Nature Books

If you're someone who's deeply concerned about the environmental crisis, "Red Sky at Morning" is a crucial read. It goes beyond the usual alarming statistics to instill hope through actionable solutions. Reading Speth's book is a bit like getting a strategic battle plan from a seasoned general—you're getting the insights and wisdom needed to envision and participate in meaningful change for our planet’s future.

This book could be a good read for you if you are fascinated by true stories of resilience, activism, and the battle against natural disasters. Through the lens of the 2004 Asian Tsunami and its aftermath, "Tsunami Alert" will take you on a journey where scientists, students, and ordinary citizens come together to save the at-risk city of Padang. As you follow their grassroots activism, you will gain insight into the challenges faced by cities worldwide as they confront their own environmental threats. This thought-provoking account will leave you contemplating the fragile balance between human settlements and the forces of nature.

This book is a must-read for individuals who are interested in understanding the waste management challenges that cities in Africa face. It provides an overview and compares situations in different cities, highlighting the successes and failures of typical governance systems when dealing with waste. It's perfect for researchers, policy makers, urban planners, municipal engineers, and any individual or organization interested in contributing to waste management solutions in Africa's urban areas.

This book provides readers with a comprehensive analysis of water quality management in North and South America, providing in-depth case studies to discuss the effectiveness and impacts of current practices in different countries. It is an ideal read for anyone interested in understanding the state of water quality management in the Americas.

If you're looking to explore Rwanda beyond the usual tourist spots, Philip Briggs' detailed guidebook is invaluable. It's like having a knowledgeable friend take you through the Land of a Thousand Hills, suggesting hikes, excursions, and cultural insights you might not discover on your own. Whether you're gazing at the beauty of Lake Kivu, tracking gorillas, or immersing in Rwanda's history and rapid modernization, this guide addresses both the why and how of traveling in Rwanda with depth and nuance.

Sitopia by Carolyn Steel is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of food, sustainability, and culture. Through her unique lens, she invites readers to reimagine our food system as a means for healing both our bodies and the planet. With engaging storytelling and a wealth of research, Steel provides a clear and compelling case for why quality food should be at the forefront of our collective consciousness. Readers will come away from this book with a deeper appreciation for the power of food to transform our world. Highly recommend for foodies, environmentalists, and anyone searching for a path towards a healthier and more just future.

Recommended for readers seeking passionate environmental advocacy.

This book is a perfect read for those interested in a practical approach to solving environmental problems. It presents a unique perspective that balances both social and organizational aspects of sustainability. The author's discussion on "pragmatic environmentalism" offers a fresh perspective on the matter. The book stands out in its comprehensive portrayal of environmental issues from the material world's perspective, including air, water, biodiversity, and trash.

"When a Billion Chinese Jump" is a must-read for individuals who are interested in understanding China's environmental crisis and its impact on the world. This book captures the essence of the challenges facing China's environmental issues and highlights the urgent need for immediate action. Jonathan Watts provides an insightful view of China's environmental crisis by combining detailed research with on-the-ground reporting. The most unique and distinctive feature of this book is its focus on the human element. Watts vividly portrays individual lives in a country all too often viewed as a faceless state. This book serves as a wake-up call to all readers to take immediate action to help save our planet.

This book is recommended for those who are interested in the current state of the environment and its impact on humanity. It provides a unique perspective on how we are at war with the very planet we live on. The author's analysis of how politics and economics manipulate the environment is the most distinctive feature of the book. Overall, users would recommend this book as a wake-up call to take action towards sustainability.

The major challenge for the current generation of mankind is to develop a shared vision of a future that is both desirable to the vast majority of humanity and ecologically sustainable. Creating a Sustainable and Desirable Future offers a broad, critical discussion on what such a future should or can be, with global perspectives written by some of the world's leading thinkers, Wendell Berry, Van Jones, Frances Moore Lappe, Peggy Liu, Hunter Lovins, Gus Speth, Bill McKibben, and many more.

"Working With Nature Against Poverty" is a comprehensive guide for those interested in sustainable development and the environment in Eastern Indonesia. The book addresses the trade-offs and synergies between development, social concerns, and the environment in Papua, Maluku, and East Nusa Tenggara. It offers strategies for mining and forestry, tackles biodiversity conservation and climate change, discusses public administration, and public health. The book is written by leading scholars and experts on the region, making it an essential resource for anyone working in or interested in sustainable development in Eastern Indonesia.

Cities around the world are becoming increasingly popular as economic powerhouses and magnets for migrants from rural and suburban areas. All big cities in First and Third World countries as well as emerging markets such as New York, London, Tokyo, Paris, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, New Delhi, Jakarta etc. have to cope with high population density and serious challenges such as air pollution or traffic congestion. How do we pack more people into big cities and yet continue to realise a high quality of life? How do we plan, create and manage 'good cities' which are safe, spacious, green, connected, fair and resilient? How can cities create economic wealth while still fulfilling the vision of sustaining our "Green Planet"? What are best practice designs and innovative technical smart city solutions which could be leveraged to tackle these challenges and how can they be successfully commercialised? These are some of the questions the reader addresses from a multi-disciplinary perspective with special reference to Singapore whose development from regional entrepôt to First World Metropolis continues to impress business and societal leaders around the world. The book's contents are broadly structured according to the following (i) definition and taxonomy of innovative & sustainable cities, including its core characteristics and how they create value in terms of innovativeness and sustainability; (ii) governance, planning and selected design principles of innovative & sustainable cities and how they pan out with regard to livability and sustainability; and (iii) in-depth study of selected smart city dimensions such as governance, clustering, connectivity, mobility, ageing, water, sports, and safety.