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Welcome to Our Climate Action Neighborhood Book Read
Welcome to Our Climate Action Neighborhood Book Read
The saying goes that “actions speak louder than words,” but sometimes we need words first before we feel comfortable jumping into action. With that thought in mind we offer our College Park Climate Action Neighborhood Quarterly Book Read.
We encourage readers to consider sourcing books from our local libraries and bookstores when available. Additionally we suggest book sharing utilizing our College Park Climate CAN Google Group email, or our College Park Climate Action Neighborhood Facebook Group. Please contact CollegeParkCAN@gmail.com for additional information or assistance in locating copies of our current read.
Suggested book stores:
Pocket Books 903 Wheatland Ave, Lancaster 17603
DogStar Books 401 W Lemon St, Lancaster 17603
Marshall St Bookstore 225 N Marshall St, Lancaster 17602
NEW for 2026
Are you interested in sharing a meal while discussing books on climate, nature, resiliency and more? If so, complete this quick questionnaire!
October - December
THE STORY OF MORE - How We Got to Climate Change and Where to Go From Here by Hope Jahren
(An audio version and youth version of this book is available.)
My three year old granddaughter always wants more - more stories before bed, more of the TV show "Bluey" on the weekends, and definitley more blueberries for breakfast. But when is more enough, or too much? And when does wanting more, more, more take us over the tipping point of irreversible climate change? Scientist meets storyteller in this very readable and thought provoking book where facts are not fiction and reality is the truth we need to hear in order to figure out a way forward. MS
HOPE JAHREN is an award-winning scientist who has been pursuing independent research in paleobiology since 1996. Recognized by Time in 2016 as one of the 100 most influential people in the world, she is the recipient of three Fulbright Awards and served as a tenured professor at the University of Hawaii in Honolulu from 2008 to 2016, where she built the isotope geobiology laboratories. She currently holds the J. Tuzo Wilson professorship at the University of Oslo, Norway.
July - September
THE SERVICEBERRY - Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Author Elizabeth Gilbert writes, Robin Wall Kimmerer is “a great teacher, and her words are a hymn of love to the world.” The Serviceberry is an antidote to the broken relationships and misguided goals of our times, and a reminder that “hoarding won’t save us, all flourishing is mutual.” From the author's website: Our economy is rooted in scarcity, competition, and the hoarding of resources, and we have surrendered our values to a system that actively harms what we love. Meanwhile, the serviceberry’s relationship with the natural world is an embodiment of reciprocity, interconnectedness, and gratitude. The tree distributes its wealth—its abundance of sweet, juicy berries—to meet the needs of its natural community. And this distribution ensures its own survival.
April - June: Land and Water Climate Impact Area
NATURE'S BEST HOPE by Doug Tallamy
If you had the pleasure of hearing Doug Tallamy speak at Brightside Opportunities Center in March, then this informative book is the next best step in bringing his words to action!
"In this new book, Tallamy takes the next step and outlines his vision for a grassroots approach to conservation. Nature’s Best Hope shows how homeowners everywhere can turn their yards into conservation corridors that provide wildlife habitats. Because this approach relies on the initiatives of private individuals, it is immune from the whims of government policy. Even more important, it’s practical, effective, and easy—you will walk away with specific suggestions you can incorporate into your own yard.
If you’re concerned about doing something good for the environment, Nature’s Best Hope is the blueprint you need. By acting now, you can help preserve our precious wildlife—and the planet—for future generations."
OR
WE ARE THE ARK by Mary Reynolds
Individuals can't save the world alone. But if millions of us work together to save our own patch of earth--then we really have a shot. How do we do it? With Acts of Restorative Kindness (ARK). An ARK is a restored, native ecosystem. It's a thriving patch of native plants and creatures that have been allowed and supported to re-establish in the earth's intelligent, successional process of natural restoration. Over time, this becomes a pantry and a habitat for our pollinators and wild creatures who are in desperate need of support.
January - March: Education Advocacy Climate Impact Area
The Climate Action Handbook- A Visual Guide to 100 Climate Solutions For Everyone by Heidi A. Roop, PhD.
With stunning infographics that solidify the intentions behind the suggested planet saving actions, this easy to read and easy to swallow guide is right for all, no matter where you are on your climate journey.
Action 2 - Center Action in Your Strengths and Passions
Action 10 - Drive and Commute Mindfully
Action 17 - Seek Out Eco-Friendly Accommodations
February: Education & Advocacy Climate Impact Area
All We Can Save edited by Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson & Dr. Katharine K. Wilkinson
On the website, AllWeCanSave.earth the book is described as "an anthology of writings by 60 women at the forefront of the climate movement who are harnessing truth, courage, and solutions to lead humanity forward." The website itself offers additional resources for more in depth learning and opportunities to connect with the larger community of climate concerned folks. All I know is as I've been reading All We Can Save, I find myself nodding along, rereading especially poignant lines of poetry, savoring the climate justice wins, and marveling at the work being done by women of all ages and backgrounds. Inspiring and hopeful but real and honest, All We Can Save offers one clarifying essay after another.
July - August: Land & Water Climate Impact Area
The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan
Amy Tan’s recent book The Backyard Bird Chronicles begs us to slow down, smell the roses and watch the birds. What great advice for these hot, humid days of summer. With beautiful sketches Tan encourages the reader to take note of the small details in front of us before they flitter away. Her drawings and observations may inspire you to start your own nature journal, or learn more about the process. Nature journaling is also a wonderful way for kids to record their summer adventures or backyard musings. Stop, be still, listen and observe - that’s a great prescription for the perfect summer day.
May - June: Food Climate Impact Area
In Defense of Food
or Food Rules both by Michael Pollan
You’ve got two options for our current reading, Michael Pollan’s “Food Rules” or “In Defense of Food,” also by Pollan. Food Rules is a delightful, easy to read, easy to swallow short book of simple behaviors around eating. Think slow meals and no devices at the table to help improve our enjoyment of the food we eat and the company we keep. In Defense of Food is a much more in depth look at our dietary options, the pitfalls of the food industry and the forever changing information about nutritional science. Pollan’s writing is very approachable and succinct. He proposes, “Eat food. Not Too Much. Mostly Plants.”
Share your copy of either book when you’ve finished reading it, or post comments on the reading on our College Park CAN Facebook Group or contact CollegeParkCAN@gmail.com if you’d like to host a community conversation.
March - April: Materials Climate Impact Area
Year Of No Garbage by Eve O Schaub
“What starts out as a humorous search for Zero Waste turns into a profound investigation into the limits of personal responsibility in a culture thoroughly entrenched in toxic plastic. Year of No Garbage is both a delightful memoir and the wakeup call we need to start seriously addressing the Plastic Crisis today.”—Judith Enck, Former EPA regional administrator and founder of Beyond Plastics
March and April of this year we’ll be focusing on our Materials Climate Impact Area, and especially plastics, our over-dependence on them, and the purposeful reduction of plastics usage in our daily lives. We encourage everyone in our College Park CAN to take the time to read, or listen to the Year of No Garbage (Recycling Lies, Plastic Problems, and One Woman’s Trashy Journey to Zero Waste) by Eve O. Schaub
For those interested in joining a group discussion on the Year of No Garbage in April, stay tuned for the date, place and time, or contact CollegeParkCAN@gmail.com if you’d like to host a community conversation.
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