Kit by: Jake Madoff
Co-Founder | Agreeable & Co.

I wanted to do something a bit different for this kit with Earth Week / Earth Day coming up!

For this kit, I selected a few of a favorite books on environmental studies, ecopsychology, and mindfulness — books that I still use and think about today. The works concerning environmental studies focus on the human relationship with the environment, in a more macro, societal sense, whereby we come to recognize our self as simply an extension of Nature. The books on ecopsychology take this perspective one step further and look into what is going on in our mind in such moments of connection with Nature — and endeavors to find out how our psychology is influenced by the natural world. Lastly, the books I selected on mindfulness are tremendously practical. I picked them as they helped me to approach and practice the mindfulness lifestyle when I was a beginner; yet the teaching of each work still present to me new things about the subject when I revisit them.

So, if you’re interested in any of these topics, I highly recommend these books. If you like them — or don’t find them to be up to par — comment below, and I’d be happy to talk with you.

the best books for nature lovers and great mindfulness gifts, including books on environmental psychology and mindfulness training and meditation.

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Gifts for the Mindful & the Environmentalist: “Books Worth Reading”

Gifts for Conscious Readers in 2016 & Beyond

“Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life”
By: Thich Nhat Hanh, Arnold Kotler, H. H. the Dalai Lama

Why I Recommend This

I’ve bookmarked about every other chapter in this book. I read it when I was relatively new to mindfulness, and now I consider it to be — yet still — one of the best books I’ve read on the subject. The book is broken down into digestible chapters that each focus on a different aspect of mindfulness training and meditation. It’s also written beautifully; at times, it feels as thought you’re reading poetry.

MY REVIEW

  • Thought-provoking 85%
  • Accessible 100%
  • Enjoyable 95%

“The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History”
By: Elizabeth Kolbert

Why I Recommend This

This book will alter your perspective on the relationship between the human and the natural world. The accolades speak for themselves. If you’re interested at all in the future of human species with respect to climate change, habit degradation, etc. I highly recommend this book. If you’re like me — after you read it — you’ll feel, at first, sad, scared, then guilty, and lastly galvanized into action.

MY REVIEW

  • Thought-provoking 95%
  • Accessible 90%
  • Enjoyable 85%

“You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment”
By: Thich Nhat Hanh

Why I Recommend This

This is another beautiful work by Thich Nhat Hanh, which focuses on mindfulness through the lens of breathing exercises, meaningful strolls, and meditation that focuses on a kind of resolute sense of presence. It’s incredibly enlightening and his ideas are useful in all walks of life.

MY REVIEW

  • Thought-provoking 90%
  • Accessible 95%
  • Enjoyable 95%

“Ecotherapy: Healing with Nature in Mind”
By: Linda Buzzell

Why I Recommend This

In reading this book, I liked the direction and angle it took on the subject of ecopsychology. The author provides a rather relatable take on the influence of Nature on one’s mental, emotional and biological health, but I was hoping for a bit more when I was reading it. The book certainly has its moments of greatness — that make you stop and think — but, yet still, I was looking for a deeper understanding. I will say, the author does include a useful history of the subject, which is rather new, and has conceptual roots all the back to Greek Mythology.

MY REVIEW

  • Thought-provoking 80%
  • Accessible 85%
  • Enjoyable 90%

“Becoming Animal: An Earthly Cosmology”
By: David Abram

Why I Recommend This

Brilliant. This book encapsulates so much of what I think about with respect to our human nature and our species’ perspective on Nature. The author provides through-provoking parallels between the human self, and the animal self — and focuses on this kind of natural inclination we all have to connect with trees, the wilderness and our animal cousins. It’s also beautifully written.

MY REVIEW

  • Thought-provoking 100%
  • Accessible 95%
  • Enjoyable 95%

“Mindfulness: An Eight-Week Plan for Finding Peace in a Frantic World”
By: Mark Williams

Why I Recommend This

When I was looking into the study of mindfulness, this was one of the books that I really responded to. The authors provide great insight into not only the history of the study itself, but the current scientific literature surrounding the lifestyle and psychological phenomena. They also outline a nice guide that anyone can follow to help them be more happy, present and calm when stresses enter one’s life.

MY REVIEW

  • Thought-provoking 85%
  • Accessible 95%
  • Enjoyable 90%

“Emerson: Essays and Lectures: Nature: Addresses and Lectures / Essays: First and Second Series”
By: Ralph Waldo Emerson

Why I Recommend This

For me, Emerson is hands down one of the greatest, most poetic and insightful writers on the subject of Nature. His seminal essay, Nature, still impacts me today. When you read a work by Emerson, it’s as though every line can exist on its own, as a quote that may inspire and inform you. I recommend this book in particular because it contains some of his best works. I feel that after reading his pros, you can’t not reflect on your position in the world.

MY REVIEW

  • Thought-provoking 100%
  • Accessible 90%
  • Enjoyable 100%
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To see the rest of our badges and read our full list of indicators, please visit our “About” page.

Hey people! My name is Jake. I’m the Co-Founder of Agreeable & Co. I’m an Environmentalist, Social Entrepreneur, Writer and Developer. Besides making people- and planet-friendly products more accessible through Agreeable & Co., I run an online research guide for sustainable, ethical, and healthy products, called Greener Square; and helped to start an award-winning trade and barter app, called TradeMade, that measures and tracks one’s carbon footprint. In a word, conscious consumption and overall healthy, low-impact living is my jam. I also like jam.

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