A Hole In The Wind: A Climate Scientist's Bicycle Journey Across the United States

A descriptive narrative that leaves the reader with an almost visceral experience of bicycling solo across America, quite a feat not accomplished by very many. The author peppers his travelogue with knowledgeable comments about climate change as informed by his life-long work in the field, and many direct observations while bicycling in this and other trips across the plains and mountains of America.

In Search of the Canary Tree by Lauren E. Oakes

An informative and fascinating narrative about the die-off of Yellow Cedar trees in Southern Alaska that acknowledges previous studies which established the cause to be climate change but then significantly explores the impact of the loss of this tree species, postulates what kind of changes this die-off might generate, and ultimately offers her extensive study and knowledgeable conclusions to provide a data-rich window into the issues of global climate change.

A History of the World in Seven Cheap Things by Raj Patel and Jason Moore

A strong denouncement of the destruction of the Environment and our global society by the adoption of Capitalism. A lot of interesting details explain how "cheap" natural products and resources, labor, food to keep laborers alive and functioning work to maximize profits for the few. The only disappointment is that their conclusion was cursory. Perhaps readers can form discussion groups to perhaps come up with some concrete strategies and activities to revamp a very entrenched economic system that the 1% will fight tooth and nail to keep in place even as our very damaged World becomes increasingly unable to support life.

Kinship of Secrets by Eugenia Kim

A poignant story of two Korean "sisters" raised apart beginning in the Korean War. The one sister lives with her adoptive parents in Washington DC, while the biological daughter is left behind to live with her Uncle's family in South Korea. Their very different lives are revealed in separate chapters that still manage to impart strongly the emotions of an extended family torn apart by distance, loss, and secrets.

Night of Miracles by Elizabeth Berg

Wonderful continuation of a story begun in The Story of Arthur Truluv. The marvelous characters are complex and delightful. Truly a story, I loved and did not want to end because everyone and everything mattered. The small town of Mason is also definitely a significant "character".

This Is The Way The World Ends by Jeff Nesbit

An eye-opening narrative about the horrific consequences for the World of the depletion of freshwater resources that increasingly trigger armed conflicts and migrations as humans struggle to obtain the essentials of water and food. Wealthy nations like Saudi Arabia and China buy up land in the US to grow food for their citizens while others like Yemen have millions of their citizens die from bombing and starvation. Heartbreaking yet also importantly informative about this global crisis which threatens the continued existence of life on Earth. 

The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

An interesting and poignant story about females spies utilized during both World wars.  These women were brave individuals who endured much to provide important information about foreign troop movements and intentions.  This narrative was both well written and absorbing. 

Dopesick by Beth Macy

Informative, eye-opening narrative on the opioid crisis in America. Humanizes the victims and their families. Describes clearly the horrific situation, laying out the responsibility of the Pharmaceutical Industry and the Medical professionals. Explains the unfortunate denial by many that this crisis was exploding in rural and suburban communities, not just the urban low-income areas. An important book.

The Water Will Come by Jeff Goodell

An eye-opening account of the reality of sea rise impacting coastal areas along the East Coast. Recommended.

Democracy in Chains by Nancy MacLean

This was a very hard book to read. It took me two weeks to finish because I took breaks to read some lighter material. It describes the buildup of a powerful Libertarian movement poised to control our increasingly threatened Democracy. The author provides a detailed picture of James McGill Buchanan, an Economist who spent his life developing and spreading his belief in a libertarian government that could make dominant an economic policy that would safeguard the wealth of the few. The wealthy and Corporations he taught should not have to pay taxes to support all the people who needed the benefits of such things as social services or even schools and roads. Now the author states that "The United States is now at one of those historic forks in the road whose outcome will prove as fateful as those of the 1860s, the 1930s, and the 1960s. To value liberty for the wealthy minority above all else and enshrine it in the nation's governing rules, as (John) Calhoun and (James McGill) Buchanan both called for and the Koch network is achieving, play by play, is to consent to an oligarchy in all but the outer husk of representative form." Recommended.

Our Towns:A 100,000 Mile Journey Into the Heart of America by James Fallows and Deborah FallowsA fascinating narrative about some towns that are reinventing themselves through private/public collaboration into locations that entice people to take up residence.

A fascinating narrative about some towns that are reinventing themselves through private/public collaboration into locations that entice people to take up residence.