Books about Human/Environmental Perseverance
Books about Human/Environmental Perseverance
Editors: Leah Howland and Chloe Tiernan
All the books we are recommending highlight issues that affect how humans relate to ourselves, to one another, and to the natural world. Each one helps us to understand the role that we play in the larger picture.
Each category of book recommendation has something unique that can draw readers from various backgrounds and keep them engaged. These books help us to think critically about our lives through another lens, while bringing that lens to our shared experiences.
- Dawn recommended by Leah Howland
- Demon Copperhead recommended by Nick Soles
- Last Child in the Woods recommended by Brandi-Marie Williams
Dawn by Octavia Butler is an excellent book for readers interested in a dystopian future, exploring both the dangers of captivity and the loss of individuality. The novel follows the main character, a black woman named Lilith Iyapo, as she awakens in a blank room with nothing except a bed, under the control of an alien species called the Oankali. They promise to rebuild the planet Earth and help humans prevent mass extinction when they begin to repopulate, but their methods are less than ideal, as they transplant their DNA into humans and conduct medical experiments without their consent to gain more knowledge of their species. They do so under the guise that they’re fixing the human population and guaranteeing it’ll survive, as well as that humans have free will to make this decision, but everything is not as simple as it seems.
Even if you’re not a science fiction fan, Dawn is worth a read for how it describes a potential roadmap for our future, warning against what may happen to humanity if we’re not careful. Butler writes descriptively yet concisely, explaining how manipulation and erasing autonomy are detrimental to the human race. She starts her novel by placing the reader in scene and building the world from scratch, and doesn’t mention aliens until far enough into the novel that the reader is captivated and wants to continue. Butler also mentions the battle with ethics that is present throughout the novel and how individual agency depends on beliefs.
Through her writing, Butler encourages people to think critically about how they perceive the world and consider the role that agency plays in determining the human condition. The novel is also good at describing how evolution, both in the improvement of a society and as individuals, is only effective when we can do it ourselves. Power dynamics are also present in that while humans may appear to have free will, their choices are either to help usher in a new age or die, the latter of which is difficult to achieve. The novel grapples with these narratives and ideas, presenting them in a way that keeps the reader entertained and asking for more.
The novel is available in paperback on Amazon for $18.99, or for free at https://www.academia.edu/25342726/DAWN_Book_one_of_the_Xenogenesis_series. There is also an audiobook version on Audible, which is free with a premium subscription.
If you read the novel, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation of the role autonomy plays in evolution and how it’s better if we can do it ourselves.
Authentic and Raw: Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
Nick Soles
If you're looking for an authentic and raw story that lingers after you’ve read it, Barbara Kingsolver’s Demon Copperhead is a truly fulfilling novel. This book is easy to get invested in as it has a very intelligent and emotionally charged plot, narrated by a unique character with interesting perspectives.
Demon Copperhead tells the story of Damon Fields, who is a young boy growing up in rural Appalachia experiencing the hardships of poverty, addiction, and loss. The boy who was nicknamed “demon” seemed to catch little to no breaks, as the odds stacked against his path through the story. Despite having heavy events throughout, the novel is very readable as it’s incredibly bold and honest. Damon’s narration has a gritty humor in spite of his experience. This offers a friendship like connection to the reader, making this storyline just that much more engaging.
Kingsolver chose to write this novel in the first person, using conversation to really gain the reader’s full attention. The storyline’s fast paced structure allows the reader to keep moving while remaining fully invested and eager for more development. Short and hard-hitting chapters containing emotionally tolling events are well balanced with humor, some Goodreads reviewers describe the reading experience as similar to binge watching a really good TV show. Youtuber Javada Hill posted a review video where the related the novel to a “reimagining of Dickens’ David Copperfield, set in the mountains of southern Appalachia.” This inspiration is clear, as it demonstrates similar layered qualities of storytelling.
Another Goodreads reviewer describes this book as “heartbreaking but hopeful”, praising Damon as one of the most fascinating narrators they have read. Kingsolver sheds light on the opioid crisis without preaching and speaking from a high horse, she is praised for this among other reviews. She shows the human side of addiction while also relating to the systemic failures that have led these communities to have the issues they do. As well as the resiliency that these communities show
The best part about this read is that you go through an emotional journey with Damon, as well as an educational experience. Readers gain a better understanding of the hardships of rural Appalachia and its opioid epidemic, poverty, and the country’s foster system. These pillars of the story sound very depressing, but it is filled with courage and hope, sold with punchy humor. Damon’s stubborn determination fills the reader with inspiration in the face of the heavy topics introduced.
Barbara Kingsolver is a very versatile author with her works offering perspective shifting telling’s of nature and our experiences with it. You can check out Mia Iaccino’s review on Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Kingsolver in the blog subsection on Guidebooks about Farming and Climate Change. Here are a few other relevant sources to check out:
- If you are looking for more information on the issues in Appalachia presented, the article linked below is an article about Kingsolver’s role in grassroots addiction recovery efforts for Appalachian communities. She continues to advocate for victims of the opioid crisis as she has launched an initiative titled Higher Ground Women’s Recovery Residence, which is essentially a women only supportive household for those overcoming addiction.
- If you are looking to get your hands on a copy of Demon Copperhead, the SUNY Potsdam Crumb library has a copy that can be borrowed. As the book was published in 2022 and won a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2023, it has been widely distributed and used copies are plentiful. Below is a link to purchase the book from www.bookshop.org, an organization that gives small bookstores a platform.
- Below is the previously mentioned YouTube video review where Javada Hill draws many great takeaways.
Beyond the Screen: How Nature Can Save Childhood
Brandi-Marie Williams
A lot of children nowadays sit in the house on their tablets playing games with their friends. With the growing advancements in technology, children aren’t really playing outside anymore. This not only causes problems with socializing, but it also makes children disconnect from nature at a young age.
Beyond the screen, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv discusses the importance nature has for healthy childhood development. Throughout the book, Louv offers solutions and simple ways to reconnect children with nature. The book includes “100 actions you can take to create change in your community, school, and family. 35 discussion points to inspire people of all ages to talk about the importance of nature in their lives. New and updated research confirming that direct exposure to nature is essential for the physical and emotional health of children and adults” (Richard Louv). This shows that Louv is actively giving us solutions to improve the disconnect with nature.
According to Goodreads, “environment-based education dramatically improves standardized test scores and grade point averages and develops skills in problem solving, critical thinking, and decision making.” This shows that sending your child to a nature-based school may be beneficial for them by connecting them with nature and improving academic results.
You are able to access this book and read it by ordering it off amazon. You can either buy a paperback copy for $7.38, or you can get the kindle version for $11.99. You also might be able to read this book for free if you create a free Internet Archive account. There is also a short interview with the author “Richard Louv, Last Child in the Woods,” aired on the television series, Central Texas Gardener.
This book is really important because it promotes healthy childhood development and encourages the parents to get their children to go outside. Supporting children to spend time outdoors is essential to build connections with nature.
Richard Louv. Last Child in the Woods - Overview - Richard Louv. richardlouv.com/books/last-child.
“‘Central Texas Gardener’ Richard Louv,
Last Child in the Woods (TV Episode 2013) | Talk-Show.” IMDb, 30 Nov.
2013, www.imdb.com/title/tt3378042.
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