Books

This year brought essential reading on climate change, endangered species, ecology, environmental justice, and other important topics about protecting the planet.

Our latest group of reviews showcases books that remind us about what we’re saving — and why we do it.

Whether they’re primers on environmental activism or a series on resisting autocrats, these books offer a chance to study up for the bumpy years ahead.

The season brings important new books by climate scientists, conservationists, activists, and novelists.

Darwin’s writings show that stories are central to ecology — and that appreciating nature as a portfolio of wondrous, pristine places is an obstacle to ecological literacy.

Names matter. When we fear something, it becomes psychologically easier to withhold empathy for it or, worse, kill it. Nobody feels sorry for the devil.

For many Black children, asthma and other health problems are ever-present companions in neighborhoods located near dumps, factories, and highways.

We have the word on several great new books, including a look at how to fight climate disinformation and a satire of the extinction crisis.

If we want to change behavior and protect our communities, we need to change belief. That requires mentorship — and embracing Black culture and history.

These aren’t books that will get filed under “climate change” or “wildlife,” but they all offer a glimpse into our changing world.