LiveGaia - Holistic Living, Sustainable Life

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Green to Gold - Daniel C. Esty & Andrew S. Winston
The easiest argument against making the transition towards a sustainable future is the one put forward by George W, that it will cost too much. From the point of view of Industrial revolution capitalism this is valid, because within it there is little or no regard for the law of unforeseen consequences. Any way you look at it changing from that modus operandum to a sustainable one is going to have a price tag.
Green to Gold is a great guide to how business can go green with examples of who is, how, what’s worked and what hasn’t. The authors make the case for the economic viability of going green as well as why it is necessary and why ‘no’ is no longer an acceptable answer, ideologically or economically. What I really like about this book is the clear and practical way the authors make plain the requirement of a change in perception and not only action. Exploitation clearly is prone to a lack of integrity, Green to Gold makes clear why integrity in business is no longer optional, why disregard for planetary stewardship is no longer optional. In short it is a handbook for sustainable business – as much as we can see it so far.
The Ecology of Commerce - Paul Hawken
This book is also in the realm of business, written by a businessman, albeit one with concern for more than the financial statement. I picked this book as a complement to Cradle to Cradle and Green to Gold. Paul Hawken, like William McDonough, sees the issue as a design flaw. Hawkens focuses on the flaw in our economic system and he doesn’t pull punches when saying what the flaws are. As, or more importantly he does have a vision for a sustainable economic system and what it requires. He says "To create an enduring society, we will need a system of commerce and production where each and every act is inherently sustainable and restorative” This includes the experience of working in it, no matter where. Hawken has a holistic view of how business and the environment can coexist and foster each others health and prosperity. This book will provide much detail to the things you instinctively know are wrong with globalisation and increasing corporate power. So if you have environmental leanings and believe big business is the enemy or are on the other side and believe environmentalists are back to nature, home spun radicals blocking progress and profitability this book is for you. See also Hawkens later book Natural Capitalism
The Philosophy of Sustainable Design – Jason McLennan
For those who have read Cradle to Cradle or seen William McDonough speak and want to delve more deeply into the design issues of sustainability then this book is for you. This book with cradle to Cradle should be required reading at every architecture and design school on the planet. Jason McLennan is steeped in his subject, lives it and breaths it and has produced a truly masterful book on the subject of sustainable design that is all to easily superficially understood. Like most of the books here the underpinning philosophy comes through without it being stuffed down your throat. The book itself is a comprehensive resources and McLennan provides a catalogue of sources for diving deeper into the areas he covers, which begin with the philosophy of sustainable design, it’s evolution, then breaks down the principles, Biomimicry, Human Vitality, Ecosystem/Bioregional, Seven Generation, Energy/True Cost, Holistic Thinking. From here McLennan walks us through the practicality of The Technologies, Green Economics ending with his predictions for the Future of Architecture.
Ecological Economics - Herman E. Daly & Joshua Farley
Ok so this is not quite as an accessible read as most of the books here, but if you know nothing about economics and are interested, or if economics is actually your thing this is a mighty tome, well written and very well structured and is a must. The book begins with a with an over view of traditional neoclassical economic thought and then leaves it in the dust as the authors give step by step detailed exploration of both the theory of ecological economics and it’s practical application. I must say though that the writing is accessible and if you have interest in the subject you will find it easy going as well as hugely informative. What this book makes clear is that ecological economics is not a peripheral theory amongst other economic theories, but an evolution of economic theory itself. I would say it is the only relevant form of economics for the 21st Century and beyond.

Tomorrow Part 3 Books 9 - 12

Yesterday Part 1 Books 1 - 4