In the summer, it seems we all become avid readers. We pack our weekend bags with a year's worth of reading, forgetting that what we want at siesta time is the documentary on Channel 2, not Joyce's Ulysses.

That's why today we want to recommend five books that will not only help you raise your environmental awareness, but will also leave much-needed room in your suitcase for those shoes you love so much.

1. “The Sustainable Fashion Handbook”, by Sandy Black.

Or, in other words, your new reference book for understanding sustainable fashion. This guide covers everything from the environmental problems generated by fast fashion to the social impact that fashion has had and continues to have worldwide. Sandy Black teaches us that it's not necessary to hate fashion to be sustainable. Quite the opposite. Fashion is an art, and shifting toward sustainability by breaking away from bad practices in the production, use, and disposal of the clothes we wear is a creative challenge. A harmonious mix of essays, interviews with leading designers, and a wide variety of studies, with testimonies and opinions from all kinds of people: from designers, academics, and journalists to environmental activists, artisans, sustainable business owners, and representatives of large corporations. The book also pays great attention to the visual elements it uses, its fonts, and the layout of its texts. A feast for the eyes and food for thought.

2. “Living without plastic,” by Patricia Reina Toresano and Fernando Gómez Soria.

Patri and Fer decided to start living a plastic-free life in 2015, at a time when such an idea seemed implausible. 4 years later and after seeing the success of their blog , have decided to release their first book, “Living Without Plastic”. “We have tried to make a Very practical guide with tips, alternatives and lots of encouragement To ease the path for anyone who wants to begin the adventure of eliminating single-use plastic from their daily lives." Living Without Plastic reviews the history of plastic and the danger it poses to the environment. Based on the experience of these two leaders in the Spanish #zerowaste movement, Living Without Plastic can be your first step toward leaving behind this ubiquitous, but not inevitable, material.

3. “The Story of Stuff,” by Annie Leonard.

What began as a viral video has now become an indispensable book. The Story of Stuff tells us about the threat that excessive consumption poses to the environment, the economy, and our health. Annie Leonard reminds us that this habit didn't just come about, and that the reason we struggle to stop is because we live in a pre-established system where our consumption and disposal behaviors are deliberately dictated to us. Written with curiosity, compassion, and humor, the book offers concrete, easy-to-take steps to restore a measure of environmental, sustainable, and economic justice.

4. “The imperfect environmentalist: a practical guide to clearing your body, detoxing your home, and saving the earth (without losing your mind)”, by Sara Gilbert.

Wanting to save the planet can be overwhelming and sometimes even overwhelming. With this book, Sara Gilbert reminds us that it's okay if we don't know where to start and that going step by step is more than enough. An easy-to-read book, packed with positivity, that offers straightforward advice and helps us live more sustainable lives in every way.

5. “The Magic of Order” by Marie Kondo.

You might think we've got the wrong list, but the fact is, minimalism has a lot more to do with sustainability than we think. If you reduce your belongings, you appreciate what you have more, and if you appreciate what you already have, you need less and less. If you need less and less, you think twice about buying. Marie Kondo encourages you to simplify your life and keep waste under control , starting with your home.

If you've found any of the books on this list interesting, we'd like to encourage you to buy them secondhand if you can, or download them to your e-book reader if you have one. Deforestation is a real threat to the environment, and every step helps, no matter how small. Remember: 'one step at a time.'