Top Ten Staff Book Recommendations to Cozy up to this Winter
Author Margaret Renkl and MPR’s Kerri Miller on stage at the Fitzgerald Theater for the “Talking Volumes” season finale discussing Renkl’s new release, “The Comfort of Crows.”
11/13/2023. Great River Greening had the honor of sponsoring the 2023 season of Minnesota Public Radio’s “Talking Volumes” with Kerri Miller. As part of that sponsorship, Great River Greening staff and Conservation Circle donors had the pleasure of attending the season finale featuring New York Times columnist and nature writer Margaret Renkl. All enjoyed a thoughtful conversation on the intersection of grief and anxiety over our changing climate and joy over the absolute wonders we see outside everyday—even in our own backyards. Staff gave away hand-harvested milkweed seeds to guests who were excited to sow them in their own yards and grow some joy.
Following the “Talking Volumes” finale, Great River Greening staff members couldn’t help but discuss what we’re currently reading, our favorites, or even what’s in our “To Be Read” pile.
Here are ten can’t-miss books for you to check out:
“The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year” by Margaret Renkl
“I'm looking forward to reading this brand-new collection of short essays featuring musings and observations about Margaret's beloved backyard wonderland. At the live event, it was particularly gratifying to hear one of her antidotes to the stressors of the world: Find solace in a pollinator garden!”
– Michelle Lian-Anderson, Advancement Director
“Soil: The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden” by Camille T. Dungy
“I loved this book. Not only is Camille’s writing simply beautiful, it’s a mix of nature writing, environmental justice, and the need to cultivate diversity both in our yards and in our national conversation around the environment. It’s inspired me to convert even more of my small Saint Paul yard into native habitat.”
– Kateri Routh, Executive Director
“Dear Human at the Edge of Time: Poems on Climate Change in the United States” edited by Luisa A. Igloria, Aileen Cassinetto, and Jeremy S. Hoffman
“I’m looking forward to reading [this]… It was released in conjunction with the 5th National Climate Assessment report [due out in yet in 2023]. It is a compilation of poems that several presenters read or shared from at the Midwest Climate Resilience Conference. The poems I’ve heard so far are thought provoking and a little jarring in the context the authors address the theme.”
– Todd Rexine, Conservation Director
“A Healthy Nature Handbook: Illustrated Insights for Ecological Restoration from Volunteer Stewards of Chicago Wilderness” edited by Justin Pepper and Don Parker
“A friend turned me on to this beautiful book all about the ways grassroots volunteers have restored thousands of acres in the Chicago Wilderness, the protected lands throughout the Chicagoland region. The book contains a wealth of knowledge that I’m excited to put into practice in our neck of the prairie.”
– Sara Nelson, Project Manager
“Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants” by Robin Wall Kimmerer
“Once I heard Dr. Kimmerer as a guest on the podcast Ologies, I knew I had to hear more. She cares as deeply about restoring the land as she does about our relationship with the land. I especially appreciated hearing the author’s own voice in the audiobook as she shared Indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge, their intersections, and what we can learn from plants.”
– Julie Baumeister, Communications & Events Coordinator
“The Ministry for the Future” by Kim Stanley Robinson
“This is a Novel with a capital N. Called ‘climate fiction’ by some, this book tells the story of what’s possible in our climate future and how change may come around. What I loved was a vision of the future that relies on nature as a key piece of the solution and prioritizes future generations in our current actions. At times a tough read due human struggle and suffering, I found it to be an incredibly compelling book.”
– Kateri Routh, Executive Director
“Where the Deer and the Antelope Play: The Pastoral Observations of One Ignorant American Who Loves to Walk Outside” by Nick Offerman
“This is not as academic as other reads but takes a humorous look at our understanding of protecting and valuing our natural systems and what that means to modern society as well as the Indigenous people who stewarded the land.”
– Todd Rexine, Conservation Director
“The Climate Action Handbook: A Visual Guide to 100 Climate Solutions for Everyone” by Heidi A. Roop
“As someone who is both a scientist and a communicator, I appreciate how Dr. Roop breaks down these climate solutions into bite-sized pieces with eye-catching graphics. She’s done her homework so that we won’t be overwhelmed with information. We can take action on these solutions starting today.”
– Julie Baumeister, Communications & Events Coordinator
“Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest” by Suzanne Simard
“This book brilliantly captured the elation ecologists experience when immersing themselves in their work, discovering new facts of the natural world. In turn, Simard also laid out the not so exciting realities of grants and budgets that can limit what is to be discovered in an interesting and relatable way.”
– Sam Tollefson, Advancement & Engagement Associate
“Nature’s Best Hope” by Doug Tallamy
“It is a hopeful, detailed, enlightening, but down to earth book of how we can all do a little to make a huge difference in our future of habitat and wildlife in our communities.”
– Kristy Cowdin, Ecologist & Conservation Specialist
Here at Great River Greening, we’re transforming hope into action for Minnesota’s climate future. You can make an impact and take action in whatever way works for you:
Pick any (or all) of these books to read and enact what you learn.
Plant native plants at home.
Partner with us.
Support this work.
Volunteer with Great River Greening.
You can find these books at an independent bookstore near you. Click for a list or map of independent booksellers in Minnesota.
Quotes were edited slightly for length and clarity.
Photo Credits:
Author Margaret Renkl and MPR’s Kerri Miller on stage at the season finale of “Talking Volumes” (Kateri Routh)
Hand holding up “The Comfort of Crows” and “The Climate Action Handbook” (Julie Baumeister)
Remaining images courtesy of the webpages individually linked throughout this blog post, but modified in Canva to fit in the square layout.