"a gift of valued fertilizer"

It is a small one. Looks like it only has one toilet space. Speaking of toilet, it is just a really big porcelain barrel. If not careful, you will fall into it. Every old house has one shack that can hold two such barrels. It provides enough fertilizer year-around. If yours runs out, you can get some from your neighbor for free. :)

Brilliant book. Took ten years of research to write. A must read for anyone who is interested in civilization and behavior, and a required read in my architecture & design program. It looks at the patterns of how people have organized and sustained themselves and their communities for thousands of years. From the smallest details, like how the layout of a home makes us feel, to the biggest challenges, like networking neighborhoods to include public space, parks, and walkable cities.

Five stars!

Hey! Wouldn't it be great if TH featured "must read" books? Every week another book review/discussion...

I'd be in heaven.

Hi KPod,

Actually, we're planning a "What we're reading" post for tomorrow, might do a sidebar on the left eventually, and some of our fave books we've put in the story on top.

But it's definitely a good idea to cover more books. Stay tuned!

Wow, cool, MGR. Will this include opportunities for online book group type discussions? I'd so love to participate in something like that -- often (ok, most of the time) I end up talking to the book or magazine or newspaper itself for lack of someone to engage in discussion.

MGR, that sounds like a post I want to read! I'm actually reading my first "eco" book now: Cradle to Cradle. BTW, has anyone else noticed the "TO" on that book cover looks like the symbol for female?

A new post about books should be on the site in a few minutes.

Cradle to Cradle is a good start. I recommend that you read The Ecology of Commerce by Paul Hawken next. It's one of the books that turned me into a treehugger.