8 Best Sustainability Books You Need To Read — Sustainably Yours
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If you’re looking to read some books and learn more about the environment, you have to read these best sustainability books.
These popular books range from talking about the fast fashion industry to industrial farming to modern businesses.
Whether you are looking to educate yourself on the impacts of modernization on the environment or are looking for solutions to climate change problems, these books will get you thinking.
The beauty of these books is although they talk about serious issues in the world, they end it off on a positive note.
We are not doomed. We can actually make a difference.
Keep reading to see the book recommendations and a quick summary of why you should read them.
Book Recommendations
1.Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things
This book reads like a science fiction novel but maybe that’s what our world is turning in to. William McDonough & Michael Braungart offer radical ideas to make products that have a life after their use.
Buildings that generate oxygen, shoes that release nutrients into the Earth and more ideas are presented in the book. A must read to open your eyes into the limitless possibilities where we can have modern benefits without sacrificing our lives.
2. The Upcycle: Beyond Sustainability — Designing Abundance
In the follow up to Cradle to Cradle, authors McDonough and Braungart look in to how their theories from the first book have worked out in real life .
This book is very insightful and shows that helping the environment doesn’t have to come at a cost to humans.
3. This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate
Our planet is telling us that it’s in trouble. From floods to droughts to fires, Earth is crying for help. Klein states that economic policies are to blame and to fix it, we need to take drastic action.
This is an amazing read that provides solutions to climate change while tying it together with social justice and equality. It truly does change everything.
4. The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals
This life changing book will teach you what society doesn’t want you to know about industrial farming and how it shapes our diets.
Michael Pollan is not afraid to peel back the dirty layers of farming and open your eyes to an industry that isn’t as clean as it seems.
5. Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost Of Cheap Fashion
We’ve been hearing a lot about how bad fast fashion is for the environment as well as for third world countries. This book dives deeper into the impact of this ridiculously large industry.
Whether you were know of the impact of fast fashion or not, this book will convince you why we need to invest in ethical and sustainable clothing and forget about supporting large clothing retailers.
6. Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed To Reverse Global Warming
There are hundreds of solutions out there to combat global warming. Drawdown summarizes the 100 more realistic solutions that we can put in place.
Paul Hawken talks about the potential carbon reduction from each of these solutions and how they will actually impact our environment. A must read for anyone looking for realistic solutions to the carbon emissions.
7. Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail and Succeed by Jared Diamond
Diamond talks about how climate change will be the collapse of civilization unless we make changes. He addresses how cultures around the world are hurting our planet and what we need to do to fix it.
This is a must read to truly understand the impact of people attempting to fight disaster. Some failed while others succeeded.
8. Doughnut Economics: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st Century Economist
Since the industrial revolution, humans have been harming the planet to make our lives easier. But what if there was a way to enjoy our modern benefits without harming the planet?
Kate Raworth argues seven insights for business professionals to rethink their businesses and make them more sustainable.
Final Thoughts
Reading these books are a great way to open your eyes on the impacts of different industries on the environment and what changes you can start making today.
Once you have the knowledge from these books, take as much action as you can to make the world a better place. Whether that’s by educating others or making daily habit changes, do what you can.
Let me know in the comments below what books you’re most excited to read!
Originally published at https://sustainably-yours.com on January 11, 2021.
