Dig into 4 Earth Day books

Discover captivating books at Seattle Public Library to celebrate Earth Day, from fungi to climate change, offering diverse perspectives and inspiration.

The Seattle Public Library is dedicated to promoting books and reading, and this column serves as a platform to share the latest trends and recommendations from a librarian's perspective. You can discover these titles by visiting spl.org and exploring the catalog.

While Earth Day may not immediately bring reading to mind, taking a break from outdoor activities can provide the perfect opportunity to dive into captivating books in genres such as science, memoir, and science fiction that explore our connection with nature and contemplate our future as a collective society.

In the Pacific Northwest, mushrooms have become a popular topic, and author Merlin Sheldrake delves into the fascinating world of fungi in his book "Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds, & Shape Our Futures." Sheldrake's exploration of mycelium's intricate networks and behaviors, from communication to psychedelic properties, will leave you in awe of the wonders of nature.

Camille T. Dungy's memoir "Soil: The Story of a Black Mother's Garden" challenges the traditional narrative of nature writing dominated by white, cisgender male authors. Dungy's reflections on race, class, and biodiversity in her garden shed light on the complexities of nature and the societal issues that shape our relationship with the environment.

In dystopian fiction, C Pam Zhang's "Land of Milk and Honey" paints a bleak picture of a world ravaged by environmental disasters and social inequality. The novel follows a chef's journey to a mountain retreat where opulence and decay collide, offering a provocative exploration of pleasure and power in a post-apocalyptic setting.

For a more optimistic take on environmental issues, Kim Stanley Robinson's "The Ministry for the Future" presents a compelling narrative of global cooperation in the face of climate catastrophe. The novel combines scientific solutions with geopolitical intrigue, offering a thought-provoking look at the urgent need for collective action to address the challenges of climate change.

Stay tuned for new Peak Picks titles at The Seattle Public Library, including "Street Trees of Seattle: An Illustrated Walking Guide" by Taha Ebrahimi and "The Backyard Bird Chronicles" by Amy Tan. Don't miss the opportunity to engage with these enriching reads and explore the diverse perspectives on Earth Day and our relationship with the natural world.

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