Big Sur Land Trust’s (Virtual) Book Club
What We're Reading
Virtual Book Club: The Science of Hope
Wednesday, December 8
5:30pm – 6:30pm PST
Join Dr. Wiebke Finkler and Scott Davis to “get eye to eye with our world’s wildlife!” From polar bears to mountain gorillas, penguins to sea otters, certain animals capture our imagination. These animals are mascots for conservation campaigns, but why these creatures instead of other equally endangered animals? The answer lies in their cuteness or charisma! Illustrated with images by Scott Davis, one of the world’s leading wildlife photographers, The Science of Hope informs as it educates, describing the psychology and science behind our desire to connect with these animals.
And check out our President/CEO Jeannette Tuitele-Lewis' book recommendations!
I love reading about passionate women scientists and Lab Girl by research botanist Hope Jahren really hits that mark! I’m inspired by how she pushes forward with her work despite many setbacks and challenges while weaving all her roles as daughter, mother, and friend. I also appreciate the way she takes on climate change. My favorite quote so far is, “Science has taught me that everything is more complicated than we first assume. Being able to derive happiness from discovery is a recipe for a beautiful life.”
I’m just starting The Dreamt Land: Chasing water and dust across California by Mark Arax and I’m intrigued. Many of my colleagues across the Sierra and the Central Valley have raved about this somewhat controversial book about the history of water in the state. The author is originally from Fresno and comes from a farming family. Having lived in eastern Fresno county for about eight years, I learned how contentious water rights can be. The saying “Whiskey is for drinking and water is for fighting” really applies to central valley politics and anywhere water is scarce. 
I am so fascinated by The Human Planet: Earth at the Dawn of the Anthropocene by George Steinmetz. I love that I can just open the book to a random page and spend a few minutes totally immersed in the images that capture human’s impact on the earth – some are really inspiring and some show incredible destruction. It’s amazing to see how long humans have been changing earth’s landscapes in both beautiful and heartbreaking ways.
Past Book Club Books & Events
Did you miss our previous selections? Click on the covers below to watch videos with the authors or experts discussing the books – or more about recommended titles.
Sponsors
Special thanks to our presenting sponsor Bank of America and our legacy sponsor Cannery Row Company!
