Books and Movies

This classic describes the widespread ecological degradation from pesticides. Still relevant.

An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore

Gore’s groundbreaking, battle cry of a follow-up to the bestselling Earth in the Balance.

Flannery’s theory is that all of us contribute to the changes in climate due to our environmental practices … and we have the knowledge to avoid the ultimate catastrophe.

Speth, Dean of the Yale University School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, says that although the planet is in a state of crisis, it is not too late to make effective, even dramatic, changes on a domestic level.

Most Americans are concerned about global warming, but feel helpless to do anything. This book gives practical, simple ways to help.

The Amazon review says it best: “The definitive history of water resources in the American West, and a very illuminating
lesson in the political economy of limited resources anywhere.

A plain language guide for the average American about global warming and how individuals can make a difference.

British reporter Lynas says, “Every time America votes, the world holds its breath…. Climate change begins and ends in America.” Political, but timely.

Science writer and mountaineer Bowen details the way the planet’s temperature is regulated, and how the climate is being disrupted by global warming. This book is out in August, 2006, but you can preorder

Originally published in 1998, updated and revised in 2004. Called a “fundamental handbook of the environmental activist movement.” Whew!

Popular sociologist and writer Gladwell explains how word-of-mouth social epidemics begin and build. Fascinating read and important for those aiming to change the world.

A well-written, highly readable book about cellular communication in the body and how they’re are affected by our thoughts. Makes the scientific link between mind and matter.

A classic about the impact of our food production system on the environment and our own health.

This memoir/meditation is poetic, and “breaks and mends the readers heart.” The authors personal story is compelling as an analogy for our relationship with the environment – and how we can heal it.

Sheldrake urges us to move beyond a mechanistic view of nature.

A must-read for Sci-fi fans and the beginning of a loooooong series of books. Rich, detailed examination of resource management and mismanagement. In this case, the precious resource is spice, but substitute water, ozone, or coral reefs for relevancy.

One of Vonnegut’s very best novels – it starts on the day of the Hiroshima bombing, and explores how mankind self-destructs. Fantasy?

A lone man faces extremists plotting to force a environmental disaster.

A classic. Funny, irreverent, and scarily realistic. A cosmic construction team obliterates Earth in order to build a freeway.

An amazing, odd novel. An unnamed narrator studies under a telepathic gorilla – who tells him all about man’s beginnings and impact on Earth. Read it.

A PBS documentary narrated by Alanis Morissette.

In 1964, nuclear war wipes out humanity in the northern hemisphere, but one American submarine finds a temporary safe haven in Australia, where despair is growing despite the Aussie’s best efforts. A 1959 message film from Stanley Krame

This 1973 classic takes place in the future (2022), and it’s not pretty. Over-population and unbearable temperatures force all sorts of dramatic situations.

We recommended the book, and we recommend the film.

Jake Gyllenhaal and Dennis Quaid star in this 2004 drama about a climatologist trying to savethe world from abrupt global warming.

Birds live on the land, in the water, and in the sky – and this gem of a movie combines breathtaking birds-eye views with little commentary. Watch it in awe.

Haley Joel Osment and Jude Law star in a Stephen Spielberg motion picture. The polar ice caps have melted and coastal cities are under water. But humans adapt, in part by creating realistic robots.  

Another visual masterpiece with a tribal soundtrack. Image and music combine to show us how we’re all connected. Trippy.

One of the simplest – and most expensive – movie sets ever. The flat, calm, weatherless sea provides a constant backdrop in this 1995 Kevin Costner film about the descendants of those who have survived the melting of the ice caps.