100 Places to Remember

What the world’s best photographers have to do with nipping carbon emissions.

Some time ago, we looked at the incredible power of photography in recording and reminding us of the precious resources we are losing with climate change. But never has a concentrated effort harnessed that power, combining it with other forces of cultural traction like celebrity, science and the art world — until now.

Enter 100 Places to Remember, a fascinating book-and-oh-so-much-more of 100 photographs from 100 different places around the world in risk of disappearing due to climate change, based on UN reports, each taken by one of the world’s greatest living photographers.

Developed by a team of Danish media and marketing industry vets, 100 Places to Remember extends far beyond the book, living as a poster series, art exhibitions, children’s book, postcards and calendars. 100 TV spots spotlight the climate threats specific to each of the places, from Tokyo’s industry-induced heat islands to Sri Lanka’s withering tea crops to the dwindling ice cap on Kilimanjaro, causing water shortages for 1 million people.

The project goes beyond simple fear appeal with 100 pragmatic tips on what each of us can do, through anything from personal day-to-day habits to political activism, to help preserve the precious beauty of this world we live in.

Part Chris Jordan, part Yann Arthus Bertrand, the project plays on a basic principle of human psychology: We often fail to consider change until we see — and deeply, emotionally, viscerally feel — just what’s at stake.

So go ahead and explore all the places for an immersion in beauty of the most resonant kind.

In 2009, we spent more than 240 hours a month bringing you Brain Pickings. That’s over 2,880 hours for the year, over which we could’ve seen 29 feature-length films, listened to 72 music albums or taken 960 bathroom visits. If you found any joy and inspiration here this year, please consider supporting us with a modest donation — it lets us know we’re doing something right.

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Uncovered Gem: Steve Jobs on Paul Rand

A brave assault on the paradox of choice, or why the best option is the only option.

This week’s uncovered gem is a 1993 interview of Steve Jobs, talking about what it was like to work with iconic designer Paul Rand, the mastermind behind the logo of Jobs’ second company, NeXT. And, like any genius, he seems to have equal parts brilliance and bravado, talent and tenacity.

I asked him if he would come up with a few options. And he said, ‘No, I will solve your problem for you, and you will pay me. And you don’t have to use the solution — if you want options, go talk to other people. But I’ll solve your problem for you the best way I know how, and you use it or not, that’s up to you — you’re the client — but you pay me.’

He’s a very deep, thoughtful person who’s tried to express in every part of his life what his principles are. And you don’t meet so many people like that today.

A wonderful companion read — a 1990 interview with Rand on what he calls “the play instinct”, echoed and evolved in a couple of our favorite TED talks, Tim Brown’s and Paula Scher’s.

Correction: Thanks to those who pointed out it was the NeXT logo in question, not the Apple one as we had originally written. We’re all for busting misconceptions and we’re never afraid to admit we’ve got something wrong, so thank you — here’s to learning something every day.

In 2009, we spent more than 240 hours a month bringing you Brain Pickings. That’s over 2,880 hours for the year, over which we could’ve seen 29 feature-length films, listened to 72 music albums or taken 960 bathroom visits. If you found any joy and inspiration here this year, please consider supporting us with a modest donation — it lets us know we’re doing something right.

Brain Pickings has a free weekly newsletter and people say it’s cool. It comes out on Sundays and offers the week’s best articles. Here’s an example. Like? Sign up.

Actions Speak Loudest

What Jimmy Carter and Mia Hamm have in common, or how to kick-start a decade of betterment.

There’s nothing quite like the start of a new decade to offer up the promise and potential for change. As the blank slate of the future stretches before us, with its capacity for betterment, we are kicking the year off by spotlighting a powerful spark of inspiration that actually transcends the fluff-lined cliches of idealism and offers tangible, real insight into the art and science of constructive change.

Action Speak Loudest is a brilliant book-and-charity that focuses on 32 essential issues, ranging from climate change to childhood obesity to education.

From President Jimmy Carter on peace to Robert Coles on moral intelligence to Donovan McNabb on physical inactivity, the anthology features 1000-word essays from cultural icons and everyday innovators alike, accompanied by award-winning photography.

Every generation makes a commitment to see its children lead better lives than they have and to leave the world a better place than they have inherited.

Today’s issues are combining to create the first generation of children expected to lead shorter, unhealthier and unhappier lives than their parents.

Action Speak Loudest is designed as a clarion call to help us keep our generational promise.

And while many well-intentioned efforts in this vein end up toothless and preachy, failing to make the leap from inspiration to action, Action Speak Loudest doesn’t. The end of each chapter features an In My Home I Can… section, offering pragmatic tips on implementing all these ideas in everyday life — a potent case study for the strongest change agent of all, the blend of moral motivation and actionable behavioral steps.

Because the project is a non-profit, all proceeds from the book go right back into the causes and organizations featured on its pages. So go ahead and give yourself — and the world’s sorest issues — a wonderful and inspired new year’s gift.

In 2009, we spent more than 240 hours a month bringing you Brain Pickings. That’s over 2,880 hours for the year, over which we could’ve seen 29 feature-length films, listened to 72 music albums or taken 960 bathroom visits. If you found any joy and inspiration here this year, please consider supporting us with a modest donation — it lets us know we’re doing something right.

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