The Wild Page's Top 10 Nature Books

As the 2026 long list and short list for the Wainwright Prize has been recently announced, nature reading lovers will be clambering to get reading the chosen titles.

Alongside the incredible work chosen to be in the running for this award, we have put together a list of other nature inspired titles, fiction and non-fiction, that we consider our top catalog of books that you should be reading if you love to engage with literature surrounding our natural world.

Whether you're looking for a new favourite or a thought-provoking read, this list has something for everyone. Here are the top 10 must-read book about Nature and our Environment.

Birdseye-level view of a our centre book table featuring the longlisted titles for the 2026 Wainwright Prize.

1. A Sand Country Almanac by Aldo Leopold

Genre: Non-Fiction

Leopold's "A Sand Country Almanac" is a beautiful reflective part-memoir and part collection of considerations for humanity's connection to the natural world. Following the seasons documented throughout woodlands across America, this thoughtful writing takes on the philosophy and urgency of wildlife conservation in a way that is still relevant today.

Key Themes:

• Wildlife Conservation

• Philosophy and Ethics

• America in Seasons

2. The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Genre: Non-Fiction

Robin Wall Kimmerer is an Indigenous scientist and author of many other well-known and loved nature inspired titles such as "Braiding Sweetgrass". In this outstanding writing, Kimmerer depicts her time harvesting serviceberries alongside the birds. She considers the idea of a gift economy and leans on indigenous teachings and wisdom about reciprocity within our relationship with the natural world.

Key Themes:

• Sustainability

• Indigenous teachings

• Society

3. Wolfish by Erica Berry

Genre: Non-Fiction

In this vulnerable self-investigation and exploration of fear, Erica Berry writes about her unflinching inquiry into the relationship between humanity and the Wolf. Berry untangles the folkloric history of wolves and their intertwined connection to fear, whilst drawing parallels to her experience as a woman and how we navigate the trepidation, vulnerability and violence we experience within society.

Key Themes:

• Feminism and Misogyny

• Folklore

• Scientific Research

4. Is A River Alive by Robert Macfarlane

Genre: Non-Fiction

Robert Macfarlane brings us along on a three-part depicted journey as he travels alongside extraordinary people to extraordinary places, following along the rivers as they unfurl his understanding of what it is to be alive. This beautifully emotional prose, painting his own connection with rivers alongside shared learning and experiences with his travel partners, will challenge perspectives on how we view elements of our environment and how we decide what, or who, to protect.

Key Themes:

• Travel Writing

• Reporting

• Natural History

5. A Woman in the Polar Night by Christiane Ritter

Genre: Non-Fiction

Christiane Ritter writes with humour and thoughtful insight about her time living on a remote Arctic Island with her husband. 60 miles from the nearest neighbour, she ponders in this memoir, what it means to live in isolation as she talks on her experiences and emotions in connected to the Arctic.

Key Themes:

• Isolation

• Human Psyche

• Arctic Living

6. The Seed Keeper by Diane Wilson

Genre: Fiction

"A haunting novel spanning several generations, The Seed Keeper follows a Dakota family’s struggle to preserve their way of life, and their sacrifices to protect what matters most."

Beautiful novel told through four unforgettable women or the reawakening, connection and origin of our relationship to seeds and our ancestors.

Key Themes:

• Ancestral Roots

• Family and sisterhood

• Cultural Resilience

7. To the Bright Edge of the World by Eowyn Ivey

Genre: Fiction

Set at the end of the nineteenth century, Ivey's novel "To the Bright Edge of the World" is a story of adventure, discovery and resilience.

In the wilderness of Alaska this story navigates a journey along the impassable Wolverine river whilst confronting the questions of what the right path to take is, and the importance of the future, connection to nature and family.

Key Themes:

• Racism and Genocide

• Family values

• Wild Journeys

8. The Natural Navigator by Tristan Gooley

Genre: Non-Fiction

"Tristan Gooley blends natural science, myth, folklore and the history of travel to introduce you to the rare and ancient art of finding your way using nature's own sign-posts, from the feel of a rock to the look of the moon."

Key Themes:

• Natural Science

• Navigation

• Education

9. Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard

Genre: Non-Fiction

A thoughtful and insightful meditation on nature. Part memoir of her time at Tinker Creek and part reflection, Dillard spends time with animals, the flora and fauna, whilst considering the philosophical meaning of the small details found in nature and the wider world.

Key Themes:

• Philosophy

• Memoir

• Cultural Rights

10. A Life on Our Planet by David Attenborough

Genre: Non-Fiction

David Attenborough, a worldwide loved Naturalist and nature television presenter has published his account of Earth's evolution over the last century. 93 years of age at the time of publishing, and continuing in his mission to protect and serve the natural world, this book shares his observations and accounts of his experiences with nature throughout his lifetime. Attenborough shares profound wisdom, knowledge and a hope for the future of our planet, and what we can do to protect it.

Key Themes:

• Environmentalism

• Natural Sciences

• Memoir

Final Thoughts

At The Wild Page Books, we specialise in diverse books and nature writing. Now has never been a better time to engage with education on our natural world and we believe that reading is one of the best ways to engage with environmentalists, conservationists, nature historians and fiction writers passionate about story telling surrounding nature and the environment. We'd love to know if you have read any of our top 10 must-read nature inspired books, or if you have any recommendations that didn't make the list.

Let us know, and happy reading!