Currently Reading
I’m on a bit of a mission at the moment…I’m an Earth History nerd, but more generally I’m a history nerd. So the history of Earth history is my absolute jam. I want to read a bunch of early texts in Earth sciences this year.
The current TBR:
Theory of the Earth; or an Investigation of the Laws observable in the Composition, Dissolution, and Restoration of Land upon the Globe
James Hutton, 1788
PRINCIPLES OF GEOLOGY: BEING AN ATTEMPT TO EXPLAIN THE FORMER CHANGES OF THE EARTH’S SURFACE, BY REFERENCE TO CAUSES NOW IN OPERATION
VOLS. 1-3
Charles Lyell, 1830-33
ON THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES BY MEANS OF NATURAL SELECTION, OR THE PRESERVATION OF FAVOURED RACES IN THE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE
Carles Darwin, 1859
DE SOLIDO INTRA SOLIDUM NATURALITER CONTENTO DISSERTATIONIS PRODROMUS
Nicolaus Steno, 1669
I’m shocked at how serious I am about this one. I studied Latin for 7 years and it hasn’t languished entirely thanks to my fluency in a romance language (Italian)…For years I’ve said I was going to refresh my Latin proficiency…I’m feeling like this is the right motivation. I know that I could read a translation. But is that the same amount of fun?
Past Reads
Timefulness: How thinking like a geologist can help save the world
Marcia Bjornerud
Had to pick this up off the shelf last time I was a the Strand bookstore in the East Village, NYC (my very favorite place). A super readable narrative of major events in geologic time. I’m going to start recommending this read to students prepping for their qualifying exams who need a leisurely brush up on geologic time.
Spirals in time: The secret life and curious afterlife of seashells
Helen Scales
The Petersen Group/SCIPP lab at UM read this for our summer book club. I enjoyed the personal narrative elements that sandwiched some really technical insights. It focuses quite a lot on the economic and cultural importance of seashells across cultures and through time. It reminded me a lot of the kinds of readings I’d do for my archaeology and anthropology classes in undergrad.
The Winona LaDuke Chronicles: Stories from the front lines in the battle for environmental justice
Winona LaDuke
I bought this book after my first time hearing Winona LaDuke speak in person. Her presence is so powerful and her message is full of radical hope. Eye-opening, inspiring, and deeply personal.
When smoke ran like water: Tales of Environmental Deception and the Battle against Pollution
Devra Davis
A jarring and intense read that will blow on the embers of your environmentalist fervor. Is it gripping because the writing is excellent or because sometimes you just can hardly believe what’s on the page? A toss-up.
Biophilia: The human bond with other species
Edward O. Wilson
A genuinely interesting perspective on what exactly constitutes “nature” and where human civilization fits into it. I have several quotes saved in the notes on my phone to ponder.
The irony isn’t lost on me that I read most of this book sitting outside to curate the ~relaxing nature vibes~
Dr. Allison Nicole Curley 