Bookseller and environmental advocate Kara Nicholson takes us through her top picks from this year that focus on the environment and living sustainably.

The Climate Book created by Greta Thunberg

Greta Thunberg is hopeful that there is still time to change the world. In this book she has brought together over 100 experts including scientists, writers, historians, and Indigenous leaders to lay out the reality of the climate crisis.

With contributions from Australia’s Ketan Joshi and Joëlle Gergis as well as brilliant writers such as Amitav Ghosh, Naomi Oreskes and Margaret Atwood, this book offers perhaps the most complete picture of the current climate emergency we have seen so far.

Regenesis: Feeding the World without Devouring the Planet by George Monbiot

Journalist and writer George Monbiot is well known for his environmental activism and interest in food production. Here he tackles the ecological devastation wrought by intensive farming.

In Monbiot’s trademark engaging and highly readable style, he offers a new future for soil ecology and the global food system.

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Sundressed: Natural Fibres and the Future of Fashion by Lucianne Tonti

The fashion industry is the second highest consumer of water worldwide and 85% of textiles end up in landfill.

Fashion writer and consultant Lucianne Tonti wants to see an industry that can practice regenerative agriculture that could produce textiles that can actually improve biodiversity. Each chapter is dedicated to a different natural fibre and the end result is a holistic picture of where our clothes come from and why it matters.

First Nations Food Companion by Damien Coulthard and Rebecca Sullivan

This companion features the flavour profiles of over 60 Indigenous ingredients with tips on how to buy, grow and store them. There are also 100 recipes including Bush-Tomato Cheese on Toast, Myrtle Tea Cake and Quandong and Davidson’s Plum Iced Vovos.

Authors Damien Coulthard and Rebecca Sullivan founded the native food enterprise Warndu, an Indigenous owned company that seeks to reclaim First Nations knowledge and create a sustainable native foods industry through healing of Country.

Futureproof Your Garden by Angus Stewart and Emma Stewart

Former Gardening Australia television presenter Angus Stewart and his horticulturalist daughter Emma have created this essential resource for designing and maintaining a sustainable garden. There is a plant directory, tips on soil care, as well as expert advice on how to capture and store water.

Ultimately this book is about ways to grow more using less.

Wilderness Society 2023 Calendar

This beautiful calendar features images from some of the country’s best wilderness and wildlife photographers. It is printed using soy-based ink and the paper and the entire production is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

Every purchase helps to support the work of the Wilderness Society who are fighting against transnational corporations, lobbyists and politicians standing in the way of real action on climate change.

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Humanity's Moment: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope by Joëlle Gergis

Joëlle Gergis is one of Australia’s leading climate scientists and her work with the IPCC has radically changed her outlook on life; it has kept her awake at night and led to feelings of anxiety and despair. But by humanising and reframing climate change as a ‘cultural issue’ she has found hope in our connection to nature across different cultures and how this has changed over time.

Gergis outlines the ongoing catastrophes caused by colonisation and capitalism but then reimagines what we as a community can achieve by paying attention to art and literature that can inspire us and also the necessity of incorporating Indigenous knowledge if there is to be a brighter future.

The Food Saver's A-Z by Alex Elliott-Howery and Jaimee Edwards

One third of the world's food is wasted. In Australia alone, we waste 7.6 million tonnes of food each year.

From the founders of Cornersmith comes this very handy guide to over 150 ingredients that you may already have in your fridge or pantry. There are tips on storage and substitutes as well as ideas for finishing up what is in the bottom of a jar or a vegetable that has seen better days.

Sew It Yourself with DIY Daisy by Daisy Braid

Sewing and mending are simple skills we can acquire that can have a big impact on our relationship with our material belongings.

This book includes 20 pattern-free projects, each with many variations. There are no buttons, darts or zips, just simple shapes that mean that less fabric is wasted. Perfect for beginners or those more experienced who are looking for some new inspiration.

This book will give you a greater appreciation of what is involved in clothing production.

Astronomy: Sky Country by Karlie Noon and Krystal De Napoli

The fourth book in the First Knowledge series, the focus of this book is on Indigenous Astronomy.

Astronomer Karlie Noon and astrophysicist Krystal De Napoli explore the interactions between Aboriginal environmental and cultural knowledge and the night sky. They consider what must be done to sustain our dark skies and retain the deep understanding that is held in the knowledge of the stars that relate to changes of the land, weather patterns and seasonal shifts.