Some summers are remembered for a trip. Others, for a song. And some begin with a book that, without making much noise, changes the way we see our world.
Being Ecocentric does not mean doing everything perfectly or transforming your life overnight. It means paying attention to those small habits that, when repeated intentionally, can create a positive impact. And summer, when the clock seems to slow down and the days grow longer, may be the perfect time to plant new ideas.
At the We are ecocentric Movement, that is precisely what we believe in: good practices that start with everyday actions and that, little by little, can become a more conscious way of relating to our surroundings.
That is why, this August, we have put together a small selection of books on sustainability, habits, and responsible consumption to read at your own pace, underline an idea or two, and, who knows, perhaps take a new habit home with you.
1. Atomic Habits, by James Clear: Small Changes, Big Results
There is one idea in Atomic Habits that fits particularly well with the Ecocentric philosophy: we do not need to make huge changes to achieve meaningful results.
James Clear explains how small actions, repeated every day, eventually build a new way of living. An idea that strongly resonates with the Ecocentric philosophy: always carrying a reusable bottle, reducing food waste, buying only what you truly need, or choosing products with a lower environmental impact. That is where the power of small habits lies.
Because caring for the planet rarely depends on one big decision, but rather on many small ones that almost go unnoticed.
2. Digital Minimalism, by Cal Newport: Less Noise Also Means Living Better
What if one of the hardest habits to change were not in our shopping basket, but in our phone?
Cal Newport encourages us to rethink our relationship with technology in order to reclaim something that seems increasingly scarce: our attention.
It may seem like a recommendation far removed from environmental concerns, but there is an interesting connection with responsible consumption: learning to distinguish between what we need and what simply demands more of our attention.
Disconnecting, walking, reading, talking, cooking, spending time outdoors. Making room again for experiences that do not need a screen in the middle of them.
This summer, perhaps the most Ecocentric gesture can be as simple as putting your phone away for a while.
A read for: those who feel they need less noise and more space to be present.
3. Walden, by Henry David Thoreau: Looking at What Truly Matters Again
Some books do not need to talk directly about sustainability to make us reflect on it.
In Walden, Henry David Thoreau recounts his experience of living for a time close to nature, away from the fast pace of society. More than an invitation to abandon our current lives, it is a reflection on something that remains highly relevant today: how much do we really need to live well?
Because sometimes consuming less also begins with learning to enjoy more of what we already have.
A read for: those looking for a thoughtful exploration of nature, simplicity, and a more conscious way of living.
4. The Power of Habit, by Charles Duhigg: Understanding Why We Do What We Do
Before changing a habit, it can be useful to understand why we repeat it.
In The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg explores the mechanisms that cause certain behaviours to become automatic and how we can work to change them. This book can be particularly useful if you want to start building more sustainable habits at home but are not sure where to begin.
Perhaps it means preparing meals for the week to waste less food. Sorting waste correctly. Reducing impulse purchases. Choosing durable products. Walking more when the distance allows it.
It is not about doing everything at once. It is about finding that first habit you can actually maintain.
A read for: those who want to move from intention to action and make small sustainable gestures part of their everyday routine.
What Does It Really Mean to Live in a More Ecoist Way?
Perhaps there is no definitive list of sustainable habits that works for everyone.
And that is precisely the point.
Living more consciously does not mean doing everything perfectly. It means paying attention to our choices and looking for small ways to do better.
This August, embrace lightness.
Read. Disconnect. Observe.
And let a small habit find its place in your everyday life.
Because every small gesture counts. And living more Ecocentric starts right there.
