Episode · The Rich Roll Podcast · 2025-05-08
Books mentioned on Earth's Hidden Wisdom: Paul Hawken On Reframing Carbon, Consciousness & Why Hope Lies Within Nature's Intelligence
Paul Hawken is one of the great elder statesmen of environmentalism, a bestselling author, and the mind behind Drawdown and Regeneration. This conversation explores the biosphere's intrinsic intelligence through the expansive lens of Paul's latest book, Carbon: The Book of Life.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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Carbon
Discussed“Paul's latest book and the subject for today's conversation is entitled carbon which posits that our greatest solutions for planetary healing reside in a deeper appreciation for the complexities of the natural world.”
Where to get it
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Drawdown
Drawdown by Paul Hawken is a comprehensive book that outlines detailed plans and solutions for reversing global warming and reducing atmospheric carbon.
Discussed“And when I look at your work kind of the arc of the last couple books um draw down regeneration. Draw down's like, okay, how are we going to, you know, like get into the nuts and bolts of like, you know, drawing down carbon, regeneration, more of a rebirth?”
Where to get it
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Regeneration
Regeneration by Paul Hawken is a comprehensive book that presents a wide array of actionable solutions aimed at ending the climate crisis within a single generation.
Discussed“And when I look at your work kind of the arc of the last couple books um draw down regeneration. Draw down's like, okay, how are we going to, you know, like get into the nuts and bolts of like, you know, drawing down carbon, regeneration, more of a rebirth?”
Where to get it
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Civil Disobedience
Discussed“And when he got arrested, he carried in this thing paper written by thorough called, we all know that one. Leaves of grass. No, not leaves of grass on Walden. No. Which one? On civil disobedience.”
Where to get it
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Entangled Life
Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake is a popular science book exploring the mysterious and multifaceted kingdom of fungi and how they shape our world, minds, and futures.
Recommended“And so when Merlin Sheldrake who wrote Entangled Life, beautiful, beautiful book about fungi. Is it fungi? I keep I always say fungi fungi doesn't matter. Fungal um keep going. Sorry. Yeah. But remember anyway, he read the chapter for me and um and then he said, 'But I wouldn't call it queendom.'”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (9) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
Own book Carbon
“And what I'm trying to suggest and in the book and so forth is ways to look at plants, at creatures, at butterflies, you know, at my celia, at other people, other cultures in a way that promotes a sense of wonder, a sense of awe, a sense of respect, a sense of, 'Oh my gosh, who knew?'”
Own book Carbon
“And so I do give a few anecdotes of that in the book about that happened for me. But that's it's available to everyone regardless of age or tenure or job or culture or nothing.”
Own book Carbon
“So we have to think about things that are more you know ple you know like down to earth I guess you know and of ways of seeing the world was the butterfly or I give an example of the book about a scientist who for what curiosity whatever reason wanted to know how many roots were on a seed”
Passing Walden
“Leaves of grass. No, not leaves of grass on Walden. No.”
Passing Leaves of Grass
“And when he got arrested, he carried in this thing paper written by thorough called, we all know that one. Leaves of grass.”
Own book Drawdown
“draw down was very much about carbon and sequestration you know bring it back home and stop emitting it okay and this is the way you do it and uh we can talk about that if you want regeneration”
Own book Regeneration
“draw down was very much about carbon and sequestration you know bring it back home and stop emitting it okay and this is the way you do it and uh we can talk about that if you want regeneration”
Own book Carbon
“So carbon the book of life is really about in a sense how do we connect ourselves to the living world in such a way that actually um inspires us and and the people around us”
Own book Carbon
“And so in the book I talk about, you know, dark earth for sure. And but soil is not to be seen as a medium just because we can take a bag or something and pour it into a pot and grow something.”