In Literature Appetizer, Ben gives you just a taste of a book. Not meant to replace the full meal, this is meant to whet your appetite. Bon appetit!
Lakota America by Pekka Hamalainen
In terms of indigenous history, my schooling growing up was extremely lacking. Not only did I learn that “there are no native people left in Pennsylvania,” but I was also taught that most of the ‘conflict’ happened due to disease instead of fighting. On my journey to fix the schooling that was given to me, this book did a few things extremely well. First, it showed that people are not stuck in time; they change & adapt based on their surroundings. The Lakota weren’t always the ‘horse empire’ they are known today. That only happened after countless decisions that people made at the time. Second, this book did an excellent job showcasing the censorship done by the American Government. The history of America’s relationship to sovereign nations in North America was rewritten or removed to paint the Federal Government in the best light.
Making our Future by Emily Hilliard
This is an excellent introduction to Folkways/Folklife in WV without the loaded stereotypes. Hilliard takes readers on a journey to small coffee shops, wrestling rings, & even digital communities to discuss what folks in WV are doing today. This is one of the few pieces that I’ve seen that isn’t trying to exploit the people or land of central Appalachia. While it does critique some aspects, it is always about the systems that people live in, rather than people themselves. Truly a wonderful read about the people living in Almost Heaven.
Governing the Commons by Ellinor Ostrom
Even though this is a dense read, don’t let it deter you. Starting in chapter 3, Ostrom expertly describes different types of commons & how they are managed. Some are success stories, while others are cautionary tales. An especially important read as we are at risk of losing our National Parks.
The Blue Machine by Helen Czerski
What an incredible read! Czerski does an excellent job of diving into many different aspects of our oceans. From the physics & chemistry to the many ecosystems around the globe. I was particularly moved by the revival of Polynesian Wayfinding. Even if you don’t normally read non-fiction, I cannot recommend this highly enough.
What we Owe the Future by William MacAskill
I wanted to really love this book, since it is discussing longtermism. However, the approach that MacAskill went with felt as if he is ignoring the present in favor of the future. While it is deeply important to think about the future, no one will care unless it can also improve their current lives (just like Economic or Climate focused change). Particularly, when he mentioned at the end that one of the best things you can do is to have children was irritating to me. Having more children won’t solve any of the issues we are in if we can’t take care of the children already on this globe.
The New Urban Crisis by Richard Florida
I have read a lot of books that point out problems, with no realistic or practical solutions. Florida takes the entire book, except for the last chapter, to outline the issues cities are facing. But that last chapter is worth the read for the entire book. Our cities are in a crisis right now due to wealth rapidly traveling towards the richest citizens. One of Florida’s solutions is to make service jobs a good middle class job. If you are thinking “that can’t be done,” we did the same with factory jobs. Those jobs used to pay poor wages, but now they are sought after due to being able to support a family. We can do the same with the service jobs we have across the globe. A negative income tax would also be a great change that we could boost those in need.
The Conquest of Bread by Peter Kropotkin
Even though this was written at the end of the 19th century, Kropotkin puts out many of the same issues we are dealing with today. Income inequality, high rents, unstable employment. While some of the details are different today, the core message is the same. To paraphrase, “there is enough bread for all. We just need to hand it out instead of lettings others hoard resources. There is enough bread so no one goes hungry.”
Cradle of Conservation by Allen Dieterich-Ward
The story of conservation in Pennsylvania mirrors that in Pittsburgh. The forests were endless, the rivers mighty, so industry could do whatever it wanted with no repercussions. It wasn’t until our forests were clearcut, our rivers so polluted that we couldn’t swim, & our skies choked with smoke that conservation became center stage. While many citizens tried pushing to preserve what we had, the public as a whole didn’t notice until Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring. While a lot of the state is heading in a good direction, we must always be striving to project what we have & restore what we lost.
Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall
Board game designers often point to Risk as a terrible game, in terms of game balance. Asia is just too hard to control, while North America is way too easy. They are correct, but this is the world we currently live in. We are locked into the geography of where we live not for a few hours during a game, but thousands & thousands of years as generations come & go. This isn’t to say we have no agency over our decisions, but Marshall outlines excellently the broad history of certain countries to explain how their geography has influenced their past decisions. I was particuarlly interested in the first chapter with Russia, & why Putin feels like if he fails in Ukraine the entirey of Russia would fall.
Fight Like Hell by Kim Kelly
“Every rule is written in blood” is often quoted when talking about OSHA rules & workplace safety. This book outlines some of the fights that have not been discussed as much in the union world. To point out one, the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire killed so many people due to the owners locking the doors (as well as not providing proper fire escapes). The next time you walk through a fire exit, or have a weekend off, make sure to thank a union.
Vitamin N by Richard Louv
So many books on education focus on the why instead of the how. While it is good to understand the pedagogy of what we are doing, sometimes it is refreshing to hear “here’s what we can do about it.” With 500 different ideas, this book is full of many different ideas of what parents & teachers can do to connect their learners to nature in various ways.
Bushcraft by Richard Graves
This was an interesting read for me. I was originally gifted an old edition of this book because “you like outdoor stuff.” It was a great ‘Boy Scout Refresher’ course on a bunch of knots, skills, & tools needed for outdoor survival. It wasn’t until I was almost finished with it that I realized it was for the Australian outback, not the United States.
The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein
What should be required reading for all high school graduates, Rothstein takes readers through America’s history through the lens of systemic oppression. So many individual laws don’t explicitly state racist intentions, which is how they are able to get away with doing so much harm.
Where the Lightning Strikes by Peter Nabokov
European ideas of religion don’t translate one for one on many cultures around the globe. For the First Nations on North America, it is impossible to even lump them all in the same category. They are as varied & complex as the people that live there. A great read for furthering understanding of the people’s of this continent.
The Death & Life of the Great Lakes by Dan Egan
A fascinating read on not only how the Great Lakes connect the ecosystems surrounding them, but also how fragile they are when connected to the rest of the world. Everything from the hydrology, biology, economics, & politics are discussed.
The Age of the Horse by Susanna Forrest
I read this thinking it would be a great intro to horses. Instead, this ended up being a great book for someone who has worked with & knows the culture around horses. Highly recommend for anyone who took a “horse camp” while growing up.