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183 / Our 2025 Sustainable Business Reading List
Published 5 months ago • 7 min read
Hey there change agents,
Each year, we curate a list of must-read books for sustainable business professionals. Welcome to our seventh annual Sustainable Business Reading List!
For this edition, we had help from the Change Hub, our membership community for busy sustainable business professionals. They recommended a brilliant curation of titles that offer fresh ideas, practical insights and big-picture perspectives for meeting the current moment through our impact work.
This summer, we’re also excited to host our first Reconsidered Summer Book Club, which is open to all and will focus on my pick for the list: Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work by Kathy Oneto. The author herself will be joining us for an exclusive dialogue on August 14th to unpack the insights from the book most relevant to sustainable business professionals.
Thank you to all our members who contributed to this year’s edition — we hope this collection sparks new ideas and fuels a restorative summer full of inspiring reads!
“I am a white cis woman with considerable privilege, and often find myself in professional spaces that lack racial diversity. Black Earth Wisdom is a powerful reminder that sustainability is, and always has been, shaped by the voices, knowledge and leadership of Black environmentalists.” — Allison Reser, Director of Sustainability and Innovation, Pet Sustainability Coalition
“This is a great read full of evidence-based approaches to directing your productivity towards things that you find fulfilling. It includes summaries of research, practical exercises, and heartfelt anecdotes to help you guide yourself in your productivity journey.” — Marissa Garcia, Director, Responsible Business, Next Level Apparel
“The unexpected core message in the book is around how futures thinking — and imagination — are actually critical skills for helping all of us prepare and build resilience for the challenges ahead. And as many of the futures scenarios in the book explore, a lot of those challenges relate to climate and environmental changes. Such a fun, fascinating read that will build your skills as you go!” — Rebecca Magee, Founder, Sister Seasons
“This book really helped me prioritize investing in myself in order to show up better for others. As someone who has a people pleasing/perfectionist past, I never realized how my inability to pour into my cup first (especially as a mother of two running a business) was creating a big ripple effect. I am better for reading that book and cannot recommend it enough.” — Noemí Jiménez, Co-founder and Communications Lead, qb. consulting
“A practical (and firm) nudge to rethink the opportunity cost of the ways many of us are engaging in social impact. Affirming in some parts and a reality check in others, this book offers an ambitious call-to-action that will resonate with folks in sustainable business and beyond.”
— Eleni Zervos, Content and Community Manager, Reconsidered
“Working in a climate-related field means being forced to confront wicked problems on a daily basis. It is easy to feel like there is no use in trying to fight them. In a field where it's easy to feel like Sisyphus, Hannah Ritchie offers hope.” — Jennie Maibor, Sustainability Specialist,PrimeAsia
“A fantastic introduction to regenerative thinking, and particularly the inner work that needs to happen in order for us to break out of the mechanistic thinking that got us into trouble in the first place. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to go deeper in their work.” — Angela Loder, Founder and Executive Director,Greening the City and Adjunct Professor, University of Colorado at Boulder
“Kathy Oneto’s grounded, energizing approach to what she calls ‘sustainable ambition’ offers a much-needed permission slip to define success on our own terms. It’s both practical and personal — a guide for sustainability professionals who want to make impact and make space for a meaningful life.” — Jessica Marati Radparvar, Founder, Reconsidered
“Simone argues for a refreshingly balanced approach to career development. I think it's needed advice for any sustainability professional — our careers are long and sometimes by asking a little less of our jobs we can paradoxically find more fulfillment and great social impact. It's one of the best 'career' books published of late and I feel like I've had to read 'em all.” — Spencer Campbell, Founder, Spencer Campbell Talent Agency
“In The Serviceberry, Robin Wall Kimmerer invites us to shift from business-as-usual to a paradigm of reciprocity — an abundant, relationship-centered economy rooted in Indigenous wisdom and ecological thinking.” —Melanie Copple, Executive Director, Biophilic Institute
“Written in 1977, but feels like it could have been written yesterday. That realization can be disheartening given how we are still dealing with many of the same problems, but beams of progress shine through Berry’s narrative. It’s also good to be reminded of the advocates who paved the way.” — Amber Stryker, Founder and CEO,Bespoke ESG
“This collection of interviews highlights diverse climate solutions that we already have and builds a compelling vision of a better future — if we choose to embrace them.” — Amy Bohnenkamp, Sustainability Program Manager, Springs Window Fashions
“It’s the kind of book that reminds us leadership isn’t about waiting your turn. It’s about showing up with values, vision and a little bit of nerve. Litman writes with heart and clarity, and y’all, it’s a must-read for anyone building something better from the inside out!” — Sam Hartsock, Co-founder and Strategy Lead, qb. Consulting
📣 Hiring? Take an (ethical) shortcut and reach thousands of engaged candidates by booking a Sponsored Job Post here.
📆 July 21 + 28 — Impact Careers Community | 💻 Virtual | Hosted by Spencer Campbell. In these weekly community events for impact job-seekers, you’ll hear from special guests, exchange resources to help with each other’s respective job-hunts and cheer each other on. Guests need to join Spencer Campbell’s paid membership community to participate but Change Hub members can join for free.
📆 July 22 — Peer Review: Your Personal Brand| 💻 Virtual| Hosted by the Change Hub. In this speed dating-style members-only session, you’ll connect 1:1 with fellow Change Hub members to swap feedback on your resume, LinkedIn page, website or other personal branding content.
In this session, Dr. Stephen Backhouse, who has been helping people and groups resist Christian nationalism for over 30 years, will unpack the history, evolution and characteristics of fascism and why sustainability professionals need to pay attention.
📆 July 22 — The Power of Clarity | 💻 Virtual | Hosted by Switch. ** Your company is brilliant. Your products are solid. So why is it so hard to articulate your value in a way that truly connects? Leaders, join this event to discover how to build a brand that is authentic, powerful, and profitable. Seats are limited.
📆 July 31 — Behind the Scenes of Reconsidered’s LinkedIn Presence| 💻 Virtual| Hosted by the Change Hub. Peek behind the curtain during this members-only webinar where we’ll share the strategies, systems and tools that have powered our growth on LinkedIn.
📆 August 14 —Reconsidered Summer Book Club: “Sustainable Ambition” Featuring Author Kathy Oneto| 💻 Virtual | Hosted by Reconsidered. Join our first-ever Reconsidered Summer Book Club, focused on Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work. We’ll be joined by author Kathy Oneto herself to unpack the insights from the book most relevant to sustainable business professionals.
📣 **Partner Post. Whatever you’re hosting, we can help connect you to (16,000+) sustainability and social impact folks. Book your Sponsored Event Post here.
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Get fresh finds from the world of corporate responsibility, sustainability + social impact delivered straight to your inbox, every other week. Each issue includes 5 thought-provoking links, a curated list of impact job opportunities, interviews with global impact leaders and loads of exclusive tools + resources for sustainable business professionals.
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