Healing the planet will take all of us—and the more we listen, the better equipped we are to help. In this roundup of recent nonfiction, including documentary podcasts, memoirs, and science and nature accounts from experts and laypeople alike, the realities of the climate crisis are paired with immersive storytelling and awe-inducing appreciation of nature to fuel hope, action, and understanding.
In this thrilling account of a life spent exploring the most incredible places on Earth, South African naturalist and filmmaker Craig Foster (My Octopus Teacher) reveals how we can attend to the earthly beauty around us and deepen our love for all living things. Drawing on his decades of experiences everywhere from the Great African Seaforest to the crocodile-laden Okavango Delta, Foster’s lyrical memoir blends science, Indigenous wisdom, and the author's deep belief in the spiritually rejuvenating power of nature.
We need plants to survive—but do they need us? In a fascinating new work that Braiding Sweetgrass author Robin Wall Kimmerer calls “a masterpiece of science writing,” Atlantic staff writer Zoë Schlanger probes the astonishing hidden world of plants. A deep immersion into botanical drama, consciousness, and intelligence, The Light Eaters is an awe-inspiring, surprising vision of plants that will make us rethink their role—and our own place—in the natural world.
Alaska’s recent history is one of massive changes: Western contact, colonization, climate change. But some stories have survived—including stories of mysterious creatures that may still be out there. In this series, Iñupiaq storyteller James Dommek Jr. goes on a journey across Alaska in search of stories of the unknown to find out what they can tell us about how to live today.
When we heard that bestselling novelist Amy Tan (The Joy Luck Club) was writing nonfiction, we were intrigued; when we learned it was about birding, we were obsessed. Tan's personal account of turning to the natural world in search of solace and deeper meaning, The Backyard Bird Chronicles infuses the joy of birding with the author's signature wit and warmth. Be sure to check out the included PDF featuring beautiful bird sketches by Tan herself.
Speaking of birding, Christian Cooper's memoir is an Audible staff favorite. As Editor Haley put it, "Cooper soars above and beyond his viral encounter in New York City's Central Park in this heartfelt—and strikingly humorous—memoir that offers a healing reminder that no story ever begins or ends in a single moment. Infused with insights on queer sexuality and nerd culture, and featuring a natural abundance of birdcalls, this dynamic listen is made all the more memorable by Cooper’s charming narration."
This documentary series explores the impact of environmental disaster in six communities from across the United States. Whether sudden, like the 2021 Dixie Fire in Greenville, California, or gradual, like the creeping temperatures of Phoenix, America's hottest city, disaster is a daily reality for more and more of us. Guided by climate reporter Justine Calma, Hell or High Water takes a proactive approach, encouraging listeners to consider implications for their own communities.
"Greta Thunberg continues to be the collective slap in the head we need. There’s always been an awe-inducing delight to watching this young woman dress down world leaders and elucidate the stakes of the climate crisis, and now she has brought the full power of her voice to bear in this climate-crisis bible she’s compiled with more than 100 of the world’s foremost climate experts and storytellers. This listen is a resource I will return to again and again." —Editor Phoebe
Actor and environmental campaigner Cate Blanchett and clean technology expert Danny Kennedy take listeners around the world to hear from the most exciting green energy initiatives addressing the climate crisis. From a Navajo solar farm in the Arizona desert to renewable technology in Filipino fishing to ideas that could transform the global fashion industry, Cate and Danny offer uplifting stories of ingenuity and resilience. Along the way, they interview some of the world’s most respected authors and thought leaders to discuss how humankind can tackle our biggest environmental challenge.
In 26 essays—one for each letter of the alphabet—the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Sixth Extinction takes listeners on a haunting journey through the history of climate change and the uncertainties of our future. In H Is for Hope, Elizabeth Kolbert investigates the landscape of climate change—from “A,” for Svante Arrhenius, who created the world’s first climate model in 1894, to “Z,” for the Colorado River Basin, ground zero for climate change in the United States.
This sonic portrait of life underwater has to be one of the season's most intriguing new releases. In Sing Like Fish, science journalist Amorina Kingdon synthesizes historical discoveries with the latest scientific research to offer a compelling portrait of the acoustics of undersea life. From plainfin midshipman fish, whose swim-bladder drumming is loud enough to keep houseboat-dwellers awake, to the syntax of whalesong and more, sound plays a vital role in underwater communication, mating, and feeding, and we can't think of a better way to learn about it than this fascinating listen.
This provocative essay collection is part of an ongoing movement to nurture climate leadership and activism around the world. All We Can Save illuminates the expertise of dozens of women climate leaders to advance a more representative, solution-oriented public conversation on the climate crisis. Intermixing essays with poetry and art, the audiobook is narrated by an impressive cast, including Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, America Ferrera, Ilana Glazer, and Hall of Fame narrator Bahni Turpin.
