Skip the candles and bath salts. This is a curated reading list for the deep thinkers in your life—covering everything from systems thinking and invisible bias to the economics of biophilia and the art of rest. Whether for a gift or your own holiday survival kit, these books offer new ways to see the work.

This year on Changing Tomorrow, we asked 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 more than resources — they’re companions 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.