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Books about Sustainability
The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals
by Michael Pollan
Exploration of the modern food chain, examining the impact of food choices on our health and the environment.
What should we have for dinner? The question has confronted us since man discovered fire, but according to Michael Pollan, the bestselling author of The Botany of Desire , how we answer it today, at ... (Goodreads)
A Sand County Almanac and Sketches Here and There
by Aldo Leopold
A reflection on nature, paying homage to the beauty of the Wisconsin countryside.
First published in 1949, A Sand County Almanac combines some of the finest nature writing since Thoreau with an outspoken and highly ethical regard for America's relationship to the land. Written ... (Goodreads)
Food Rules: An Eater's Manual
by Michael Pollan
A guide to mindful eating, exploring the connection between health, environment and culture.
A DEFINITIVE COMPENDIUM OF FOOD WISDOM Eating doesn't have to be so complicated. In this age of ever-more elaborate diets and conflicting health advice, Food Rules brings a welcome simplicity to our ... (Goodreads)
Walden
by Henry David Thoreau
A reflective journey into nature, exploring the power of contemplation and simplicity.
Originally published in 1854, Walden; or, Life in the Woods, is a vivid account of the time that Henry D. Thoreau lived alone in a secluded cabin at Walden Pond. It is one of the most influential and ... (Goodreads)
The Lorax
by Dr. Seuss
A story of environmental stewardship and warning of the consequences of greed.
A young unnamed boy living in a polluted area visits a strange isolated man called the Once-ler on the Street of the Lifted Lorax. The boy pays the Once-ler fifteen cents, a nail, and the shell of a ... (Wikipedia)
The Hidden Life of Trees: what they feel, how they communicate : discoveries from a secret world
by Peter Wohlleben
An exploration of the complex relationships between trees and the environment.
A, New York Times, bestseller,, With more than 2 million copies sold worldwide, this beautifully-written book journeys deep into the forest to uncover the fascinating—and surprisingly moving—hidden ... (Barnes & Noble)
The World Without Us
by Alan Weisman
A thought experiment exploring how the Earth and its species would fare without the presence of humans.
A penetrating, page-turning tour of a post-human Earth In The World Without Us , Alan Weisman offers an utterly original approach to questions of humanity's impact on the planet: he asks us to ... (Goodreads)
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants
by Robin Wall Kimmerer
An exploration of the reciprocal relationship between humans and nature, utilizing both Indigenous wisdom and scientific knowledge.
As a botanist, Robin Wall Kimmerer has been trained to ask questions of nature with the tools of science. As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she embraces the notion that plants and animals ... (Goodreads)
Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed
by Jared Diamond
Study of past societies' successes and failures in terms of environmental, economic, and political decisions.
Brilliant, illuminating, and immensely absorbing, Collapse is destined to take its place as one of the essential books of our time, raising the urgent question: How can our world best avoid ... (Goodreads)
Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies
by James C. Collins
Analysis of successful companies and their long-term strategies, identifying key habits and practices that lead to enduring success.
"This is not a book about charismatic visionary leaders. It is not about visionary product concepts or visionary products or visionary market insights. Nor is it about just having a corporate vision. ... (Goodreads)
7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess
by Jen Hatmaker
A spiritual and practical journey to live with less, finding freedom and contentment.
Why do we pursue, more, when we'd be happier with, less,? This is the story of how, New York Times, bestselling author Jen Hatmaker and her family tried to combat overindulgence—and what they learned ... (Barnes & Noble)
Desert Solitaire
by Edward Abbey
A personal account of a season spent as a park ranger in the American wilderness.
First published in 1968, Desert Solitaire is one of Edward Abbey’s most critically acclaimed works and marks his first foray into the world of nonfiction writing. Written while Abbey was working as a ... (Goodreads)
The Curious Garden
by Peter Brown
A young boy transforms a dreary city into a lush garden paradise.
This, New York Times, bestselling modern classic explores the perennial topic of environmentalism in an urban world, from the creator of, The Wild Robot, and, Mr. Tiger Goes Wild, One boy's quest for ... (Barnes & Noble)
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life
by Barbara Kingsolver
A family's journey to eat locally grown, sustainable food.
Author Barbara Kingsolver and her family abandoned the industrial-food pipeline to live a rural life—vowing that, for one year, they'd only buy food raised in their own neighborhood, grow it ... (Goodreads)
In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto
by Michael Pollan
Argument for a return to traditional diets and away from processed, industrialized food.
Michael Pollan's last book, The Omnivore's Dilemma , launched a national conversation about the American way of eating; now In Defense of Food shows us how to change it, one meal at a time. Pollan ... (Goodreads)
The Great Kapok Tree
by Lynne Cherry
A man falls asleep under a kapok tree and is visited by animals who plead with him to save their home from destruction.
Two men who go to an Amazon rain forest to cut down trees for wood. Once they arrive, they stop beside a tree and the younger man falls asleep after the older man leaves. During his sleep, several ... (Wikipedia)
Ishmael
by Daniel Quinn
A gorilla's provocative teachings on the human condition, exposing the flaws of modern society.
Implicitly set in the early 1990s, Ishmael begins with a newspaper advertisement: "Teacher seeks pupil. Must have an earnest desire to save the world. Apply in person". , The nameless narrator and ... (Wikipedia)
The Kind Diet: A Simple Guide to Feeling Great, Losing Weight, and Saving the Planet
by Alicia Silverstone
A guide to a plant-based diet that promotes health, weight loss, and environmental sustainability.
Whether you want to lose weight, get healthy, or help save the world, transitioning to a vegan diet is easy with advice, tips, and recipes from actress Alicia Silverstone. In The Kind Diet , actress, ... (Goodreads)
Eating Animals
by Jonathan Safran Foer
An exploration of the ethical and environmental implications of eating meat.
Jonathan Safran Foer spent much of his life oscillating between enthusiastic carnivore and occasional vegetarian. Once he started a family, the moral dimensions of food became increasingly important. ... (Goodreads)
Last Chance to See
by Douglas Adams
A humorous and poignant travelogue documenting the author's quest to find endangered species. A call to action to save our planet's biodiversity.
Join author Douglas Adams and zoologist Mark Carwardine as they take off around the world in search of exotic, endangered creatures. ... (Goodreads)
Andy Goldsworthy: A Collaboration with Nature
by Andy Goldsworthy
Exploring nature through art, and the beauty of the environment.
Illustrates outdoor sculptures created with a range of natural materials, including snow, ice, leaves, rock, clay, stones, feathers, and twigs. ... (Goodreads)
The Man Who Planted Trees
by Jean Giono
A shepherd single-handedly reforests a barren valley, transforming the land and the people who live there.
The story begins in the year 1913, when a young man who is the narrator was travelling alone on a hiking trip through Provence , France, and into the Alps , enjoying the relatively unspoiled ... (Wikipedia)
Growth of the Soil
by Knut Hamsun
A story of a man's life in rural Norway, his struggles, and his relationship with the land.
The novel begins by following the story of Isak, a Norwegian man, who finally settled upon a patch of land which he deemed fit for farming. He began creating earthen sheds in which he housed several ... (Wikipedia)
The Fifth Sacred Thing
by Starhawk
In a post-apocalyptic world, a community in San Francisco resists a fascist regime with the power of magic and nonviolence.
The novel describes a world set in the year 2048 after a catastrophe which has fractured the United States into several nations. The protagonists live in San Francisco and have evolved in the ... (Wikipedia)
The Third Plate: Field Notes on the Future of Food
by Dan Barber
A chef's journey to create a sustainable food system, exploring the relationship between agriculture, ecology, and cuisine.
Barber explores the evolution of American food from the 'first plate,' or industrially-produced, meat-heavy dishes, to the 'second plate' of grass-fed meat and organic greens, and says that both of ... (Goodreads)
Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism
by Fumio Sasaki
A minimalist lifestyle guide, reshaping our relationship with possessions.
The best-selling phenomenon from Japan that shows us a minimalist life is a happy life. Fumio Sasaki is not an enlightened minimalism expert or organizing guru like Marie Kondo—he’s just a regular ... (Barnes & Noble)
The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making
by Alana Chernila
A guide to making pantry staples from scratch, including bread, cheese, and condiments, with recipes and tips for beginners.
“This is my kitchen. Come on in, but be prepared—it might not be quite what you expect. There is flour on the counter, oats that overflowed onto the floor, chocolate-encrusted spoons in the sink. ... (Barnes & Noble)
Blue Noon
by Scott Westerfeld
A post-apocalyptic adventure as a group of survivors attempt to rebuild their world.
When time freezes in the middle of the day during a school pep rally, the Midnighters have a problem. The secret hour is slowly making its way into the real world. The last book in the Midnighters ... (Wikipedia)
Utopia for Realists: How We Can Build the Ideal World
by Rutger Bregman
Explores bold ideas to improve the world, promoting a revolutionary shift in thinking.
Universal basic income. A 15-hour workweek. Open borders. Does it sound too good to be true? One of Europe's leading young thinkers shows how we can build an ideal world today. "A more politically ... (Goodreads)
The Death and Life of Great American Cities
by Jane Jacobs
Exposes the flaws of urban planning, advocating for a more organic approach.
A direct and fundamentally optimistic indictment of the short-sightedness and intellectual arrogance that has characterized much of urban planning in this century, The Death and Life of Great ... (Goodreads)
The One-Straw Revolution
by Masanobu Fukuoka
A revolutionary approach to farming that emphasizes natural processes and minimal intervention.
Fukuoka demonstrates how the way we look at farming influences the way we look at health, the school, nature, nutrition, spiritual health and life itself. He joins the healing of the land to the ... (Goodreads)
My Side of the Mountain
by Jean Craighead George
A young boy runs away to the Catskill Mountains, where he learns to survive on his own and befriends a falcon.
Sam Gribley is a 12-year-old boy who intensely dislikes living in his parents' cramped New York City apartment with his eight brothers and sisters. He decides to run away to his great-grandfather's ... (Wikipedia)
Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman
by Yvon Chouinard
Reflections on the journey of an environmentally conscious businessman, and the lessons learned along the way.
In his long-awaited memoir, Yvon Chouinard-legendary climber, businessman, environmentalist, and founder of Patagonia, Inc.-shares the persistence and courage that have gone into being head of one of ... (Goodreads)
Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World
by Mark Kurlansky
A history of cod, tracing the integral role the fish has played in shaping global culture.
The Cod. Wars have been fought over it, revolutions have been triggered by it, national diets have been based on it, economies and livelihoods have depended on it. To the millions it has sustained, ... (Goodreads)
Grass
by Sheri S. Tepper
A dystopian fable of a future world, where the grass is literally alive and conscious.
Generations ago, humans fled to the cosmic anomaly known as Grass. But before humanity arrived, another species had already claimed Grass for its own. It too had developed a culture. Now, a deadly ... (Wikipedia)
All New Square Foot Gardening
by Mel Bartholomew
A guide to creating a productive garden in a small space, using a unique square foot method. Perfect for urban gardeners or those with limited space.
In, All New Square Food Gardening, 3rd Edition, the best-selling gardening book in North America is relaunched and updated for the next generation of gardeners and beyond. Since Square Foot Gardening ... (Barnes & Noble)
Flight Behavior
by Barbara Kingsolver
A woman's struggle to reconcile her faith and environmentalism as she faces a mysterious ecological disaster.
Dellarobia Turnbow is a 28-year-old discontented housewife living with her poor family on a farm in Appalachia . On a hike to begin an affair with a telephone repairman, Turnbow finds millions of ... (Wikipedia)
Into the Forest
by Jean Hegland
Sisters attempt to survive in their rural home as society collapses around them.
In the near future, two teenage sisters, Nell and Eva, live in a remotely located home with their father, Robert. A massive, continent-wide power outage seems to have resulted in a region-wide ... (Wikipedia)
Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone
by Deborah Madison
A comprehensive cookbook, inspiring home cooks to explore a variety of vegetarian dishes.
The tenth anniversary edition of this landmark cookbook, with more than 325,000 copies in print, includes a new introduction from Deborah Madison, America’s leading authority on vegetarian ... (Goodreads)
The Borrowers
by Mary Norton
A family of tiny people living secretly in a regular-sized household, trying to avoid being discovered.
Beneath the kitchen floor is the world of the Borrowers – Pod and Homily Clock and their daughter, Arrietty. In their tiny home, matchboxes double as roomy dressers and postage stamps hang on the ... (Goodreads)
Abundance: The Future Is Better Than You Think
by Peter H. Diamandis
An optimistic look at the future, exploring how humanity's greatest challenges can be solved.
Providing abundance is humanity’s grandest challenge—this is a book about how we rise to meet it. We will soon be able to meet and exceed the basic needs of every man, woman and child on the planet. ... (Goodreads)
Vegan with a Vengeance: Over 150 Delicious, Cheap, Animal-Free Recipes That Rock
by Isa Chandra Moskowitz
A comprehensive vegan cookbook with easy-to-follow recipes for delicious, affordable meals.
The classic first cookbook from the coauthor of, Veganomicon, is back with even more tasty recipes, chatty anecdotes, and money-saving tips for easy plant-based cooking, featuring tempting full-color ... (Barnes & Noble)
Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation
by Michael Pollan
An exploration of the power of cooking and the four classical elements to transform food.
In Cooked , Michael Pollan explores the previously uncharted territory of his own kitchen. Here, he discovers the enduring power of the four classical elements - fire, water, air, and earth - to ... (Goodreads)
Veganomicon: The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook
by Isa Chandra Moskowitz
An extensively researched and comprehensive vegan cookbook with tips, tricks, and creative recipes.
Vegan powerhouses Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Romero update their beloved cookbook with 25 new dishes, revisions throughout for more than 250 recipes, stunning color photos, and tips for making ... (Barnes & Noble)
Small Is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered
by Ernst F. Schumacher
A critique of modern economic systems and a call for a more sustainable and human-centered approach to economics.
"Nothing less than a full-scale assault on conventional economic wisdom." — Newsweek One the 100 most influential books published since World War II — The Times Literary Supplement Hailed as an ... (Goodreads)
Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder
by Richard Louv
Examining the consequences of disconnecting children from nature, and the need for reconnection.
"I like to play indoors better 'cause that's where all the electrical outlets are," reports a fourth-grader. Never before in history have children been so plugged in—and so out of touch with the ... (Goodreads)
The Art of Simple Food: Notes, Lessons, and Recipes from a Delicious Revolution
by Alice Waters
A comprehensive guide to creating flavorful, healthy dishes from simple ingredients.
An indispensable resource for home cooks from the woman who changed the way Americans think about food. Perhaps more responsible than anyone for the revolution in the way we eat, cook, and think ... (Barnes & Noble)
The Dirty Life: On Farming, Food, and Love
by Kristin Kimball
A woman's journey of self-discovery, finding purpose and love in the farming life.
From a “graceful, luminous writer with an eye for detail” (,Minneapolis Star Tribune,), this riveting memoir explores a year on a sustainable farm. When Kristin Kimball left New York City to ... (Barnes & Noble)
Stuff Matters: Exploring the Marvelous Materials That Shape Our Man-Made World
by Mark Miodownik
In-depth exploration of everyday materials and their properties, revealing their importance in our lives.
An adventure deep inside the everyday materials that surround us, packed with surprising stories and fascinating science. Why is glass see-through? What makes elastic stretchy? Why does a paper clip ... (Goodreads)
Earth
by David Brin
A near-future tale of a world where transparency and privacy collide, as a young woman fights for her freedom and the fate of humanity.
Set in the year 2038, Earth is a cautionary tale of the harm humans can cause their planet via disregard for the environment and reckless scientific experiments. The book has a large cast of ... (Wikipedia)
Happy City: Transforming Our Lives Through Urban Design
by Charles Montgomery
Investigating the relationship between urban design and happiness, this book explores how cities can be transformed to improve our well-being.
Charles Montgomery’s Happy City will revolutionize the way we think about urban life. After decades of unchecked sprawl, more people than ever are moving back to the city. Dense urban living has been ... (Goodreads)
Food Matters: A Guide to Conscious Eating with More Than 75 Recipes
by Mark Bittman
A guide to conscious eating, with recipes that promote health and sustainability. Emphasizes the importance of food choices in personal and global well-being.
From the award-winning champion of culinary simplicity who gave us the bestselling How to Cook Everything and How to Cook Everything Vegetarian comes Food Matters , a plan for responsible eating ... (Barnes & Noble)
Zero Waste Home: The Ultimate Guide to Simplifying Your Life by Reducing Your Waste
by Bea Johnson
A practical guide to reducing waste and simplifying life through the 5R's: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Rot.
Part inspirational story of Bea Johnson (the “Priestess of Waste-Free Living”) and how she transformed her family’s life for the better by reducing their waste to an astonishing one liter per year; ... (Goodreads)
The Backyard Homestead: Produce All the Food You Need on Just a Quarter Acre!
by Carleen Madigan
A guide to creating a self-sufficient homestead in your backyard, producing fresh food and reducing reliance on grocery stores.
This comprehensive guide to homesteading provides all the information you need to grow and preserve a sustainable harvest of grains and vegetables; raise animals for meat, eggs, and dairy; and keep ... (Barnes & Noble)
Second Nature: A Gardener's Education
by Michael Pollan
A memoir of the author's journey from a novice gardener to a seasoned one, exploring the relationship between humans and nature.
In his articles and in best-selling books such as The Botany of Desire , Michael Pollan has established himself as one of our most important and beloved writers on modern man's place in the natural ... (Goodreads)
My Ishmael
by Daniel Quinn
A young girl seeks guidance from a telepathic gorilla on how to save the world from impending ecological disaster.
My Ishmael is presented as the final copy of a book published by Julie Gerchak, who has herself read, Ishmael, . At the time she begins writing, Julie is sixteen, though during the main plot of her ... (Wikipedia)
Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time
by Jeff Speck
A guide to creating walkable cities, with practical solutions for urban planning and design.
Jeff Speck has dedicated his career to determining what makes cities thrive. And he has boiled it down to one key factor: walkability. The very idea of a modern metropolis evokes visions of bustling ... (Goodreads)
This World We Live In
by Susan Beth Pfeffer
A post-apocalyptic world where a family struggles to survive and find hope in a world without electricity, food, and safety.
It’s been a year since a meteor collided with the moon, catastrophically altering the earth’s climate. For Miranda Evans, life as she knew it no longer exists. Her friends and neighbors are dead, the ... (Goodreads)
The History of Bees
by Maja Lunde
Three narratives spanning centuries, exploring the interplay of humankind and bees.
In the spirit of Station Eleven and Never Let Me Go, this dazzling and ambitious literary debut follows three generations of beekeepers from the past, present, and future, weaving a spellbinding ... (Goodreads)
Diet for a Small Planet
by Frances Moore Lappé
A groundbreaking book on vegetarianism and sustainable eating, emphasizing the importance of plant-based protein sources for a healthy planet.
With the new emphasis on environmentalism in the 1990's, Lappe stresses how her philosophy remains valid, and how food remains the central issue through which to understand world politics. ... (Goodreads)
Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion
by Elizabeth L. Cline
Investigative journey into the fashion industry's impact on the environment, economy, and society. Reveals the true cost of fast fashion.
“Overdressed does for T-shirts and leggings what, Fast Food,, Nation, did for burgers and fries.” —Katha Pollitt Cheap fashion has fundamentally changed the way most Americans dress. Stores ranging ... (Barnes & Noble)
Being a Green Mother
by Piers Anthony
A young woman must embrace her destiny as the Green Mother, a powerful force for nature, to save the world from destruction.
It is discovered that young Orb , the Aunt of Luna, has the gift of conjuring natural music that emanates from things in nature. She sets off on a quest for a magical song known as the Llano, a song ... (Wikipedia)
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