Our researchers selected their favourite books on themes of science, sustainability, environment, climate change, nature and ecology.

 

 ‘Less is More: How Degrowth Will Save The World’ by Jason Hickel. 

 “A thought-provoking and accessible book that unapologetically addresses the elephant in the room of our climate conversations - our exploitative, inequitable, and unsustainable economic system. A stark yet inspiring read exploring how we can rebuild our world for the better.” - Niamh Guiry

 

‘How Big Things Get Done: The Surprising Factors That Determine the Fate of Every Project, from Home Renovations to Space Exploration and Everything In Between’ by Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner

“Very enjoyable book for anyone who thinks big about the future of infrastructure. Bent Flyvbjerg explains why many project fail and the research-based principles that will make others succeed.” – Dr Paul Deane

 

Dark PR: How corporate disinformation harms our health and the environment – DarajaPress

“In this challenging but fascinating read, Ennis utterly rejects the received wisdom that if enough individuals change their behaviour, we can change the world. For Ennis, “be the change you want to see in the world” is, at best, a distraction. Instead, he argues that we need to direct all our attention and energy to attacking the perverse incentives of government subsidies and corporate welfare.” – Dr Margaret Steele

 

Bat Surveys for Professional Ecologists Good Practice Guidelines (4th edition) Bat Conservation Trust. London

“One Hell of a Book, as Earnest Hemingway might have said. Not for the dis-interested, but sparkles with ideas and good grainy detailed advice about a difficult, important and high tech subject: the study of bats.” - Dr Paddy Sleeman

 

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

“It is not an environmental, or a chemistry, book but a brilliantly funny and insightful story about what it was like to be a female scientist in the U.S. in 1960s. The lead character, Elizabeth Zott, is heroically unforgettable. The best book I have read this year.” – Dr Paul Bolger

 

Portal by Tina Claffey  

“It features close-up photographs of bog flora and fauna – it’s a beautiful and surprising view of these under-appreciated landscapes.” – Dr Paul Leahy

 

Change: How to make big things happen by Damon Centola

“To tackle climate change, we need social change. This book gives very interesting evidence-based insights on the importance of understanding social networks to address behavioural and societal challenges such as the climate crisis.” – Dr Marica Cassarino

 

 

 

 

For more on this story contact: