We asked our staff and students to recommend some of their favourite books to include on this list. Recommmended reading for individual courses is available from the College together with each detailed course description. Indicative reading for the Masters Degree in Holistic Science can be found in the MSc section of the website.
This list has been compiled in alphabetical order.
The Spell of the Sensuous: Perception and Language in a More-Than-Human World (Vintage Books 1996 : New York, ISBN: 0679776397)
“Nobody writes about the ecological depths of the human and more-than-human world with more love and lyrical sensitivity than David Abram.” ~Theodore Roszak
The Whale by Moonlight, and other adventures among bats, penguins, crocodilians and whales (Phoenix 1994) “ These portraits form a provocative, celebratory book about animals and humans and their relationship..startling and new perspectives on the wonders of nature, and wise insights into ourselves. “
A Natural History of the Senses ( Phoenix 1990 ) “..a vibrant exploration of our ability to smell, hear taste, see and touch.” “ Her research is phenomenal and her knowledge impressive.” Daily Telegraph.
The Elixir and the Stone (Viking, 1997) A history of the Western hermetic tradition. Having been driven underground for centuries this tradition is now, the authors argue, surfacing and having a widespread influence. Excellent bibliography for further reading.
Selected poems (Counterpoint 1998) and What are People For?
“[Berry’s] straightforward search for a life connected to the soil, for marriage as a sacrament…affirms a style that is resonant with the authentic…He can be said to have returned American Poetry to a Wordsworthian clarity of purpose.” The New York Times Book Review.
The Wholeness of Nature – Goethe’s Way of Science (Floris Books 1996) Definitely food for thought and a candidate for the island! Could be regarded more as a workbook, which should be read a few times to get the most out of it. The reward? Only a whole new way of seeing and thinking about the world.
Paths in Utopia (Syracuse University Press, 1996) The most cogent and eloquent appraisal of the modern utopian tradition – more relevant and urgent today than ever.
The Education of Little Tree (University of New Mexico Press, 1986.
ISBN: 0-8263-0879-1) An autobiographical account of the author’s upbringing with his Cherokee grandparents. Full of charm and humour, the book is an unsentimental but powerfully affecting testament to people truly connected to the Earth and the more-than-human world.
Waterlog : A Swimmer’s Journey Through Britain (Vintage 2000) “an aquatic songlines” “an eccentric masterpiece”
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
The Snow Geese (Picador 2000) “..an inspired work of natural history and a poetic meditation on leaving home, on wandering and belonging.” Marina Warner.
Call Me by My True Names (1986, Parallax Press; ISBN: 1888375167 ) The poetry of the Vietnamese buddhist monk
Narciss and Goldmund
Ecovillage Living – Restoring the Earth and her People edited by Green Books and Gaia Trust 2002. A great collection of articles by many elders of the eco-village movement. The book covers the entire spectrum of issues related to humanity’s sustainable existence on Earth. It is extreemly informative, inspiring and furthermore beautifully presented with lots of photographs documenting ecovillages worldwide.
Prodigal Summer
The Body of God
The Sixth Extinction.. (Weidenfeld and Nicholson, London, 1996.)
“I believe we face a crisis – one of our own making – and if we fail to negotiate it with vision, we will lay a curse of unimaginable magnitude on future generations”, writes the author of this lucid and vital wake- up call. For all our sakes, let’s hope we heed it.
The Body’s Recollection of Being (Routledge & Kegan Paul: London 1985. ISBN: 0710204787) Levin explores the exile of the human body from western philosophy, and tentatively moves towards its return.
Gaia — the Practical Science of Planetary Medicine brilliant independent scientist who invented an instrument which revealed the worldwide distribution of pesticide residues. He co-operated with NASA and some of his inventions were adopted in their programme of planetary exploration. An updated and fully illustrated version of this classic work, written for non-scientists, puts forward the idea that life on earth functions as a single organism. In contrast to conventional belief that living matter is passive in the face of threats to its existence, the book explores the hypothesis that the earth’s living matter air, ocean, and land surfaces forms a complex system that has the capacity to keep the Earth a fit place for life.
The Unofficial Countryside (Pimlico , reprinted 1999) “He uncovers a territory rich in wildlife that’s available to every town-dweller with eyes to see.”
Flora Poetica, The Chatto Book of Botanical Verse This collection brings together 250 poems about flowers, plants and trees from eight centuries of writing in English.
New and Selected Poems — winner of the 1992 National Book Award for Poetry ( Beacon Press 1992 ) “ …One of the astonishing aspects of Oliver’s poetry is the consistency of tone over this long period. What changes is an increased focus on nature and an increased precision with language that has made her one of our very best poets. “ New York Times Book Review.
The Tree of Knowledge The Biological Roots of Human Understanding (revised edition 1992 Shabhala , Boston and London.)
The Essential Rumi (Penguin 1999. Translated by Coleman Barks with John Moyne)
Small is Beautiful A classic — written in 1973 and as inspirational and pertinent today.
The Lorax (Harper Collins, London, 1997. ISBN: 0 00 170012 X) The story of the damage we have wrought upon the Earth is all here, told with love and without blame. It is true, funny, ineffably poignant, and ends with a seed of hope. A treasure.
The Fifth Sacred Thing
The Passion of the Western Mind The book is an education in itself. It is beautifully written and takes the reader into the minds of the people who shaped Western culture.
Refuge – An Unnatural History of Family and Place (Vintage 1992) In the spring of 1983 TT Williams learned that her mother was dying of cancer. That same spring, Great Salt Lake began to rise to record heights threatening the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge that Williams, poet and naturalist had come to gauge her life by. “ The courage, passion, and the purity of motive in William’s voice are remarkable. Her demonstration of how deeply human emotional life can become intertwined with a particular landscape could not be more relevant to our lives. “Barry Lopez, author of Arctic Dreams.
Playing safe: science & the environment This book confronts the assessment of the benefits and risks of scientific advance, advising a cautious and sceptical approach in applying scientific knowledge as we try to improve the world around us. The author takes on three crucial topics: climate change; genetic engineering; and toxic chemicals. Essential reading for anyone interested in the issues of sustainable development today.
The Web of Life Capra argues that at the end of the 20th century we are shifting away from the mechanistic world of Descartes and Newton to a holistic, ecological view. He establishes patterns between ideas from such diverse fields as Buddhism and quantum physics.
Many of the books you will find in the Schumacher Library, can be ordered from Alan Shephard who co-ordinates Green Spirit and the Schumacher Book Service. To visit GreenSpirit Books online, click here www.greenspirit.org.uk
