Books Like Braiding Sweetgrass That’ll Change the Way You View Nature 

After a tumultuous childhood and young adulthood, during which he was taken from his family and forced to assimilate into white Canadian culture before running away and struggling with homelessness and addiction, Richard Wagamese discovered the power of reading and writing and penned this book. In a series of letters addressed to the young son from whom he was estranged, Wagamese reflects on his life and weaves his recollections together with Ojibwe teachings on nature and the world. “A well-written, introspective book on fatherhood and loss that will especially interest readers and students of First Nations life and literature,” this is a poignant read about generational trauma, reconnecting with one’s roots, and Indigenous cosmology (Library Journal).

Not quite like any other Antarctica story you might have read before, The Quickening documents 57 scientists and their crew’s journey to Thwaites Glacier to learn about a place previously unexplored by humans. Scientists wished to study the Thwaites Glacier since its deterioration could cause disastrous effects as the global sea level rises. 

This book chronicles the long hours spent in the lab and offers a reflection on what it means to bring children into the world during climate change. Rush highlights the perspectives of scientists who have been ignored and diminished in the past, including voices from women and people of color. The result is a wonderful amalgamation of intellectual minds that express their insight about what Rolling Stone has nicknamed the “Doomsday Glacier.”   

Although Indigenous communities are the most negatively affected by climate devastation, Indigenous science is usually kept out of mainstream environmental policy and discourse and has often been deemed disreputable due to systemic racism, colonialism and extractive capitalism. Jessica Hernadez, an Indigenous scholar, scientist, community advocate and founder of Piña Soul, a business that promotes environmental sustainability and conservation among Black and Indigenous communities, asserts that Western conservation tactics should embrace Indigenous environmental knowledge. 

By using case studies, historical overviews and stories that come directly from Indigenous women and land protectors, she makes a powerful case to discourage eco-colonialism that preys on Indigenous land and to start treating Earth with the respect it deserves. 

This New York Times bestseller explores the significance of trees both as a resource and as a vital part of the ecosystem. Simard asserts that if we take the time to observe, trees thrive in very similar ways to humans. As a pioneer of plant communication and intelligence, Simard explains how trees learn to adapt, recognize neighboring trees, and communicate with each other via underground networks in order to flourish. The author relays how her love for trees came from her childhood spent cataloging trees in the rainforests of British Columbia, allowing readers to understand her passion and drive to learn more about these incredible plants. 

Researcher and activist Dina Gilio-Whitaker takes readers through the Indigenous struggle to protect access to food, water, and sacred sites and emphasizes the contributions that Indigenous women have made to defend their environmental rights. While the highly publicized Standing Rock protest in 2016 brought more attention to Indigenous activists’ fight, it also exposed the ignorance of Americans when it came to understanding the historical tensions between Indigenous communities and the mainstream environmental movement. Gilio-Whitaker insists that the only way we can truly be successful in our fight for a sustainable future is to center Indigenous environmentalists in the conversation so that they may share their crucial wisdom.  

Acclaimed naturalist Mike Tomkies shares his experience living in a remote cottage on the shores of Loch Shiel in the West Highlands of Scotland with his beloved German Shepherd. Much like a love letter to nature, Tomkies paints an exquisite portrait of the wonders of the wilderness by chronicling the changes in his surroundings throughout the seasons. This includes the movements of the animals he cohabitates with and the transformation of the surrounding plants throughout the years. Despite Tomkies’ admiration for nature, he also expresses the danger and hardship that can come with living so close to wildlife, painting a realistic depiction that doesn’t romanticize the risks that nature can pose despite its immense beauty.      

Nature is a complex and fascinating subject of study that the average person knows very little about. For instance, did you know healthy garden soil has the same characteristics as delicious chocolate cake? This book will make you feel closer to Mother Nature as you learn about little-known facts, gardening tips and constellation patterns you can discover in the night sky. All of which will get you better in touch with the world around you!   

Often individuals garden to show their appreciation and love for nature, but unfortunately, the techniques that some gardeners use can disrupt the fragile state of ecosystems. There are thankfully many books that teach sustainable gardening methods, but very few actually break down why it’s important to be mindful of their approach to gardening and what we can learn from other species. 

Benjamin Vogt envisions a new garden ethic at the center of individuals’ lives since he describes the physical and mental harm correlated with straying from nature. Vogt asserts that psychological issues around climate change have short-circuited our response to global crises and that we would all benefit from being more thoughtful and intentional about our relationship with nature to cultivate compassionate activism. 

If you’d like to start making it a goal of yours to begin appreciating nature rather than taking the small marvels of the natural world for granted, then this book is for you. Here is a collection that honors nature by noting how the world has expressed its respect for nature through visual arts, science, and music, to name just a few. 

Crump highlights the work of scientists and philosophers who have influenced the way we protect nature and educates readers about various celebrations around the world whose goal is to admire the environment, including National Cat Day and World Wildlife Conservation Day! By reminding us how we have celebrated nature in the past, this book encourages us to continue to respect Earth and all its wonders so that generations after us will be able to enjoy our Earth’s beauty.