June 2026—Margaret Atwood, Matt Haig and More

"By the time they have read enough books to actually reach a state of knowledge where they can do anything with it, they are dead." Quote from "The Humans" by Matt Haig.

I guess, no time to lose. Keep reading. I may be able to make it.

Also, no need to keep reading books if I don't enjoy them. This month, I didn't finish reading most of the books I started.

1. Speaking with Nature by Ramachandra Guha

I wish more people cared about the environment, climate change, wildlife conservation, and animal rights, along with human rights. Lately, I have started to pick up books on such topics. Speaking with Nature is about the origins of Indian environmentalism.

 

"The high living standards of one part of the world were in part enabled by its control of other parts of the world. Imperialism, the domination of one country or people over another, was therefore not just immoral, but also, in an environmental and ecological sense, unsustainable."

Reading this was going alright, except I crave more women's involvement, and I was also in the mood for fiction. Meaning I haven't finished.

2. Silent Spring by Rachel Carson

The Classic Nonfiction Book on the Environment and Human Nature.

If you search for DDT on the web, this is what you get:

"DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) is a synthetic organochloride pesticide, famous for its widespread use in the mid-20th century to control malaria-carrying mosquitoes and agricultural pests. While highly effective, it was subsequently banned in most countries due to its severe environmental persistence and harmful toxicological effects on wildlife and humans." 

Public awareness of these dangers largely stemmed from this book. 

Haven't finished. I know this is an important book. May pick it up later.

3. The Art of Frugal Hedonism by Annie Raser-Rowland

 "Time is exactly what you can choose to have more of when you spend less money…"

Haven't finished.

4. The Humans by Matt Haig

"Most humans don’t think about things very much. They survive by thinking about needs and wants alone. But you are not one of them. Be careful."

Finally something I enjoyed reading. This was a feel-good novel for me. First time reading Matt Haig. I'm sure I'll read more of him.

5. Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

Oryx is an African antelope and Crake, as in  red-necked crake, is a small Australian bird. But they have nothing to do with the story. Just the characters are named after them.

Turns out I like speculative fiction. Genetic engineering, pandemic, post-apocalyptic stuff. I couldn't put this down. Maybe because I haven't read something like this in a very long time or maybe its Margaret Atwood. Now I'm on to the 2nd book in the trilogy.