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The Story of Nature: A Human History
by Jeremy MynottThe story of humanity&’s evolving relationship with the natural world from pre-history to the present day Nature has long been the source of human curiosity and wonderment, and the inspiration for some of our deepest creative impulses. But we are now witnessing its rapid impoverishment, even destruction, in much of our world. In this beautifully illustrated book, Jeremy Mynott traces the story of nature—past, present, and future. From the dramatic depictions of animals by the prehistoric cave-painters, through the romantic discovery of landscape in the eighteenth century, to the climate emergency of the present day, Mynott looks at the different ways in which humankind has understood the world around it. Charting how our ideas about nature emerged and changed over time, he reveals how the impulse to control nature has deep historical roots. As we reach an environmental crisis point, this vital study shows how human imagination and wonder can play a restorative role—and reveal what nature ultimately means to us.
The Story of Rosy Dock
by Jeannie BakerThe plant rosy dock is not native to Australia. A newcomer who settled in the desert area of central Australia planted it in her garden. After each rare period of rain the desert blossoms, and over the years the seeds of this plant have blown their way across south, central and western Australia. Full-color collage illustrations.
The Story of Seeds: From Mendel's Garden to Your Plate, and How There's More of Less to Eat Around the World
by Nancy CastaldoNational Science Teachers Association 2017 Top Science Trade Books for K-12 Students Nerdy Book Club Nerdies 2016 Longform Nonfiction Nonfiction Detectives: Best of 2016 Northland College Young Adult Notable Book Green Earth Book Award – YA Nonfiction 2017 Sigurd F. Olson Nature Writing Notable book * "A terrific, engrossing resource." —Booklist, STARRED review "This eye-opening book on the science and politics of agriculture serves as a wake-up call to readers about the fragility of something many of us take for granted: our plant-based food supply. Castaldo clearly lays out a case for the importance of plant diversity (&“Seeds equal life&”), presenting engaging scientific and historical information..." —Horn Book Magazine "An impassioned call to action..." —School Library Journal "Castaldo delivers a sobering global status report—and a call to action...Well-crafted and inspiring." —Kirkus "Castaldo breaks down threats like climate change and disease, while providing a greater sense of interconnectivity in nature and within world communities." —Publishers Weekly —
The Story of Stuff: How Our Obsession with Stuff Is Trashing the Planet, Our Communities, and Our Health-and a Vision for Change
by Annie LeonardA classic exposé in company with An Inconvenient Truth and Silent Spring, The Story of Stuff expands on the celebrated documentary exploring the threat of overconsumption on the environment, economy, and our health. Leonard examines the &“stuff&” we use everyday, offering a galvanizing critique and steps for a changed planet.The Story of Stuff was received with widespread enthusiasm in hardcover, by everyone from Stephen Colbert to Tavis Smiley to George Stephanopolous on Good Morning America, as well as far-reaching print and blog coverage. Uncovering and communicating a critically important idea—that there is an intentional system behind our patterns of consumption and disposal—Annie Leonard transforms how we think about our lives and our relationship to the planet. From sneaking into factories and dumps around the world to visiting textile workers in Haiti and children mining coltan for cell phones in the Congo, Leonard, named one of Time magazine’s 100 environmental heroes of 2009, highlights each step of the materials economy and its actual effect on the earth and the people who live near sites like these. With curiosity, compassion, and humor, Leonard shares concrete steps for taking action at the individual and political level that will bring about sustainability, community health, and economic justice. Embraced by teachers, parents, churches, community centers, activists, and everyday readers, The Story of Stuff will be a long-lived classic.
The Story of Trees
by Kevin;West David“Wonderful stories and in-depth information you will normally never find in books about trees.†Piet Oudolf, Landscape Designer and creator of the planting design for New York’s High Line“Entwining fascinating facts about 100 trees with inspiring stories of their importance to ancient civilizations, trade, religious and pagan beliefs, wellbeing and medicinal uses over the ages, this delightful and well-researched book provokes curiosity on every page.†Dr. Alexandra Wagstaffe, Eden Project LearningThe Story of Trees takes the reader on a visual journey from some of the earliest known tree species on our planet to the latest fruit cultivars.The chosen trees have all had a profound effect on the planet and humankind. Starting with the Ginkgo biloba, fossils of which date back 270 million years, we learn about how trees came to be integral to the development of our species, and how specific trees have become important religious, political, and cultural symbols.With beautiful illustrations by Thibaud Herem and fascinating botanical facts and figures, this book will appeal to tree lovers from all over the world. “Within these pages, we hope to inform and inspire those who already have a love of trees, as well as those who otherwise may have taken them for granted. The Story of Treesis our story, but also that of our ancestors. It is about our relationship with some of the world’s most important trees, both on a local scale and globally. With so many trees to choose from, we have endeavored to feature those that have been, and in most cases continue to be, of cultural and practical value to humankind.†-From the Introduction of The Story of Trees
The Story of Trees: And How They Changed the Way We Live
by David West Kevin Hobbs“Wonderful stories and in-depth information you will normally never find in books about trees.”Piet Oudolf, Landscape Designer and creator of the planting design for New York’s High Line“Entwining fascinating facts about 100 trees with inspiring stories of their importance to ancient civilizations, trade, religious and pagan beliefs, wellbeing and medicinal uses over the ages, this delightful and well-researched book provokes curiosity on every page.”Dr. Alexandra Wagstaffe, Eden Project LearningThe Story of Trees takes the reader on a visual journey from some of the earliest known tree species on our planet to the latest fruit cultivars.The chosen trees have all had a profound effect on the planet and humankind. Starting with the Ginkgo biloba, fossils of which date back 270 million years, we learn about how trees came to be integral to the development of our species, and how specific trees have become important religious, political, and cultural symbols.With beautiful illustrations by Thibaud Herem and fascinating botanical facts and figures, this book will appeal to tree lovers from all over the world. “Within these pages, we hope to inform and inspire those who already have a love of trees, as well as those who otherwise may have taken them for granted. The Story of Treesis our story, but also that of our ancestors. It is about our relationship with some of the world’s most important trees, both on a local scale and globally. With so many trees to choose from, we have endeavored to feature those that have been, and in most cases continue to be, of cultural and practical value to humankind.”-From the Introduction of The Story of Trees
The Story of the Fens
by Frank MeeresLincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, as well as Peterborough City Council, all lay claim to a part of the Fens. Since Roman times, man has increased the land mass in this area by one third of the size. It is the largest plain in the British Isles, covering an area of nearly three-quarters of a million acres and is unique to the UK. The fen people know the area as marsh (land reclaimed from the sea) and fen (land drained from flooding rivers running from the uplands). The Fens are unique in having more miles of navigable waterways than anywhere else in the UK. Mammoth drainage schemes in the seventeenth and eighteenth changed the landscape forever – leading slowly but surely to the area so loved today. Insightful, entertaining and full of rich incident, here is the fascinating story of the Fens.
The Story of the San Francisco Earthquake (Cornerstones of Freedom)
by R. Conrad SteinDescribes the devastating earthquake and ensuing fire that destroyed much of San Francisco in the spring of 1906.
The Strange God Who Makes Us
by Christopher KennedyAn exploration of memory, mourning, and humanity’s precarious relationship to the Anthropocene, Christopher Kennedy’s The Strange God Who Makes Us documents our fragile relationship with time and the imperfect ways in which we document our lives. These prose poems written by one of the form’s masters, serve both as attempts to preserve and honor the past and as a call to action to ensure an inhabitable planet for future generations.
The Strange White Doves: True Mysteries of Nature
by Alexander KeyIn the behavior of animals, an author discovers the limitless possibility of natureIn a wild stretch of countryside where only the toughest creatures can survive, an author witnesses a miracle: a white dove. His young companion chases after the bird, catching it easily with his bare hands—a second miracle. He takes it home as a pet, and there they find the third miracle of the day: the dove&’s mate, who traveled hundreds of miles to reunite with her vanished beloved. But how did she know where to find him—and what does her journey tell us about the mysteries of the wild? To the author, the miracle of the doves is too remarkable to be explained by instinct. He suspects they share a kind of telepathy, and he begins to see signs of other unspoken mysteries everywhere he looks—from insects on the ground to branches on the trees. Life is a mystery, but the answers await us if, like the doves, we know how to listen.
The Strange Wonders of Roots
by Evan GriffithFrom the acclaimed author of Manatee Summer comes a poignant story about a girl who learns to lay down roots as she’s drawn into a fight over a local grove of trees that’s in danger of being torn down. Perfect for fans of Hoot and Operation Redwood.Holly Foster knows that nothing lasts—not hometowns or schools, or even family. It’s just safer to keep herself uninvolved. So when she’s sent to spend part of the summer with her uncle, she knows better than to get attached to him…or any part of his small Vermont town of Arden.But when she arrives, she’s drawn into the drama that’s split the town: The local plastic factory is trying to tear down the trees in the center of Arden to build a visitor’s center and museum. Holly shocks herself by stepping into the fray and taking on one of the most powerful families in the area. But as she learns more about the town—and makes a new friend or two—Holly is determined to protect the one place she thinks she could finally belong. But will she be able to convince the other townspeople that the trees deserve to stay?
The Stranger in the Lifeboat
by Mitch AlbomThe stunning new novel from the bestselling author of global phenomenon Tuesdays with MorrieAdrift in a raft after a terrible shipwreck, ten strangers try to survive while they wait for rescue.After three days, short on water, food and hope, they spot a man floating in the waves.They pull him on board - and the survivor claims he can save them.But should they put their trust in him?Will any of them see home again?And why did the ship really sink?The Stranger in the Lifeboat is not only a deeply moving novel about the power of love and hope in the face of danger, but also a mystery that will keep you guessing to the very end.'Mitch Albom sees the magical in the ordinary' Cecelia Ahern'He has the ability to make you cry in spite of yourself' Boston Globe'Albom has touched the lives of a lot of people he never even knew' Time
The Stranger in the Lifeboat: The uplifting new novel from the bestselling author of Tuesdays with Morrie
by Mitch AlbomTHE INSTANT NO.1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERThe stunning new novel from the bestselling author of global phenomenon Tuesdays with Morrie'Mitch Albom sees the magical in the ordinary' Cecelia Ahern____________Adrift in a raft after a terrible shipwreck, ten strangers try to survive while they wait for rescue.After three days, short on water, food and hope, they spot a man floating in the waves.They pull him on board - and the survivor claims he can save them.But should they put their trust in him?Will any of them see home again?And why did the ship really sink?The Stranger in the Lifeboat is not only a deeply moving novel about the power of love and hope in the face of danger, but also a mystery that will keep you guessing to the very end.____________What real readers are saying about The Stranger in the Lifeboat: 'Enthralling storytelling as always from this brilliant writer' FIVE STARS 'Just when I thought I had things figured out . . . plot twist. One that was not expected. And another and another and another. Mind. Blown . . . You just just have to read it' FIVE STARS'Albom can always be depended on to not only write a book that is written well and entertaining, but compels the reader to look within themselves and feel something new' FIVE STARS'A very exciting, thrilling and poignant tale of trying to survive against the odds' FIVE STARS
The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit
by Michael FinkelNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The remarkable true story of a man who lived alone in the woods of Maine for 27 years, making this dream a reality—not out of anger at the world, but simply because he preferred to live on his own.&“A meditation on solitude, wildness and survival.&” —The Wall Street JournalIn 1986, a shy and intelligent twenty-year-old named Christopher Knight left his home in Massachusetts, drove to Maine, and disappeared into the forest. He would not have a conversation with another human being until nearly three decades later, when he was arrested for stealing food. Living in a tent even through brutal winters, he had survived by his wits and courage, developing ingenious ways to store edibles and water, and to avoid freezing to death. He broke into nearby cottages for food, clothing, reading material, and other provisions, taking only what he needed but terrifying a community never able to solve the mysterious burglaries. Based on extensive interviews with Knight himself, this is a vividly detailed account of his secluded life—why did he leave? what did he learn?—as well as the challenges he has faced since returning to the world. It is a gripping story of survival that asks fundamental questions about solitude, community, and what makes a good life, and a deeply moving portrait of a man who was determined to live his own way, and succeeded.
The Strongest Man This Side of Cremona
by Georgia GrahamMatthew's dad is the strongest man this side of Cremona. He can Lift Matthew right over barbed wire fences, and when he shouts at the cows, they jump. But while helping his dad repair a section of fence on their dairy farm, Matthew encounters something even stronger than his dad: a tornado sweeping a path of devastation across the prairie landscape. Thanks to his dad's quick thinking, Matthew and his family survive the tornado. But it has left Matthew shaken, and their beautiful farm has been damaged almost beyond recognition. While family and friends from all over the community gather to help rebuild, Matthew hauls debris and thinks. Finally, at the end of the day, when everyone can relax, Matthew realizes that the love he and his father share is the strongest thing of all.
The Structure and Dynamics of Human Ecosystems: Toward a Model for Understanding and Action
by William R. Burch Gary E. Machlis Jo Ellen ForceA landmark book that strives to provide both grand theory and practical application, innovatively describing the structure and dynamics of human ecosystems As the world faces ever more complex and demanding environmental and social challenges, the need for interdisciplinary models and practical guidance becomes acute. The Human Ecosystem Model described in this landmark book provides an innovative response. Broad in scope, detailed in method, at once theoretical and applied, this grand study offers an in-depth understanding of human ecosystems and tools for action. The authors draw from Goethe’s Faust, classic anthropology and sociology studies, contemporary ecosystem ecology, Buddhist ethics, and more to create a paradigm-shifting model and a major advance in interdisciplinary ecology.
The Struggle for Land Under Israeli Law: An Architecture of Exclusion
by Hadeel S. Abu HusseinThis book provides a comprehensive examination of land law for Arab Palestinians under Israeli law. Land is one of the core resources of human existence, development and activity. Therefore, it is also a key basis of political power and of social and economic status. Land regimes and planning regulations play a dynamic role in deciding how competing claims over resources will be resolved. According to legal geography, spatial ordering impacts legal regimes; whilst legal rules form social and human space. Through the lenses of international law, colonisation and legal geography, the book examines the land regime in Israel. More specifically, it endeavours to understand the spatial strategies adopted by Israel to organise the entire territorial expanse of the country as Jewish, while also excluding Arab Palestinian citizens of Israel and residents of East Jerusalem from the landscape. The book then details how the systematic nature and processes of marginalisation are mapped out across the civil, political and socio-economic landscape. This monograph will be of interest to international legal theorists, legal geographers, land lawyers and human rights practitioners and students; as well as to international scholars, NGOs and others focusing on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.
The Struggle for Sustainability in Rural China: Environmental Values and Civil Society
by Bryan TiltThough China's economy is projected to become the world's largest within the next twenty years, industrial pollution threatens both the health of the country's citizens and the natural resources on which their economy depends. Capturing the consequences of this reality, Bryan Tilt conducts an in-depth, ethnographic study of Futian Township, a rural community reeling from pollution. The industrial township is located in the populous southwestern province of Sichuan. Three local factories-a zinc smelter, a coking plant, and a coal-washing plant-produce air and water pollution that far exceeds the standards set by the World Health Organization and China's Ministry of Environmental Protection. Interviewing state and company officials, factory workers, farmers, and scientists, Tilt shows how residents cope with this pollution and how they view its effects on health and economic growth. Striking at the heart of the community's environmental values, he explores the intersection between civil society and environmental policy, weighing the tradeoffs between protection and economic growth. Tilt ultimately finds that the residents are quite concerned about pollution, and he investigates the various strategies they use to fight it. His study unravels the complexity of sustainable development within a rapidly changing nation.
The Stuff of Stars
by Marion Dane Bauer Ekua Holmes<p>In an astonishing unfurling of our universe, Newbery Honor winner Marion Dane Bauer and Caldecott Honor winner Ekua Holmes celebrate the birth of every child. <p>Before the universe was formed, before time and space existed, there was . . . nothing. But then . . . BANG! Stars caught fire and burned so long that they exploded, flinging stardust everywhere. And the ash of those stars turned into planets. Into our Earth. And into us. In a poetic text, Marion Dane Bauer takes readers from the trillionth of a second when our universe was born to the singularities that became each one of us, while vivid illustrations by Ekua Holmes capture the void before the Big Bang and the ensuing life that burst across galaxies. A seamless blend of science and art, this picture book reveals the composition of our world and beyond — and how we are all the stuff of stars.</p>
The Subsidy Scandal: How Your Government Wastes Your Money to Wreck Your Environment (Routledge Library Editions: Conservation #7)
by Charlie Pye-SmithOriginally published in 2002, The Subsidy Scandal examines the subsidies spent by governments and the affect this has had on the environment. The book examines industries ranging from agriculture to mining, energy to transport and the subsidies spent on these industries by government. The book argues that these industries have had a negative impact on the environment, often funded through government subsidies derived from public taxes. The book suggests that these subsidies go to those who least need them – frequently to corporations and special interest groups which recycle some of the funds to support the politicians who keep the subsidies going. Based on research in North America, with examples from Europe and elsewhere, the book provides an investigative report into to the money assigned to environmental policies to find out where the money goes and what produces it.
The Substance of Style: How the Rise of Aesthetic Value Is Remaking Commerce, Culture, and Consciousness
by Virginia PostrelWhether it's sleek leather pants, a shiny new Apple computer, or a designer toaster, we make important decisions as consumers every day based on our sensory experience. Sensory appeals are everywhere, and they are intensifying, radically changing how Americans live and work. The twenty-first century has become the age of aesthetics, and whether we realize it or not, this influence has taken over the marketplace, and much more.In this penetrating, keenly observed book, Virginia Postrel makes the argument that appearance counts, that aesthetic value is real. Drawing from fields as diverse as fashion, real estate, politics, design, and economics, Postrel deftly chronicles our culture's aesthetic imperative and argues persuasively that it is a vital component of a healthy, forward-looking society.Intelligent, incisive, and thought-provoking, The Substance of Style is a groundbreaking portrait of the democratization of taste and a brilliant examination of the way we live now.
The Subtropical Vegetation of Southwestern China
by Cindy Q. TangThis book provides a wealth of high-quality scientific information on the patterns and processes of vegetation change across a broad range of spatial and temporal scales, concentrating on Southwestern China, mostly on the Yunnan region, and extending to the Yangtze River valley near the boundaries separating Chongqing, Sichuan and Guizhou.
The Sultan Demands His Heir
by Maya BlakeShe will become his bride!Newly crowned sultan Zaid Al-Ameen is determined to rid his country of corruption. Unfortunately for Esme Scott, that means arresting her conman father—leaving her with little choice but to strike a deal with his captor.Zaid sees a golden opportunity in social worker Esme: his country needs reform, and it’s her area of expertise. But working together sparks an insatiable longing—and after a heated encounter, they realize she’s pregnant!Zaid’s sensual power over Esme leaves her helpless to resist his demands. She never imagined she’d become wife to a sultan—until Zaid’s expert touch persuades her otherwise…
The Summer My Father Was Ten
by Pat BrissonEvery year my father and I plant a garden. Tomatoes, peppers, onions, marigold, and zinnias grow in neat, straight rows...and every spring my father tells me about Mr. Bellavista and the summer my father was ten. -From the book. That was the summer the boy lost a baseball under a tomato plant in Mr. Bellavista's garden. And someone tossed a tomato back instead of the baseball. A lively battle took place, which seemed like great fun at the time, but in the end Mr. Bellavista's garden had been destroyed. In a touching story of one boy's efforts to make amends, we see the rebuilding of a garden and the forming of a relationship across generations. With luminous, beautifully detailed watercolors, the artist has captured both the sadness and the quiet joy woven throughout the tale.
The Summer Vacation from the Black Lagoon (Black Lagoon Adventures)
by Mike ThalerAfter getting so bundled up that he can hardly move, Hubie tries to enjoy his snow day off from school.