As another year draws to a close, Our Planet Our Future’s sustainability book club is reflecting on the books we’ve read together and separately. We asked our members to share their recommendations to see us through the cosy season ahead. From standout reads of the year to festive inspiration, here are the books we suggest adding to your shelf.
English Pastoral: An Inheritance by James Rebanks
This book tells the story of how a farmer salvaged a piece of land, restoring old ways of working to leave a legacy for the future. Dirk says, ‘this book starts slowly but gathers steam, and by the end presents a very powerful, convincing argument for small, diversified farms that use rotation to grow, not just crops and animals, but native plants and animals. Industrialised agriculture is not the answer. Diversity, not specialisation. Small, not large. Local, not global. Scant — or no — use of pesticides and inorganic fertilisers. These are the way forward. Rebanks is a third-generation farmer; he speaks eloquently, and from experience.’
Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson
Martin recommends this fictional, but very plausible and eye-opening, imagining of the short- to medium-term future if global average temperature increases continue their current trajectory. He says, ‘The book was effective at cutting through the fog of excuses that business as usual with minor tweaks won’t be enough to avert disaster.’
Our Wild Farming Life by Lynn Cassells and Sandra Baer
Lesley and Dirk both recommend this account of the authors’ move to live off the land in a Scottish croft, which they toured this summer as part of a rewilding tour. Dirk says ‘The two authors followed their dream and made it a reality. It truly is an inspiring book. They did not have experience, money, or much knowledge. But, because of their enterprise, hard work, and good research, they made it a success. The book is not directly about the climate. But if everyone lived as intentionally and thoughtfully as they do, we’d be so much better off.’
Elixir by Kapha Kassabova
Recommended by Susheel, this book shares the author’s journey around the remote villages of Bulgaria, describing how people interact with the land, plants, people and change. Quoting the book, she says, ‘Elixir is, at its heart, an urgent, hopeful call to rethink how we live – in relation to one another, and to the world around us.’
Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year by Beth Kempton
If silly season is getting all a bit too much, you might draw inspiration from this book by Japanologist Beth Kempton. Fuschia says, ‘While not explicitly pitched as a climate book, Beth offers a calmer, more mindful way of celebration. She challenges festive excess by encouraging us to investigate what really matters to us and our loved ones rather than mindlessly continuing traditions that don’t serve us or the planet. Even though I use reusable fabric wrap and buy preloved gifts, I still got some new ideas from this book. And it finally allowed me to let go of several excessive traditions, including stopping gift exchanges with some friends and family in favour of actually spending time together.
Bonus: a Christmas article to help you reduce household waste
If you’d like a quick read instead of a book, then Daniel recommends this National Geographic article in which plastic experts share how they decorate their homes sustainably. He says, ‘as consumption and household waste increase over the festive period, two scientists specialising in plastic pollution share ways to be more environmentally conscious over the holidays without sacrificing the seasonal cheer.’
Other sustainability-related books
Want even more reading inspiration? Here’s a list of all the books the Our Planet Our Future Sustainability Book Club has read. Click on the links to read what we thought about them.
- The High House by Jessie Greengrass
- A Climate of Truth by Mike Berners-Lee
- Prosperity Without Growth by Tim Jackson
- Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
- Blue Machine by Helen Czerski
- Badvertising by Andrew Simms and Leo Murray
- Doughnut Economics by Kate Raworth
- Regenesis by George Monbiot
- Five Times Faster by Simon Sharpe
- Our book club’s summer 2025 recommendations