New Society Enters New Phase

New Society Publishers is excited to announce our new alliance with the Douglas & McIntyre Publishing Group (D&M). D&M is one of Canada's largest independent book publishers, with offices in both Toronto and Vancouver. It includes the publishing imprints Douglas & McIntyre and Greystone Books and is also the Canadian distributor for the New York houses Farrar, Straus & Giroux and Atlas & Co.

Judith Plant, who heads New Society Publishers here on Gabriola Island, says:

"After many lonely years of swimming upstream to get people to pay attention to sustainability issues, we are now very pleased to be part of a larger group that has the potential to really improve our effectiveness. We struggled to build our readership during the 'turn-around' decade of the 90s, when nothing much turned around at all. Now, as the first decade of the new millennium nears its end, green issues are on everyone's agenda, and New Society finds itself to be a long-time leader in the field. With the added reach and strength from our new partnership, we are looking forward to increasing the scope and relevance of our publishing program so that we can continue to provide building blocks for the new society that has always been our deeply held mission."

Click here for all the details.

Overcoming the Three Fs

Skyrocketing foreclosures in the US, soaring fuel prices and a global food crisis -- this triple-F catastrophe is unprecedented in recent history. While senior economists debate the semantics of whether or not the American economy is entering a recession, real people have to choose between paying the mortgage and putting food on the table. Amid the doom and gloom it's more important than ever to stay focused on positive solutions in order to avoid despair. That's why our spring crop of books brings you informative and inspiring offerings on everything from localizing our economies, greening the way we work and make our living, and learning from other nations who have experienced collapse.

Stay tuned to our blog for news you can use, and check out our latest books below!

A Chip off the Old Bloc

In his recipe for "Collapse Soup", Dmitry Orlov argues that all of the ingredients that precipitated the demise of the Soviet Union are now simmering in the great American melting pot. Reinventing Collapse: The Soviet Example and American Prospects examines the parallels between the two former superpowers and offers strategies for personal and cultural transformation as we tumble down Hubbert's Peak.

• Contents
• Chapter 1: The Soviet Example

Perspective is Everything

Corporate bigwigs and e-mail marketers would have us believe that being small is a lamentable state of affairs. In Small is Possible, Lyle Estill suggests that in fact, being too large is the problem, and through a series of compelling and fascinating vignettes, he shows how we can boost "hometown security" by taking steps to bolster our local economy.

• Contents
• Feeding Ourselves

Growing Your Own (green business, that is!)

Is your life something that happens after you leave work? Are your personal goals at odds with what you do between 9 and 5? In Ecopreneuring: Putting Purpose and the Planet Before Profits, John Ivanko and Lisa Kivirist show how to stop being a wage slave and enhance your quality of life by working with passion and for the Earth.

• Contents
• The 21st Century of Small, Local and Ecoprenurial

Choose Green -- Save Green!

A US federal government study found that American homes are responsible for 21.5% of total national energy use, 20% of total carbon dioxide emissions, and 58.5 million tons of construction and demolition debris each year. In Choosing Green: The Home Buyer's Guide to Good Green Homes, Jerry Yudelson shows how opting for an energy efficient, non-toxic, healthy home can be good for the planet and your wallet!

• Contents
• Chapter 2: What is a Green Home?

Dream Home or Nightmare?

Many standard construction materials contain toxic substances such as VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds) that can have serious health consequences, as can molds, pesticides and other contaminants often found in our seemingly clean living spaces. In Prescriptions for a Healthy House, 3rd Edition: A Practical Guide for Architects, Builders & Home Owners, Paula Baker-Laporte, John Banta and Erica Elliott reveal the dangers of chemical exposure and demonstrate safe building and remodeling techniques for creating healthy indoor and outdoor spaces.

• Contents
• Overview

Go for the Greed!

The view from Mount Olympus just isn't what it used to be. Once considered the pinnacle of amateur sport, the Olympic Games are now the province of big business, governments and corporate media. Chris Shaw's Five Ring Circus is an exposé of how this once-proud institution has become mired in greed, backroom deals and the wholesale trampling of civil liberties.

• Contents
• "Higher, Faster, Stronger": The Myth of the Olympic Games and the Hidden History of the IOC

New Catalyst Books

Check out the following titles, which have just been released under our New Catalyst Books' imprint!

Webs of Power

In Webs of Power, Starhawk provides an overview of the complex political and economic powers opposed by the anti-globalization movement, and shows how we can transform our rage and despair and renew our spirits while acting to change the world.

The Natural Step Story

The Natural Step has empowered and inspired thousands of people and businesses to design a more sustainable world. In The Natural Step Story, the organization's founder Dr. Karl-Henrik Robèrt describes the evolution of the Natural Step framework together with a robust methodology for how to apply it strategically.

Home! A Bioregional Reader

By providing tools to understand the land we live on and the sources of its natural regeneration, the more than 40 contributors to Home! open up new possibilities for the creation of cultures in keeping with the requirements of the natural world. Home! contains essays, poems, songs, and beautiful illustrations.