10 Books to Start Living Sustainably!
“Sustainability” is a concept that we have frequently heard in recent years due to the rising temperatures, droughts, forest fires, and other climate events worldwide. Although not new, this concept has gained increased prominence after the climate disasters. When we talk about “sustainable life”, “sustainable cities”, “sustainable products”, or a “sustainable future”, it’s challenging to provide a single definition for this ubiquitous concept that permeates every aspect of our lives.
Sustainability, a central theme in environmental and developmental movements today, represents a broad concept committed to ecological, social, and economic continuity. We have compiled a list of books to help you navigate the challenges of the climate crisis and embrace a sustainable lifestyle.
Here are 10 books we recommend for those who want to get started:
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1. Sürdürülebilir Yaşam Rehberi |
Sürdürülebilir Yaşam Rehberi (A Guide to Sustainable Living), edited by Öykü Yaman and Emine Aksoydan, has been published by Yeni İnsan Publishing House under the Ecology Bookshelf. This book unveils the possibilities of leading a sustainable life, addressing various everyday aspects that span from our dietary choices to our perception of art, from sustainable well-being to lifelong learning, and from sustainable physical activity to waste management.
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2. How Bad Are Bananas? Written by: Mike-Berners Lee |
How Bad Are Bananas? “How Bad Are Bananas?” was prepared in collaboration with Yeni İnsan Publishing House and Yuvam Dünya Association, dedicated to combating the climate crisis. Written by the British researcher and author Mike Berners Lee, and translated by Tuğba Elçin, the book provides insights on minimizing your carbon footprint to contribute to saving the planet. According to the author, the concept of carbon footprint is often misused. What goes unnoticed in carbon footprint calculations is not just the action itself but the environmental impact occurring in the background during that action. The book raises awareness about the consequences of carbon and climate change resulting from actions taken in every moment of life, extending beyond merely consuming food and traveling.
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3. The Cartoon Introduction to Climate Change Written by: Yoram Bauman |
“The Cartoon Introduction to Climate Change”, published in collaboration with Yeni İnsan Publishing House and Yuvam Dünya, addresses the climate crisis through a comic book format. Created with the contributions from Grady Klein and Yoram Bauman and translated into Turkish by Tuğba Elçin, this comic book is designed for readers of all ages. The book stands out by presenting scientific facts about the climate crisis in a quick, easy, and enjoyable manner.
Following a general introduction to the subject, the first chapter of the book explores fundamental climate concepts such as the history of our planet, ice ages, and positive feedback. It proceeds to elucidate the critical role of carbon dioxide, the most fundamental greenhouse gas, in global warming and the balance of energy reaching the Earth from the Sun. The second chapter delves into the impacts of climate change on humans and the nature, emphasizing the potential effects on our planet. Lastly, the third chapter explores the necessary actions to prevent the climate crisis, while the continuation of the following chapters of the book is left to the reader in a mise-en-scene language.
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4. Atıksız Yaşam Written by: Ceren Özcan Tatar |
“Atıksız Yaşam” (Waste-Free Living) challenges the idea that “one person’s actions cannot make a difference”, and reinstates the significance that individual efforts deserve. For those aspiring to embrace a waste-free lifestyle but uncertain about where to begin, it advocates taking immediate action instead of wasting time pondering. Drawing from her own experiences, Ceren Özcan Tatar highlights the four key steps in transitioning to a waste-free life: reducing consumption, reusing, parsing, and taking responsibility & speaking out loud…
The book provides practical tips and guidelines to facilitate the shift to waste-free living. Ceren Özcan Tatar categorizes her recommendations under various topics such as shopping, kitchen, personal care, offices, pets, children, etc., demonstrating that a waste-free lifestyle is achievable in all aspects of life. She also shares “DIY” recipes for cleaning products and cosmetics that are easy to make, healthy, and waste-free.
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5. Food Waste: Home Consumption, Material Culture and Everyday Life Written by: David Evans |
Written by David Evans and translated into Turkish by Burcu Yeşil, “Food Waste: Home Consumption, Material Culture, and Everyday Life” takes a critical look at the trajectory of food surplus and waste by delving into people’s homes and lives. The book explores how and why families discard the food they purchase before consuming it.
In this book, David Evans presents the findings of his research on the issue of waste, interweaving them with the theories of various anthropologists and sociologists, to the readers through this book. The author also investigates the factors that render food products non-consumable and that make them “ready to be thrown away”, and explores the potential for making them edible once again.
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6. Sürdürülebilir Moda Editor: Şölen Kipöz |
The book titled “Sürdürülebilir Moda” (Sustainable Fashion), edited by the designer Şölen Kipöz, known for her slow fashion examples alongside her academic identity, features contributions from figures in the fashion world, including Bora Aksu, Duygu Atalay, Gülsüm Baydar, Otto Von Busch, Dilek Himam, Kevin Huw Hilton, Ayşegül Kurtel, and Mine Ovacık. Inviting readers to embrace the locally crafted, environmentally sensitive, and enduring fashion, the book advocates for a daily, sustainable, and human-centric understanding of fashion, moving away from the idealized bodies and neon-lit catwalks.
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7. Yeni Gerçeğimiz Sürdürülebilirlik Authors: Gülin Yücel, Levent Kurnaz
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“Yeni Gerçeğimiz Sürdürülebilirlik” (Our New Reality: Sustainability) is a compilation of writings by the authors Gülin Yücel and Levent Kurnaz, who have collectively explored and discussed sustainability for six years. The book includes the experiences of Gülin Yücel and Levent Kurnaz in both professional careers and academic studies. The authors’ roadmap consists of headings such as “involving young people in the transformation, considering diverse perspectives, making data-driven decisions, and adopting a system thinking approach”. By delving into the foundational concepts and perspectives of sustainability thinking in their most current state, the book offers a historical overview for those committed to the subject or aspiring to engage with it, providing insights into the subject’s scope.
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8. Dünya Senin Ellerinde - Sürdürülebilir Geleceği Tasarlamak Editor: Müberra Mızıkacı |
“Dünya Senin Ellerinde” (The World is in Your Hands), edited by Müberra Mızıkacı and featuring articles by the expert authors, aims to raise ecological awareness and to mobilize humanity towards this purpose. Within this framework, the book assesses the current state of the world, exploring “sustainability” across various topics such as the impact of the global pandemic on our lives, the right to food, social nutrition systems, and microplastics. The authors share their insights and predictions on sustainability with the readers, inviting them to become part of an ecological life for a fairer future.
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9. Sürdürülebilir Toplum ve Yapılı Çevre - Stratejiler Yelpazesi Editor: Fahri Aral |
The book “Sürdürülebilir Toplum ve Yapılı Çevre - Stratejiler Yelpazesi” (Sustainable Society and Built Environment - A Spectrum of Strategies), published by Istanbul Bilgi University Press, explores strategies for the sustainability of society and the environment. Written by İlhan Tekeli and Anlı Ataöv, the book delves into various definitions and foundations of the sustainability concept, analyzes how these definitions are translated into planning practice, and proposes methods in this regard.
Another notable aspect of the book is its compilation of strategies and methods applied worldwide in terms of achieving sustainability. The authors stress that achieving sustainability in society requires the implementation of strategies and methods, with planners and designers playing crucial roles in contributing to a sustainable society.
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10. Balkonlarda ve Küçük Bahçelerde Tohum Alma ve Saklama El Kitabı Written by: Tracy Maria Lord |
Published by Ekofil Publications and illustrated with watercolor paintings by Burcu Pek, “Balkonlarda ve Küçük Bahçelerde Tohum Alma ve Saklama El Kitabı” (The Handbook of Seed Collection and Storage on Balconies and in Small Gardens) encourages readers to produce healthy food. Tracy Maria Lord, dedicated to preserving the local seeds (heirloom) in Turkey, outlines in her handbook the process of multiplying seeds for twenty Anatolian vegetables suitable for balconies or small gardens, along with instructions on collecting and storing new-generation seeds. The book provides clear and easily applicable information on the ideal conditions for introducing seeds to the soil, the development process from seed to seedling, and the tricks of recognizing, collecting, and storing maturing seeds.
