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, climate change can feel complex and frightening. How can we, as a society, better understand how climate change affects communities in Minnesota and beyond? 

Professors at universities and colleges across the state say one of the best solutions is simple: reading. 

From climate manifestos to pieces of justice, here are 15 books that knowledgeable climate and environmental professors recommend for any reader, from novice climate skeptics to educated climate changemakers. 

‘Limitarianism: The Case Against Extreme Wealth,’ by Ingrid Robeyns

“Robeyns covers a lot of political territory, offering an ethics-based approach to understand the claim that we should strictly limit the amount of private wealth that can be amassed by individuals anywhere in the world. 

“In the middle of the book, Robeyns turns her focus to the devastating impact of the ultra-rich on the environment. Many potential readers might find it daunting, if not downright frightening, to read "Limitarianism," but the accessible language and the author's commitment to offering hopeful solutions reminds me of the famous John Lennon sentiment: ‘War is over if you want it.’”

Gregory Carlson, Chair of Communication Studies and Theatre Art,

‘Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution — And How It Can Renew America,’ by Thomas Friedman

“This book links climate change, growing consumption of resources, and growing world population to reveal their interconnectedness and feedback that cause accelerating damage to the environment.”

William Arnold, Distinguished McKnight University Professor and Joseph T. and Rose S. Ling Professor, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

‘Less is More: How Degrowth Will Save the World,’ by Jason Hickel 

“Hickel provides a 500-year origin story of the economic system (capitalism) that is the root cause of our current ecological crisis. Any system built on taking more from nature than what nature can provide is unsustainable.”

Leila Zakhirova, Chair and Associate Professor of Political Science, Concordia College

‘The Quickening: Antarctica, Motherhood, and Cultivating Hope in a Warming World,’ by Elizabeth Rush 

“The book is very readable and personal.  It explores the idea of having children in the context of climate change and the fear that elicits.  The science covered is correct and is described in a pretty visceral way, so that you can "feel" what is going on.”

Paige Novak, Department Head and Joseph T. and Rose S. Ling Chair in Environmental Engineering, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

‘What If We Get It Right?: Visions of Climate Futures,’ by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson

“I appreciate this book because it manages to be realistic and hopeful at the same time. And the interviews really give it a conversational feel that's easy for readers to connect with. If that's not enough, the interviews are interspersed with poetry and art.”

Louisa Bradtmiller, Professor of Environmental Studies, Macalester College

‘The Death and Life of the Great Lakes,’ by Dan Egan

“This book interweaves important environmental topics like invasive species, ecological manipulation, fisheries and lock and dam systems. It would be interesting to see an addendum to this book, which discusses climate impacts on the Great Lakes.”

William Daniels, Assistant Professor of Engineering, University of Minnesota-Duluth

‘Stop Saving the Planet!: An Environmentalist Manifesto,’ by Jenny Price

“It’s a quirky, wise and funny take on our environmental dilemmas. Price reminds us that humor, rather than sanctimony or grim prophecy, may be one of our greatest resources in confronting whatever shared future we’re headed into.”

— Michael Kowalewski, Lloyd McBride Professor of English & Environmental Studies, Carleton College

‘Katrina: A History, 1915-2015,’ by Andy Horowitz 

“This Bancroft Prize-winning history convincingly complicates our understanding of both natural disasters and environmental justice in an era driven by human-caused climate change.  Deeply researched and thoughtfully told, the book makes it clear that we need to better understand our past in order to grapple with the challenges ahead.”

Michael J. Lansing, Professor of History, Augsburg University

‘Predicting Our Climate Future: What We Know, What We Don't Know, And What We Can't Know,’ by David Stainforth

“For the active intellectual mind, even without a need to dive into detailed mathematics, this book delivers a worthwhile discussion of the uncertainties in climate science. The atmosphere is a chaotic system which means we can bracket the general behavior, but detailed forecasts are difficult. The author presents these challenges in a comprehensible manner, followed by an important discussion on why there is an imperative for us to address the problems we are facing in a changing atmosphere.”

Sylke Boyd, Professor of History, University of Minnesota-Morris

‘The Story of More: How We Got to Climate Change and Where to Go from Here,’ by Hope Jahren

“The storyteller’s writing style with embedded environmental facts made it a very consumable book, one that spurred many productive reflections on personal behavior. My students loved being in conversation with each chapter, and we formulated several activities from experiments she does in the book (i.e., counting plastic items, tracking waste, considering necessary vs. unnecessary travel).”

Betsy Cogan, Assistant Professor of Nutrition and Dietetics,

‘Earth’s Climate: Past and Future,’ by William Ruddiman

“It provides a clear, accessible introduction to climate science, blending insights from geology, oceanography, and atmospheric science. Ruddiman explains complex processes—such as greenhouse gas cycles, feedback mechanisms, and orbital variations—with clarity and context, making it especially useful for newcomers.”

Byron A. Steinman, Department Head and Professor of Environmental Sciences, University of Minnesota-Duluth

‘Saving Us: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World,’ by Katharine Hayhoe

“Hayhoe is a rare conservative/evangelical voice who also happens to be a climate scientist. I love her message in the book that is neither conservative nor liberal: she just wants people to talk about climate change in a meaningful way that affects their daily lives in real ways.” 

‘Slow Death by Rubber Duck: The Secret Danger of Everyday Things,’ by Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie

“An engaging look at the chemicals that are part of everyday life and how we are exposed to them both intentionally and accidentally.”

‘Slow Violence and the Environmentalism of the Poor,’ by Rob Nixon

“Nixon is a literature scholar, and the book is an in-depth analysis of various works of fiction that highlight the plight of marginalized people in degraded environments. But the key contribution is the concept of "slow violence" itself, which is foundational to many analyses of environmental justice.”

Elijah Bender, Chair and Associate Professor of History, Concordia College

‘The Quiet Crisis: A History of Environmental Conservation in the USA, from the Native Americans to the Modern Day,’ by Stewart Udal

“One of the reasons I suggest this book is that it predates the current political environment (perhaps only just so) and in doing so, I would hope underlines the idea that modern environmental issues are not a new-fangled political agenda….It was inspirational to know people have been fighting for the environment since before I was alive but also saddening to see how little progress we have made on many of those same issues. It also resonated with me for the call to action and appreciation of the deep connection that we as humans have to the natural world.” 

Jansen Smith, Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Minnesota-Duluth

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Professors at universities and colleges across the state say one of the best ways to understand climate change is simple: reading. 

A collage of book covers that cover the environment and climate change.

15 essential books to better understand climate change

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