Poisoned for Pennies: The Economics of Toxics and Precaution by Frank Ackerman (paperback)

Our planet is rapidly running out of the carbon-based fuels that have powered urban growth for centuries and we seem to be unable to curb our greenhouse gas emissions. Are the world’s cities headed for inevitable collapse? The authors of this spirited book don’t believe that oblivion is necessarily the destiny of urban areas. Instead, they believe that intelligent planning and visionary leadership can help cities meet the impending crises, and look to existing initiatives in cities around the world. (Also in hardcover.)

Energy for Sustainability: Technology, Planning, and Policy by John Randolph and Gilbert Masters (hardcover)

Energy for Sustainability is the first undergraduate textbook on renewable energy and energy efficiency with a unique focus on the community scale. Written by two of the foremost experts in the field, it is a pedagogically complete treatment of energy sources and uses. It examines the full range of issues—from generating technologies to land use planning—in making the transition to sustainable energy. (Also in paperback.)

Diagnosis: Mercury: Money, Politics, and Poison by Dr. Jane M. Hightower (harcover)

In Diagnosis: Mercury, Dr. Hightower retraces her investigation into the modern prevalence of mercury poisoning, revealing how political calculations, dubious studies, and industry lobbyists endanger our health. While mercury is a naturally occurring element, she learns there’s much that is unnatural about this poison’s prevalence in our seafood.

Lives Per Gallon: The True Cost of Our Oil Addiction by Terry Tamminen (paperback)

In Lives Per Gallon, Tamminen takes a hard look at the health, environmental, and national security costs hidden in every barrel of oil. While the petroleum industry is raking in huge profits, Tamminen shows, it is studiously avoiding measures that would lessen the hazards of its products. Using the successful lawsuits by state governments against big tobacco as a model, the author sets forth a bold strategy to hold oil and auto companies accountable and force industry reform. (Also in hardcover.)