In Wildness Is the Preservation of the World by Eliot Porter, and Henry David Thoreau

It's been 50-years since the first publication of In Wildness Is the Preservation of the World by Eliot Porter, where Porter's stunning photographs of New England woods are paired with passages by writer Henry David Thoreau. Both Porter and Thoreau constantly worked to preserve Nature and protect it from manmade interference. When the book came out in 1962, even though it was at a time when environmental causes were not in the public consciousness, it was an overnight publishing success.

"Photography is a strong tool, a propaganda device, and a weapon for the defense of the environment…and therefore for the fostering of a healthy human race and even very likely for its survival." -Eliot Porter

In Wildness Is the Preservation of the World is available from my Amazon Store.

Natural Beauty by James Houston

New York-based photographer James Houston has shot color portraits of some of the world's leading environmentally conscious celebrities, such as Adrian Grenier, Emma Watson, and Christy Turlington--each with nature as the inspiration for the portrait. Houston's project aims to raise awareness about environmental issues, and to raise funds for Global Green USA.

Natural Beauty is available from my Amazon Store.

Hotspots Revisited: Earth's Biologically Richest and Most Endangered Terrestrial Ecoregions by Russell A. Mittermeier and company

In September 2005, I attended the 8th World Wilderness Congress in Anchorage, Alaska, the world's longest running public conservation project and environmental forum. It was an incredible experience. I was enthralled listening to the many governmental wilderness stewards from different countries discussing their environmental challenges, and then I witnessed something wonderful: sister agencies from other countries offering advice and solutions. They understood that all nations and communities must do everything possible to protect our planet's rich biological heritage.

I came home from the Congress with this extraordinary book, Hotspots Revisited: Earth's Biologically Richest and Most Endangered Terrestrial Ecoregions. I have used it over the years as a reference and an excellent source for my research. This book has been invaluable to me as I haven't traveled yet to most of the regions covered in the chapters, that show so much beauty in all their precious biological diversity and gorgeous flora. Eight photographers contributed stunning images of Brazil and Madagascar, the wet tropics of Queensland Australia, the islands off New Guinea, California and the Himalayas to name a few.

Hotspots Revisited is available from my Amazon Store.

Desert Air by George Steinmetz

Photographer George Steimetz has been photographing remote corners of the world for National Geographic for the past 25 years, and in his book Desert Air, he'll show you places you never even knew existed. Shot from his paraglider or "flying-lawn-chair" as he likes to call it, he has spent the last 15 years shooting these awesome images. It's a great read as well, full of anecdotes of his adventures creating his book.

Desert Air is available from my Amazon Store.

Second Nature: The Inner Lives of Animals by Jonathan Balcombe

Animal Lovers! This is book is for you. You will enjoy reading all about your furry, feathered, hoofed and clawed critter friends and their ability to reason, have emotions, be cunning and communicative, intelligent and altruistic. You probably knew that already.  Batcombe shows how more people are coming to realize that animals are feeling individuals who deserve our respect.

Second Nature is available from my Amazon Store.