Island Press began with a simple idea: knowledge is power—the power to imagine a better future and find ways for getting us there. Founded in 1984, Island Press’ mission is to provide the best ideas and information to those seeking to understand and protect the environment and create solutions to its complex problems.
Showing 151-160 of 329 items.
The Intergalactic Design Guide
Harnessing the Creative Potential of Social Design
Island Press
Design has built global brands, disrupted industries, and transformed our lives with technology. It has also contributed to the complex challenges we face today. In The Intergalactic Design Guide, business strategist and designer Cheryl Heller shows how social design offers a new approach to navigate uncertainty, increase creativity, strengthen relationships, and develop our capacity to collaborate.
The most innovative leaders in the world have instinctively practiced social design for decades. Heller has worked with many of these pioneers, observing patterns in their methods and translating them into an approach that can bring new creative energy to any organization. The Intergalactic Design Guide explains 11 common principles, a step-by-step process, and the essential skills for successful social design. Nine in-depth examples—from the CEO of the largest carpet manufacturer in the world to an entrepreneur with a passion for reducing food waste—illustrate the social design process in action.
Whether you are launching a start-up or managing a global NGO, The Intergalactic Design Guide provides both inspiration and practical steps for designing a more resilient and fulfilling future.
The most innovative leaders in the world have instinctively practiced social design for decades. Heller has worked with many of these pioneers, observing patterns in their methods and translating them into an approach that can bring new creative energy to any organization. The Intergalactic Design Guide explains 11 common principles, a step-by-step process, and the essential skills for successful social design. Nine in-depth examples—from the CEO of the largest carpet manufacturer in the world to an entrepreneur with a passion for reducing food waste—illustrate the social design process in action.
Whether you are launching a start-up or managing a global NGO, The Intergalactic Design Guide provides both inspiration and practical steps for designing a more resilient and fulfilling future.
Brilliant Green
The Surprising History and Science of Plant Intelligence
Island Press
Are plants intelligent? Can they solve problems, communicate, and navigate their surroundings? For centuries, philosophers and scientists have argued that plants are unthinking and inert—yet discoveries over the past fifty years have challenged this idea, shedding new light on the complex interior lives of plants.
In Brilliant Green, leading scientist Stefano Mancuso presents a new paradigm in our understanding of the vegetal world. He argues that plants process information, sleep, remember, and signal to one another—showing that, far from passive machines, plants are intelligent and aware. Part botany lesson, part manifesto, Brilliant Green is an engaging and passionate examination of the inner workings of the plant kingdom.
Financial support for the translation of this book has been provided by SEPS: Segretariato Europeo Per Le Pubblicazioni Scientifiche.
Financial support for the translation of this book has been provided by SEPS: Segretariato Europeo Per Le Pubblicazioni Scientifiche.
Walkable City Rules
101 Steps to Making Better Places
By Jeff Speck
Island Press
Walkable City Rules is a doer’s guide to making change in cities, and making it now. Jeff Speck’s follow-up to his bestselling Walkable City is the resource that cities and citizens need to usher in an era of renewed street life.
The 101 rules are practical yet engaging—worded for arguments at the planning commission, illustrated for clarity, and packed with specifications as well as data. For ease of use, the rules are grouped into 19 chapters that cover everything from selling walkability, to getting the parking right, escaping automobilism, making comfortable spaces and interesting places, and doing it now!
The 101 rules are practical yet engaging—worded for arguments at the planning commission, illustrated for clarity, and packed with specifications as well as data. For ease of use, the rules are grouped into 19 chapters that cover everything from selling walkability, to getting the parking right, escaping automobilism, making comfortable spaces and interesting places, and doing it now!
Food from the Radical Center
Healing Our Land and Communities
Island Press
"Informational and inspirational." —Booklist
America has never felt more divided. But in the midst of the acrimony comes one of the most promising movements in our country’s history. In Food from the Radical Center, Gary Nabhan tells the stories of diverse communities who are bringing back North America's unique fare: bison, sturgeon, camas lilies, ancient grains, turkeys, and more. These restoration efforts have united people from the left and right, rural and urban, in game-changing collaborations. As a leading thinker and seasoned practitioner in biocultural conservation, Nabhan offers a key perspective on the movement. His most enduring legacy may be his message of hope: a vision of a new environmentalism that is just and inclusive, allowing former adversaries to commune over delicious foods.
America has never felt more divided. But in the midst of the acrimony comes one of the most promising movements in our country’s history. In Food from the Radical Center, Gary Nabhan tells the stories of diverse communities who are bringing back North America's unique fare: bison, sturgeon, camas lilies, ancient grains, turkeys, and more. These restoration efforts have united people from the left and right, rural and urban, in game-changing collaborations. As a leading thinker and seasoned practitioner in biocultural conservation, Nabhan offers a key perspective on the movement. His most enduring legacy may be his message of hope: a vision of a new environmentalism that is just and inclusive, allowing former adversaries to commune over delicious foods.
Vaquita
Science, Politics, and Crime in the Sea of Cortez
Island Press
"Intrepid conservation detective story." —Nature
"A lucid, informed, and gripping account...a must-read." —Science
"Passionate...a heartfelt and alarming tale." —Publishers Weekly
"Gripping...a well-told and moving tale of environmentalism and conservation." —Kirkus
"Compelling." —Library Journal
In 2006, vaquita, a diminutive porpoise making its home in the Upper Gulf of California, inherited the dubious title of world’s most endangered marine mammal. Vaquita have been in decline for decades, dying in illegal gillnets intended for a giant fish, totoaba. Author Brooke Bessesen takes us to the Upper Gulf region in search of answers to a heart-wrenching dilemma. When diplomatic efforts to save the porpoise failed, Bessesen followed a scientific team in a binational effort to capture remaining vaquita and breed them in captivity—the only hope for their survival. In this fast-paced, soul-searing tale, she learned that there are no easy answers when extinction is profitable.
"A lucid, informed, and gripping account...a must-read." —Science
"Passionate...a heartfelt and alarming tale." —Publishers Weekly
"Gripping...a well-told and moving tale of environmentalism and conservation." —Kirkus
"Compelling." —Library Journal
In 2006, vaquita, a diminutive porpoise making its home in the Upper Gulf of California, inherited the dubious title of world’s most endangered marine mammal. Vaquita have been in decline for decades, dying in illegal gillnets intended for a giant fish, totoaba. Author Brooke Bessesen takes us to the Upper Gulf region in search of answers to a heart-wrenching dilemma. When diplomatic efforts to save the porpoise failed, Bessesen followed a scientific team in a binational effort to capture remaining vaquita and breed them in captivity—the only hope for their survival. In this fast-paced, soul-searing tale, she learned that there are no easy answers when extinction is profitable.
Building the Cycling City
The Dutch Blueprint for Urban Vitality
By Melissa Bruntlett and Chris Bruntlett
Island Press
The world is rediscovering the bicycle as a multi-pronged solution to acute, 21st-century problems, including affordability, obesity, congestion, climate change, inequity, and social isolation. The Netherlands has built an accessible cycling culture that cities around the world can learn from.
Chris and Melissa Bruntlett share the incredible success of the Netherlands through engaging interviews with local experts and stories of their own delightful experiences riding in five Dutch cities. Building the Cycling City examines the triumphs and challenges of the Dutch while also presenting stories of North American cities already implementing lessons from across the Atlantic. Discover how Dutch cities inspired Atlanta to look at its transit-bike connection in a new way and showed Seattle how to teach its residents to realize the freedom of biking, along with other encouraging examples.
Chris and Melissa Bruntlett share the incredible success of the Netherlands through engaging interviews with local experts and stories of their own delightful experiences riding in five Dutch cities. Building the Cycling City examines the triumphs and challenges of the Dutch while also presenting stories of North American cities already implementing lessons from across the Atlantic. Discover how Dutch cities inspired Atlanta to look at its transit-bike connection in a new way and showed Seattle how to teach its residents to realize the freedom of biking, along with other encouraging examples.
Energy for Sustainability, Second Edition
Foundations for Technology, Planning, and Policy
By John Randolph and Gilbert M. Masters
Island Press
The most comprehensive textbook on this topic, Energy for Sustainability, Second Edition takes a holistic and interdisciplinary approach to help techies and policymakers alike understand the policy and social mechanisms required to enable conversion to efficient and renewable energy that is clean, affordable, and secure. Major revisions to this edition reflect the current changes in technology and energy use and focus on new analyses, data, and methods necessary to understand and actively participate in the transition to sustainable energy.
Throughout the book, analytical methods for energy and economic analysis and design give users a quantitative appreciation for and understanding of energy systems. Randolph and Masters use case studies extensively to demonstrate current experience and illustrate possibilities.
Throughout the book, analytical methods for energy and economic analysis and design give users a quantitative appreciation for and understanding of energy systems. Randolph and Masters use case studies extensively to demonstrate current experience and illustrate possibilities.
Nourished Planet
Sustainability in the Global Food System
Edited by Danielle Nierenberg; By Barilla Center for Food and Nutrition
Island Press
In Nourished Planet, the Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition offers a global plan for feeding ourselves sustainably. Drawing on the diverse experiences of renowned international experts, the book offers a truly planetary perspective. Essays and interviews showcase Hans Herren, Vandana Shiva, Alexander Mueller, and Pavan Suhkdev, among many others. Together, these experts plot a map towards food for all, food for sustainable growth, food for health, and food for culture. With these ingredients, we can nourish our planet and ourselves.
Structures of Coastal Resilience
Island Press
Structures of Coastal Resilience presents new strategies for creative and collaborative approaches to coastal planning for climate change. In the face of sea level rise and an increased risk of flooding from storm surge, we must become less dependent on traditional approaches to flood control that have relied on levees, sea walls, and other forms of hard infrastructure. Instead, authors Catherine Seavitt Nordenson, Guy Nordenson, and Julia Chapman reimagine how coastal planning might better serve communities grappling with a future of uncertain environmental change. They offer inspiring insights into new approaches to design, engineering, and planning, envisioning an ecological approach to developing adaptive and resilient futures for coastal areas.
Urban Raptors
Ecology and Conservation of Birds of Prey in Cities
Edited by Clint W. Boal and Cheryl R. Dykstra
Island Press
Urban Raptors is the first book to offer a complete overview of urban ecosystems in the context of bird‑of‑prey ecology and conservation. This comprehensive volume examines the urban environment, explains why some species adapt to urban areas but others do not, and introduces modern research tools to help in the study of urban raptors. It delves into climate change adaptation, human‑wildlife conflict, and the unique risks birds of prey face in urban areas before concluding with real‑world wildlife management case studies and suggestions for future research and conservation efforts.
Among researchers, urban green space planners, wildlife management agencies, birders, and informed citizens alike, Urban Raptors will foster a greater understanding of birds of prey and an increased willingness to accommodate them as important members, not intruders, of our cities.
Among researchers, urban green space planners, wildlife management agencies, birders, and informed citizens alike, Urban Raptors will foster a greater understanding of birds of prey and an increased willingness to accommodate them as important members, not intruders, of our cities.
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