Great Reads

We’ve pulled together a spectrum of our favourite, thought provoking, and inspired sustainability reads

Doughnut Economics - Kate Raworth

This is a great read for overall sustainability understanding, because it approaches from an economics lens, offering an updated, logical global economic model to address modern environmental, social and economic challenges.

Raworth’s ‘Doughnut’ model has already inspired major sustainability thinking, including the UN’s Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs).

Key concepts include:

Change to Goal: from GDP to the Doughnut
See the Big Picture: from self-contained market to embedded economy
Get Savvy with Systems: from mechanical equilibrium to dynamic complexity
Create to Regenerate: from ‘growth will clean it up again’ to regenerative by design

Where to get it: Edmonton Public Library, Calgary Public Library, iTunes, Kindle

the Sustainability Edge - Suhas APTE + Jagdish N. Sheth

Think sustainability and profitability can’t go hand-in-hand? Published in Canada by Rotman UTP, this is a really valuable resource, as Apte and Shesh make the business case for leveraging sustainability as a competitive advantage, for your business.

‘The Sustainability Edge’ provides a roadmap to follow, walking the reader through how to thrive as a business long into the future by embracing sustainability today.

Key concepts include:

Collaborating with customers
Inspiring employees
Engaging suppliers
Attracting investors
Partnering with NGOs

Where to get it: iTunes, Kindle

the Ecology of Commerce, Revised Edition - Paul Hawken

Paul Hawken’s revised edition of ‘The Ecology of Commerce’ is a provocative, foundational read, laying out the clear case for sustainability, addressing both environmental and social challenges with a firm focus on economy health.

Paul Hawken’s thinking challenges many of our firmly-held economic model theories and visions of what ‘success’ can be.

Key concepts include: