Member Recommended Books

By Shanna H. Swan and Stacey Colino In the tradition of Silent Spring and The Sixth Extinction, an urgent, “disturbing, empowering, and essential” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) book about the ways in which chemicals in the modern environment are changing—and endangering—human sexuality and fertility on the grandest scale, from renowned epidemiologist Shanna Swan.

By Leonardo Trasande A leading voice in public health policy and top environmental medicine scientist reveals the alarming truth about how hormone-disrupting chemicals are affecting our daily lives—and what we can do to protect ourselves and fight back.

Matt Simon reveals a whole new dimension to the plastic crisis. The thing that makes plastic so useful–its toughness–means it never really goes away. It just gets smaller and smaller: eventually small enough to enter your lungs or penetrate a fish’s muscle tissue before it becomes dinner.

Our Stolen Future examines the ways that certain synthetic chemicals interfere with hormonal messages involved in the control of growth and development, especially in the fetus. Scientific research over the last 50 years has revealed that this hormonal control of development is vulnerable to disruption by synthetic chemicals. (Available in most public library systems.)

Freinkel treks through history, science and the global economy to assess the real impact of plastic in our lives through eight familiar plastic objects. Each one illuminates a different facet of our synthetic world to give us a new way of thinking about a substance that has become the defining medium—and metaphor—of our age. 

Data scientist Hannah Ritchie presents an optimistic perspective on environmental challenges, showing that significant progress is already being made toward sustainability. Ritchie uses data and practical advice to help readers understand what actions truly impact the planet, dispelling myths and misconceptions. This hopeful, research-backed guide empowers readers to see a sustainable future as achievable.

A masterpiece of the imagination, using fictional eyewitness accounts to tell the story of how climate change will affect us all. Its setting is not a desolate, postapocalyptic world, but a future that is almost upon us. This novel will change the way you think about the climate crisis.

(Ages 4-7) A young girl takes action against ocean pollution in a timely story with unique plastic-waste diorama art from award-winning author-illustrator Alma Fullerton. No More Plastic is a moving, eye-catching, and ultimately hopeful reminder that the health of our oceans—and our planet—is in our hands.

(Ages 14-20) Discover the secret life of trees with this nature and science book for kids: Can You Hear the Trees Talking? shares the mysteries and magic of the forest with young readers, revealing what trees feel, how they communicate, and the ways trees take care of their families.

(ages 8-12) Trees can live a very long time, but what happens when they die? This unusual book describes, in lyrical prose accompanied by colorful and graphic illustrations, that trees have a whole long second life, continuing to contribute to their habitat, the environment, and the cycle of life.

(Ages 4-8) Explore the hidden world and many lives of a garden through the course of a year! Up in the garden, the world is full of green—leaves and sprouts, growing vegetables, ripening fruit. But down in the dirt exists a busy world—populated by all the animals that make a garden their home.

A fascinating investigation into how people around the globe are cashing in on a warming world. McKenzie Funk has spent the last six years reporting around the world on how we are preparing for a warmer planet.