3 Earth Day Reads

Another Earth Day is upon us, and yet the progress on climate action seems to fall behind the pace of climate change, which is becoming more palpably relentless each year. With the earth's expanding population on a collision course with our planet’s acutely finite resources, concrete solutions are often lost in the intricate web of (inherently) problematic economic systems, political (in)action, social attitudes and human needs.
We invite you to take a look at the these captivating view points we've rounded up in our shortlist of Earth Day-related reading. Reflect, ruminate, research, make a note and pass it on!

THE NEW RELEASE

"Saving Time: Discovering a Life Beyond the Clock" by Jenny Odell. In her latest book the author argues that our perception of time has been fully remoulded by capitalism and for-profit thinking, including our relationship with the planet, ignoring Earth's natural cycles and indigenous wisdom. "Despite the formidable capitalist ideology that 'time is money,' there is nothing innate or inevitable about our current relationship with time," writes Odell. Inviting the reader to re-think their perception of the traditional Western relationships to time and money, this work creates a radically different (and hopeful) view of the subsequent outcomes for our planet as well. Snap this NY Times best-seller to get a breath of fresh-air thinking. 

The classic

"Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson. By now a classic of the genre, this startling work was a groundbreaking piece of literature when it was first published in 1962, serving as the very first wakeup call for public awareness on environmental degradation in the 20th century. Carson, who was originally a marine biologist, brought to attention the detrimental impact of the chemical industry on the environment, making both, friends and foes in the US Congress and special interest groups, while creating an incredible legacy.  Sadly, the book is still relevant to this day, and very much worth to add to your summer reading list if you enjoy a bit of a historical viewpoint on environmental issues told first hand.

THE CATALYST

"The Uninhabitable Earth" by David Wallace-Wells. Playing out the very possible, albeit dreadful, scenarios of the consequences of climate change, the American journalist examines the trajectory of human progress, with the role of technology and modern politics in the book that was billed as "epoch-defining" when it was published a few years ago. Focusing on the urgency of the situation and very real outcomes of inaction, this is a good read to gift those, who are perhaps still not convinced! 

Compiled and written by BECYCLE & BEYOND Marketing Manager and Integrative Health Coach Katia Varfolomeeva