In my spare time, I love to read!

It’s so rewarding to learn about the world around me and how I can be a better, more eco-conscious contributor to it. Here is a list of ten of my favorite books to challenge your thinking and current contributions to help future generations. I’ve covered the basics with this list: learn about zero waste living, how to make long-term changes, the effects of climate change, and more.

I encourage you to first try and find these books locally to you OR even better, download a copy onto a tablet and stay paperless. But for the sake of this list, and readers that perhaps live in a remote area with limited shops, I have included amazon links with each.

Zero Waste Home

By Bea Johnson

This is the first book I ever read when I started my zero waste journey. I loved how Bea explained her journey and convinced me that it is easier to live a zero-waste life and much better for the environment as well.

What you will learn from it:

How to make small changes in your house so you can live a close to zero waste life. She also has a few recipes that I loved but my favourite is the bread pudding.

2. Zero Waste Living, The 80/20 Way: The Busy Person’s Guide To A Lighter Footprint

by Stephanie J. Miller

This is the second book I read.

This is the book for people who think that they are too busy to make the zero waste swaps. Stephanie MIller wrote about her own research and personal experience, explaining a few relatively easy lifestyle change that can make a positive impact on the environment.

Using the simplicity of the 80/20 rule, she shows us those things (the 20%) that we can do to make the biggest (80%) difference in reversing the climate and waste crises.

3. The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming

By David Wallace-Wells

If you are a little bit scared about climate change, I do not recommend reading this book.

It is terrifying.

“Its subject is climate change, and its method is scientific, but its mode is Old Testament. The book is a meticulously documented, white-knuckled tour through the cascading catastrophes that will soon engulf our warming planet.”—Farhad Manjoo, The New York Times

4. 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste

By Kathryn Kellogg

This book is for the absolute beginner. I read it in just a few hours, only because I already knew quite a few of the swaps Katheryn suggests in this book.

I would say that this book is more of a reference book. for the zero waste beginner.

It is literally explaining 101 ways you can go zero waste.

My favorite part was the last few tips where she encourages people to get involved in their community and government.

5. An Almost Zero Waste Life: Learning How to Embrace Less to Live More

by Megan Weldon

Focusing on the positive, An Almost Zero Waste Life presents simple ways to reduce waste in every aspect of your life.

The book offers advice on simple ways to reduce waste in your home. You will find advice on cleaning, meal planning, shopping, bathroom, recycling and composting.

6. Waste Not Everyday: Simple Zero-Waste Inspiration 365 Days a Year

By Erin Rhoads

This book showcases 365 easy changes that you can make every day. It also motivates you by giving you daily, weekly and monthly reminders that will rock your world.

7. Bare Necessities: How To Live A Zero-Waste Life

by Sahar Mansoor and Tim De Ridder

Co-written by an environmentalist and sustainability consultant, this zero-waste book is full of goodies. It has a bunch of activities, recipes, tips, insights and “how-to” tutorials that will make your zero waste transition a bit easier.

8. The (Almost) Zero-Waste Guide: 100+ Tips for Reducing Your Waste Without Changing Your Life

by Melanie Mannarino

This book keeps it real. Indeed, there is no perfect zero waste lifestyle yet. Melanie Mannarino offers her insights and 100 simple tips for being less wasteful with what​ you eat, ​how you live in​​ your home, when you’re curating your wardrobe, when you practice self-care, during your travels​ near and far​, and in your community.

9. How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need

By Bill Gates

Ok, maybe this book is not really a zero-waste book but I think you should read it to understand and motive yourself. It is important to understand the severity of climate change.

The book describes in detail the challenges we face as humanity and society. Bill Gates presents insights on how technology can help the fight against climate change.

He lays out a concrete plan for achieving the goal of zero emissions--suggesting not only policies that governments should adopt, but what we as individuals can do to keep our government, our employers and ourselves accountable in this crucial enterprise.

As Bill Gates makes clear, achieving zero emissions will not be simple or easy to do, but by following the guidelines he sets out here, it is a goal firmly within our reach.

10. Protest Kitchen: Fight Injustice, Save the Planet, and Fuel Your Resistance One Meal at a Time

by Carol J. Adams and Virginia Messina

Protest Kitchen is a book that takes a stand and helps you understand that your food choices are more powerful than you think.

Not only give you a sense of empowerment because it draws attention to issues of justice, misogyny, national security and human rights but also offers fifty vegan recipes.

I would save this book as a reference book.

That’s all ten! I hope you enjoy these books as much as I did. If you happen to pick one up or have read any of these before, I would love to hear your thoughts!

What books do you suggest I read next?

— Claudia