Regeneration or regenerative design — whether in the context of business, ecosystems, communities or cultures — has become increasingly vital in the last years. As the world grapples with sustainability, climate change, and social inequality, thought leaders from diverse backgrounds have emerged to propose new frameworks that balance environmental health, social equity, and economic prosperity. Below is a list of essential books that offer insights into regenerative business practices, systems thinking, and holistic worldviews.
1. Regenerative Business by Carol Sanford
Carol Sanford’s Regenerative Business is a must-read for anyone interested in transforming their organization into one that thrives in harmony with the environment and society. Sanford, a leading voice in regenerative business practices, emphasizes the importance of embedding regenerative principles into an organization’s fabric, not just through its products but in its entire culture and structure.
This is relevant. In the last years, we have seen many companies creating products and services that can be considered regenerative because they are, for example, using biodegradable raw materials like mushrooms or algae to make fabrics or handbags. The question here is: How are they applying the principles of regeneration to their governance structures?
Look at the broader body of work by Sanford if you are interested in going deeper on regenerative design, she is one of the most important and influential thought leaders in this space, and she has a lot of content, not only books – she has written seven – but also podcast, keynotes and blog post. A massive library on regeneration.
Her work advocates for a fundamental shift in how we think about business and life success, from profit or material-centred models to those that account for ecological, personal and social well-being.
2. Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
In Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmerer blends her expertise as a scientist and an Indigenous woman to offer a unique perspective on the relationship between humans and the natural world. The book brings together Indigenous ecological knowledge and modern scientific research to explore how we can learn from plants, land, and natural cycles to create more sustainable, reciprocal relationships with the Earth.
For example on the importance of asking for permission when we collect a flower, a bunch of asparagus or water from a river and not take for granted that it belongs to us, because it does not.
Kimmerer’s poetic writing style and deep insight make this book both a love letter to nature and a call to action for regeneration.
3. Restoring the Kinship Worldview by Wahinkpe Topa (Four Arrows) and Darcia Narvaez, PhD
Restoring the Kinship Worldview focuses on a radically different perspective from the Western individualistic model: the kinship worldview. Four Arrows (Wahinkpe Topa) and Darcia Narvaez explore how Indigenous ways of thinking about interconnectedness, community, and ecology can offer solutions to modern problems. The authors argue that the dominant worldview of separation and competition has led to widespread ecological and social crises, and they offer an alternative vision based on care, respect, and mutual responsibility for the world around us.
When I read it I thought this was like a governance set of rules/ways of doing that can be applied in any community or organization.
Below you can see the analysis I did of the knowledge shared by the authors and by all the wise men and women that participated.
I am gonna do a special post for this book because it is worthy.
4. Small Arcs of Larger Circles by Nora Bateson
Nora Bateson’s Small Arcs of Larger Circles presents a compelling case for seeing the world in terms of complex systems and interconnected patterns. Drawing on her own experiences and research, Bateson encourages readers to engage in what she calls “relational thinking,” moving beyond linear models to embrace complexity and uncertainty. This book is an excellent resource for anyone wanting to understand systems thinking from a perspective that includes human relationships, social structures, and ecological contexts. Bateson’s work is an invitation to see and think differently about the world, encouraging a shift in how we relate to both one another and the planet.
If you want to go deeper check the Warm Data Lab training and process that Nora delivers, I have participated in 2 workshops and it is really interesting how you can understand issues from the information in between two topics.
5. Sand Talk by Tyson Yunkaporta
In Sand Talk, Indigenous Australian scholar Tyson Yunkaporta explores the power of storytelling as a tool for understanding complex systems. Drawing from his cultural background and the wisdom of his ancestors, Yunkaporta presents a vision of learning and knowing that is fundamentally different from the Western scientific method. The book blends philosophy, ecology, and social theory, emphasizing the importance of community, connection, and local knowledge. Yunkaporta also explores how these Indigenous worldviews offer practical solutions to contemporary challenges like climate change, systemic injustice, and unsustainable development.
I needed to take notes to fully understand and integrate the knowledge that the author shared with us in the book. Really interesting book to combine with other indigenous knowledge to complete original wisdom.
Once we shared a unique understanding of how the universe and life on Earth work.
6. The Systems View of Life by Fritjof Capra and Pier Luigi Luisi
The Systems View of Life by Fritjof Capra and Pier Luigi Luisi provides a comprehensive introduction to systems thinking, exploring the interconnectedness of life through biology, physics, and ecology. This book offers a deep dive into how life systems — both natural and human-made — are interrelated and how understanding these systems can guide us toward more sustainable and regenerative practices. Capra and Luisi integrate insights from the natural sciences with a philosophical perspective on how systems thinking can contribute to solving modern global crises.
A must to understand living systems function.
«Regeneration is the essence of life self-organization»_Fritjof Capra
7. Thinking in Systems by Donella Meadows
Donella Meadows’ Thinking in Systems is one of the seminal works on systems theory, offering a clear and accessible guide to understanding the behaviour of complex systems. Meadows, a renowned environmental scientist, introduces key concepts such as feedback loops, leverage points, and system archetypes, helping readers understand how systems operate and how they can be influenced for positive change. Whether you’re working in business, ecology, or social systems, this book provides invaluable tools for seeing the world through a systems lens.
Donella’s work is like the base to really understand the interconnection between everything and a practical guide to start making these relationships visible. If you are interested you can’t miss her black-and-white YouTube videos where she maps entire systems.
The leverage point concept, as places to intervene in a system, is key when approaching system work, in the last years other ways of approaching have been developed, so check the different proposals to understand what fits better for your work.
8. Designing Regenerative Cultures by Daniel Christian Wahl
In Designing Regenerative Cultures, Daniel Christian Wahl offers a roadmap for building cultures that not only sustain but actively regenerate social, ecological, and economic systems. He explores how design principles rooted in nature’s processes can inform everything from community-building to urban planning. Wahl’s work is practical yet visionary, encouraging us to reimagine what it means to live well within the planet’s ecological limits. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in the intersection of design, sustainability, and culture.
Wahl is one of the most prolific communicators on regenerative design and cultures, so check also his website for more information.
9. Regenerative Development and Design by Regenesis Group
Regenerative Development and Design by the Regenesis Group is a comprehensive guide to applying regenerative principles to community and ecosystem design. The book emphasizes the importance of understanding place, engaging with communities, and designing processes that actively contribute to ecological and social regeneration. It offers a step-by-step approach to creating regenerative systems that restore vitality to the Earth while addressing the needs of human communities. For anyone involved in architecture, urban planning, or landscape design, this book offers practical guidance for a more sustainable future.
It is also interesting to check the projects they have worked on that help to illustrate how the Regenesis approach unfolds in various contexts.
10. Small is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered by E.F. Schumacher
E.F. Schumacher’s Small is Beautiful is a groundbreaking work that critiques the scale and logic of modern economics. Written in the 1970s, Schumacher calls for a shift away from the dominant paradigm of growth and industrialization toward a more human-scale, ecological approach to economic systems. He argues that smaller, localized economies are more sustainable and aligned with the needs of both people and the planet. Schumacher’s insights on appropriate technology, decentralization, and sustainability remain deeply relevant today, offering a refreshing perspective on how we might design systems that prioritize human well-being and ecological balance over unchecked economic growth.
Conclusion
These books offer a broad spectrum of ideas for anyone interested in regenerative practices, systems thinking, and the intersection of ecology, culture, and business. Whether you’re a business leader, a designer, a policymaker, or someone simply passionate about creating a more just and sustainable world, these works will provide valuable insights and inspiration. By learning from these thought leaders, we can collectively begin to shift our worldview, creating a future that is not only sustainable but regenerative — one that thrives in harmony with the natural world.
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