Our 2023 Sustainable Business Reading List
If you’re wondering which sustainability books you simply *must* add to your reading list this year, we’ve done the hard work for you.
Discover a treasure trove of impactful reads in our fifth annual Sustainable Business Reading List. This year’s list features a diverse range of titles to inspire, mobilize, educate and nourish our community of sustainability and social impact professionals.
Without further ado, let’s dive in! And be sure to let us know what you think of this year’s selection in our LinkedIn Group.
Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest
In this soulful read, scientist Suzanne Simard takes us on a captivating journey through the hidden world of trees. Raised in British Columbia's forests, she discovered how trees communicate underground through a vast fungal network. And now, despite initial skepticism, her groundbreaking discoveries are backed by many. Simard shares profound lessons of resilience and kinship, found within the forest's intricate web of life, which offer guidance on how to lead our organizations and communities. These lessons also emphasize the urgent need to preserve these vital ecosystems before it's too late.
(Thanks for the nomination Chris Gaither 🙏 — check out our recent Impact Interview with Chris here)
It's Not Just You: How to Navigate Eco-Anxiety and the Climate Crisis
For Hong Kong climate justice activist Tori Tsui, eco-anxiety is a pressing mental health crisis that goes beyond the climate itself. Drawing on the wisdom of global environmental advocates, she emphasizes its interconnectedness with issues like racism, sexism, ableism and capitalism, highlighting the need for diverse perspectives and community-led initiatives. This book urges us to embrace individuality over individualism and champion climate justice to build a better future for both people and the planet.
It's Not That Radical: Climate Action to Transform Our World
Climate justice activist Mikaela Loach critically examines and challenges the mainstream media’s diluted portrayal of climate action, exposing the intersections between capitalism, oppression and the climate crisis. She argues that addressing the climate crisis requires addressing the root causes of systemic societal issues and proposes a path toward racial equality and collective liberation by dismantling them. With honesty and hope, this book inspires readers to take transformative action and offers a fresh perspective on the urgent need for change.
No Country for 8-Spotted Butterflies: A Lyric Essay
In a captivating blend of memoir and manifesto, Chamorro lawyer and Pulitzer finalist writer Julian Aguon explores climate resistance, resilience and collective action in the Pacific Islands. With a new forward from Arundhati Roy, this reprinted edition combines poetry, prose and personal anecdotes to shed light on urgent issues like rising sea levels and the impacts of militarization in this too-often-overlooked part of the world.
Not Too Late: Changing the Climate Story from Despair to Possibility
Not Too Late presents an energizing case for climate hope from award-winning writer Rebecca Solnit, climate activist Thelma Young Lutunatabua and a chorus of voices urging us to rise to the moment. Through essays and interviews, we hear from Indigenous activists, climate scientists, artists and seasoned organizers. They share their wisdom, address the political, scientific, social and emotional dimensions of this urgent challenge and guide us from climate crisis to climate hope.
(Thanks for the nomination Anna Adlard 🙏)
The Future is Degrowth: A Guide to a World Beyond Capitalism
By presenting compelling evidence that universal well-being doesn’t rely on never-ending growth, this book invites us to consider better alternatives and maps out a path toward postcapitalism. It delves into the politics of a non-growing economy, advocating for economic democratization, creative "now-topias" for experimentation and empowering movements that defy the grip of growth. Equal parts handbook and manifesto, The Future Is Degrowth is a captivating read for anyone seeking fresh solutions for the pressing crises of our time.
The Hurting Kind
This collection of poems from Mexican-American poet Ada Limon explores the interconnectedness between humanity and the natural world, between past and present and between ourselves and our ancestors. In this compilation, Limón, who was the first Latina to be named Poet Laureate of the United States, reminds us of the resilience found in nature and the resilience within ourselves, even in the face of adversity.
(Thanks for the nomination Jenny Robertson 🙏)
The Next Economy MBA: Redesigning Business for the Benefit of All Life
Traditional MBA programs are outdated, say the authors of this helpful playbook for mission-driven entrepreneurs. Their response is a reader-friendly text covering essential business topics through the lens of social justice and environmental sustainability. With real-world examples from successful social enterprises, this book empowers entrepreneurs to make a positive impact and shape a future economy that benefits all.
(Thanks for the nomination Amelia Ahl 🙏)
The Solutionists: How Businesses Can Fix the Future
This new book from Futerra co-founder and ‘Chief Solutionist’ Solitaire Townsend provides a practical change blueprint that guides us through the essential steps, mindsets and strategies for transforming our organizations into sustainable powerhouses. Through an inspiring selection of stories from leading entrepreneurs and organizations, Townsend illustrates how sustainability ‘solutionists’ are paving the way for a better world — and invites us to join their ranks.
To Dye For: How Toxic Fashion Is Making Us Sick — And How We Can Fight Back
This eye-opening book uncovers the unregulated toxic chemicals in our clothes and their harmful effects on our health. Investigative sustainability journalist Alden Wicker exposes the long history of manufacturers ignoring consumer concerns and the intertwined relationship between synthetic fashion, fossil fuel dyes and health issues like autoimmune diseases and asthma. Learn how we reached this point and the risks involved, then join the fight for a safe and healthy wardrobe.
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Check out the past editions of our Sustainable Business Reading List for even more impact-focused recommendations.
