Books are a priceless treasure. Entire lifetimes of wisdom, stories, and experiences can be found scrawled on page. Other realms can be simply stored on a bookshelf- awaiting you to open the cover and dive in. Legacies are lost when civilizations crumble or names are forgotten, but in text we keep their souls alive. A library is like a time capsule temple where you can ask any question you wish to know and find an answer. This is why I love books. And in a way computers cannot offer; books are a sensory delight- best had with hot beverages and peaceful retreats. If I was a dragon, I would certainly hoard books instead of gold.
Some books in particular have an effect that is quite powerful- that when you begin to read it, you get sucked in, tempted and seduced within the first few pages. Those books are the kind that you can’t put down; the ones that keep you up at night straining your eyes under dim light, perusing page after page. And when you finish it, your whole world changes. For me, most of those books are non-fiction. While a good tale keeps me enraptured for days, reading something informative literally changes my life. I come away from the text enlightened with new ideas, fresh perspectives, and the gift of shared wisdom.
Today I’d like to share with you a list of books which, in my opinion, everyone should read. Each of these books had a profound impact on my mind, body, and soul and has changed my life for the better. This list is by no means everything I wish others would read, but it’s a curated selection of the best books I wish to share. I WILL be following this post with others as I discover more works, but for now, please enjoy these wonderful reads!
My TOP Book Recommendations:
Eating on the Wild Side: The Missing Link to Optimum Health by Jo Robinson
Eating on the Wild Side is a wealth of knowledge lost to the average person. To me it seems obvious we should all know where our food comes from, not just in a literal sense but it’s origins. This book accomplishes the task of providing a look through agriculture’s past and wipes away centuries of plant breeding to reveal the ancient origins of our basic foods. Most people don’t know that the vegetables, grains, and fruits they consume today are domesticated, and that their ancient cousins have superior nutritional qualities, which we bred out in preference for taste and attractive appearance. That, and even amongst our domestic varieties, we can find more nutrients and health benefits when we seek out certain colors and varieties of our produce. I for one am intrigued to learn where all of our favorite foods come from and how our relationship with them is what transformed them into the things we eat every day. This book is chock full of charts, and handy summaries of the information outlined in the chapters so that you can easily navigate the produce section of the grocery store or farmer’s market and find the healthiest varieties of food. There are also lots of tips for how to prepare food in a way that preserves the most nutrients.
Find Eating on the Wild Side and more by Jo Robinson HERE
The Vegetarian Myth by Lierre Keith
When I was in my late teens and early twenties, I was a dedicated Vegan. I lived this way for almost 5 years, eating a strictly plant-based diet and purchasing items that had no animal products in them. I believed that I was doing the most ethical, spiritual, and healthy thing for myself and the planet. But after a serious health decline in both me and my partner, we decided to try wild meat and organic eggs to give us a little “boost.” We never went back- and since then I’ve taken a deep dive into discerning the truths and myths about a strictly vegan lifestyle, and THIS book sums it up in a way I could not put into words. Lierre explains that as a vegan for almost her entire life, how she “had it all figured out” and was doing what seemed right and just. But, like me, her diet began to sap away her health- and in this book she recalls the entire experience from a lifetime of veganism to coming away from it, and all of the deep mental, physical, and spiritual processes and mindsets along the way. This is a good read for anyone, because it challenges vegans and vegetarians to consider a new perspective based on long term experience, but also challenges omnivores to look at the ethics and quality of their food sources.
Find The Vegetarian Myth and other works by Lierre Keith HERE
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Braiding Sweetgrass may just be the single most powerful book I’ve ever read and judging by the popularity of quotes from it floating around on the internet, I guess others feels the same way. Robin beautifully blends her deep indigenous wisdom, advanced scientific knowledge, and the mysterious world of botany in a powerful and captivating work that speaks from the heart. This book made me laugh, cry, and most importantly, change. A natural poet, Robin does the wondrous work of weaving words- Both English and Anishinaabe / Potawatomi into a tale which explains our place here on Mother Earth as the younger sibling of our plant and animal relatives, and what our duties are to protect them and reciprocate for the gifts they so generously provide. Part story, part call to action- this book is important and should be in everyone’s library. The message and lessons are so critical that I have made a mission to put a copy in as many “Little Free Libraries” as possible to better the chances that someone can have the extraordinary experience reading it that I did.
Find Braiding Sweetgrass HERE
The Permaculture Promise by Jono Neiger
The Permaculture promise is the solution to all problems- a way of life which gives as much as it takes and leaves but a gentle footprint behind. Addressing the principles of permaculture as well as some of the methods, this book is a bible of communal green living which tackles each aspect of our needs as humans and how we can fulfill them in an ecologically balanced way. It’s like a blueprint for building better communities that coexist with nature as opposed to dominating it. I like to flip this book open to a random page whenever I need a dose of good old fashioned “faith in humanity,” or some inspiration. It gives me a drive to work with my communities- that of my human, animal, and plant relatives, to build something more sustainable for us all. Please, let this book inspire you and nourish your need for connection.
Find The Permaculture Promise HERE
The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan
I read the majority of this book while floating in a kayak along a river while my partner fished from his boat. That should serve as a testament to how much I enjoyed reading it; that I would even think to take it out on water! Michael Pollan is an author and journalist who often writes about food and farming- and in this book he embarks on a quest to reveal the truths about where our food comes from. He actively prepares a meal from four different food systems: Conventional Farming, Large-Scale Organic Farming, Small Organic/Agroecological Farming, and Wild Foods. He provides truthful insights and reports on each one, right down to how the meal tasted. This book forces us to realize where our food comes from, and make choices about what systems we wish to partake in.
Find The Omnivore’s Dilemma HERE
Grain Brain: The Surprising Truth About Wheat, Carbs and Sugar - Your Brain’s Silent Killers by Dr. Perlmutter
Confirming my gut feeling that gluten was having a negative impact on my health; Grain Brain has changed the way I eat and thusly my quality of living. Dr. Perlmutter does a fantastic job of explaining how grains and particularly gluten are harmful to our bodies and especially our brains- focusing on the correlations between a high-grain/gluten diet and chronic illnesses like Alzheimer’s. He also provides evidence that cholesterol is not the horrific monster it has been made to be and explains how grains, and especially how they are grown, are actually the main culprit in many diet related diseases. This book dispels the myth that only people suffering from Celiac are affected by gluten. He provides recipes and substitutions as well, making the switch to a grain-less or grain-free diet easy. Ever since reading this book, I have almost entirely eliminated gluten and grain from my diet, and I am all the better for it!
Find Grain Brain HERE
We Are The Middle of Forever: Indigenous Voices from Turtle Island on the Changing Earth edited by Dahr Jamail and Stan Rushworth
This book was absolutely transformative! On a personal level, this book confirmed a deep-rooted mysticism and nature-based spirituality that I experience and validated that by showing me that there are people on this Earth that lived/live in a harmony with nature that I could only dream to someday embody. It tells that there is in fact another way to exist on this planet- one that speaks of reciprocity and balance. This book is a beautiful compilation of native wisdom, stories, and truths. It moved me to tears, inspired me, and was ultimately a call to action. And most importantly, it filled me in on the crucial indigenous history in the United States that our school system oftentimes fails to truthfully share, and in fact completely bypasses. I learned so much about the rich cultures of this country’s first peoples, and even more so I learned about the important stewardship and conservation practices that are a part of indigenous ways of life. Please read this book! Some of the most important voices humanity needs to hear are laid out on these pages.
Find We Are the Middle of Forever HERE
We Are What We Eat by Alice Waters
Alice Waters should be considered a goddess of culinaria- the patron Saint of all things food. Her voice is both powerful yet delicate, and in her writing she dances through the kitchen, peruses farmer’s markets, and graces restaurants- bringing you with her as she makes a sensory experience of one of the most basic and important acts of survival: cooking. A hero in her own right, Alice has a passion for food that extends far beyond her own stovetop and shares the love and delight of cooking and eating with people across the world through her Slow Food Movement and school gardens. She puts on the plate what is right and obvious; that good, nourishing, organic food is the building block from which we can do anything, the foundations for community, joy, and nutrition. Be inspired by her poetic storytelling and her motivational urging for a better and simpler food system!
Find We Are What We Eat HERE
The Dorito Effect by Mark Shatzker
The Dorito Effect is a well-researched and equally well-written book giving readers an in-depth look into the truths about flavorings: the most pernicious and ugly part of our food system yet. Shatzker shares how flavorings have become one of the biggest industries in America, and the negative effects on our health caused by sketchy food ingredients. He explains the reason why snack foods are so addicting, discusses the history of the major snack companies in America, and shares studies on how flavor correlates directly to nutrition; a survival adaptation that is quickly disappearing as our taste buds become overstimulated with flavorings. He also makes the case that as we ramp up our flavorings in junk food products, we sacrifice our ability to taste nutrients- a survival skill which has kept us alive and eating the right things for as long as we’ve existed. This book will make you rethink your snacks, beverages, and even meals as the veil is lifted from over your eyes on what exactly these corporations are sneaking into your food.
Find The Dorito Effect HERE
A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose by Eckhart Tolle
I read the entirety of A New Earth in about 2 days because I didn’t want to put it down. A random find from a thrift store, this book was certainly no coincidence falling into my life. Eckhart Tolle is a spiritual writer who shares his unique philosophies and epiphanies through books, talks, and other media. In this book he tackles the concept of ego and provides a whole new perspective on life and how we handle its challenges. Tolle takes on “Being” and existence in a way that is freeing to the mind and soul, allowing us to release mental burdens we carry for no good reason. From this book we learn to recognize our own consciousness, break free from toxic patterns, and stop identifying with the false sense of self. This mindset alleviates much suffering. I would highly recommend reading this book, and then read it again and again to remind yourself of the wisdom it contains.
Find A New Earth HERE
If you’re interested in other books that I have read, reviewed and recommend, consider following me on GoodReads!
Interested in food/nutrition/agriculture literature? Check out the Real Organic Project’s virtual book club and reading list!
*Please note: Each of the links I provided to find a copy of the recommended book is either from a small/independent publisher or the author’s own website. I do not receive commission as these are not affiliate links. I do not share links to Amazon or other extractive sites.
