Die besten 34 Bücher zu Sustainability

Cradle to Cradle (2009) exposes the fundamental flaws of manufacturing and the damage it inflicts upon our environment, even as we attempt to be eco-friendly. These blinks also introduce you to ways in which you can make a positive impact on the planet, and guide you through the process of rethinking your business in order to become eco-efficient.

• Businesses looking to become more environmentally friendly
• People interested in the impact of industry today
• Anyone curious about alternative approaches to doing business

The Upcycle (2013) explains that eco-consciousness and economics needn’t be at odds. In fact, ecological sustainability is good economics, and humans can nurture the planet by learning from nature and starting a green revolution.

• Proponents of the “green movement”
• Eco-conscious business owners

The Necessary Revolution (2008) sheds light on the environmental and social challenges faced by people living in today’s world. Drawing on stories from real people and real communities, these blinks introduce the mentality we must adopt to fight for sustainability.

• Eco-conscious entrepreneurs
• Anyone interested in sustainability

We Are the Weather (2019) is a rigorous investigation of climate change, what it means and why humans seem so powerless to tackle it. Jonathan Safran Foer argues that while climate change is terrifying and hard to understand, there is a very simple action that we can take: By leaving out meat and animal products for breakfast and lunch, we can make a huge contribution to the health of the planet.  

• People who want to save the planet, but feel paralyzed by what first step to take
• Psychology buffs who are interested in group dynamics, and what motivates people to act 
• Would-be vegans who need a bit more persuasion to take the plunge

The Fate of Food (2019) looks at a rapidly changing world and the question of how we’ll feed our ever-growing population. Is it possible to produce a clean, climate-resilient food supply that’s adequate to meet our needs? The Fate of Food examines the technological and sociological demands of feeding the world. 

• People concerned with the effects of industrial agriculture on the environment
• Food lovers fascinated by the farm-to-table journey
• Science buffs wanting to keep up with the latest trends in agricultural science

There’s no doubt: global warming is real and its main driver is carbon emissions from human activity. Drawdown (2017) argues that despite the depth of the climate crisis humans have manufactured, it’s not too late for us to turn back the clock. From solar power to agroforestry to electric cars, Drawdown compiles countless proven ways that radically reduce human carbon emissions. This essential guide contains all the knowledge and technology that we need to reverse global warming and save the world.

• Individuals who care about the future of humanity
• Business owners, policy makers, activists and homeowners who want to make a measurable difference
• Science nerds, tech enthusiasts and nature lovers

Food Fix (2020) shows us how the world's gravest problems, like chronic disease, inequality, and climate collapse, can all be traced back to our food and the way we produce it. Here, American physician Mark Hyman describes what we should do next, setting out the path to healthy eating and regenerative farming. 

• Anyone interested in eating and living well
• Environmentalists and climate activists
• Farmers looking to transition to sustainable agriculture

Food and Nutrition (2018) looks at the science behind what we eat. Based on only the best and most thorough studies, it cuts through the noise and fads to reveal what we really know about healthy eating.

• Anyone interested in what actually constitutes a healthy diet
• Foodies who want to make better choices
• People curious about sustainable farming

The Creator Mindset (2020) is a comprehensive guide to incorporating creativity into everything you do. Far from being something that only artists possess, creativity is in fact an essential ingredient in any successful career or business. Unfortunately, most of us squander our full creative potential by not realizing we have it to begin with. Get ready to unlock the latent creative talent that’ll give you and your business an edge over the competition.

• Professionals who want to improve their careers and businesses
• Leaders who want to inspire their employees to be more creative
• Anyone who wants to think and act more creatively

21st Century Investing (2021) is a guide to ethical and responsible investment strategies. Instead of making money at the expense of our fragile social and environmental systems, you can invest in ways that will actually strengthen them – ensuring societal stability and long-term returns. 

• Investors wondering how to square profitability with social justice 
• Anyone curious about the future of investment strategy
• Savers hoping to future-proof their investments in an increasingly uncertain world

Waste Not (2019) is a practical guide to changing your consumption lifestyle in order to have a big, eco-friendly impact. Learn how to enjoy the conveniences of the modern world without leaving behind a pile of modern trash.

• People who want to reduce their waste output
• Parents looking to educate their kids about recycling
• All those concerned with climate change

What We Owe the Future (2022) makes the case for longtermism –⁠ the idea that people today have an obligation to create a good future for successive generations. Using philosophical reasoning, historical anecdotes, and social science research, it argues that the current moment could decide whether future people will live happy, flourishing lives or extraordinarily miserable ones. By carefully considering our actions with respect to issues like AI safety, biotechnology, and value lock-in, we increase the chances that future people will thrive –⁠ just as many of us do, now, thanks to people from the past.

• Activists and charity donors who want to maximize the good they do
• People interested in moral philosophy and ethics 
• Anyone concerned about the future of humanity

The Climate Book (2023) unites dozens of voices in a compelling and eye-opening exploration of the complex relationships between climate change, politics, and media. Offering insights into the interconnectedness of various global issues and the urgent need for systemic change, it contains practical, actionable steps towards a sustainable and equitable future.

• Everyone concerned about our planet Earth
• Climate activists looking to bolster their tactics arsenal 
• Politicians and journalists who want to be part of the solution, not the problem 

The Anthropocene Reviewed (2021) offers a unique collection of essays exploring the human experience in the current geological age known as the Anthropocene. It delves into various aspects of human life and the world, reviewing them on a somewhat satirical five-star scale, blending humor with deep reflection on the complexities and paradoxes of modern human existence.

• Environmental enthusiasts exploring the impact of humans on Earth
• Young adults interested in introspective, reflective writings
• Admirers of John Green's narrative style and humor

The Road (2006) is a dystopian thriller following a father-and-son duo fighting to survive in a bleak, post-apocalyptic landscape. Forced to scavenge for food and supplies, threatened by gangs of outlaw survivors, and faced with death and illness, the duo struggle to maintain morality and hope in a world that seems to have lost all humanity.

• Fans of post-apocalyptic fiction
• Admirers of Cormac McCarthy’s unique literary style.
• Anyone who enjoys thought-provoking allegorical tales.

To Dye For (2023) exposes how the fashion industry harms human health and exploits workers through its use of toxic dyes and lack of supply chain transparency. It delves into the environmental and human costs behind our clothes, while also spotlighting companies innovating health-conscious dyes and production methods. Ultimately, it challenges consumers to make informed choices in order to pressure brands to clean up one of the world’s dirtiest industries.

• Consumers wanting to make health- and eco-conscious clothing choices
• Fashion and textile industry professionals
• Environmental and workers’ rights activists

LIT (2024) is a guidebook for anyone looking to ignite their inner potential and make a positive impact on their lives and the world around them. It’s designed to help people snap out of their rut, find inspiration, cultivate humility, and harness the transformative power of curiosity and compassion. 

• Anyone interested in personal growth
• People curious about productivity and inspiration
• Distracted minds looking for some calm and focus

Material World (2023) delves into the profound influence of six fundamental materials on the course of human civilization: sand, salt, iron, copper, oil, and lithium. You'll explore how these elements have not only built and destroyed empires, but are also crucial to shaping our present existence and future. It's a captivating journey revealing the largely unseen impact of everyday materials on our lives, from ancient times to the digital age.

• History enthusiasts intrigued by how materials have impacted civilizations
• Environmentalists interested in sustainable resource management
• Technology buffs fascinated by material innovation and usage

Sustainable Leadership (2022) explores the strategies and insights from top CEOs who’ve successfully integrated sustainability into their business models. It serves as a comprehensive guide for leaders aiming to achieve remarkable sustainability results, offering practical advice and real-world examples. The focus is on vision, courage, and grit as essential qualities for sustainable leadership.

• CEOs and senior business executives
• Business strategy and leadership students
• Entrepreneurs interested in sustainable business practices

Not the End of the World (2024) argues for radical hope amid environmental crisis. Recent data show that, contrary to the usual gloom and doom, tremendous progress towards sustainability is being made. By focusing on well-defined and tractable issues, we can shift our collective behavior and avert climate disaster.

• People looking for signs of hope about climate change
• Concerned citizens seeking pragmatic solutions to the climate crisis
• Fans of science and careful research

The World for Sale (2021) examines the shadowy world of commodity traders who quietly control the global supply of vital resources like oil, metals, and food. It uncovers how these risk-taking traders wield enormous influence by striking high-stakes deals in politically unstable regions. Through vivid stories, it reveals the immense power and ethical complexities of an industry that operates largely outside public scrutiny.

• Curious investors interested in global commodity markets
• Aspiring traders seeking insights into high-stakes deals
• Journalists covering finance, energy, and geopolitical issues

The New Map (2020) illustrates how global power dynamics are being reshaped by the convergence of energy politics, climate change, and international conflicts, particularly between the US, China, Russia, and the Middle East. It analyzes how America’s shale, Russia’s vast gas reserves, China’s growing influence, the Middle East’s adaptation to falling oil prices, and innovations in green tech and renewables are redrawing the world's energy map.

• Politics junkies ready for insights into how energy shapes geopolitics
• Climate activists who want a global snapshot of energy dynamics
• Investors looking for risks and opportunities in the energy sector

Value(s) (2021) examines how we’ve allowed economic value and social values to become fatally blurred, transforming from a market economy into a market society where essential workers and environmental protection are systematically undervalued while financial speculation is rewarded. It demonstrates how embedding sustainability, solidarity, and responsibility into all decision-making can channel market dynamism to turn society’s greatest challenges into opportunities. 

• Business leaders wanting to align profits with social purpose
• Policymakers aiming to regulate markets for societal benefit
• Economics students seeking to grasp how economic theory has failed society

What to Save and Why (2024) explores how we decide what artifacts, heritage, and landscapes to preserve, especially in the face of historical injustice and shifting values. It challenges conventional assumptions about value, memory, and moral responsibility, advocating for a more philosophical approach to cultural preservation. 

• Anyone interested in the ethics of conservation
• Cultural policymakers
• Philosophy students studying aesthetics and the arts

Impasse (2025) confronts the uncomfortable truth that humanity is utterly unprepared for climate catastrophe, despite mounting evidence of extreme weather transforming our planet. Instead of clinging to false optimism and faith in endless progress, it reveals how acknowledging the depth of the crisis might open new paths toward navigating our uncertain future.

• Climate activists seeking a more realistic framework for understanding our environmental crisis
• Philosophy and psychology enthusiasts interested in how cognitive biases and human limitations shape our response to existential challenges
• Critical thinkers questioning progress narratives who are skeptical of techno-optimism

Food Fight (2025) explores how the global food system has evolved into a structure that fuels both human ill health and environmental harm. It traces the political, economic, and cultural forces that shaped today’s food landscape, and highlights examples of successful reforms. Ultimately, it argues for urgent systemic change to prioritize people and the planet over corporate profit.

• Policy-focused professionals in global health and nutrition
• Environmentally conscious advocates of sustainable food systems
• Anyone concerned about diet and the planet

The Breath of the Gods (2025) explores wind as a force that shapes both planetary history and daily human life, from travel and exploration to disasters like hurricanes, wildfires, and storms. It investigates how shifting global wind patterns are intensifying under climate change and examines the tension between wind as a destructive power and as a potential climate savior through renewable energy.

• Curious climate-conscious explorers of Earth’s natural forces
• Technically minded weather and geography enthusiasts
• Anyone seeking engaging science storytelling

Whole Earth Discipline (2009) argues that environmentalism should be more pragmatic and willing to use powerful modern tools to address climate change and ecological decline. It makes the case for options often treated as taboo in green circles – such as nuclear energy, biotechnology, dense urban living, and even researching geoengineering – when they can reduce overall environmental harm. It frames these choices as systems-level solutions aimed at protecting biodiversity while cutting carbon emissions at scale.

• Climate-focused policy and energy decision-makers
• Tech-savvy environmentalists weighing nuclear and biotech
• Anyone exploring pragmatic eco-solutions

Junglekeeper (2026) tells the true story of one man’s unlikely journey from outsider to guardian of one of the last wild places on Earth – a remote corner of the Peruvian Amazon teeming with biodiversity and mystery. It’s a reminder that real adventure still exists, and that answering a deep inner calling can change the world.

• Nature and wildlife enthusiasts who are fascinated by the biodiversity of rainforests
• Adventure seekers drawn to stories of exploration, survival, and wilderness
• Environmental activists looking for real-world examples of grassroots efforts to halt deforestation

Clearing the Air (2025) tackles the most common questions and misconceptions surrounding climate change, using data to separate fact from fiction across areas ranging from renewable energy and electric cars to food, cement, steel, and carbon removal. It makes the case that while the challenges are real, the solutions already exist or are well within reach.

• Anyone overwhelmed by conflicting climate change headlines
• Decision-makers weighing the costs of going green
• Citizens who want facts not fear about our future

"No Impact Man" is a thought-provoking memoir by Colin Beavan that chronicles his year-long experiment to live a zero-waste, environmentally sustainable lifestyle in the heart of New York City. Through his personal journey, Beavan challenges readers to reconsider their own impact on the planet and inspires them to make positive changes for a more sustainable future.

• Individuals looking to reduce their environmental impact and adopt a sustainable lifestyle
• Those interested in exploring alternative ways of living and challenging societal norms
• Anyone seeking inspiration and practical tips on making positive changes in their lives and the world

Energy and Society by Harold H. Schobert explores the complex relationship between energy and society. It delves into the history, production, and consumption of energy, and examines the social, economic, and environmental impacts of our energy choices. From fossil fuels to renewable sources, this book offers a comprehensive analysis of the role of energy in shaping our world.

• Students and professionals in the fields of energy, environmental science, and sustainability

• Individuals interested in understanding the complex relationship between energy and society

• Readers looking for a comprehensive and accessible overview of different energy sources and their impact on the world

The Infinite Resource by Ramez Naam explores how technological innovation and human ingenuity have the potential to address the world's greatest challenges, such as climate change, energy scarcity, and food security. Naam argues that by harnessing the power of innovation, we can create a sustainable future and overcome the limitations of finite resources.

• Individuals seeking a deeper understanding of global resource challenges and potential solutions

• Entrepreneurs and innovators looking for opportunities in sustainable technologies

• Policymakers and activists interested in shaping a more sustainable future

The Passive Solar Energy Book by Edward Mazria is a comprehensive guide to harnessing the power of the sun to heat and cool your home. It covers the principles of passive solar design, offers practical tips for incorporating solar energy into your building plans, and provides case studies to illustrate successful implementation. Whether you're a homeowner, architect, or builder, this book will help you make the most of this abundant and renewable energy source.

• Architects and designers looking to incorporate passive solar energy into their projects

• Homeowners interested in reducing their energy bills and environmental impact

• Students and educators studying sustainable design and renewable energy