considerate usage, we can ensure the availability of water for generations to come.

333.95 CLO
The End of the Line
Clover, Charles
Clover claims that hi-tech fishing is corrupting underwater ecosystems and ruining small market economies, but adds that these effects can be undone through personal choice and civic involvement.

363.738 FLA
The Weather Makers
Flannery, Tim
Flannery, a scientist and former global warming skeptic, shows how today’s changing weather patterns are rooted in human activity. Flannery is optimistic, suggesting a future of human activity that will benefit all of nature.

Environmental Classics

B DILLARD
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
Dillard, Annie
Dillard wrote this Pulitzer Prize winning collection of natural observations after moving to the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. Her beliefs resemble Thoreau’s, but it’s the writing itself which has made this title an enduring classic.

363.738 CAR
Silent Spring
Carson, Rachel
First released in 1962, Silent Spring was the first widely read book to explore the harm caused by store-bought products. Silent Spring’s influence is still felt today in the growing organic foods movement.

363.738 GOR
An Inconvenient Truth
Gore, Albert
Nobel Laureate Gore has impacted national awareness of environmental issues more than any contemporary figure; this book, along with the accompanying film, are the primary reasons why.

818 THO
Walden, or, A life in the woods
Thoreau, Henry David
Over 150 years and increasingly relevant, this classic title galvanized the American naturalist movement and continues to influence new generations of environmentally conscious readers.

New Jersey Nature Walks

917.49 WEI
West Milford Baker's Dozen
Weise, Don
“With nearly 100 miles of marked hiking trails, abundant glacial lakes, cliffs and wildlife, West Milford provides visitors with some of the most interesting, unspoiled and diverse hiking areas in all of New Jersey.” -from Foreword

For more outdoor experiences in New Jersey and New York, we also suggest:

917.47 LEN
Iron Mine Trails
Lenik, Edward J.

917.47 NEW
The Long Path Guide
New York-New Jersey Trail Conference

917.49 BUR
25 Nature Spectacles in New Jersey
Burger, Joanna and Michael Gochfeld

917.49 ZAT
30 Bicycle Tours in New Jersey
Zatz, Arline

917.4904 ROB
Wonderwalks: the trails of New Jersey Audubon
Robinson, Patricia

917.4904 ROS
A Guide to Green New Jersey
Rosenfeld, Lucy