Every year on April 22, Earth Day offers a chance to take stock of our climate footprints and reflect on our relationship with the planet. But, as any committed activist will tell you, addressing the climate crisis is an ongoing commitment.
That’s why this year, Vogue asked four climate activists—Xiye Bastida, Pattie Gonia, Isaias Hernandez, and Leah Thomas—to help us compile a reading list that offers context and perspective on issues of climate, sustainability, and resistance. Explore their recommendations below.
Begin Again by Oliver Jeffers
“This is the book I would’ve loved to write because it just makes sense, but it also makes us question everything we know about how to be human. Very few times have I come across something so grounding yet inspiring. Every time I read it, I feel the spark of my activist fire go bright.” —Xiye Bastida, climate activist and Indigenous rights advocate
Black Nature: Four Centuries of African American Nature Poetry by Camille T. Dungy
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“This anthology reframes what we think of as ‘nature writing,’ centering African American poets whose relationships to land have always been shaped by resistance, survival, and care. It’s a powerful reminder that we are not separate from nature and that Black environmental storytelling has long been a vital, though often overlooked, part of climate and sustainability conversations.” —Leah Thomas, intersectional environmental activist and eco-communicator
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
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“Braiding Sweetgrass is one of the few works of art in which the secrets of Earth’s wisdom become so accessible to learn. When I read it, I feel like I am sitting by the fire and my grandma is sharing our stories of creation, the ways to be in the world, and our collectsive responsibility to Mother Earth.” —X.B.
Forest Euphoria: The Abounding Queerness of Nature by Patricia Ononiwu Kashian
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“How do nature and queerness intersect? The author delves into the diversity of queerness found in nature through a selection of essays on swamps, eels, and so much more fun. A blend of natural science and memoir, Forest Euphoria gives us a lens on how our identities can be mantelpieces for our understanding, [and help us develop] deeper relationship with the non-human world, from animals to fungi, and flora.” —Isaias Hernandez, environmental educator and QueerBrownVegan founder
Soil: The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden by Camille T. Dungy
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“I love this book because it shows how tending to the land can be both a personal and political act, especially as a Black woman reclaiming space, care, and belonging. It’s a beautiful reflection on how our relationships with soil, home, and community are deeply tied to climate, justice, and what it means to nurture a livable future.” —L.T.
The Body Is a Doorway: A Memoir: A Journey Beyond Healing, Hope, and Human by Sophie Strand
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“One of my personal favorites that made me weep. This book beautifully ties in lived experiences with chronic illness, mythology, and an environmental history of landscapes. The Body Is a Doorway helps readers rethink the way they treat themselves and shows how increasing our capacity for the non-human world while also witnessing a world filled with injustices allows us to heal.” —I.H.
Who Really Feeds the World? by Vandana Shiva
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“This book poses a critical question about why exactly these large corporate powers have a stronghold on the good system and how it is destroying biodiversity. I personally feel that for anyone who wants to learn more about why food, land, or seeds are political, this book illuminates ongoing issues.” —I.H.
What If We Get It Right? Visions of Climate Futures by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson
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“If there is one thing we need more of, it’s positive imagination. For every way the world is broken, a hundred solutions are waiting to be implemented. This book reminds me I am not alone in being crazy enough to fight for a better world.” —X.B.
Why Fish Don’t Exist by Lulu Miller
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“This book teaches us that the most radical thing you can do in a world that wants to categorize and control everything is to refuse to be classified—and it turns out that lesson applies to fish, to queerness, to ecosystems, and to every movement that has ever been told it doesn’t fit the system.” —Pattie Gonia, drag queen, climate activist, and community organizer
