George Perkins Marsh.
Man and Nature.
(originally published in 1864).
This is the book that started
the ecology movement.
Marsh recognised that ancient
civilisations all self-destructed.
The entire contents of this book
can be downloaded (free) from
"The Evolution of the
Conservation Movement
1850-1920"
US Library of Congress
Walter Youngquist,
GeoDestinies,
National Book Company,
Portland, Oregon, 1997.
Discusses current trends
in the consumption of
geological resources
(especially petroleum),
the impacts of an exploding
population, and what the
future is likely to hold
(i.e., the end of the era of
cheap oil is not far off).
Colin M. Turnbull,
The Forest People.
Lovely story of the culture
& folkways of the Pygmies.
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W. G. Wood-Martin.
Traces of the Elder
Faiths of Ireland.
(originally published in 1902.)
Great two-volume collection
discussing pre-industrial life
in Ireland, including
folkways and spirituality.
Provides a glimpse of how
much closer our ancestors'
relationship was with the
Earth and nature.
Bruce Chatwin,
The Songlines.
Classic essay on the deep
human need to be nomadic,
including a detailed
description of the spiritual
life and nomadic lifestyle
of the Australian aborigines.
Unknown author,
Epic of Gilgamesh.
Oldest known book,
written on clay tablets
in Mesopotamia.
It describes the destruction
of forests, and the unhappy
results. On his death bed,
the hero regrets
cutting the trees.
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