SPILLOVER: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic by David Quammen 

In Spillover, David Quammen takes readers through the science of zoonotic diseases—those which transfer from animals to humans. The author documents his time spent with field biologists across continents as they investigate deadly pathogens from Ebola to HIV. Rather than focusing solely on public health, Spillover explores how deforestation, the wildlife trade, and habitat encroachment push us closer to deadly cross-species transmissions. In short, it vividly documents the inextricable links between nature and human health.  

Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter by Ben Goldfarb 

Like Spillover, Eager highlights human beings’ role in shaping and disrupting the natural world. Though in this uplifting story, Goldfarb makes a case for optimism, pointing to an unlikely friend in beavers. Through their instinctive dam-building and wetland preservation, beavers can play a key role in restoring biodiversity and navigating the effects of climate change.  

Crude Capitalism: Oil, Corporate Power, and the Making of the World Market by Adam Hanieh 

An expansive, gripping account of how the rise of oil as the world’s most traded commodity has shaped the making of global power throughout the past century. Understanding the pervasiveness of oil in our society, argues Adam Hanieh, is the necessary step to dislodge it from its position and ensure a future for humanity.  

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer 

A reflective account shaped by personal memories, this book explores narratives from indigenous knowledge and science to understand the relationship between humans and nature. Through stories of plants, ecology, and cultural tradition, Kimmerer invites readers to recognise the earth as a generous teacher and to live with gratitude and responsibility. 

And So I Roar by Abi Daré

The novel follows fourteen-year-old Adunni from her life in Lagos, where she is excited to finally enrol in school, to her home village, where she is summoned to face charges for events that are in fact caused by climate change. This compelling story won the Climate Fiction Award in 2025.  

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

Part dystopian fiction, part star-crossed romance, part postcolonial critical theory—this novel has it all. The crazy twist at the end considers the role of Britain’s neo-imperialism in a climate-ravaged world.   

Dwellings by Linda Hogan

This reflective collection of memories, told as a series of vignettes, explores the spiritual and ecological connections between humans and the natural world, emphasising Indigenous wisdom and respect for the Earth. 

The Right to Be Cold  by Sheila Watt-Cloutier 

This memoir, written by a Nobel prize nominee, highlights the profound impact of climate change on Inuit culture and identity in Canada and across the Arctic Circle.  

A Gentle Radical: The Life of Jeanette Fitzsimons by Gareth Hughes 

A portrait of Jeanette Fitzsimons—co-leader of New Zealand’s Green Party and a quiet powerhouse in the global climate movement. This biography goes beyond politics to explore her lifelong commitment to environmental justice, sustainable living, and authenticity.  

Doughnut Economics by Kate Raworth 

A reimagining of how we think about economics in the 21st century. Kate Raworth presents a model that balances humanity’s needs with planetary boundaries, offering a powerful framework for systems change. This book represents essential reading for changemakers, economists, and anyone working toward an equitable future.  

The Ministry for the Future  by Kim Stanley Robinson 

Climate fiction (cli-fi!) book about an imaginary UN body established under the Paris Agreement, whose mission is to act as an advocate for the world’s future generations of citizens. With some dystopian ecoterrorism elements, this book kept me entranced for its whole (almost) 600 pages! It’s a must-read for all, especially those whose imagination cannot go as far as direct climate change-caused natural disasters and the bigger picture.  

Bewilderment by Richard Powers (and any Richard Powers book, he is my favourite climate fiction author)

A story about climate activism and sensitivity centred around a neurodivergent 9-year-old boy – Robin (I believe his character is inspired by Greta Thunberg). I attended a talk on this book with its author, and he concluded the story by saying, ‘Look for an ending that’s both surprising and inevitable, ’ which I think is enough of an enticement to read (or devour) this novel.