Books
Here’s a list of some of my favourite books ranging in topics from forests and ecology to philosophy and religion.
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Top Picks
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Braiding Sweetgrass
Robin Wall Kimmerer
This should be mandatory reading for all human-people all across turtle island, straight up. Not sure where to even start with this one, only that it is the most poetically beautiful piece of literature that brilliantly intertwines Indigenous wisdom with scientific knowledge in addressing some very pressing environmental and social issues we face today.
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Being Ecological
Timothy Morton
Timothy Morton is one of my favourite modern philosophers who does a lot of work around ecology and mxnkinds place in the world. One of the most eye opening and inspiring books today when it comes to tackling issues related to Climate Change and how we, as a species and fellow living thing on this planet, can go about living with everything else on this planet. Timothy is an amazing author and this is a great introduction to their work!
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Finding The Mother Tree
Suzanna Simard
One of the most well known forest scientists of today, Suzanne is responsible for some of the most revolutionary discoveries about Oldgrowth Forests that have come about in the last 20 years. This book talks about those discoveries and how they came about through a biography of her life, full of some amazing observations on forests and their connections to humanity, this book is also loaded with wisdom and metaphors for how us humans can live our lives in a better way.
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Ground Truthing
Derrick Stacey Denholm
One of my favourite books of all time! Derrick is a poet and forester based on the North Coast of BC, and his work is truly thought provoking when it comes to how we (humans) interact with and value ecosystems from economic, artistic, spiritual and cultural perspectives. A seriously incredible read that I recommend to everyone!
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Gathering Moss
Robin Wall Kimmerer
Ouf, this book changed my life almost as much as 'Braiding Sweetgrass'. A great introspective look at the role of mosses in our world, and all the great poetic and metaphorical things we can learn from their small, elegant existence.
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Rooted
Lyanda Lynn Haupt
An inspiring book about ways to reconnect to the lands under your feet and find peace, even in the heart of a city. Loved this book!
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Tsawalk
E. Richard Atleo
A nuu-chah-nulth worldview, this book is a great read for anyone living on nuu-chah-nulth lands and beyond, discussing the importance of ‘hishookish tsawalk’, or the nuu-chah-nulth understanding that ‘everything is one, everything is connected.’
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Sacred Nature
Karen Armstrong
A brilliant read that examines how religions have viewed ‘nature’ over history, and how that impacts societies relationship to it, while giving good insight on what we can do to heal our connection with it.
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A Forest Journey
John Perlin
Following the role that forests have played in human civilisations since the beginning of time, this book is a great look at how global powers ebb and flow based on resources, and the impact of their destructive greed on the lands we live on.
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The Golden Spruce
John Vaillant
A great book based on the true story of Grant Hadwin, a logger who cut down a rare golden Spruce up on Haida Gwaii to make a statement about forestry practices. This is an amazing story that does a great job of explaining various perspectives while written in an engaging, provocative way. There was also a documentary based on this book called "Hadwins Judgement" which is also pretty good!
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Fire Weather
John Vaillant
Whew, this one is terrifying! The story of the Fort Macmurray fires told in a riveting way, while also discussing the role of forests, oil & gas and development in a changing climate.
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Canopy of the Titans
Jessica Applegate & Paul Koberstein
An amazing recount of the last of the great pacific coast forests that once covered all of Cascadia, their importance in a changing climate, and their plight to survive.
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Big Lonely Doug
Harley Rustad
The story of Big Lonely Doug, what the tree symbolizes, and the state of forestry in BC pre-Fairy Creek Blockades.
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The Creative Act
Rick Rubin
I’ve enjoyed reading tid bits from this book as a means of staying motivated and inspired on living creatively and channeling my love for the outdoors to people through all that I do.
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The Final Forest
William Dietrich
A great story about logging in Forks, Washington, and how the Timber Wars impacted the United States Forest Industry. Engaging and informative, history is always a great thing to understand!
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The Hidden Life Of Trees
Peter Wohlleben
A great, easy and joyful read that dives into some of the wonder that trees are.
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Hyperobjects
Timothy Morton
In this book, Timothy discusses the idea of hyperobjects - things that are seemingly small and insignificant, yet are everywhere, totalling up to an immeasurable impact.
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The Ecological Thought
Timothy Morton
Another great, mind-bending recount from Timothy Morton about the interconnection of everything.
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Cedar: Tree of Life
Hilary Stewart
A great coffee table book with illustrations and photos of the ways that Cedar was used by Indigenous communities throughout the pacific northwest.
Field Guides
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Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast
Jim Pojar & Andrew McKinnon
Hands down one of, if not the best field guide for identifying and understanding much of the flora around Cascadia - I take this one everywhere with me!
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Mushrooms of British Columbia
Andy MacKinnon & Kem Luther
A great field guide with lots of amazing photos and information on toxicity for all the mushrooms growing in the pacific northwest.
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Plants of the Rocky Mountains
Pojar, MacKinnon. & Kershaw
A great field guide for those living in rocky mountain regions
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Alpine Plants of the Northwest
Pojar & MacKinnon
Plant species specific to alpine areas of Cascadia
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Trees of Canada
John Laird Farrar
An amazing guide to trees all across Canada (and thus, North America) with great information and some really incredible imagery that makes ID a piece of cake!
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Cascadia Revealed
Daniel Mathews
A wonderful guide book for both plants and animals in Cascadia!
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Pacific Seaweeds
Louis Druehl & Bridgette Clarkston
A great guide to seaweeds along the Pacific Coast
Kids Books
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The Wild World Handbook: Habitats
Andrea Debbink
This whole series is amazing! A great illustrated and yet incredibly informative book about ecosystems and their function. Heck, I've learned a lot from these books, they're great!
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The Wild World Handbook: Creatures
Andrea Debbink
The second part of this series is all about Creatures and how we all can protect non-human people throughout the world.