It can be daunting to get started on your sustainable living journey when there is so much information out there. There are also tons of books that raise greater awareness about the climate, some of which we curated in this list here. As environmental news becomes more prominent, you might feel a greater sense of urgency in cultivating greener habits starting from home. 

If you are browsing this blog, chances are that you are already interested in finding out how to implement sustainable habits into your daily routine. It is easy to get overwhelmed by all the ‘must-dos’ in order to minimise our impact on the environment. We know how that feels! From small lifestyle changes to consumption habits, here are some books to help you take the first step. 

The following books are available to borrow as physical copies or e-books from the public libraries in Singapore. Browse them through the NLB app, or head to your nearest neighbourhood library to pick up them up!

 

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sustainable living guide

The Sustainable(ish) Living Guide by Jen Gale

An ordinary guide to sustainable living as written by an ordinary person. This book carries you through manageable steps to achieving a more sustainable lifestyle. Covering topics such as food, school and even transport, this guide is a great starting point to kickstart your sustainable journey. This book will be a great help to any beginner who needs a little nudge in the right direction. 

Review: Gale provides really interesting tidbits of information alongside her tips. I really enjoyed how the tone was super friendly. I loved that there was a concluding chapter on how to be more involved with climate activism in small ways. 

 

zero waste life

An Almost Zero Waste Life by Megean Weldon

All grounds are covered in this how-to guide book towards a zero-waste life. With an emphasis on reducing waste as much as possible, this book provides very detailed and specific tips with regards to different lifestyle aspects. There is also a nifty 30-step challenge at the end for those looking to commit more seriously to going zero-waste! Try it out with an accountability buddy for maximum results. 

Review: Wow, Weldon really provides very in-depth tips for specific needs! There’s even a chapter on children and pets, which would be super helpful for young parents or pet-owners in navigating the world of reusables. 

 

 

green living

Ready, Set, Green by Graham Hill & Meaghan O’Neil 

This book is an 8-week guide to modern eco-living with an environmentalist slant. It covers in-depth knowledge about topics such as types of recycling models, chemicals in household products and reducing energy consumption. The authors emphasise a lot on consumer literacy as the way forward towards sustainable living that’s better for the environment. Knowledge is definitely power with this book on hand. 

Review: This book is definitely for those seeking to demystify an eco-friendly lifestyle through an informative and comprehensive read. It’s a guide book that’s handy to refer to over time as well. Plus points for the books, movies and music recommendations relating to the environment too! 

 

zero waste life

A Zero Waste Life by Anita Vandyke 

A 30-day guide towards a zero-waste life that is premised on achieving a more intentional way of living. This book is written with a very personal tone, coming from the author’s own journey in moving towards a minimalist lifestyle. The book is highly interactive too, with lots of writing prompts and reflective exercises spaced out within informative chapters. This book would make a great gift for a friend looking to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle. 

Review: I found this book to be the most approachable because it starts with simple challenges that lead to positive incremental changes. I also enjoyed relating to the author’s experience, starting out from the desire to save money and to seek a more meaningful life, which led her to minimalist zero-waste living.

Read more: Kickstart a Zero-Waste Bathroom Routine

sustainable eating

Eat to Save the Planet by Annie Bell

This book is a great starting point for those looking to change their diet and meal prep habits to the smallest detail. As we all know, food is a major consideration when moving towards more sustainable living. Read up on storage tips, easy recipes and more with this recipe book that is based on achieving a flexitarian diet that’s better for the environment. 

Review: A really helpful guide, especially for those who are much more invested in planning their meals (maybe for gym junkies or young parents). The recipes look simple and fun to make, and definitely worth taking down to try for the whole family!

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Reading is just one step in understanding how to implement a more sustainable lifestyle that works for you. We hope that the books above give you the much-needed inspiration and motivation to move towards building lasting sustainable habits that are better for the planet.

Moreover, we hope that they kickstart your reading journey into a greater awareness of sustainability and the climate movement. Beyond these books, you can check out our previous blog posts where we cover sustainable living tips and know-hows.

Read more: Beeswax Wraps – The Plastic-Free Food Wrap!