We're big believers that the escapist beauty of literature is one that grows when shared. So, in the interest of fostering a culture of reading, we're sharing the books that have inspired and impacted us most at Koala Eco; from thought-provoking fiction to enchanting biographical recounts. 

Some of our favorite books sit at the intersection of nature and literature, providing transportive descriptions of stunning landscapes or opening our eyes to concepts we never thought possible. The Overstory forces us to reconsider notions of trees as property, with the giant redwoods in the novel very much alive and able to communicate with the book’s central characters. Meanwhile, scientific objectivity and Indigenous storytelling coexist in harmony within Braiding Sweetgrass, with botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer littering the nonfiction book with beautifully visceral depictions of nature while promoting an appreciation for life in all its forms.

After a long period of time spent close to home, naturalist Henry David Thoreau’s recount of the simple life spent in a shingled cottage in the woods is equal parts refreshing and enjoyable, with Thoreau’s subtle satire preventing Walden from being too virtuous, peppering in many a humorous (and occasionally self-deprecating) reflection. For an insight into the creative mind behind one of the most influential purpose-led businesses of our time, Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard explores one man’s endeavours to change our consumption-led culture in Let My People Go Surfing.

As a brand centred around both the natural world and the concept of sensory escapism, literature has always influenced and informed us at Koala Eco. Providing a source of solace, means of escape, or even a friend when you most need one; the right book at the right time can be a powerful force.

1. The Overstory by Richard Powers
2. Walden by Henry D. Thoreau
3. Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
4. Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
5. The Call of the Wild and White Fang by Jack London
6. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt
7. Let My People Go Surfing by Yvon Chouinard
8. Phosphorescence by Julia Baird
9. A Painted Landscape by Amber Creswell Bell
10. Plantopedia by Lauren Camilleri, Sophia Kaplan

 Happy Reading!