As promised, today’s post has a few book recommendations for those interested in exploring the non-fiction section at the bookstore. Grab a copy of a few of our favorite reads and prepare to soak up the knowledge.

The Soil Will Save Us: How Scientists, Farmers, and Foodies Are Healing the Soil to Save the Planet (2014)

By Kristin Ohlson

Due to our less than optimal use of land in agriculture and urban development, 80 percent of carbon that existed in the soil has been lost and has been released into the atmosphere as CO2. But do not fear, according to Ohlson, there is a way to heal the damaged the land and even turn atmospheric carbon into beneficial carbon soil.

She even dares to add that by turning our efforts towards natural solutions (such as no-till agriculture, compost and increasing plant diversity), the possibility of reversing global warming is very real. Curious about how? Take a chance with what others have called “a book beyond environmental research”, which will restore the connection with the soil below our feet, something that so many of us have lost.

This Changes everything: Capitalism vs the climate (2015)

By Naomi Klein

Personally, this book helped me better understand climate change from a different perspective. In it, Klein does an in-depth analysis of our current economic system to explain our reliance in fossil-fuels, patterns of consumerism and other factors that are contributing directly to climate change. While the tone of the book is not optimistic, it gives various examples of legislation and programs that have been affected by the principle of “trade over all”. Must read for anyone who wants to understand climate change at a time when the principles of a free market are being questioned every day.

Pro tip: if you only have a couple of hours, you can also watch the documentary film for this book!

Eaarth (2010)

By Bill McKibben

If you had wondered what life in other planets is like (or if it even exists), you may not have to wait much longer. In Eaarth, McKibben reminds us that while change is a vital part of life and of Earth’s evolution, the planet we live in is not the same as its always been. McKibben illustrates through our lives we will live on two different planets, that will consequently demand very different lifestyles. Sounds cool? Think again. Sounds scary? Might be. Can we pull it off? That answer is still up to us.

In Eaarth, McKibben tells the story of how we’ve hit a crossroad where we no longer have time to wonder about the natural changing patterns of the planet. The thermostat of our home has been broken and while we can brainstorm ways to fix it, adapting to a changing life is necessary for survival. With an interesting array of solutions, McKibben takes you on a ride that explores the food-production system, a change in the principles of our economic system, and the role of Internet in this whole mess.