Charles Maynard, author and founding Executive Director of the Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, will discuss Earth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet by Bill McKibben on January 26, 12 p.m. at the East Tennessee History Center as part of the continuing Brown Bag Green Book series presented by Knox County Public Library and the City of Knoxville. 

Twenty years ago, with his book The End of Nature, McKibben offered one of the earliest warnings about global warming. Now, he insists that we need to acknowledge that we've waited too long, and that massive change is not only unavoidable but already under way; our planet is melting, drying, acidifying, flooding, and burning in ways that no human has ever seen. McKibben suggests that we've created a new planet, still recognizable but fundamentally different - "Eaarth."

"McKibben is always on target about humanity's place in Earth," Maynard says. "The End of Nature was a clarion call to the world on climate change. This newest work goes beyond his initial call to action to bring us to how to live - not just in the future - but today."

Maynard is a storyteller, author, and an ordained United Methodist minister. He has authored or co-authored over 29 books, including 21 children's books. He is currently director of development for Camp and Retreat Ministries for the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church. Charles worked as the first Executive Director of the Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Maynard serves on the Southeast Region Advisory Board for the National Parks Conservation Association, the board of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and the board of Discover Life in America. His most recent books are Going Along to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Blue Ridge Ancient and Majestic.

The public is invited to join the conversation. Copies of the books are available at Knox County Public Library. For more information, please visit the Brown Bag Green Book section of www.knoxlib.org or call Emily Ellis at 215-8723.