Reading Lists
Professional Development (writing, organization, project management, self-promotion)
“Peak Performance” by Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness
This is technically a ‘self-help’ book but it’s not like any other self-help book I’ve ever read. It addresses particular habits that are directly related to productively and mastery of knowledge and tasks. The recommendations are data-driven and are strongly grounded in primary research on human intellectual and physical performance. For example, one of the chapters debunks the fallacy of multi-tasking, or jumping from one project to another to advance multiple projects - according to the book, research shows these individuals report feeling more productive than they actually are, and that focusing on one (or a very small number of priorities) leads to greater average productivity per unit time.
I recommend ”Peak Performance” for anyone who feels stuck spinning their wheels or overwhelmed with too many things to do.
“How to Write A Lot” by Paul J. Silvia
I believe that writing is something that we continually improve, but many people struggle with the activity of writing and feeling like they do not have enough time to produce manuscripts and proposals. “How to write a lot” discusses several common obstacles and habits that prevent people from…well, writing a lot. Paul Silva offers clear actionable advice to remove those obstacles and to achieve our writing goals. This book helped me let go of the perfectionist in me who wanted to scrutinize every sentence as I wrote them, and to find a more free-flowing habit of writing that produces more volume that can be revised (later).
I recommend ”How to write a lot” for anyone who might call themselves a ‘slow’ writer and struggles with writing volume per unit time.
“30-day Impact Challenge” by Stacey Konkiel
This is a free ebook and is easily the most actionable resource on this page. It’s meant to be completed in 30-days as the name suggests but I think that’s a little ambitious. There are also a few items that are either out of date (e.g., Twitter is being slowly replaced by BlueSky) or in my opinion are not that useful (e.g., setting up an Academia.edu account…). Nonetheless, this is a great resource for students and post-docs. I have a modified version of this list that I share with my students - feel free to reach out if you’d like a copy of that modified list.
I recommend ”30-day Impact Challenge” for graduate students in their first year or two.
Plant Ecophysiology and Evolution (and broadly representative of our research)
This list is primarily comprised of books that were specifically chosen for their relationships to my research program and for their usefulness in my teaching and mentorship (meaning there are great books not on this list so apologies if you do not see a favorite!). I also keep a spreadsheet for fundamental (peer-reviewed) papers in plant physiology, ecophysiology, ecology, and evolution that I share with students in my group. Feel free to reach out if you’d like a copy of that also.
“The Life of a Leaf” by Steven Vogel
“The Life of a Leaf” is a great book that explains fundamental concepts in environmental biophysics, plant physiology, and ecophysiology in a very straightforward manner. It’s a great primer for anyone who is curious about how plants work, and/or may be entering research in plant ecophysiology.
“Plant Physiological Ecology” by Hans Lambers & Rafael Oliveira (an update of the 2008 version from Lambers, Chapin & Pons)
This is the series that I used as an undergraduate and now I often send excerpts to students who are beginning research with my group. I especially appreciate how this book addresses plant physiology across biological scales from molecular and biochemical physiology to whole plants and ecosystems.
“Physiochemical and Environmental Plant Physiology” by Park S. Nobel
This book addresses plant physiology in the most basic principles of physics and chemistry. Among all the books listed here, this is the book I probably reference the most.
“An Introduction to Environmental Biophysics” by Gaylon Campbell & John Norman.
This book addresses plant physiology but from the perspective of biophysical processes and principles in the atmosphere, in plants, and soils.
“Xylem Structure and the Ascent of Sap” by Martin Zimmermann
"Xylem Structure and the Ascent of Sap" examines how xylem tissues transport water and nutrients in plants. It explains the cohesion-tension theory, describing water movement under negative pressure, and highlights the evolutionary adaptations in xylem structures for efficient water transport.
“Plant Physiological Ecology: Field Methods and Instrumentation” by Robert Pearcy, James Ehleringer, Harold Mooney & Philip Rundel (Eds.)
In the plant ecophys community, this is known as the “pink book”. This book covers a wide range of topics including techniques for measuring photosynthesis, water relations, and nutrient dynamics, offering practical insights for researchers and students in ecological and environmental sciences. It’s a shame it is out of print and only becomes more precious as the years go by!
“Ecological Niche and Distributions” by A. Townsend Peterson, Jorge Soberón, Richard Pearson, Robert Anderson, Enrique Martínez-Meyer, Miguel Nakamura & Miguel Araújo
No one has said this to me, but I kinda think this is the modern reference for ecological niche theory and modeling. It serves as a comprehensive resource for understanding the complex interactions between organisms and their environments in the context of ecological and biogeographical research.
“The Ecology of Adaptive Radiation” by Dolph Schluter
This book delves into the phenomenon of adaptive radiation and explores how and why diverse species evolve from a common ancestor to have different ecological roles and/or ecological niches. The book showcases empirical examples and theoretical frameworks, making it essential reading for understanding the evolutionary dynamics that contribute to biodiversity and ecological specialization.
“Plant Speciation” by Verne Grant
"Plant Speciation" is a seminal work that explores the processes and patterns of speciation specifically in plants. Grant examines the mechanisms that drive the formation of new plant species, including topics in which my group and I are particularly interested, including polyploidy, hybridization, and adaptation to different environments.
“Variation and Evolution in Plants” by G. Ledyard Stebbins
Another classic text that explores the genetic and evolutionary processes shaping plant diversity including the roles of natural selection, genetic drift, and hybridization in plant speciation and adaptation.
“Evolution in Changing Environments” by Richard Levins
I like this book because it integrates ecological principles with evolutionary biology to provide insights into the dynamics of species interactions, genetic diversity, and the resilience of populations facing environmental variability. It serves as a key resource for understanding how populations adapt and evolve in response to shifting ecological conditions. I think more ecologists and physiologists should read this.
“Problems of cytology and evolution in the Pteridophyta” by Irene Manton
"Problems of Cytology and Evolution in the Pteridophyta" is a seminal work that explores the micro-structures and reproductive mechanisms of ferns and their relatives. This book was and is a significant contribution to botany and evolutionary biology. Fun fact, Irene Manton invented the chromosome squash that permitted the basic data collection to birth new fields of study at the chromosomal level.
“The Role of Chromosomal Change in Plant Evolution” by Donald Levin
The Role of Chromosomal Change in Plant Evolution" investigates how alterations in plant chromosomes, such as polyploidy and genetic rearrangements, drive evolutionary transformations, influencing genetic diversity and species divergence. Full disclosure: I’ve only read the text about hybridization and ploidy.
