12 Apr 12 Books To Read For A More Conscious And Sustainable Life
With Earth Day coming up later this month, it’s made us think a bit more about the bigger picture – our beautiful planet. Having seen so much of its natural beauty during our travels, we can’t help but feel compelled to help conserve it in some way. Today’s post is going to share some of the best books to read (all available through our shop, by the way) to help you live a more conscious and sustainable life.
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12 Books To Read For A More Conscious And Sustainable Life
Lagom (Not Too Little, Not Too Much)
By: Niki Brantmark
Sweden is ranked in the top three of the world’s happiest places to live, and lagom, which means “not too much and not too little – just right,” is the Swedish philosophy for enjoying balance in every aspect of life – from work and leisure to family and food, and everything in between. Experienced bakers know by touch when the dough they are kneading is lagom – not too moist and not too dry. At the office, professionals who work hard – but not to the detriment of other parts of their lives – are following the lagom ideal. Lagom is moderation, balance, and equality. By using the Swedish lifestyle as an example, Niki Brantmark offers insightful suggestions and bite-sized actions to help you make subtle changes to your life, so you too can make time for the things that matter most, and ultimately find greater happiness.
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All We Can Save
By: Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katharine K. Wilkinson
All We Can Save illuminates the expertise and insights of dozens of diverse women leading on climate in the United States – scientists, journalists, farmers, lawyers, teachers, activists, innovators, wonks, and designers, across generations, geographies, and race – and aims to advance a more representative, nuanced, and solution-oriented public conversation on the climate crisis. These women offer a spectrum of ideas and insights for how we can rapidly, radically reshape society.
Intermixing essays with poetry and art, this book is both a balm and a guide for knowing and holding what has been done to the world, while bolstering our resolve never to give up on one another or our collective future. Curated by two climate leaders, the book is a collection and celebration of visionaries who are leading us on a path toward all we can save.
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No One Is Too Small To Make A Difference
By: Greta Thunberg
In August 2018 a fifteen-year-old Swedish girl, Greta Thunberg, decided not to go to school one day in order to protest the climate crisis. Her actions sparked a global movement, inspiring millions of students to go on strike for our planet, forcing governments to listen, and earning her a Nobel Peace Prize nomination.
No One Is Too Small to Make A Difference brings you Greta in her own words, for the first time. Collecting her speeches that have made history across the globe, from the United Nations to Capitol Hill and mass street protests, her book is a rallying cry for why we must all wake up and fight to protect the living planet, no matter how powerless we feel. Our future depends upon it.
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How To Save Your Planet One Object At A Time
By: Tara Shine
Change starts at home. In the office. Change starts with you. Your family. Your friends. Change starts with everyday things. Sometimes it can feel overwhelming thinking about all that needs to be done to save our planet and live a more sustainable life. This book is the antidote to that feeling. Easy to read and easy to do, it holds all the information and inspiration you need to make a difference, simply by making smart choices about everyday objects, tasks and habits.
Environmental scientist Dr Tara Shine guides you from room to room and occasion to occasion with environmentally-friendly solutions, backed by science. From swapping bottled soap to bars, to replacing cling film with a simple plate, you will reduce your environmental footprint in an instant, while saving money.
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How To Save The World For Free
By: Natalie Fee
We know that a better world is possible. One where we all get to breathe clean air, marvel at the abundance of wildlife, and enjoy life without worrying if it’s about to self–destruct. But how do we get there? And can it really be…easy? And fun? And free?
How to Save the World for Free will galvanize you to think and live differently, covering all key areas of our lives, from food and travel to politics and sex. You will feel better, live better and ultimately breathe better in the knowledge that every small change contributes towards saving our world and living a sustainable life. Unlike other guides to green living, How to Save the World For Free also addresses the big barriers to change, including broken political systems, capitalism, and consumerism – and gives us practical and engaging ways to disrupt them.
10% of all profits from the book will also go to City to Sea, a non–profit organization running campaigns to stop plastic pollution in our oceans.
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We Alone
By: David Western
This personal and thoughtful book by renowned Kenya conservationist David Western traces our global conquest from Maasai herders battling droughts in Africa to the technological frontiers of California. David Western draws on a half century of research in the savannahs, and his own life’s journey, to argue that conservation is not a modern invention. The success of all societies – past and present – lies in conservation practices, breaking biological barriers, and learning to live in large cooperative groups able to sustain a healthy and sustainable environment.
Our ecological emancipation from nature enabled us to expand our horizons, from conserving food and water for survival, to saving whales, elephants, and our cultural heritage. In the Anthropocene, our scientific knowledge and modern sensibilities offer hope for combating global warming and creating a planet able to sustain the wealth of life, but only if we use our unique cultural capacity of cooperation to plan our future.
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Live Green: 52 Steps For A More Sustainable Life
By: Jen Chillingsworth
Many of us are already doing what we can to adopt a greener lifestyle. We recycle, try to reduce our waste and plastics, choose organic food when shopping, eat less meat (perhaps we relate to the ‘travel vegan’ lifestyle) and opt for environmentally friendly cleaning products. Yet we often wish we were doing more, and it can be overwhelming to know where to start.
Live Green: 52 Steps For A More Sustainable Life tackles all areas of your life – from your cleaning routine, home furnishings, and food shopping, to your fashion choices, natural beauty and Christmas – and has all the ingredients to help you achieve a more sustainable year. From making your own eco-friendly cleaning products, buying vintage furniture, making your own moth repellent and improving your natural beauty regime to creating a capsule wardrobe and creating your own ethical Christmas decorations – discover how to get the most out of life by living with intention with 52 sustainable living changes – one for each week of the year.
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Simple Acts To Save Our Planet
By: Michelle Neff
Michelle Neff will show you how to treat the environment with kindness, with these easy and manageable activities that range from simple home updates, and gardening basics, to supporting the local community. You’ll learn simple techniques to help protect the planet every day, like starting a compost pile to reduce food waste, utilizing travel mugs and reusable containers, and choosing eco-friendly products. By working to implement these simple strategies into your everyday life, you can take an active stand to protect the environment now – and make a real difference for the future.
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The Incredible Ecosystems Of Planet Earth
By: Rachel Ignotofsky
Through exquisite illustrations, maps and infographics, bestselling author Rachel Ignotofsky explains how our planet works, from its incredible ecosystems and the plants and animals that live there, to the importance of biodiversity, weather cycles and more. The Incredible Ecosystems Of Planet Earth includes information on the dangers of climate change, and ideas for how to protect Planet Earth. This utterly charming guide is perfect for all nature-loving readers on a mission to live a more sustainable life on the planet we all call home.
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The Sustainable(ish) Living Guide
By: Jen Gale
If you want to save the planet, but your to-do list is already pretty long, and remembering your re-usable coffee cup feels like a Herculean task, then this is the book for you. Covering every aspect of our lives from the stuff we buy and the food we eat, to how we travel, work, and celebrate. This book provides stacks of practical, down-to-earth ideas to slot into your daily life, alongside a gentle kick up the butt to put your newfound knowledge into action. Find out how to fit “sustainable living” into your life, in a way that works for you, and change your impact without radically changing your life by figuring out the small steps you can make that will add up to make a big difference (halo not included).
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This Book Will Help Cool The Climate
By: Isabel Thomas
The bad news is, global warming is a real problem that won’t go away on its own. But the good news is, there are lots of easy ways you can get involved and make a difference. From swapping your stuff, to assigning your school some eco-homework, helping to save the planet is within your reach, so arm yourself with enough information about our changing world, so that you can become an eco-hero and take control of all our futures.
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Why Women Will Save The Planet
By: Friends Of The Earth
Why Women Will Save The Planet is a unique collaboration between C40 and Friends of the Earth showcasing pioneering city mayors, key voices in the environmental and feminist movements, and academics. The essays collectively demonstrate both the need for women’s empowerment for climate action and the powerful change it can bring. Big cities don’t have to mean a dystopian future – they can be turned around to be powerhouses of well-being and environmental sustainability – if we empower women.
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Have a sustainable book recommendation that fits this list? Pop it in the comments below.
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