Big Sur Land Trust’s (Virtual) Book Club


What We're Reading

Check out our President/CEO Jeannette Tuitele-Lewis' book recommendations below!




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!