🌍 Planet

Books that challenge, why we need to tackle Climate Change

A Climate of Truth – Mike Berners‑Lee

Recommended by Annie
Fresh from hearing Mike Berners‑Lee speak in Bath, Annie picked up his latest book and found a message of honesty, collaboration and hope. It’s a reminder that the answers to the climate and ecological crisis already exist, but misinformation and misaligned incentives can slow progress.

One insight particularly struck her:

A 2024 global survey showed 69% of people would pay to help tackle the climate crisis, yet they believe only 43% of others would do the same.

For Annie, it’s a powerful reminder that we share more values than we think and that collective action is both necessary and possible.

“I recently read A Climate of Truth: Why We Need It and How To Get It by Mike Berners-Lee (author of How Bad Are Bananas) after hearing him speak at an event in Bath. It outlines that we do have the answers to the climate and ecological crisis, but we have to work together to get the right policy in place, as there is a lot of dishonesty in politics and business.

I particularly loved this fact: A 2024 survey carried out in 125 countries found that 69% of people would pay to address the climate crisis, whilst they believe that only 43% of others would do the same. We’re more alike than we think, and need to come together to push for the change we all actually want to see. This book lifted my spirits as it’s easy to think no one else cares!”

Parable of the Sower – Octavia Butler

Recommended by Anne Marie
A gripping piece of dystopian fiction set in a climate‑ravaged United States, Butler’s novel shows how social structures, communities and identities fracture when the effects of climate change go unaddressed. For Anne Marie, it illustrated that climate change isn’t just environmental, it’s profoundly social, reshaping how communities function and who becomes vulnerable.

“My recommendation would be Parable of the Sower, by Octavia Butler. It is a dystopian fiction book set in the US, but in a world which is heavily impacted by climate change, global warming, and not just the environmental knock-on effects of those things, but the socio-political ones too.

I loved that it demonstrated the extent of the impact of climate change – or rather, of doing nothing about climate change. Yes there are the obvious impacts, such as fewer successful crops and less drinking water available, but the changes to how we operate as a society, the way we start seeing other humans who used to be part of our communities, and the possibility for people who never would have thought they’d be displaced, becoming climate refugees, was both challenging and eye-opening. Climate change isn’t just a “science issue”, but a global social one too.”

Silent Earth – Dave Goulson

Recommended by Toni
Dave Goulson’s exploration of the rapid decline in insects highlights something often overlooked: just how much our ecosystems and our own lives rely on these small, vital species. Toni loved the book for its clarity and urgency, and for making the invisible visible.

“It’s been a while since I’ve read this, but it highlights the importance of looking after insects and how integral they are to our own lives”

Rambunctious Garden — Emma Marris

Recommended by Jack Beckwith, Believe Housing
Jack describes this as the best book he read during his Master’s. Marris challenges the idea of “untouched wilderness,” instead arguing for a more flexible, mosaic approach to conservation.
Nature and people aren’t separate, she argues and letting the world grow a little wilder can be a good thing.

“Emma Marris’ “Rambunctious Garden” was, for my money, the best book I read during my Master’s course over the past few years.

It acknowledges that the ‘natural world’ has been impacted all over by people, and will continue to have to be actively managed for people in many places in many ways, but also considers how this can be done in a mosaic fashion, so that negative impacts are minimised and more autonomy (sometimes with a helping human hand) can be given to non-human nature. very much draws a distinction from “wilderness” or “human vs. nature” thinking, which is badly needed! The title is based on how a garden is both man-made and natural, and letting it grow a bit more rambunctious, free, and wild in some places isn’t a bad thing!”

🏘️ Housing

Stories and thinking that shape the places we call home

Poor – Katriona O’Sullivan 

Recommended by Jenny, Healthy Homes Hub
A raw, powerful account of trauma, resilience and systemic barriers. O’Sullivan’s story is a stark reminder of the inequalities many children face and the importance of environments that enable people to thrive. Jenny describes it as honest, human and unforgettable.

“Poor by Katriona O’Sullivan – a remarkable lady with a remarkable story, and one where words are not minced!”

Air Quality Matters Podcast – Simon Jones 

Recommended by Jenny

For anyone interested in health, homes and the environment, this podcast is a treasure trove. With insightful guests and practical learning in every episode, Jenny says it’s one she returns to again and again.

Jenny also gives a shout‑out to their own Making Housing Better podcast, which is a must listen at Sero too, full of thoughtful conversations, learnings and lived experience from across the sector.

“Simon Jones’s Air Quality Matters Podcast – amazing guest and always learning from who he has on….. I would have also said Making Housing Better – our HHH podcast, our guests are fabulous, and I always learn lots and love speaking to them for the podcast.”

🤝 People

Leadership, behaviour and how we show up for customers

Raving Fans + The Power of Moments + Hug Your Haters + Punk CX

Recommended by Craig
Craig shared a set of customer-focused books that have shaped his thinking over the years.
From designing memorable customer experiences to handling complaints with humanity, each one explores what it means to lead with empathy and create moments that matter.

“Raving Fans,” he says, is the one he returns to most, a reminder of simplicity, service and doing things well.

“For all things customer, some recommendations that I’ve flicked through, and intend to dive into fully, are… ‘The Power of Moments’, ‘Hug Your Haters’, and ‘Punk CX’. One that I’ve read countless times, and in many ways still serves as a simple reminder of what it’s all about is ‘Raving Fans’.”

🌱 Community

How societies grow, adapt and build resilience

Recommended by Andy

A Tale of Two Cities – Charles Dickens 

Andy revisited this classic and found it just as resonant today. A reminder that transformative change doesn’t require extraordinary individuals but collective will and shared humanity.

“As it turns out, it’s a classic for a reason (and JK Rowling clearly read it!), and reminds us that great things don’t require great men.”

Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks — Yuval Noah Harari

Harari explores how information flows have shaped society from the Stone Age to AI. Andy found it a brilliant lens for understanding the world we’re moving into and the challenges and opportunities of scale, complexity and technology.

“It unpicks the world we’re stepping into with complexities of A.I., society and scale.”

Goliath’s Curse — Luke Kemp 

Paired with “Nexus,” this book looks at why societies collapse and what true resilience really means. Kemp argues that communities, not isolation, are the foundation of strength. For Andy, it’s a reminder that justice, fairness and interconnectedness matter more than fortresses or silos.

“This book reminds us of the challenges of an unjust society (and the tendency to build them), and that true resilience is in community, not in a bunker.”

This collection of recommendations shows just how broad and interconnected our areas of interest really are. Climate, housing, social justice, customer care, ecosystems, technology: they’re not separate conversations, but part of one bigger story about how we live, how we treat one another, and how we build a fairer, greener future.

At Sero, we’re always learning from the people around us, colleagues, partners, and the communities we work with. And this list is a snapshot of that curiosity in action. We hope you find it valuable.

If you’ve got a book or podcast you’d add to the list, we’d love to hear it.