In a previous blog post I wrote about the prescribed reading and assignments for our M.Ed. and certificate program students at the Institute for Humane Education. For those of you wondering what might be considered core books for a humane educator (or someone interested in understanding the interconnected issues of human rights, animal protection, environmental preservation, culture and changemaking, and education), here’s a sample reading list of solutions-focused books. Maybe you’ll put some of these on your holiday wish list:Healing Through the Dark Emotions by Miriam Greenspan – A book that makes it possible to get through all the others and to stay engaged and healthy through some tough reading.
Ending Slavery by Kevin Bales – A book to introduce the reader to escalating worldwide slavery and what to do about it.
Creating a World Without Poverty by Mohammad Yunus – A book of solutions, written by a Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson – Education as a solution to poverty and oppression.
Creating a World that Works for All by Sharif Abdullah – The name says it all.
Capitalism 3.0 by Peter Barnes – A case for capitalism that is both economically sound and environmentally and culturally sustainable and positive.
Field Notes on the Compassionate Life by Marc Ian Barasch – What does goodness look like in the world?
Cradle to Cradle by William McDonough and Michael Braungart – An approach to solving environmental challenges through technology, invention, and innovation that does no harm.
Eaarth by Bill McKibben – A look at global warming with ideas for response.
Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed by Jared Diamond – What has and hasn’t worked to protect the environments and societies where different cultures have chosen varying approaches.
Earth in Mind by David Orr – Educating for an ecologically literate generation.
Animal Liberation by Peter Singer – The book that launched the animal rights movement.
The Food Revolution by John Robbins – A detailed and accessible look at how our food choices affect our health, the environment and animals.
The Courage to Teach by Parker Palmer – Written primarily for college professors, this book invites all of us to consider the teacher within and to teach for a better world.
Most Good, Least Harm: A Simple Principle for a Better World and Meaningful Life – At the risk of self-promotion, my own book connects all these subjects and offers an approach to living and changemaking for a better world and a meaningful life
Read on!
Zoe Weil, President, Institute for Humane Education
P.S. Want to get a taste of our humane education training programs & gain skills and support for inspiring your students to become leaders & change agents for a healthy, peaceful, sustainable world? Sign up for the next session of our 30-day online course, Teaching for a Positive Future (February 7-March 14, 2011). Special rates for groups of teachers.
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