Staff Picks

	I have only recently begun reading books on conservation but below are three that I'd recommend. Hope they are helpful to you too. - Matt Ostercamp (Head of Tech. Services, BA '95, MACT '99)
Serve God, Save the Planet by J. Matthew Sleeth MD Sleeth, a christian physician, looks at the public health impact of abusing God's creation. Full of anecdotes from his years in the emergency room, Dr. Sleeth prescribes several practical steps that Christians can take to honor our creator and love our neighbor by preserving His creation. This is a very readable introduction to why and how christians can get involved in conservation.
"Whoever really has considered the lilies of the field or the birds of the air and pondered the improbability of their existence ... will hardly balk at the turning of water into wine -- which was, after all, a very small miracle. We forget the greater and still continuing miracle by which water (with soil and sunlight) is turned into grapes" - p.103	Sex, Economy, Freedom & Community by Wendell Berry Kentucky farmer, poet, and philosopher Wendell Berry packs this collection of 8 essays with thought- provoking nuggets. Rejecting the man vs. nature narrative, Berry attempts to describe a world where both can flourish. He calls us to learn from nature and accept our place, that is, our physical location. His place includes tobacco farming, and Berry does not shy away from discussing this and other topics including war, art, commerce, sex and Christianity. You may not always agree with his ideas but Berry will challenge you to take a new look at your world. I think you'll find it a richer place after reading this book.
Crunchy Cons by Rod Dreher Do you consider yourself a political conservative but aren't always proud to admit it? This may be the book for you. Dreher, a conservative journalist, asks those on the right what exactly they are trying to conserve. Crusading against both big government and big business, this manifesto is for people who respect the environment, enjoy wholesome food, and wish to preserve local communities. This book is more about how we live and what we value then it is about politics. It contains many profiles of unconventional conservatives, and I found it very inspiring. Although not an explicitly religious book, Dreher, who is Eastern Orthodox, identifies a sacramental view of reality as ultimately foundational for his counter cultural, crunchy conservatives.