Books published by Island Press

A fresh, optimistic narrative that shows how the West has thrived in the face of water scarcity and can handle future shortages.

This story of an unlikely organic farmer shows the future of healthy American agriculture.

This beautifully illustrated short e-book explores the idea that to create vibrant, sustainable urban areas for the long term, we must first understand what happens naturally when people congregate in cities-innate, unprompted interactions of urban dwellers with each other and their surrounding urban and physical environment. Wolfe elaborates on the perspective that the underlying rationales for urban policy, planning and regulation are best understood from a historical perspective and in a better understanding of the everyday uses of urban space. To make his case, Wolfe draws on his years of writing about urbanism as well as his professional experiences as a land use and environmental lawyer and offers compelling case study vignettes from everyday urban life.Successful community, Wolfe argues, is among the first principles of what makes humans feel happy, and therefore city dwellers invariably celebrate environments where and when they can coexist safely, in a mutually supportive way. Wolfe believes such celebration is most interesting when it occurs spontaneously-seemingly without effort. He contends it is critical to first isolate these spontaneous and latent examples of successful urban land use, before applying any prescriptive government policies or initiatives. Wolfe provides something rare in contemporary urbanist writing-rich illustrations and examples from real life-both historical and current. His writing about the past and the future of urban form offers readers inspiration, historical context, and a better understanding of how a sustainable, inviting urban environment is created.

The most comprehensive book available about planning for climate change on the local level.

The father of the local food movement shares how collaboration across the political divide can fix our broken food system.

Using profiles of 47 transit systems in the US, this is appealing resource with the tools for building good transit andavoiding bad transit.

A hopeful look at the ways the sharing economy can transform our food system and challenge corporate agriculture.

A timely revision to the most comprehensive textbook on sustainable energy.

The collected writings of Hank Dittmar, an internationally renowned planner, pay tribute to his legacy.

A gripping narrative about the new reality of wildfire in North America.

An urgent and timely update on a classic book for scientists, giving them the tools to communicate and defend science.

The world's leading krill scientist takes readers on a journey to discover the biology and unexpected beauty of krill.

This contributed volume offers techniques for bringing justice and democracy into community design.

An optimistic book about the history and future of cycling in Europe and the US.

The Urban Street Stormwater Guide provides the best practices for the design of Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) along transportation corridors. By incorporating GSI cities can manage stormwater and reap the public health, environmental, and aesthetic benefits of street trees, planters, and greenery in the public realm.

An optimistic look at the characteristics of resilient cities that will help communities become more sustainable and equitable.

What makes a great city? City planner and architect Alexander Garvin set out to answer this question by observing cities, largely in North America and Europe, with special attention to Paris, London, New York, and Vienna.For Garvin, greatness is about what people who shape cities candotomakea city great. A great city is a dynamic, constantly changing place that residents and their leaders can reshape to satisfy their demands. Mimportantly, it is about the interplay between people and public realm, and how they have interacted throughout history to create great cities.What Makes a Great Citywill help readers understand that any city can be changed for the better and inspire entrepreneurs, public officials, and city residents to do it themselves.

An exploration of U.S. food policy that reveals the unexpected ways regulations can thwart sustainable practices.

What if, even in the heart of a densely developed city, people could have meaningful encounters with nature? While parks, street trees, and green roofs are increasingly appreciated for their technical services like stormwater reduction, from a biophilic viewpoint, they also facilitate experiences that contribute to better physical and mental health: natural elements in play areas can lessen children's symptoms of ADHD, and adults who exercise in natural spaces can experience greater reductions in anxiety and blood pressure.The Handbook of Biophilic City Planning & Design offers practical advice and inspiration for ensuring that nature in the city is more than infrastructure-that it also promotes well-being andcreates an emotional connection to the earth among urban residents. Divided into six parts, the Handbook begins by introducing key ideas, literature, and theory about biophilic urbanism. Chapters highlight urban biophilic innovations in more than a dozen global cities. The final part concludes with lessons on how to advance an agenda for urban biophilia and an extensive list of resources.As the mcomprehensive reference on the emerging field of biophilic urbanism, the Handbook is essential reading for students and practitioners looking to place nature at the core of their planning and design ideas and encourage what preeminbiologist E.O. Wilson described as "e;the innate emotional connection of humans to all living things."e;