25 Sustainable And Ethical Books For A Sustainable Baddie

 
 
 

Picture this: You’re about to step out on your Hot Girl Walk. It’s your first of the new season where the sun is finally out again and it’s no longer brick af outside. Your ’fit check includes a cute pair of thrifted Birken’ clogs, your comfy walking pants, and an oversized sweatshirt. Your sunnies are on, and your tote bag is packed with everything you need. Halfway through your walk, you make a pit stop at the park to soak up the spring sunshine and get some reading in. But WAIT. You look deep into that tote bag. You search around. Alas! You, a Hot Girl, forgot to bring your book! Tragedy has struck. What will you do? 

March is officially upon us, meaning we are stepping into National Reading Month! If you grew up in the U.S., you may remember National Reading Month as an elementary school celebration where we as students were challenged to read as many books as we possibly could. (Scholastic Book Fair Hive rise up!) Obviously, we have recreated many adult versions of this challenge on platforms like Goodreads and Storygraph, but at Sustainable Baddie, we prefer a slower, softer approach to our hobbies. Books are meant to be savored, so don’t feel ashamed about how long it takes you to read it! We’ve curated a book list for you that represents our range of interests here at Sustainable Baddie, but choose the one(s) that you feel most drawn to. As we prepare for more fun in the sun this spring, we want you to be prepared for wherever your Hot Girl Walks take you. If you find yourself book-LESS on a day out, consult this reading list for our favorite book recs. Happy reading, baddies! 

Activism and Organizing Books

 
 

1. Why Public Space Matters by Setha Low - As the Director of the Public Space Research Group at the City University of New York (CUNY), Setha Low provides thoughtful information on the value of public spaces from an environmental and social perspective. Dive into this book if you are a sucker for a good picnic in the park. 

 
 

2. Ecofeminism by Vandana Shiva & Maria Mies - Shiva, an Indian environmentalist, and Mies, a German psychologist, collaborated on this book to bring forth voices of women from the global north and south to discuss their experiences with the economy and the environment. Grab this book if you are still listening to Beyonce’s “Run the World” nine years later. 

 
 

3. Our Work Is Everywhere (Illustrated book on queer and Trans Resistance) By Syan Rose - This is an illustrated non-fiction book that chronicles an oral history of queer and trans resistance. The book is visually stunning and illustrates the beautiful and messy history of queer imagined communities. Read this book if you are a believer in art as resistance and love beautiful books. 

 
 

4. Consumed: The Need for Collective Change: Colonialism, Climate Change, and Consumerism by Aja Barber - Barber is a stylist, writer, and consultant interested in the intersections between the fashion industry and sustainability. Her work in Consumed explores this topic with a critical eye. Read this if you are working on curbing your consumption. 

 
 


5. Fresh Banana Leaves: Healing Indigenous Landscapes Through Indigenous Science by Jessica Hernandez - Indigenous environmental scientist Jessica Hernandez analyzes concerns with western approaches to conservation and provides indigenous-informed solutions centering the voices of Indigenous women in Latin America. Read this if you’re looking for a book on activism that balances education with personal experience. 

Sustainable Lifestyle

 
 

6. The Other Almanac: A Modern Farmers Almanac from the Little Broad Studio featuring various contributors - Published by the Little Broad Studio, a farm and shop in upstate New York, The Other Almanac is a reimagined version of the traditional farmer's almanac.  It contains the expected info on moon and sun cycles, seasonal eating, gardening tips, small pearls of wisdom, and tidbits of environmental education, but also includes additional contributions from activists, artists, astrologers, social workers, and more. The 2022 edition is on sale now, and keep your eyes peeled for a 2023 version, out soon.  

 
 


7. How to Become a Gardener: Find Empowerment in Creating Your Own Food Security by Ashlie Thomas - Thomas is a home gardener who chronicles her family’s experience building a garden and offers tangible tips for gardening as a tool for food security and self-empowerment. This book is great for anyone with a green thumb and a little extra space to start a garden. 

 
 

8. Us & Our Planet: This is How We Live from Phaidon and IKEA - Design studio Phaidon and furniture brand IKEA put their heads together to make this beautiful, informative book detailing how small changes in the home can make a big difference. Crack this one open if you are lowkey obsessed with cleaning your room and shamelessly obsessed with stooping. 

Environmental Non-Fiction 

 
 

9. Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer - A Sustainable Baddie classic, Braiding Sweetgrass by indigenous botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer is a beautiful meditation on the natural world. Prepare to learn new things about plants and animals, existing in reciprocal harmony with one another, and indigeneity’s power to offer us a personal perspective on scientific inquiry. A book for anyone but especially for those who have been trying to talk to animals a la Sleeping Beauty or a la Harry Potter style since childhood. 

 
 


10. How I Became a Tree by Sumana Roy - This book defies genre boundaries; Roy incorporates botany, history, and theology into a poetic story about what it might be like to live life like a tree. This book is informed by other artists and writers' illustrations of trees and ultimately looks to trees as a guide for living a more peaceful life. This book is the perfect pick for when you’re feeling burnt out, overworked, and a little in shock by how much your screen time has increased in the past week. 

 
 

11. The Mushroom at the End of the World by Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing - Lownhaupt Tsing explores the deep history of the Matsutake mushroom and its relationship to both the natural world and to consumerism. This book explores this rare mushroom as it intersects with nature and capitalism, and how the fungi continue to grow despite how its ecosystem has been altered by humans. Reserve this book at the library if you are beginning to explore your forager era. 

Fashion & Style 

 
 

12. Regenerative Fashion by Safia Minney - Written by Safia Minney, the former CEO of Global Village and CEO of People Tree, a sustainable and fair trade fashion label, Regenerative Fashion provides a new framework for fashion. The book presents systems-scale solutions for curbing production and creating more ethical production methods. Dig into this book if you are a fashion fanatic exploring new ways to incorporate sustainability into your styling routine. 

 
 

13. Wasted: When Trash Becomes Treasure by Katie Treggiden -  Sustainable design writer Katie Treggiden explains how design and the world of climate are intrinsically intertwined. Treggiden explores solutions for cutting our consumption as an essential step to repairing the health of the planet. Check out this book if you need some optimistic climate change content. 

 
 


14. Black Girls Sew: Projects and Patterns to Stitch and Make Your Own by Hekima Hapa and Lesly Ware - Written by Lesly Ware, the owner of Art To Ware, an upcycled clothing shop and gallery in New York, this book is a great entry point into starting your sewing journey. Black Girls Sew is a nonprofit started by Ware to empower girls to take ownership of their personal style. This book teaches basic sewing skills informed by self-expression and creativity. This book is for anyone who’s ready to get off craft-Tok and onto the sewing machine for real. 

Fiction & Our All-Time Faves!

 
 

15. Halsey Street by Naima Coster - This novel explores one character’s experience with gentrification in her home neighborhood of Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. Follow along with the main character Penelope’s experience reconnecting with her mother and making sense of what it means to live in her new gentrified reality. 

 
 

16. Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado - This collection of short stories is the perfect fast read for any book lover. The stories might be short, but Machado does not skimp on depth. Combining science fiction with horror, fantasy, and psychological realism, this collection of stories will rock you to your core but keep you turning pages. 

 
 

17. The Convenience Store Woman By Sayaka Murata - This unique story tells the tale of Keiko Furukura and her life as a convenience store worker. If your For You Page won’t stop showing you Tokyo 7-11 haul videos, then this book is perfect for you. Funny and surprising, Murata shares the story of how one woman finds community and comfort in her work at a classic convenience store. 

 
 

18. You Were Born for This by Chani Nicholas - Everyone knows that Sustainable Baddie is an astrology-positive publication, and one of our favorite sources for all things star signs is Chani Nicholas. Her debut book, You Were Born For This, is an ideal resource for starting your astro journey. Get ready to learn about your big three in depth, gather a better understanding for your planetary relationships, and figure out what the deal is with all those houses! 

Poetry/Photography/Creative genres

 
 

19. Togetherness by Wo Chan - A debut collection from Chan, a poet and drag performer, Togetherness is a gorgeous book of original poetry. The book features stories of the author's experience growing up in a Chinese immigrant family and exploring their queer identity through the art of drag. 

 
 

20. LOST iN - These short city guides are a great companion for any of your upcoming trips. Whether you’re planning a trip or just dreaming one up, the LOST iN guides provide ideas for being a tourist or acting as a local in tons of major cities. These magazines are perfect for all of us as we get swept up in the restless energy of Jupiter in Aries this spring. 

Cookbooks & Food Writing 

 
 


21. East: 120 Vegan and Vegetarian Recipes from Bangalore to Beijing by Meera Sodha - From the kitchen of British chef Meera Sodha, East is a great cookbook for any plant-forward eater (or anyone trying to be more plant-forward) who doesn’t want to skimp out on flavor. Get ready to whip up some of your most authentic, vibrant, and delicious recipes yet. 

 
 

22. One: Pot, Pan, Planet: A Greener Way to Cook for You and Your Family by Anna Jones - Another one for the vegetarian and vegans in the room, this cookbook from Anna Jones is visually gorgeous and provides detailed recipes for wasting less while enjoying more. This is a great book for anyone who is cooking for more than one or just trying to be more resourceful in the kitchen.

 
 

23. Rachel Ama’s Vegan Eats by Rachel Ama - We simply can’t stop with the vegan plant-based cookbooks and we definitely couldn’t leave Rachel Ama’s out. This book features recipes from Ama’s West African, Caribbean, and British roots. The recipes are brightly flavored and help you waste less in the kitchen too.  

 
 

24. Chicano Bakes by Estaban Castillo - Moving into the world of dessert, this baking book from Estaban Castillo is a crowd-pleaser for sure. Chicano Bakes is packed with amazing traditional Chicano baked goods like pan dulce and tres leches that will make your abuela proud. 

 
 

25. Decolonize Your Diet: Plant-Based Mexican-American Recipes for Health and Healing by Luz Calvo, Catriona Rueda Esquibel - Influenced by a need to change their diet for Luz Calvo’s health in 2006, Calvo and Esquibel began a culinary journey getting in touch with  native and indigenous crops from the Americas. Their cookbook chronicles their experience decolonizing their diet and incorporating these foods for an improved body and spirit. 

Reading is a sustainable hobby when practiced intentionally (like most things). We’re big believers in making your library card your greatest accessory, so if you aren’t already on the library bandwagon, let this be your sign to get one! Other sustainable ways to find books include sharing books with friends, hitting a used bookstore, or searching up specific books on Depop, Poshmark, or online used bookstores when you are looking for something super specific. When you’re hankering for that new book smell or ready to invest in something beautiful for your personal library, remember to shop small and shop local.

LifeZibby Trewartha-Weinerbook, books, book recs, sustainability, ethical, climate activisimComment