Books to give you hope

A list of non-fiction and fiction I'm hoping to get through this year

Hi friends!

I saw this post from Rabea a few weeks ago and it was exactly what I needed. It's almost impossible not to feel like the world is moving in the wrong direction and there's nothing we can do about it.

Many of the suggestions she received have interested me and I want to read them in the upcoming year. So, I decided to make a list of twelve of them that interested me the most, and share them with anyone who feels the same. Here they are with a short description:

What If We Get It Right? Visions of Climate Futures by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson

What If We Get It Right? Visions of Climate Futures by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson is a hopeful and imaginative exploration of what a sustainable and equitable future could look like if humanity successfully addresses the climate crisis. Through a blend of essays, conversations, data, poetry, and art, Johnson envisions a world where science, policy, culture, and justice intersect to create thriving communities. The book features insights from diverse voices—farmers, financiers, architects, and activists—who collectively paint a picture of a replenished and just world. Johnson’s work is both a call to action and an invitation to envision and participate in building a future worth fighting for, emphasizing that everyone has a role to play. With grace, humor, and optimism, she challenges readers to ask: What if we get it right?

A Psalm for the Wild-Built: A Monk and Robot Book by Becky Chambers

Set on the moon of Panga, the story takes place centuries after robots gained self-awareness and chose to leave human society to live in the wilderness, disappearing into legend. The narrative follows Dex, a tea monk who travels the land offering comfort and solace to people, but who feels a deep, unfulfilled yearning for something more. Their journey takes an unexpected turn when a robot named Splendid Speckled Mosscap emerges from the wild, seeking to fulfill an ancient promise to check in with humanity and answer the question: What do people need?

As Dex and Mosscap travel together, their conversations delve into the nature of human desires, the meaning of fulfillment, and the balance between progress and simplicity. Chambers crafts a gentle, philosophical tale that challenges the notion of constant striving and instead celebrates the beauty of connection, curiosity, and the present moment. With its lush world-building and heartfelt dialogue, A Psalm for the Wild-Built is a soothing and thought-provoking story that asks what it means to live a meaningful life in a world where survival is no longer the primary concern.

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Robin Kimmerer, a botanist and member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, intertwines Indigenous wisdom with scientific knowledge to offer a holistic perspective on ecology and sustainability. Through a series of essays, she reflects on the teachings of plants—such as sweetgrass, strawberries, and goldenrod—and illustrates how they provide gifts and lessons that can guide us toward a more harmonious existence with the Earth.

Kimmemer emphasizes the importance of reciprocity, urging readers to listen to the voices of the natural world and recognize the interconnectedness of all life. She critiques the exploitative mindset of modern society and calls for a reawakening of ecological consciousness rooted in gratitude, respect, and mutual care. Blending personal anecdotes, traditional stories, and scientific insights, Braiding Sweetgrass is both a call to action and a celebration of the beauty and generosity of the living world, inviting readers to heal their relationship with the Earth and give back in return.

Slow Down: The Degrowth Manifesto by Kohei Saito

In "Slow Down: The Degrowth Manifesto," Kohei Saito argues that unfettered capitalism is to blame for inequality and climate change, and calls for "sustainable growth" and a "Green New Deal" are insufficient. He claims that capitalism's focus on profit and perpetual growth creates artificial scarcity and makes it impossible to reverse climate change within the current system. Instead, Saito advocates for degrowth and deceleration through the democratic reform of labor and production. He proposes ending mass production and consumption, decarbonizing through shorter working hours, and prioritizing essential labor over corporate profits. By returning to social ownership, Saito believes we can restore abundance, focus on essential human activities, and effectively reverse climate change.

The Good Ancestor: A Radical Prescription for Long-Term Thinking by Roman Krznaric

Roman Krznaric argues that our short-term, exploitative mindsets have "colonized the future," meaning, used up the resources of future generations. That exacerbates inequality and existential threats. He advocates for intergenerational justice and proposes ambitious solutions, such as rewiring our economy and giving future generations a voice in democracies. At the core of his argument is the need for long-term thinking, which he believes can be cultivated through six practical methods. Krznaric's book calls for a shift in allegiance from the present generation to all of humanity to address the climate crisis and ensure a sustainable future.

All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katharine K. Wilkinson

This book highlights the emerging leadership in the climate movement that is characterized by feminine and feminist qualities such as compassion, connection, creativity, and collaboration. The book emphasizes the vital role of women and girls in addressing climate change and aims to bring their voices and expertise to the forefront. Featuring essays, poetry, and art from diverse women leaders across various fields, the collection seeks to foster a more inclusive and solution-oriented public conversation on the climate crisis. The book serves as both a balm and a guide, encouraging truth, courage, and collective action to address the climate crisis and work towards a sustainable future.

Hope in the Dark: Untold Histories, Wild Possibilities by Rebecca Solnit

This book is a powerful and inspiring manifesto for hope and activism in the face of uncertainty. Written to counter despair and disillusionment among activists, the book draws on Solnit’s decades of activism and deep knowledge of environmental, cultural, and political history to argue that transformative change often emerges from seemingly small or unnoticed actions. Solnit highlights the long history of radical victories and emphasizes that the impact of our efforts is not always immediately visible or measurable. She challenges the dominance of pessimism, urging readers to embrace hope as an active commitment to shaping an uncertain future. With a new introduction and afterword, this edition offers renewed guidance on finding hope and taking action in an increasingly complex world, reminding us that the future remains open to possibility.

From What Is to What If: Unleashing the Power of Imagination to Create the Future We Want by Rob Hopkins

Rob Hopkins, cofounder of the Transition movement, argues that while the world faces daunting challenges—climate change, social division, mental health crises, and ecological collapse—history shows that rapid, positive cultural change is possible. Drawing on examples from his hometown of Totnes, England, and communities worldwide, he illustrates how grassroots initiatives in housing, energy, food, and local economies can create cascading benefits and inspire hope.

Hopkins identifies imagination as a critical but underutilized tool for envisioning and building a better future. He explores why imagination is in decline—due to factors like stress, technology, and education systems—and offers practical ways to revive it. Through inspiring stories of individuals and communities already harnessing their imaginative power, he demonstrates that asking What if? can lead to transformative action. The book is both a hopeful manifesto and a practical guide, urging readers to reclaim their creativity and work together to create the future we want.

Solidarity Economics: Why Mutuality and Movements Matter

Traditional economics assumes self-interested individuals maximize personal gain, but sharing, caring, and upholding the collective good are also powerful motives. Inequality, social divisions, and ecological destruction challenge us to build an alternative economics based on cooperation. In "Solidarity Economics," Chris Benner and Manuel Pastor propose a new approach grounded in connection and community, arguing that our current economy relies on mutuality, but inequality and fragmentation undermine it. They outline the theoretical framing, policy agenda, and social movements needed to revive solidarity and apply it to societies.

Stop Saving the Planet! An Environmentalist Manifesto by Jenny Price

We’ve been "saving the planet" for decades!…And environmental crises just get worse. This book is a call for a more effective and fair approach to environmentalism. Price argues that traditional methods like hybrid driving, LEED building, and carbon trading have done little to address environmental crises, and low-income communities continue to suffer the most. She challenges environmentalists, corporate sustainability officers, and the EPA to think and act in new ways to ensure a habitable future. The book is a short, fun, and fierce manifesto that urges immediate and innovative action to tackle environmental issues.

The Ministry for the Future: A Novel by Kim Stanley Robinson

This book explores climate change through the lens of a fictional organization established to advocate for future generations. The story is set in the near future and follows characters as they navigate the challenges posed by climate crises and societal responses to them. Unlike many apocalyptic narratives, this story is set in a near-future that is still recognizable. Robinson's work challenges readers to rethink the climate crisis and consider new perspectives on how to address it.

Semiosis: A Novel by Sue Burke

Semiosis by Sue Burke is a thought-provoking science fiction novel that explores the complexities of colonization, communication, and coexistence. The story follows a group of human colonists who leave Earth in search of a utopian planet to call home. They settle on Pax, a seemingly ideal world, but soon discover that it is already inhabited by intelligent, sentient plant life. These plants are not passive observers—they are highly adaptive, communicative, and have their own agendas.

As the colonists struggle to survive and build a new society, they must navigate the challenges of understanding and communicating with Pax's dominant life forms. The novel spans generations, showing how the humans and the planet's flora evolve in their relationship, shifting from conflict to tentative cooperation. Themes of mutualism, adaptation, and the ethics of colonization are central to the story, as the colonists grapple with their role as both intruders and potential partners in Pax's ecosystem.

Semiosis is a unique blend of hard science fiction and ecological speculation, offering a fresh perspective on interspecies communication and the delicate balance of power between humans and nature. It raises profound questions about what it means to coexist with other intelligent beings and how to build a sustainable future on a shared planet.