What I’ve Been Reading This March Instead Of Doing 1,000 Other Things

Liz Merino breaks down what she’s been reading, online and in print, and why you should be reading it too.

National Geographic

National Geographic remains a vibrant, real look at places in the world many of us can’t see with our own eyes, that have somehow been affected by our own hands.This month’s issue of the publication opened like many others do - with a Letter from the Editor. I normally skip these openings but the heading — “On the side of science” — struck me as important, especially as our political climate continues to shift on dividing issues like the one addressed in the March issue: climate change.

Boasting 34 articles in the past three years on the topic, National Geographic continues to be a relevant resource for those whose interest has been piqued by the changes to our environment and global landscapes.

As the contention of climate change persists, the side we choose to stand on will continue to impact the only planet we have. The closing quote of the letter hit me hard, and made me think not only about the rate at which we’re killing the earth, but how we lead our lives in general. I’ll leave you with that:

“In a time of drastic change it is the learners who inherit the future. The learned usually find themselves equipped to live in a world that no longer exists.” — Eric Hoffer, philosopher and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient.

In addition to climate change, vikings and Cambodian fish migration, the issue also explores the life of trees. The photos are stunning and somehow mystical, making me want to travel to each one and feel the culture that envelopes their bark and and buds.

Read it: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2017/03/wisdom-of-trees/

$ Diaries Refinery 29

Saving money in your twenties is hard when you sacrifice it all to coffee runs, Moscow mules and paycheck-eating student loans. I can’t be the only one who checks my bank account every day and simultaneously wants to delete the app and then delete my Starbucks habit. Talking about weekend spending woes with a co-worker on a Monday morning, I was introduced to Refinery 29’s Money Diaries, a sneak peek into the life of a stranger’s spending habits. It’s become a weekly read.

Read it: http://www.refinery29.com/money-diary-santa-fe-new-mexico-geophysicist-budget

The Handmaid’s Tale

I’m only a few pages in so far, but I finally picked up The Handmaid’s Tale after finding numerous copies at my hometown library. Set in the worst world any rational person can think of, the plot pivots around the idea that women have no rights and are stripped down to just their reproductive abilities. Published in the 1980s, it’s pretty scary considering it’s 2017 and this, this, this, this and this is still happening.