Paul Hawken Talk
On September 1, 2026 at the Coach Barn, ecological activist and acclaimed author Paul Hawken shared his insights on reshaping our relationship with the planet. You can watch and listen to the entire conversation above.
In his talk, Paul challenged many of the terms that have guided environmental action. He claimed that they have been ineffective in meeting climate challenges, have placed responsibility outside the human sphere rather than inside of it, and have helped hide the adverse impacts of the solutions. For hope, he encouraged us to look at soils and the critical role they now play and will continue to play in reducing planetary heating.
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In his presentation, Paul shared the titles of recent books that have inspired him. (See next slide, too. Full listing below.)
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"This planet is alive, in a way that I had no idea," said Paul. These books showcase that.
Paul Hawken was the presenter for our Fall 2026 Marshall Webb Climate Action Talk. His pivotal works include Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming, Regeneration: Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation and Carbon: The Book of Life.
Books Shared in Paul's Talk
- Nature’s Last Dance: Tales of Wonder in an Age of Extinction - Natalie Kyriacou
- Hospicing Modernity: Facing Humanity’s Wrongs and the Implications for Social Activism - Vanessa Machado de Oliveira
- The Sounds of Life: How Digital Technology Is Bringing Us Closer to the Worlds of Animals and Plants - Karen Bakker
- The Arrogant Ape: The Myth of Human Exceptionalism and Why it Matters - Christopher Webb
- Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? Frans De Waal
- Maintenance of Everything - Stewart Brand
- Ways of Being: Animals, Plants, Machines: The Search for a Planetary Intelligence - James Bridle
- The World Beneath Our Feet: The Hidden Life of Soil and Why It Matters to Us All - Frank Ashwood
- Is a River Alive? Rober Macfarlane
- How to Speak Whale - Tom Hustill