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.
Publication year 2023
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Society: Colonialism, Society: Economics, Society: Globalization, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags History: African , Politics / Government, Business / Economics, Technology, Social Justice, Science / Nature, History: World
Publication year 1997
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Food, Society: Colonialism, Society: Economics, Society: Globalization, Society: Nation
Tags Science / Nature, Animals, History: World, Food
Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World (1997) is a nonfiction work of microhistory by Mark Kurlansky. The book chronicles the history of the cod fish, which is intertwined with issues of European colonialism, enormous shifts in trade and economy, and even war. Cod is also an exploration of the human impact on nature, the failures of environmental stewardship, and the need for greater conservation efforts. Kurlansky is a New York Times bestselling... Read Cod Summary
Publication year 2004
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Climate, Society: Community, Natural World: Environment
Tags History: World, Climate Change, Anthropology, Anthropology, Science / Nature, Social Science, Business / Economics, Sociology, Politics / Government
Following his best-selling, Pulitzer Prize-winning Guns, Germs, and Steel (1997), geologist and anthropologist Jared Diamond published a companion book, Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed, in 2006. Where Guns, Germs, and Steel described how various environments around the world helped or hindered human civilization, Collapse explains how environmental abuse ruined many past societies and how it threatens civilizations today. An updated edition, released in 2011 by Penguin Books, is the subject of this... Read Collapse Summary
Publication year 2005
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Femininity, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Midlife, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Future, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Environment, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Siblings, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Romance, Holidays & Occasions
Publication year 2008
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Space & The Universe, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Future, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure, Humor, Fantasy
Publication year 1980
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Space & The Universe, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Place, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Society: Education, Society: Globalization, Society: War
Tags Science / Nature, History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2002
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Environment
Tags Science / Nature, Business / Economics, Arts / Culture
Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things is a work of nonfiction by William McDonough and Michael Braungart, published in 2002. The book argues that a radical change must be made to the Western world’s industrial and manufacturing systems, which are devastating to the natural world in their present state. Through discussions of environmentalism, industrialism, and design, the authors urge us, as a society, to think differently about what it means to be... Read Cradle To Cradle Summary
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Climate, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Food, Natural World: Place, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Economics, Society: Globalization, Society: Politics & Government
Tags Psychological Fiction
Publication year 1998
Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Identity: Race, Identity: Sexuality, Natural World: Environment, Society: Class, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Literary Criticism, Philosophy
Publication year 1956
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth
Tags Lyric Poem, Science / Nature, Race / Racism, African American Literature
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage, Natural World: Environment, Society: Community
Tags Science / Nature, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction
Publication year 2010
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Environment
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure, Fantasy, Climate Change, Children's Literature
Dark Life (2010) is a dystopian young adult novel by American author Kat Falls. The novel is the first of a two-part series, followed by Rip Tide. Dark Life is set in post-apocalyptic East-Coast America, now ruled by a government called the Commonwealth. Water covers most of the planet’s surface in the wake of climate change and a select group of pioneers now live under the sea. Teenage protagonist Ty Townson uncovers a wide-reaching government... Read Dark Life Summary
Publication year 2013
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Language, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Climate, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Teams, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Russian Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, History: World, Biography, History: European, Crime / Legal, Action / Adventure, Travel Literature
Publication year 2016
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Climate
Tags Spoken Word Poetry
Publication year 1970
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Masculinity, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Environment
Tags Action / Adventure, Survival Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Southern Literature, Classic Fiction
James Dickey’s 1970 novel Deliverance explores themes of masculinity, the relationship between images and reality, and ideas about civilization and nature through the experience of four urban men on a canoe trip gone awry. Dickey, an influential American poet and novelist, was born in 1923 in Atlanta, Georgia. His poetry is known for its vivid imagery and exploration of nature and the human condition. Before turning to writing full time, Dickey served in World War... Read Deliverance Summary
Publication year 1968
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Music, Natural World: Environment
Tags Science / Nature, Philosophy, Philosophy, Travel Literature, Action / Adventure, Classic Fiction, Biography
Desert Solitaire is Edward Abbey’s 1968 memoir of his six months serving as a park ranger in Utah’s Arches National Park in the late 1950s. Throughout the book, Abbey describes his vivid and moving encounters with nature in her various forms: animals, storms, trees, rock formations, cliffs and mountains. He communicates an uncommon reverence for nature, and an unmistakable disdain for tame, cultured humanity, including the vast majority of the tourists who visit the park... Read Desert Solitaire Summary
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Midlife, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Food, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Natural World: Objects, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Teams, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction
Publication year 2001
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Relationships: Family, Natural World: Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Midlife, Values/Ideas: Music
Tags Romance, Drama / Tragedy, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World
Publication year 1838
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Philosophy, Transcendentalism, Religion / Spirituality, American Literature, Philosophy, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Natural World: Environment, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance