Earth Day

Every April, we honor our planet on Earth Day with a selection of works celebrating the natural world. With titles ranging from stories of wilderness survival to nonfiction works about conservation and sustainability, this Collection features a broad spectrum of ideas regarding nature and our role within it.

The Log From The Sea of Cortez

by John Steinbeck

Publication year 1951

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Environment, Plants, Place, War, Science & Technology

Tags Science & Nature, Travel Literature

The Log from the Sea of Cortez (1951) is a nonfiction work by John Steinbeck, which combines travel, memoir, scientific observations, and philosophical reflection. In the book, Steinbeck accompanies the marine biologist Ed Ricketts on a six-week expedition to the Gulf of California. Regarded as one of Steinbeck’s most significant nonfiction works, The Log from the Sea of Cortez also includes an Appendix which serves as a eulogy to Ricketts following his death in 1948... Read The Log From The Sea of Cortez Summary

The Lost World

by Michael Crichton

Publication year 1995

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Environment, Climate, Beauty, Science & Technology, Animals

Tags Horror & Suspense, Science Fiction, Action & Adventure, Animals, Fantasy

The Lost World (1995) is a sequel to Michael Crichton’s techno-thriller Jurassic Park, a 1990 bestseller. The original novel focuses on an ambitious business plan to hatch live dinosaurs through genetic engineering and then display them in a family-friendly theme park on Isla Nublar off the coast of Costa Rica. The plan goes awry when the great animals take over the island and compel the company that initially bankrolled the park, In-Gen, to destroy the... Read The Lost World Summary

The Lottery Rose

by Irene Hunt

Publication year 1976

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Fear, Grief, Hate & Anger, Mental Health, Childhood & Youth, Environment, Plants

Tags Realistic Fiction, Trauma & Abuse, Historical Fiction, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Classic Fiction

Irene Hunt’s 1976 middle grade novel The Lottery Rose focuses on a young boy named Georgie who hides the evidence of his abuse and neglect at the hands of his mother and her boyfriend, Steve. After Georgie wins a rosebush at his local grocery store, he becomes attached to the shrub and passionately cares for it. Georgie’s life changes when the court system places him in an all-boys Catholic school, where he meets adults who... Read The Lottery Rose Summary

The Luck of Roaring Camp

by Bret Harte

Publication year 1868

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Masculinity, Community, Environment

Tags Western, Historical Fiction, Dramatic Literature, Education, Education, American Literature, World History, Classic Fiction

“The Luck of Roaring Camp” is the short story that established Bret Harte’s (also spelled Hart) reputation in the United States and internationally. Set in a gold prospecting camp in 1850 California, the story explores the themes of relationships between man and nature, the possibility of man’s redemption, and the rejection of standard gender roles. Widely published in newspapers and magazines, Harte was known for his depictions of rough or romantic life in the American... Read The Luck of Roaring Camp Summary

The Man Who Planted Trees

by Jean Giono

Publication year 1953

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Environment, Future, Community, Birth

Tags Symbolic Narrative, Science & Nature, French Literature, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction

“The Man Who Planted Trees” is a short story published in 1953 by French author Jean Giono. It chronicles a shepherd’s three-decade-long effort to reforest a barren tract of land in Southeastern France. Spanning a time period shortly before World War I until shortly after World War II, the story is both an antiwar allegory and an environmental allegory. “The Man Who Planted Trees” inspired numerous adaptations across various mediums, including a 1988 Academy Award-winning... Read The Man Who Planted Trees Summary

The Mighty Red

by Louise Erdrich

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Forgiveness, Fear, Grief, Love, Memory, Shame & Pride, Indigenous Identity, Masculinity, Sexual Identity, Coming of Age, Death, Climate, Environment, Plants, Marriage, Mothers, Colonialism, Community, Politics & Government, Justice

Tags Modern Classic Fiction

... Read The Mighty Red Summary

The Ministry of Time

by Kaliane Bradley

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Love, Regret, Race, Future, The Past, Climate, Environment, Social Class, Community, Economics, Globalization, Immigration, Nation, Politics & Government, War, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags World History, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Science Fiction

... Read The Ministry of Time Summary

The Monkey Wrench Gang

by Edward Abbey

Publication year 1975

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Environment, Politics & Government

Tags Humor, Science & Nature, Action & Adventure, Classic Fiction, Politics & Government

Written by environmental advocate Edward Abbey in 1975, The Monkey Wrench Gang tells the story of a motley crew of environmental activists fighting industrialization in the American Southwest. Abbey's most famous work of fiction, this novel inspired a generation of eco-activists. Opening in the so-called "aftermath" (1) of the novel, Abbey immediately situates the reader in media res, at the site of a newly-built bridge between Arizona and Utah, over Glen Canyon. A "workman" (4)... Read The Monkey Wrench Gang Summary

The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari

by Robin S. Sharma

Publication year 1996

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Future, Midlife, Self Discovery, Mental Health, Beauty, Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Gratitude, Fate, Religion & Spirituality, Environment

Tags Self-Improvement, Philosophy, Religion & Spirituality, Inspirational, Psychology, Business & Economics, Psychology, Philosophy

... Read The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari Summary

The Mountain in the Sea

by Ray Nayler

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Animals, Apathy, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Forgiveness, Gratitude, Hope, Loneliness, Memory, Future, Appearance & Reality, Climate, Environment, Place, Friendship, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Social Class, Colonialism, Community, Globalization, Politics & Government, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology, Trust & Doubt

Tags Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror & Suspense, Science & Nature, Animals

... Read The Mountain in the Sea Summary

The Music of Bees

by Eileen Garvin

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Community, Friendship, Environment, Perseverance, Mental Health, Self Discovery, Animals, Plants, Beauty, Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Hope

Tags Animals, Science & Nature, Disability, Coming of Age, Agriculture, Education, Health, Grief & Death, Depression & Suicide, Mental Illness, Social Justice, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read The Music of Bees Summary

The Nature Principle

by Richard Louv

Publication year 2011

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Nature Versus Nurture, Environment

Tags Science & Nature, Education, Education, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Health

In The Nature Principle, journalist and environmentalist Richard Louv calls for action against the nature-deficit disorder, a term he introduced in his bestselling novel Last Child in the Woods. Nature-deficit disorder is the mental, spiritual, emotional and physical detriment caused by a lack of connection with our natural environment. Written in five parts, Louv makes a compelling argument for decreasing the nature-deficit disorder in adults and presents recommendations for how to do so. Louv bases... Read The Nature Principle Summary