Blog Post for April:
Celebrate Earth Month with Books That Inform
Happy Earth Month! April is the perfect time to appreciate our planet and deepen our understanding of the environmental challenges it faces. At UMass Press, we’re passionate about the health of our Earth, and we’re thrilled to share some of our top titles that explore its history, challenges, and the people working to protect it.
An Environmental Series to Keep Your Eye On
Our Environmental History of the Northeast series delves into how humans have shaped—and been shaped by—the natural landscape of the region. The books in this series offer a deep exploration of the intersection between human activity and environmental change. In the first title in the series, Unfracked: The Struggle to Ban Fracking in New York, scholar Richard Buttny takes readers deep into the fight against hydraulic fracturing. Through firsthand accounts, interviews, and media analysis, Buttny uncovers the narratives that led New York to become the only gas-rich state to ban fracking.
Richard W. Judd’s Democratic Spaces: Land Preservation in New England, 1850–2010 traces the grassroots and institutional efforts that built one of the nation’s most influential land stewardship movements. From Boston’s Trustees of Public Reservations to modern conservation initiatives, Judd highlights the enduring power of collective action.
Kimberly A. Jarvis’s From the Mountains to the Sea: Protecting Nature in Postwar New Hampshire tells the story of how citizen activism saved Franconia Notch from highway development, blocked an oil refinery on the seacoast, and preserved Sandwich Notch. Blending history, memory, and environmental tradition, Jarvis showcases the impact of local advocacy in shaping New Hampshire’s future.
A Title for Current Times
Global warming is the most pressing environmental issue of our time, yet the scientific evidence supporting it has faced significant opposition from some political figures. In Global Warming and Political Intimidation, climate scientist Raymond Bradley provides an inside look at how certain politicians have worked to discredit climate research, intimidate scientists, and cast doubt on the public’s understanding of the issue.
Bradley’s book is a firsthand account of the challenges scientists face when their work becomes entangled in political debates. He describes the tactics used to undermine research credibility, from spreading misinformation to launching investigations aimed at discrediting scientists and their findings. These efforts, Bradley explains, are part of a larger pattern of suppressing scientific information to serve political agendas.
Written in clear and direct language, the book not only explains the science behind climate change but also highlights the broader issue of how politics can interfere with scientific discourse. Bradley’s personal experiences bring the story to life, offering a sobering look at the consequences of politicizing science. As The Boston Globe notes, Bradley captures the “shock of being yanked out of the scholarly realm and into the arena of partisan politics.” Science News adds that the book “details the chilling effect [political] investigations have had on the conduct of science.”
This is a story about the intersection of science and politics, and the consequences when the two collide. Bradley’s account serves as both a primer on climate change and a cautionary tale, offering valuable insight into the complexities of the global warming debate and the urgent need to protect scientific integrity.
More Books to Explore This Earth Month
John Hanson Mitchell’s The Garden at the End of Time: Getting By in the Age of Climate Change reflects on the climate crisis through the lens of his own garden outside of Boston. Drawing inspiration from Voltaire’s Candide, Mitchell embraces the idea of cultivating his garden as a way to cope with the overwhelming scale of global challenges. His blend of science, literature, and personal storytelling offers a poignant reminder of the solace and connection that nature can provide.
In Composting Utopia: Experimental Infrastructures for Organics Recycling in New York City, Guy Schaffer takes readers into the heart of New York City’s waste management system. Through three years of ethnographic fieldwork, Schaffer highlights how grassroots organizations and community composters have reshaped the city’s approach to organic waste, offering a compelling vision for sustainable urban living.
Climate Justice and Public Health: Realities, Responses, and Reimaginings for a Better Future, edited by Rajini Srikanth and Linda Thompson, brings together diverse voices to examine the intersection of climate change, social inequities, and public health. Published in May 2023, this collection of essays explores how climate disasters disproportionately affect vulnerable communities and offers holistic solutions for a more just and sustainable future.
This list is just a starting point for your Earth Month reading. Whether you’re passionate about climate science, land conservation, urban sustainability, or environmental justice, there’s a book here for you. We encourage you to continue exploring and find a title that can help shape your understanding of the planet. Happy reading, and happy Earth Month!
First Line Friday Posts:
Happy #FirstLineFriday! 💪
Today, we're teasing you with the first sentence from an epic biography of Malcolm Little- a young man navigating the streets of Boston before a prison sentence changed the course of his life. Through previously overlooked prison documents, "Malcolm Before X" uncovers how his time in Charlestown State Prison, the Concord Reformatory, and the Norfolk Prison Colony shaped the leader he would become.
Get 20% OFF with code UMASS20 when you order your copy HERE: (link)
#BlackHistoryMonth #ReadUP #MalcolmX #BlackExcellence #Bookstagram #BlackLeaders
Happy #FirstLineFriday! ❤️
This valentines day, we’re gifting you with a sneak peak of a book about the pursuit of joy- something that can feel elusive for Black women scholars. When Will the Joy Come? explores how Black women in higher education create, experience, and understand joy despite the challenges of sexism, racism, and classism in academia.
Get 20% OFF with code UMASS20 when you order your copy HERE: (link)
#BlackHistoryMonth #ReadUP #BlackWomenInAcademia #BlackExcellence #Bookstagram
Hope everyone is feeling extra green for this #FirstLineFriday! 🌱
Today, we’re cracking open “Composting Utopia”, a deep dive into how grassroots organizers in NYC reshaped the city’s waste system through community composting. Drawing on three years of ethnographic fieldwork, Guy Schaffer explores how activists and microhaulers not only diverted organic waste but also built a movement for just sustainability and community-driven urban design.
Now 20% OFF when you order with code UMASS20 HERE: (link)
#EarthMonth #ReadUP #Sustainability #Composting #UrbanEcology #Bookstagram
April Fools post:
April Fools! 🎭 In light of such a comedic day, we have to share a book that explores how influential humor really is—it can shape politics, public opinion, and even the presidency itself.
"The Dance of the Comedians: The People, the President, and the Performance of Political Standup Comedy in America" by Peter M. Robinson takes a deep dive into the long-running "dance" between comedians, presidents, and the American people. From Will Rogers to Saturday Night Live, this book unpacks how political humor has influenced democracy, challenged authority, and entertained the masses—sometimes with unexpected consequences.
Now 20% OFF when you order with code UMASS20 HERE: https://www.umasspress.com/9781558497856/the-dance-of-the-comedians/
#AprilFools #PoliticalComedy #SatireInPolitics #TheDanceOfTheComedians #Bookstagram #ComedyAndPower #HistoryOfHumor #ReadUP
Earth day post:
Today, we celebrate the Earth! 🌍 What better way to honor our planet than by learning how to protect it—and the people who call it home?
"Climate Justice and Public Health: Realities, Responses, and Reimaginings for a Better Future", edited by Rajini Srikanth and Linda Thompson, explores the intersection of climate change, public health, and social equity. With insights from experts across diverse fields, this book examines how environmental crises expose and deepen societal inequities—while also offering bold, holistic solutions for a more just and sustainable future.
Use code UMASS20 for 20% OFF when you order HERE: https://www.umasspress.com/9781625348043/climate-justice-and-public-health/
#EarthDay #ClimateJustice #PublicHealth #SustainableFuture #ProtectOurPlanet
Arbor day post:
We have the perfect book for you to dive into this Arbor Day! 🌳
Branching Out: The Public History of Trees by Leah S. Glaser and Philip Levy explores the deep connection between trees and history. More than just natural resources, trees serve as living witnesses to our past—holding memories of triumphs, tragedies, and community identities. This collection of essays examines how trees shape public history, from sites of preservation to challenges brought by climate change, making them both invaluable and vulnerable.
Use code UMASS20 for 20% OFF when you order HERE: https://www.umasspress.com/9781625348326/branching-out/
#ArborDay #PublicHistory #BranchingOut #TreePreservation #LivingHistory #ReadUP
🐾 It’s always a blessing to observe the life that inhabits the Earth alongside us. That’s why today, we’re highlighting "The Wildlife of New England" by John S. Burk, a guidebook that helps nature lovers explore the diverse species and habitats of the region.
With practical tips and detailed overviews, this book features more than 80 wildlife-viewing areas across New England. Whether you’re hoping to spot a moose, watch thousands of migrating hawks, or glimpse marine life along the coast, Burk provides insights into the best locations, seasons, and trails for unforgettable encounters. Complete with stunning photographs, The Wildlife of New England is an essential resource for adventurers and wildlife enthusiasts alike.
20% OFF with code UMASS20 when you order HERE: https://www.umasspress.com/9781584658344/the-wildlife-of-new-england/
#NewEnglandWildlife #NatureLovers #WildlifeWatching #ExploreNature #ReadUP