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5 influential green books

Matilda Lee | 19.06.11

The question of where humans 'fit' in the world is the idea behind some of the green movement's most influential books. While the ultimate role of humans on earth is still unknown, the following green authors have given a lot of insight into the idea.  The fifth book is one of the more controversial, and is due to be published in a couple of weeks.

Five influential green books

Small is Beautiful by E.F. Schumacher (1973)

The fact that Schumacher’s book and the thinking behind it is still credited with fueling some of today's political ideas– not least in  Prime Minister David Cameron's Big Society – is one of the reasons why this book remains one all greens need to cut their teeth on. The whole idea of ‘economics as if people mattered’ was a watershed moment in applying a holistic sense to the narrow field of mainstream economics.  Schumacher also expounded on the idea of 'appropriate technology' - why all technologies should be designed with the scale and size appropriate for its use an surroundings. If anything gets too big, he warned, it becomes inhuman. The idea that small is beautiful remains one of the most powerful principles questioning the almighty force of global capitalism.

Silent Spring by Rachel Carson (1962)

A scientist with a literary flair, Rachel Carson's feat was in turning colourless scientific data into a popular book which not only initiated the modern environmental movement but was the first major alarm call about the dangers of synthetic pesticides. Silent Spring exposed the massive destruction of wildlife through widespread pesticide spraying. The book's publication launched a war with the all-powerful chemical and agricultural industries. Hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent trying to silence the book and the author herself.  They failed. History has vindicated her, and her indestructible sense of wonder for the natural environment lives on in the book.

The Revenge of Gaia by James Lovelock (1979)

The earth has sustained life for more than 3 billion years. Gaia, according to Lovelock, is 'the dynamical physiological system that has kept our planet fit,’ for all those years. The idea that the earth self-regulates was revolutionary at the time and Lovelock's Gaia theory launched a whole new scientific field of study: Earth Systems Sciences. By warning that the earth will survive climate change, but humans (the earth's 'plague of people') won't, Lovelock was catapulted into the front ranks of scientists calling for action. You can hear Lovelock talk about the development of Gaia theory here.

 Here on Earth: A new beginning by Tim Flannery (2011)

Following on from Lovelock, Australian Tim Flannery takes Gaia theory and turns it on its head – arguing that we are witnessing the birth and not the death of human civilization. He argues that the ‘globalised common intelligence of humanity’  will be Gaia’s brain, its command and control system. He argues that, despite all our differences, there is a common humanity that creates basic understanding between humans, and that modern technologies such as the internet and satellite surveillance (of Amazon destruction for example)  are the first tools to allow us live up to our role as stewards of the earth.

The God Species by Mark Lynas (out on July 6th, 2011)

Even if you don’t agree with his solutions, you will agree with his diagnosis: humans are crossing the earth's nine 'planetary boundaries' bringing us dangerously close to civilisation collapse. Lynas, an anti-GM and nuclear protester turned pro-GM and nuclear, has written a book that again, like Flannery’s builds on the idea of Gaia. This time, he argues for an understanding of the earth's boundaries and calls on the increased use of controversial technologies to protect the biosphere. Lynas has set himself up against many orthodox green principles. The publication of this book in a couple of weeks is guaranteed to stir things up.

What are your favourite green books? All ideas and comments welcome.

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