There’s something powerful about getting lost in a book that makes you look at the world differently. Some stories pull you into the beauty of the natural world, while others challenge the way we live in it. Whether fiction or nonfiction, the right book can completely reshape how you think about sustainability – and even inspire you to take action.
Here are a few books that have stayed with me, along with others I’ve added to my reading list. Some are poetic, some practical, some heartbreaking, but all of them offer a deeper perspective on the environment and our place within it.
1. The Overstory by Richard Powers
This is one of my all-time favorites. It’s a beautiful novel about the lives of trees and the people who come to understand their importance. The storytelling is so rich and layered – it made me feel like the forest was it’s own character. It’s the kind of book that changes how you see every tree you pass.
2. Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
I haven’t read this one yet, but it’s been recommended to me more times than I can count. It blends Indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge, and personal reflection in a way that feels deeply grounding. Everyone I know who’s read it says it’s both gentle and transformative – a love letter to the Earth and a guide for how to live more respectfully on it.
3. No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference by Greta Thunberg
A small but mighty collection of Greta’s speeches, this book reminds you just how powerful individual voices can be. It’s a quick read, but don’t be fooled – its impact is huge.
4. This Changes Everything by Naomi Klein
More analytical and political, this one dives deep into the relationship between capitalism and climate change. It’s not always an easy read, but it’s eye-opening and informative. If you’re looking for big-picture context and the “why” behind many of our sustainability issues, this book is worth your time.
5. Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
First published in the 1960s, this classic helped spark the modern environmental movement. Carson’s writing about pesticides and the damage they cause is both scientific and poetic. It’s sobering, but also empowering – proof that awareness can lead to real change.
6. How to Give Up Plastic by Will McCallum
This one’s more hands-on and practical, with realistic tips for cutting plastic out of your everyday life. If you’re new to sustainability or just want help simplifying your routine, it’s a great place to start.
7. The Uninhabitable Earth by David Wallace-Wells
Not a light read, but a necessary one. It lays out the stakes of climate change in very real, very urgent terms. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the climate crisis, this book validates that feeling – and motivates action.
8. Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer
This one dives into the ethical and environmental impact of industrial farming. It’s part memoir, part investigation, and it really makes you think about what ends up on your plate.
9. Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver
A novel that weaves climate change into a story about rural life, faith, and self-discovery. Kingsolver always writes beautifully about the natural world, and this one is no exception.
10. Fathoms: The World in the Whale by Rebecca Giggs
This book explores our connection to whales – scientifically, historically, and emotionally – and what they can teach us about climate, pollution, and the limits of human control. It’s lyrical and deeply moving.
11. Wilding: Returning Nature to Our Farm by Isabella Tree
This memoir follows Isabella Tree and her husband as they let their failing farm in England return to the wild. What happened next is incredible – species came back, ecosystems healed, and the land flourished. It’s a hopeful reminder that sometimes the best thing we can do is step back and let nature lead.
12. The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, this one dives into the science (and stories) behind the mass extinction event we’re living through right now. It’s sobering, but Kolbert writes in a way that makes big concepts both accessible and deeply moving.
13. Walden by Henry David Thoreau
An oldie but such a classic. Thoreau’s reflections on simple living in nature might feel romanticized at times, but they still spark important questions about what we really need to live well, and how much happier we can be with less.
14. All We Can Save – edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katharine K. Wilkinson
This is a collection of essays, poetry, and stories from women leading the climate movement. It’s full of wisdom, creativity, and heart, and it feels like being in a room with some of the most inspiring voices working for change.
15. The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben
If you loved The Overstory, this is a perfect follow-up. Wohlleben shares the science behind how trees communicate and support one another, but he does it with so much wonder that it feels almost magical. It’ll change the way you feel on forest walks forever.
Some of these books are hopeful. Others are tough reads. But they all remind us that sustainability isn’t just a buzzword – it’s about how we live, what we value, and what kind of future we want to be part of.
Have you read any of these? Or are there others you think should be on this list? Either way, maybe one of them will plant a seed. 🌱