Growing up, Steph Clemence didn’t live in any one place for long because her mother was always on the move. By the time she was a senior in high school, Steph had lived in 25 places. Still, she had good grades and thought she would be going to college. But when her father died in a car accident, leaving her mother to support three daughters, paying for college was out of the question.

Steph found a job and tried to work out what to do with a life that had deviated(偏离) from the plan she’d carefully laid out.

The answer came one afternoon when she was cleaning her drawer (抽屉) and found a handout titled “Mrs. Clark’s Book List.” It was from the English teacher she’d had in her junior year at McKenzie High School in Vida, Oregon. One afternoon, Mrs. Clark walked into the classroom carrying a pile (摞) of handouts. She asked each student to take one. It could be a road map, she said. “Some of you mightn’t go on to higher education,” Mrs. Clark said, “but you can continue to learn.” She’d spent months creating a list of 153 books from the United States and abroad.

Steph studied the list. And so it began. “I was hopeful and decided to improve myself,” Steph says. “I would read every book in the order they appeared.”

Over the years, the reading list was a constant (不变的事物) in her life, traveling with her even on vacations. When the original (原先的) list wore out, she typed up a new copy. And then another.

Now Steph is 70, and she never did get to college. But she has only four books left to read from the list. She expects to finish them sometime in 2023. “Each of the books has added something to who I am and how I see the world,” she says. “They’ve opened so many doors for me about the environment, history, etc. I’m no expert, but I now have the background to see why things happened and what they might mean.”

Four Books Worth Reading

Entangled Life (Illustrated) by Merlin Sheldrake

Following 2020’s real hit Entangled Life, biologist Sheldrake returns in time with an impressive illustrated edition. At over 240 pages, his passion and knowledge leaps off every spread. From the microscopic to the splendid, the colour images create an entertaining and charming experience.

Anna Atkins: Cyanotypes by Peter Walther

Often copied, seldom improved on, the elegant prints of Anna Atkins are timeless. Atkins uses light-sensitive iron salt solution and exposure to sunlight to create beautiful Cyanotypes, pictures in a specific dark blue color. Walther’s book is comprehensive and perfect for Atkins fans or anyone keen to learn.

The Earth in Our Hands by Thomas Pesquet

Pesquet’s breathtaking collection of photographs captured from the International Space Station (ISS) follows in the footsteps of astronaut Don Pettit’s Spaceborne. Pesquet took more than 245,000 images over two missions, with his book including 200 of these. It is the closest most of us will get to being on the ISS — a deeply engaging read.

Looking at Trees by Sophie Howarth

This absorbing book features 26 of the world’s leading photographers. From a photo of Hollywood juniper (杜松) in California to a dreamlike image of Halfway Gardens in South Africa, Howarth asks us to value trees at a time of environmental challenge. It’s a book you will return to.

Published while the climate crisis has given us a clear picture of tourism’s harms, the books below describe the necessity and opportunity for replanning travel as better managed and even more beneficial to local people — which, together, create a good definition for green travel.

“The Last Resort: The history of Heaven, Profit, and Danger at the Beach,” by Sarah Stodola. In this exciting travel book, Stodola studies the history and beauty of beach traveling culture, as well as its effects on the environment and local communities. “This major global industry that has brought about economic and social inequalities and contributed to the climate crisis while suffering from danger of disappearing.” said Stodola.

“Sustainable Travel: The Essential Guide to Positive-Effect Adventures.” by Holly Tuppen. After journeying around the world without flying, Tuppen became a travel expert who views sustainability (可持续性) as necessary to protect our planet and communities. In this book, she presents a general description of sustainable travel and its relationship to the climate and wildlife risk.

“Horizon,” by Barry Lopez. Through six regions, including the Oregon Coast and the Antarctic, Lopez uses his unique style and traveling experience in more than 70 countries to create a book filled with wonders and concern. “Our question is no longer how to use the natural world for human comfort and gain, but how we can cooperate with one another to ensure we will someday fit in with it more respectfully,” he writes.

“Beyond Guilt Trips: Mindful Travel in an Unequal World,” by Anu Taranath. In this award-winning book, Taranath offers tips for reconciling (使和谐一致) our expectations with the cultural differences we meet while traveling. Although the book isn’t a green travel guide in itself, it does provide necessary social responsibilities that can increase our sustainability efforts to plan our journeys with greater respect.