Climatic changes. Tropical deforestation. Toxic contamination of food and water. Citizens concerned about the fate of the planet are eager to become active and informed on these and other environmental issues. The Environmentalist's Bookshelf: A Guide to the Best Books lists and describes the 500 best books on nature and the environment as determined by the recommendations of over 200 environmental leaders from around the world. Scientists, educators, authors, activists, and government officials, including representatives from 150 environmental groups and editors from 15 environmental journals and magazines, share their personal responses to the environmental books that have most influenced their thinking and actions. Classics by Aldo Leopold, Henry David Thoreau, Rachel Carson, and Edward Abbey, and newer works by Wendell Berry, William Cronon, Marc Reisner, Vandana Shiva, and Donald Worster are among those reviewed by author Robert Merideth and his roster of experts. This guide includes: The Environmentalist's Bookshelf list of the top 40 books deemed essential to any environmentalist's library; detailed descriptions of the 100 core, 250 strongly recommended, and 150 further recommended books; and a biographical listing of survey respondents, a virtual who's who in the field of nature and the environment. For professionals, students, and anyone concerned about environmental issues, The Environmentalist's Bookshelf is an invaluable tool for building an ecologically sound library.