Green Books

Looking for a gift for yourself or a loved one? Here are some fantastic books that can help you and your family on your way to a greener and more eco-friendly lifestyle. I’ve included books that I have on my own wish list. A lot of people think going green is expensive, which I don’t agree with at all, so there are a few books about how going green can save you money!

I’ve also included some nature based books, because caring about our natural world goes hand in hand with living an eco-friendly lifestyle. Of course, you could just read some of the articles on this website – why not start with 50 Easy Ways To Go Green or 250 ways to be more sustainable.

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Audiobooks

Instead of buying a book, which means trees have to be cut down, maybe you’d prefer an audiobook and have someone read to you.

Audible costs just £7.99 a month (If you’re an avid reader compare that to the average cost of a new title). Audible membership includes a credit every month, applicable to any audiobook, regardless of price or length. The books are yours to keep for life, even if you cancel. Membership also means you can listen to unlimited Audible Originals, podcasts and select audiobooks in their Plus Catalogue. If you’re not sure if Audible is for you, you can sign up for a 30 day free trial.

If a book below has a link to an audiobook version, the audiobook version is free to listen to as part of your 30 day Audible Free Trial, as of time of writing.

Books about going Plastic Free / Zero Waste / Going Green

These books are particularly good for those just starting to explore how to be more eco-friendly. You’ll get lots of handy tips on how to be more eco-friendly at home.

  1. Plastic Free: How I Kicked the Plastic Habit and How You Can Too by Beth Terry.
  2. Turning the Tide on Plastic: How Humanity (And You) Can Make Our Globe Clean by Lucy Siegle. Audiobook version.
  3. Zero Waste Home: The Ultimate Guide to Simplifying Your Life by Bea Johnson.
  4. Eco Thrifty Living: Save Money, Save the Environment and Live the Life You Want! by Zoe Morrison.
  5. Minimal: How to simplify your life and live sustainably by Madeleine Olivier. Audiobook version.
  6. The Sustainable(ish) Living Guide: Everything you need to know to make small changes that make a big difference by Jen Gale. Audiobook version.
  7. Say No To Plastic: 101 Easy Ways To Use Less Plastic by Harriet Dyer.
  8. How To Break Up With Fast Fashion: A guilt-free guide to changing the way you shop – for good by Lauren Bravo. Audiobook version.

 

Books about Living Off Grid

My dream is to live off grid one day. These books are a great way to be inspired.

  1. How to Live Off-grid by Nick Rosen.
  2. The New Complete Book of Self-Sufficiency: The Classic Guide for Realists and Dreamers by John Seymour.
  3. How to live in a van and travel: Live everywhere, be free and have adventures on a campervan or motorhome by Mike Hudson.

 

Books about Growing Your own Food

There is nothing better than cooking with your own home grown food!

  1. Veg in One Bed: How to Grow an Abundance of Food in One Raised Bed, Month by Month by Huw Richards
  2. Grow Food for Free: The easy, sustainable, zero-cost way to a plentiful harvest by Huw Richards. Audiobook version.
  3. RHS Step-by-Step Veg Patch: A Foolproof Guide to Every Stage of Growing Fruit and Veg by Lucy Chamberlain.

 

Recommended ‘Green Books’ about Nature & Conservation

2 members of my family own Wilding by Isabella Tree and both loved it. The book certainly gives hope that we can save nature by avoiding intensive farming. All of the other books listed below are highly recommended, not listed any particular order.

  1. Wilding: The Return of Nature to a British Farm by Isabella Tree. Audiobook version.
  2. The Missing Lynx: The Past and Future of Britain’s Lost Mammals by Ross Barnett.
  3. Green and Prosperous Land: A Blueprint for Rescuing the British Countryside by Dieter Helm. Audiobook version.
  4. Native: Life in a Vanishing Landscape by Patrick Laurie.
  5. Dancing with Bees: A Journey Back to Nature by Brigit Strawbridge. Audiobook version.
  6. Diary of a Young Naturalist by Dara McAnulty. Winner of 2020 Wainright prize for nature writing.
  7. Rebirding: Rewilding Britain and its Birds by Benedict Macdonald. Audiobook version.
  8. What We Need to Do Now: For a Zero Carbon Future by Chris Goodall. Audiobook version.
  9. Working with Nature: Saving and Using the World’s Wild Places by Jeremy Purseglove. Audiobook version.
  10. Irreplaceable: The fight to save our wild places by Julian Hoffman.

 

Wainright Prize shortlists

‘Green Books’ shortlisted for the Wainright Prize in 2023. “The Wainwright Prize for UK Nature Writing is awarded annually to the book which most successfully inspires readers to explore the outdoors and to nurture a respect for the natural world.”

2023 Wainwright Prize for Nature Writing shortlist

  1. The Flow – Rivers, Water and Wildness by Amy-Jane Beer. Audiobook version. WINNER
  2. The Golden Mole and Other Living Treasure by Katherine Rundell. Audiobook version. HIGHLY COMMENDED
  3. A Line in the World – A Year on the North Sea Coast by Dorthe Nors, Ann Richardson, et al. Audiobook version.
  4. Ten Birds That Changed the World by Stephen Moss. Audiobook version.
  5. Twelve Words for Moss by Elizabeth-Jane Burnett.
  6. Belonging – Natural histories of place, identity and home by Amanda Thomson. Audiobook version.

2023 Wainwright Prize for Writing on Conservation shortlist

  1. The Lost Rainforests of Britain by Guy Shrubsole. Audiobook version. WINNER
  2. Nomad Century – How to Survive the Climate Upheaval by Gaia Vince. Audiobook version. HIGHLY COMMENDED
  3. Black Ops and Beaver Bombing – Adventures with Britain’s Wild Mammals by Fiona Mathews and Tim Kendall. Audiobook version.
  4. Rooted – How Regenerative Farming Can Change the World by Sarah Langford. Audiobook version.
  5. Rewilding the Sea – How to Save our Oceans by Charles Clover and Nathaniel Priestley. Audiobook version.
  6. Beastly – A New History of Animals and Us by Keggie Carew. Audiobook version.

 

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