Environment and Nature Books

A product of The World Watch Institute, "Vital Signs" is the only book out there that attempts to provide the Big Picture of massive global trends - and succeeds. Unlike any other study, it gives a unique snapshot of the social, economic, and environmental trends that determine the quality of our lives and the future of our children's lives. It answers the question, "Where has development brought us?" And although we might not want to hear the answer, it is necessary if we wish to steer ourselves in the right direction. To quote the introduction, "a candied appraisal reveals disparities between rich and poor, mounting health challenges, battered ecosystems, and persistent social and political conflicts." More specifically, we see that the global temperature is rising; forests are fading; pesticide use is skyrocketing (as are pesticide-resistant pests); soda beverage drinking is up as with its concomitants, obesity and diabetes, and food-borne illness is widespread, among other things to numerous to mention. The "key indicators" Vital Signs focuses on are food and agricultural trends, energy trends, atmospheric trends, economic trends, transportation trends, communication trends, health and social trends, and finally military trends. The second half of this slim, compact, hard-hitting book focuses on "special issues." These include environmental features (like the deterioration of farmland and the increase of "unseen toxic wastes"), economy and finance features (from foreign spending to the cruise industry), resource economic features (the biotech and water issues, for example), health features (such as asthma and food-borne illness), social features (like persisting poverty and voter decline), and military features - in particularly, progress against landmines. As you can the see, the scope of the book is vast, but the presentation is clean and seamless. It won't bog you down and intimidate. A veritable resource treasure house. If you want global awareness or simply need to scrape together some important and up-to-date facts for a research paper, look no further. Baseline information for anyone interested in the future of the planet.

Ms. Koops captures so well those feelings of first love. We also share the heroine's outrage against unfairness, an emotion that can't be felt more strongly by anyone than by a young girl, when her valley faces destruction. I'm so glad I stumbled across this lovely book.

A wonderful piece that covers all one needs to know about volcanoes.Definitely a student's handbook, easy to read and understand and is suitable reading material for any age. One is captured by the amount of information cover in such a small text.

An amazing account of the ruthless acts of lawyers and how abusrd many of the new environmental laws are. A real eye opener.

A book not to miss--if one loves the environment and fears for its future.

Watching from the Edge of Extinction is a rare read for many reasons; not the least of which it is written by a husband and wife, who bring different voices and expertise to the project they undertake. Their book offers solid science, culture, and a disciplined attention to factual detail as well as the great shadings of human personalities as this couple sets out to document ten cases of creatures nearing the end of their species' existences on the earth.

What makes the book so fascinating and ultimately such a challenge is that the authors do away with any tinge of moralism and show us that the effort of trying to save a creature is a complex, costly combination of acts and interactions that often absorbs people and groups for periods as long as a lifetime. The passions, victories and defeats inside each story make the book one that should be read one chapter at a time. The political, scientific and practical realities slowly sink in. These are stories that are existential in every sense. The end is not written and even the meaning or consequences of one's actions are not simple to describe or predict. In environmental actions undertaken to protect a species, there are protagonists on all sides. Even the very best of the "good" guys still finds him or herself sometimes disarmed because of the nearly invisible way animals, birds and insects have developed their niches and patterns. These patterns must be understood in order to consider saving a species. Often the very acts of study--such as nearing nests to take population counts--are events that eventually stress the remaining members of the creature. The stories, which are of triumphs and defeats, are deeply involving because they are true. They are sobering because they offer no simple solutions other than rigor and dedication. Often the people who are working to save a species are heroes whom we have never heard of. They are passionate, modest people who sometimes have devoted their lives basically for the reason that it is a shocking reality to face the death not only of an individual but of a group.

The Stearns finish their book with a more literary chapter on the Gibbon who disappeared from China centuries ago. Yet nearly two thousand years ago its being filled the pages of Chinese poetry and its symbolism was painted century after century. This wealth comes to an end.

As our technologies alter our rhythms and reflect our own minds since we invented them, their brilliant book reminds us that most of the world lived without us. The world filled with living creatures showed us other worlds that were not ourselves. They found patterns and ways which now we must assist them in maintaining, before we are left alone on the planet, without bird-song, without howls and roars, and bright spouts from blow-holes. They ask us to think about creatures as committed to experiencing the joy of life as we ourselves.

Reviewed by Eric Zeda (age 8) for Reader Views (5/07)

This story was about a boy whose teacher told him that he was mostly water. He became scared because he thought if he was scratched by a cat all the water would leak out of him. He also thought he would dissolve in the rain. Then he found out that he wouldn't dissolve and that he started to like the water. He learned that water was his friend, and he played with the water everyday. One day, while the boy was washing the dishes the water curled into his name. He realized he had special powers. He was able to do tricks and move the water. One day the river asked for help because it was polluted, and he used his special gifts to clean the water. The next day, the water sent him a thank you note.

I liked this book because I thought it was cool when the boy did tricks with the water. I liked the colors in the pictures. I would recommend "Water Boy" to kids. It is important to remember that we need to take care of the environment.



Reviewed by Samuel Peralta (age 6) Reader Views (5/07)

When a teacher tells one of her students that he is made mostly of water he becomes afraid because he thinks he will dissolve in the rain, or turn to ice in the winter. In time, the boy realizes that water is like a friend. He discovers special powers that allow him to perform fantastic water tricks. As the boy experiments with his abilities, he discovers that he has the power to change the world around him for the better.

Parents Notes: This magical story is perfect for young kids. My six-year-old son, Sammy, loved the tricks he did with the water. He was surprised to learn that our bodies have a lot of water. He liked this book so much he took it to school the next day and had his teacher read it to his classmates.

"Water Boy" is a great tool for parents and teachers concerned about the environment. After reading this book I was able to talk about the importance of taking care of our environment without lecturing him.

I ordered and read this book during me research on the feasibility of building a desalination plant in Gaza. It provided all of the details on water quality in the Palestinian territories that I could have asked for.

Be advised that this is the product of research oriented writing, and not bed time reading material. It includes enough commentary on the Israeli practice of piping quality water out of the Gaza Strip into Israel proper and other Israeli water practices that are malicious.

Equally upsetting is the spoiling of water aquifers in Gaza by overpumping. As salt water creeps in, these aquifers are lost forever. The book provides credible and supporting evidence that the water in the Gaza Strip will get progressively worse, and will leave the area waterless in the foreseable future.

This is a great book very well written and concise. I know this young man and the way he overcame his struggle is amazing and the inspiration he creates in young people is un-matched!

Allerd Stikker describes in detail what a person can achieve motivated to solve the looming shortages of water. He shows that macro and micro solutions are definitely within reach. Macro solutions are about developing desalination technologies that do not use energy intensive processes. Many of the mega cities of the future are close to the sea. It appears to be impossible to satisfy their water requirements using river water. Therefore desalination is the only solution. Micro solutions are innovative solutions that combined with micro credit are affordable anywhere also in poor countries. It is remarkably difficult to make rapid progress. The book describes several projects to illustrate why. Many solutions require the involvement of many organisations all with their own ideas on how to proceed.
It is surprising that private sector companies have not been more active. One obstacle is that many people and governments believe that water should be free like air. Water is different from air. Water availability requires investments at the macro level, in water treatment and production facilities but also in education and distribution. To make rapid progress requires that people accept to pay for water use.
Allerd Stikker was also motivated by his spiritual interest especially in Taoism. He describes how in 1985 his water awareness started with Taoism when he made an environmental study in Taiwan. In 2007 he attended a workshop in a newly restored Taoist temple in mainland China where the "Quinling Declaration" was signed stating that Harmony between Heaven, Earth and Humanity is the highest aim of Taoists. Allerd Stikker played an important role in sponsoring the restoration and the focus on sustainable development.
He finishes the book with an inspiring sentence looking at the sea, "Seeing water, being water, I feel part of Creation. I am not alone."

Wetland Birds is a fascinating book for birders and anyone interested in wetland wildlife biology. By examining relationships between birds and their habitats, Weller helps to explain why wetland birds look and behave the way they do. Weller's book uses research examples from all over the world to provide a global perspective on both the biological diversity and conservation needs of wetland birds. I highly recommend this book as an entertaining read, and also as a comprehensive reference.