James Borrell is a biodiversity scientist and science communicator researching how people and nature can adapt to environmental change.

10 Inspiring Reads for Conservationists

If you only get chance to read one book this year, then I would highly recommend this:

1. The Man Who Planted Trees – Jean Giono

It’s refreshingly short (only 4000 words) and frighteningly ahead of it’s time, considering it was published in 1953. You can read my favorite part and find a full free version here. If you have a bit longer, here are some other gems. Let me know your own recommendations in the comments below.

2. The Snow Leopard – Peter Matthiessen

3. The Wild Trees – Richard Preston

4. The Selfish Gene – Richard Dawkins

5. Gorillas in the Mist – Dian Fossey

6. Jaguars and Electric Eels – Alexander von Humboldt

7. The Butterfly Isles – Patrick Barkham

8. The Last Grain Race – Eric Newby

9. The Greenpeace Book – Rex Weyler

10. The Bottom Billion – Paul Collier

I heard about pretty much all of these book, thank to recommendations from friends at one time or another. What would you recommend?