Earth day was established in 1970 by Gaylord Nelson. After witnessing an oil spill in Santa Barbara, California, in 1969, he wanted to encourage a public consciousness surrounding air and water pollution and to stimulate discussions about environmental protection in the political discourse. The first Earth day was held on April 22 in 1970, and was attended by both sides of the political aisle. The establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and the Endangered Species acts followed later that year.
Every year, it is critical to remind ourselves of the importance of nature and the role that it plays in our lives. A great way to do this is through reading.
Clint McKnight of Maria’s Bookshop says he reads about nature “simply because it’s enjoyable. For me personally, it’s an escape from whatever self-absorbed stresses I’m experiencing. I’m transported to a more elemental world where there’s nothing more important than the purple twilight sky above Valley of the Gods. Nature writing can also be of the more serious-minded Silent Spring or Cadillac Desert variety, alerting us to human-created problems in the natural world that we have an obligation to address.”
With so many nature writers to choose from, it can be a daunting genre to delve into. For readers who are new to the genre, McKnight recommends “The Animal Dialogues, by Craig Childs. It’s got great storytelling, adventure, passion, poetry and astonishing glimpses into a wild kingdom I can only dream of.”
The book explores Childs’ experiences with wild animals, from grizzlies in the Arctic to mountain lions in the mountains of Mexico. For those more immersed in the genre, McKnight has a few other suggestions: “I’ve just finished reading Secret Knowledge of Water by Craig Childs, which reaffirmed why I love how he combines the understanding of a scientist with the expressiveness of a poet. Anything I’ve read by local writer David Peterson has been memorable for his fierce outdoor ethics and uncompromising honesty, which are so reminiscent of his friend Ed Abbey.”
Nature writing can also offer lessons about how we should interact with our environment, and the consequences that can arise if mistakes are made.
Civil engineer Andi Barendt recommends A Civil Action, by Jonathan Harr, which follows the events surrounding a groundwater contamination incident in Woburn, Massachusetts, in which many children developed leukemia, cancer and a variety of other health problems.
“This story shows why regulation is important for the environment and the protection of health,” says Barendt, “It’s also one of those non-fiction books that reads like a novel.”
So, whether you are reading for pleasure or knowledge, there are many books about the natural world to explore. These books are available at the Durango Public Library and your favorite local bookstore.
