Sustainability Books Guide: Essential Reading for Creating Liveable Futures

Written By Gayathri Unnikrishnan

At Liveable, we believe that creating a better future starts with expanding how we see the world. Books have a quiet yet radical power to open new possibilities, connect ideas, and inspire action.

This year on our podcast, Changing Tomorrow, we asked changemakers and sustainability leaders about the reads that have shaped their thinking and helped them tackle today’s most complex challenges. From reimagining cities to designing spaces where people and nature thrive, these books are valuable resource on the journey to building a liveable future.

Here’s our carefully curated collection of must-reads for those working to create meaningful change in the built environment.

For the Pattern Seekers

Seeing systems, imagining possibilities

  • Regeneration by Paul Hawken
    A solutions-forward masterpiece that reframes climate action as an opportunity to restore ecosystems, economies, and communities. It’s a lesson in seeing the interconnectedness of everything.

  • The Ecology of Commerce by Paul Hawken
    A bold call to reimagine business as a force for regeneration, not extraction. Essential for leaders redesigning how commerce serves people and the planet.

  • Economics of Biophilia by Terrapin Bright Green
    Proof that nature-inspired design isn’t just beautiful — it creates measurable business value, while improving lives and ecosystems.

For the Space Shapers

Designing places where humans and nature thrive

  • Nature Inside: A Biophilic Design Guide by William D. Browning and Catherine O. Ryan
    A practical blueprint for crafting spaces that reconnect people to nature, improving health, productivity, and environmental outcomes.

  • Welcome to Your World by Sarah Williams Goldhagen
    How thoughtful design nurtures well-being, connection, and culture — vital insights for anyone creating environments that stand the test of time.

  • Visual Delight in Architecture by Lisa Heschong
    A powerful look at how small design choices, like daylight and natural elements, shape how people feel, think, and live in spaces.

For the Community Weavers

Building stronger, more resilient communities

  • Urban Alchemy by Mindy Thompson Fullilove
    Insightful strategies for healing divided cities with design that honors people, culture, and place.

  • Reclaiming Your Community by Majora Carter
    A blueprint for community development that creates sustainability and preserves local identity. Positive change doesn’t mean displacement.

  • The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee
    A powerful exploration of how equity-centered solutions strengthen communities, build connections, and drive shared prosperity.

For the Workplace Innovators

Reimagining how we work and thrive together

  • Well at Work by Esther Sternberg
    A vision for workplaces that prioritize well-being and environmental health, proving that good design benefits everyone.

  • Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey
    A bold reminder that sustainable work culture starts with rest and reclaiming our natural rhythms.

  • Start Within by Karen Holst and Douglas Ferguson
    A practical guide for changemakers to transform organizations through thoughtful, human-centered approaches.

For the Mindful Catalysts

Leading with purpose, presence, and impact

  • Active Hope by Joanna Macy
    Grounding and inspiring wisdom for staying energized while tackling big, world-changing challenges.

  • Climate of Emotions by Sarah Newman
    Helps leaders understand the emotional layers of sustainability work — a critical skill for creating lasting impact.

  • Ikigai by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles
    Timeless lessons for finding purpose and aligning our work with meaning, especially in the pursuit of a more equitable and sustainable world.

Why These Books Matter

Each of these works does more than highlight challenges — they also reveal opportunities, frameworks, and pathways forward. Whether you’re designing buildings, leading teams, or fostering resilient communities, these books can act as tools for change and inspiration.

From Our Guests:
These recommendations come directly from the leaders and visionaries we’ve hosted on the Changing Tomorrow podcast — people like you who are reimagining the role of the built environment and its impact on people, places, and the planet.

Thoughtful Ways to Share These Reads

  • Partner with local independent bookstores to build community resilience.

  • Explore digital formats to reduce material impact.

  • Start a reading circle to multiply the impact of these ideas.

What Inspires You?

What books have helped you see new possibilities in your work? Share your recommendations in the comments below, and join us on the Changing Tomorrow podcast as we keep exploring the ideas, voices, and stories shaping a liveable future.

Learn More:

  • Check out the "Changing Tomorrow" podcast. Listen here.

  • Explore the complete booklist here.

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Gayathri Unnikrishnan
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