My Favorite Books on Natural Living
My family and I have been fortunate enough to work at home during the pandemic, which means I’ve had the unusual opportunity to read up on all-natural living. I’ve learned so much about green living, environmental problems, and natural history through the 12 wonderful titles I’ve shared below. Whether you want to read about DIY projects, local eating, inspirational environmentalists, or zero-waste living, there’s something for everyone in this list!
The Overstory by Richard Powers: Winner of the 2019 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction, The Overstory is a brilliant and passionate book about humans and their relationship to trees and the natural environment. Through nine interwoven stories -- which appear to be isolated but are actually connected through the characters' connections to trees and forests -- this story is packed with elements of science and a dollop of magical realism.
Zero Waste Home: The Ultimate Guide to Simplifying Your Life by Reducing Your Waste by Bea Johnson: I started following Bea Johnson's blog a few years ago when I really started to rethink the amount of waste that my household produced and the kind of environmental impact I was making. I made quite a few changes in my life as a result of her influence, and I find her lifestyle (and this book) to be compelling, challenging, and totally brilliant.
Ecobeauty: Scrubs, Rubs, Masks, Rinses, and Bath Bombs for You and Your Friends by Janice Cox and Lauren Cox: These bath and body recipes will show you how fun and easy it is to DIY at home. You’ll be whipping up all-natural bath bombs and lip balm in no time!
Little House in the Suburbs by Deanna Caswell: This fabulous book on homesteading proves that it is possible to have chickens in the backyard -- and still live close enough for a Target run. I love the useful recipes and tips, especially if you’re a beginning gardener, all told with a ‘let’s not take ourselves too seriously’ tone.
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer: This nonfiction book blends indigenous wisdom, plant science, and personal narrative into lessons on thankfulness, traditions, nature, and family. Through whimsical prose, Kimmerer explores how humans and nature impact one another and how we can take part in caring for nature, especially during the climate crisis.
Waste Not: How to Get the Most from Your Food by The James Beard Foundation: This helpful book inspired me to turn ingredients that usually end up in my trash bin into delicious dishes!
The Upcycle: Beyond Sustainability -- Designing for Abundance by Michael Braungart and William McDonough: At its core, this inspirational book argues that there isn’t a “waste problem” insomuch as there is a design problem, and that a more sustainable world can come about through product design that uses the full cycle of resources. From furniture to clothing to waste management, this book is a roadmap to redesigning our world and making human practices more sustainable.
Easy Green Living by Renee Loux: Finally, someone actually outlines what exactly I need to do to green my house, room by room. And it’s doable!
The Naturally Clean Home by Karyn Siegel-Maier: Switching to green cleaners can be a daunting task, but one that’s well worth it. Make your own floor cleaner with essential oils and your deliciously-smelling house will make you an instant convert.
Plenty: One Man, One Woman, and a Raucous Year of Eating Locally by Alisa Smith: If you’re interested in eating more local foods, you might like the story of a couple who spends a year eating only the food produced within 100 miles of their home. This book sets itself apart by exploring the history of their region in regard to the foods that once sustained locals, as well as the changes that have led to our reliance on global food sources.
The Invention of Nature by Andrea Wulf: A page-turning biography of German explorer and early environmentalist Alexander von Humboldt, who wrote extensively about human impacts on ecology and the climate. The descriptions of Humboldt’s travels are gripping and I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in nature, science, and exploration.
Timefulness: How Thinking Like a Geologist Can Help Save the World by Marcia Bjornerud: This science book reads like a novel and is massively relevant even as it details the epochal geological record. A central insight of this book is our broken relationship to time, and how repairing our understanding of our place in the history of the natural world is essential to protecting the environment in the future.
Have you read any great books on the environment, all-natural living, or natural science? I’d love to hear your book recommendations in the comments below!