Category Archives: Book Display

Green Libraries Week: 27 October – 2 November 2025

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This week marks Green Libraries Week, an event organised by CILIP to celebrate and promote sustainability initiatives in libraries across the UK. The Sainsbury Library is taking part with a new interactive display.

Our display features ‘feedback trees’ made from scrap cardboard, inviting students to pin leaves sharing their sustainability messages, requests, and goals for the library. Alongside this, we’ve curated a book display highlighting resources on climate change, environmental action, and sustainable business practices.

All featured materials can be accessed via the links below (Oxford SSO required) or by visiting the display in the Lower Reading Room. For further resources, explore our GOTO: Climate Action LibGuide.

Sustainable Business and Management
Net Positive : How Courageous Companies Thrive by Giving More Than They Take
Runaway climate change and rampant inequality threaten humanity and are costing a fortune. Net Positive demonstrates how business can help lead us to a better future.
The Green Bundle: Pairing the Market With the Planet
Combining insights from sustainable business and behavioural economics, Delmas and Colgan show managers how to lead buyers from information to action. If you are looking to win over the convenient consumer or understand how companies can create the next tipping point in green consumption, this is the research-based, practical guide for you.
The Responsible Business: Reimagining Sustainability and Success
“The Responsible Business” outlines a framework for building a responsibility and consciousness infrastructure that applies a living systems view to the business and inspires all of its stakeholders, including shareholders.

Economics and Public Action
Heat: How to Stop the Planet Burning
We know that climate change is happening. We know that it could, if the worst predictions come true, destroy the conditions which make human life possible. Only one question is now worth asking: can it be stopped?
Don’t Even Think About it: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Ignore Climate Change
From the founder of the Climate Outreach and Information Network, a groundbreaking take on the most urgent question of our time: Why, despite overwhelming scientific evidence, do we still ignore climate change?
Saving the Planet Without the Bullshit: What They Don’t Tell You About the Climate Crisis
In this provocative manifesto, Assaad Razzouk shows that for too long our ideas about what’s best for the environment have been unfocused and distracted, trying to go in too many directions and concentrating on individual behaviour. While some of these things can be useful, they are dwarfed by one big thing that simply has to happen very soon if we’re to avoid major environmental breakdown: curtailing the activities of the fossil fuel industry.
What We Need to Do Now
Embracing Britain’s promise to become carbon neutral by 2050, Chris Goodall makes a pivotal practical plan for achieving widespread change in this engaging and inspiring volume.

Guides, Plans, and Personal Climate Action
What Can we do by Friday?: The Practical Guide to Personal Climate Action
“What Can We Do by Friday?” is written to tackle one of the most urgent crises of our time: climate change. It’s not a theoretical or academic discourse; it’s a call to action. This book breaks down the complexities of the climate crisis into simple, actionable steps that individuals and business leaders can take immediately to make a meaningful difference.
How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have and The Breakthroughs We Need
In this urgent, authoritative book, Bill Gates sets out a wide-ranging, practical and accessible – plan for how the world can get to zero greenhouse gas emissions in time to avoid a climate catastrophe.

For more resources, see our posts about other recent book displays.

Understanding Artificial Intelligence
New in at Sainsbury Library: Wellbeing Collection

Understanding Artificial Intelligence

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‘Can machines think?’

When Alan Turing posed this question in 1950, Artificial Intelligence was a thought experiment. Today, it’s writing our emails, moulding our search results, and occupying the centre of debates worldwide. Perhaps a more pressing question now is: Can we keep up?

Whether you are curious, sceptical, or just overwhelmed by the buzz, the Sainsbury Library invites you to consider the practical applications and unexpected consequences of AI in our new display: ‘Understanding Artificial Intelligence’.

All featured materials can be accessed via the links below (Oxford SSO required) or in person at our display in the Lower Reading Room. To explore further, visit our Business of AI LibGuide.

Video Resources

The AI Pocketbook: Video Edition
“Everything you need to know about AI to survive–and thrive–as an engineer. If you’re worried about your tech career going obsolete in a world of super-powered AI, never fear. The AI Pocket Book crams everything engineers need to know about AI into one short volume you can fit into your pocket”

Artificial You: AI and the Future of Your Mind
“Given the rapid pace of progress in AI, many predict that it could advance to human-level intelligence within the next several decades. From there, it could quickly outpace human intelligence. What do these developments mean for the future of the mind?”

The Role of AI in Business Development
“Mariusz Soltanifar, a researcher in corporate entrepreneurship and marketing lecturer at the Hanze International Business School in Groningen in the Netherlands, uses the Alexa Artificial Intelligence platform as an example to explore both artificial intelligence and the market for it”

Audio Resources

The AI-Savvy Leader: 9 Ways to Take Back Control and Make AI Work
“This book helps leaders retake control of the wildly rapid deployment of AI across organizations. It outlines cleanly and concisely nine actions leaders need to take to successfully steward a transition to a more AI-centric future that will lead to growth for all-companies and workers-and avoid the kinds of mistakes that author David De Cremer has seen many early adopters already make”

How to Think About AI: A Guide for the Perplexed
“In How to Think About AI, Richard Susskind draws on his experience of working on AI since the early 1980s. For Susskind, balancing the benefits and threats of artificial intelligence is the defining challenge of our age. He explores the history of AI and possible scenarios for its future”*

eBooks

Prediction Machines: The Simple Economics of Artificial Intelligence
“The idea of artificial intelligence–job-killing robots, self-driving cars, and self-managing organizations–captures the imagination, evoking a combination of wonder and dread for those of us who will have to deal with the consequences. But what if it’s not quite so complicated?”

The AI Ladder
“AI may be the greatest opportunity of our time, with the potential to add nearly $16 trillion to the global economy over the next decade. But so far, adoption has been much slower than anticipated, or so headlines may lead you to believe. With this practical guide, business leaders will discover where they are in their AI journey and learn the steps necessary to successfully scale AI throughout their organization”

Print Books

A Brief History of Artificial Intelligence
“From Oxford’s leading AI researcher comes a fun and accessible tour through the history and future of one of the most cutting edge and misunderstood field in science: Artificial Intelligence”

Co-Intelligence: Living and Working With AI
“Professor Ethan Mollick has become one of the most prominent and provocative explainers of AI, focusing on the practical aspects of how these new tools for thought can transform our world. In Co-Intelligence, he urges us to engage with AI as co-worker, co-teacher and coach”

The Coming Wave: AI, Power, and the 21st Century’s Greatest Dilemma
“As cofounder of DeepMind, the pioneering AI company now owned by Google, Mustafa Suleyman has witnessed firsthand just how rapidly our technology is advancing-and how flawed our approaches to grappling with these changes are. The coming decades, he argues, will be defined by a burst of innovation, an inevitable wave of powerful, fast-proliferating new technologies across fields like synthetic biology, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing”

Superagency: What Could Possibly Go Right With Our AI Future
”Superagency offers a roadmap for using AI inclusively and adaptively to improve our lives and create positive change. While acknowledging challenges like disinformation and potential job changes, the book focuses on AI’s immense potential to increase individual agency and create better outcomes for society as a whole”

For more resources, see our posts about other recent book displays.

New in at Sainsbury Library: Wellbeing Collection
Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2025
The Wellbeing Collection book display in the Sainsbury Library.

New in at Sainsbury Library: Wellbeing Collection

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The importance of mental wellbeing in both our personal and work lives are being increasingly recognised. Following the inclusion of the Science of Wellbeing module to Said’s MBA course, this opened the perfect opportunity for the expansion of our collection here in the Sainsbury Library.

We now have a both a loanable collection of physical books and a selection of eBooks available. Some of the topics include: self-help, psychology, workplace wellbeing, management, and neurodiversity.

Workplace Wellbeing

Why workplace wellbeing matters: the science behind employee happiness and organizational performance – Jan-Emmanuel De Neve and George Ward
“In Why Workplace Wellbeing Matters, the authors clarify what workplace wellbeing is (and is not) and offer a framework for how businesses can approach and improve it…Their research demonstrates that improving wellbeing can boost productivity, aid in talent retention and recruitment, and ultimately improve financial performance.”

HBR Guide to Better Mental Health at Work – Harvard Business Review Press
“The HBR Guide to Better Mental Health at Work contains practical tips and advice to help you bring mental health out of the shadows and into everyday conversations.”

Wellbeing: Science and Policy – Richard Layard and Jan-Emmanuel De Neve
“Written by two of the world’s leading experts on the economics of wellbeing, this book shows how wellbeing can be measured, what causes it, and how it can be improved.”

Business Management and Leadership

Mindset – Carol Dweck
“Mindset reveals what all great parents, teachers, CEOs, and athletes already know: how a simple idea about the brain can create a love of learning and a resilience that is the basis of great accomplishment in every area.”

Surrounded by bad bosses and lazy employees: or, how to deal with idiots at work – Thomas Erikson
“Drawing on the simple four-colour system that made Surrounded by Idiots… Erikson shows how understanding your boss’ behavioural tendencies, as well as your own, will lead to a more harmonious and productive workplace. He also sets out what characterises an exemplary leader type and how you can adapt your behaviour to model it.”

Slow productivity: the lost art of accomplishment without burnout – Cal Newport
“Hustle culture. Burnout. Quiet quitting. Today we’re either sacrificing ourselves on the altar of success or we’re rejecting the idea of ambition entirely. But it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. There is a way to create meaningful work as part of a balanced life, and it’s called ‘slow productivity’.”

HBR’s 10 Must Reads on Mental Toughness – Harvard Business Review
“This book will inspire you to: thrive on pressure like an Olympic athlete; manage and overcome negative emotions by acknowledging them; plan short-term goals to achieve long-term aspirations; surround yourself with the people who will push you the hardest; use challenges to become a better leader; use creativity to move past trauma; and understand the tools your mind uses to recover from setbacks.”

Personal Development

Atomic Habits: an easy & proven way to build good habits & break bad ones : tiny changes, remarkable results – James Clear
“People think that when you want to change your life, you need to think big. But world-renowned habits expert James Clear has discovered another way. He knows that real change comes from the compound effect of hundreds of small decisions…He calls them atomic habits.”

The organized mind: thinking straight in the age of information overload – Daniel J. Levitin
“Modern society is in a state of information overload. Neuroscientist Daniel J. Levitin investigates how and why our brains are struggling to keep up with the demands of the digital age…In a world where information is power, The Organized Mind holds the key to harnessing that information and making it work for you.”

Surrounded by Idiots: the four types of human behavior and how to effectively communicate with each in business (and in life) – Thomas Erikson
Erikson reveals “his simple yet ground-breaking method for assessing everyone we communicate with based on four personality types: Red, Blue, Green and Yellow. From body language to conflict handling, this entertaining read will give you all the tools you need to understand and influence those around you – in and out of the office – and ensure the idiot out there isn’t you!”

The motherhood penalty: how to stop motherhood being the kiss of death for your career – Joeli Brearley
“The Motherhood Penalty is an expose of the unscrupulous work practices and antiquated systems that we’ve been conditioned to accept and a toolkit for how to challenge them. It’s full of practical advice to help you navigate systemic barriers when they slap you in the face.”

I Didn’t Do the Thing Today – Madeleine Dore
“After five years of searching for the secret to productivity, Madeleine Dore discovered there isn’t one-instead, we’re being set up to fail. I Didn’t Do the Thing Today is an inspiring call to take productivity off its pedestal, to embrace the joyful messiness and unpredictability of life.”

Stress Management

50 Ways to Manage Stress – Stella Cottrell
“This practical book will inspire and encourage students to shape new habits and make stress-management a natural part of their everyday routine…throughout, it encourages students to take charge of their wellbeing and strike a healthy study-life balance.”

Stress control – Jim White
“This accessible, jargon-free book combines clinically proven methods from cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), positive psychology and mindfulness to give you the tools you need to improve your mind, your body and your life.”

Addicted to Anxiety – Owen O’Kane
“Addicted to Anxiety will help you understand your anxiety from the perspective of addiction, identifying your triggers and learning how to break your habits so you can actively replace them with new, more productive behaviours for a calmer, happier life.”

eBooks

We also have a wide range of eBooks available – below are some of our new acquisitions. For more titles, visit our Annexe room in the library to see our display of eBooks, linking to access through SOLO.

Lost connections why you’re depressed and how to find hope – Johann Hari
“Depression and anxiety are now at epidemic levels. Why? Across the world, scientists have uncovered evidence for nine different causes. Some are in our biology, but most are in the way we are living today. Lost Connections…shows that once we understand the real causes, we can turn to pioneering new solutions – ones that offer real hope.”

Succeeding with adult ADHD: daily strategies to help you achieve your goals and manage your life – Abigail Levrini and Frances Prevatt
“With her extensive experience researching and treating adults with ADHD, Levrini provides user‑friendly strategies for setting meaningful and realistic goals, developing a plan to achieve the goals, and staying on track while following the plan.”

Be well, learn well: improve your wellbeing and academic performance – Gareth Hughes.
“Gareth Hughes explores the different dimensions of student wellbeing (physical, psychological, social and academic) and helps students understand the connection between their wellbeing and academic performance.”

Beyond these books we also have multiple puzzles and origami available in the library to have a mindful break from your busy workdays.

We continue to have a recommendations box in the library – come along and give us your wellbeing and pleasure book recommendations!

For more resources, see our posts about other recent book displays.

Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2025
World BookDay 2025
Photo of the Neurodiversity Celebration Week book display in the library.

Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2025

The Neurodiversity Celebration Week programme features a wide range of speakers from around the globe who are leading experts in neurodiversity and inclusion. Many of them are also well-respected authors, and Saïd Enabled would like to highlight six books written by Neurodiversity Celebration Week speakers – all of which are available electronically via the Bodleian Libraries (links below, Oxford SSO required). The Sainsbury Library is also displaying a range of titles on this theme during the week. Whether you are curious to learn more about research into the value of neurodiversity within organisations or looking for practical tips to support yourself or your neurodivergent colleagues and friends, there is something here for you!

The Neurodiversity Celebration Week Events Schedule lists webinars that you can register to attend for free. The sessions are very varied, so there is something for everyone! Even if you are unavailable to attend live, we would recommend registering to receive a copy of the recording to enable you to watch it at a more suitable time.

Neurodiversity at Work: Drive innovation, performance and productivity with a neurodiverse workforce by Amanda Kirby & Theo Smith

Amanda Kirby is chairing Event 1: Celebrating Different Minds – An Introduction to Neurodiversity and both Amanda Kirby and Theo Smith are speaking at Event 12: Shaping Neurodiversity through Innovation & Technology.

Neurodiversity at Work is a practical guide that explores the benefits of valuing those who think differently within the workforce. Drawing on research and case studies from leading organisations such as Microsoft, the authors demonstrate the importance of recognizing and harnessing the unique strengths of neurodivergent individuals in improving business outcomes and brand impact, as well as employee wellbeing. The book was the winner of the Diversity, Inclusion & Equality Book 2022 at the Business Book Awards, and features chapters on inclusive recruitment, line management conversations, and the workplace of the future.

Read this book if: you want to understand the business case for neurodiversity inclusion and catch the vision for a truly diverse workforce.

Smith, T. & Kirby, A. (2021) Neurodiversity at Work: Drive innovation, performance and productivity with a neurodiverse workforce. London: KoganPage.

Designing Neuroinclusive Workplaces: Advancing sensory processing and cognitive well-being in the built environment by Kay Sargeant

Kay Sargeant is on the panel of speakers at Event 13: Neurodiversity at Work Q&A: Designing Neuro-inclusive Working Environments.

Kay Sargeant draws on her experience as a certified interior designer and Director of Thought Leadership at the global design and architecture firm HOK’s Interiors group in reimagining the workplace through a neuroinclusive lens. Designing Neuroinclusive Workplaces, published in March 2025, considers the sensory and cognitive impact of the spaces in which we work, especially on those with neurodivergent conditions, and makes the case for inclusive choices at every stage of the design process to “boost productivity” and “transform high-stress environments into more welcoming and functional spaces for everyone”.

Read this book if: you want to discover how aspects of our physical environment at work can promote inclusion, productivity and wellbeing.

Sargent, K. (2025) Designing Neuroinclusive Workplaces: Advancing sensory processing and cognitive well-being in the built environment. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

The Canary Code: A guide to neurodiversity, dignity, and intersectional belonging at work (also available as an audiobook) by Ludmila N. Praslova

Ludmila N. Praslova is on the panel of speakers at Event 23: Is the Business World leading society on Neuroinclusion?

The Canary Code describes how neurodivergent individuals can often be ‘canaries in the coalmine’, falling foul of psychologically unhealthy working environments before others do. However, Ludmila Praslova sets out clear inclusive principles for organisations to follow, to improve the experience of work for everyone. With simple takeaways and real-life examples, she shares practical steps to put these principles into action at every level of an organisation, from everyday changes to system-wide shifts. There are several chapters on leadership, including the challenges faced by leaders who are neurodivergent themselves, and useful appendices such as checklists for neuroinclusive hiring and running neuroinclusive meetings.

Read (or listen to) this book if: you’re looking for practical tips on improving inclusion that you can start implementing today. If you’re not sure which of the six books to pick, The Canary Code has a bit of everything!

Praslova, L. N. (2024) The Canary Code: A guide to neurodiversity, dignity, and intersectional belonging at work. Oakland, CA: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc.

The Neurodiversity Edge: The essential guide to embracing autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other neurological differences for any organization by Maureen Dunne

Dr. Maureen Dunne is on the panel of speakers at Event 23: Is the Business World leading society on Neuroinclusion?

The Neurodiversity Edge sets out the case for neuroinclusion as not just a positive thing for organisations to do, but vital for organisations to thrive and deal with the challenges of a rapidly changing environmental, social, political and technological landscape. Dr. Dunne argues that neurodivergent individuals bring unique skills and ways of thinking to the workplace, and organisations which overlook these are in danger of groupthink, stagnation and losing out to competition. This book builds on her experience working with the World Economic Forum where she founded the Davos Neurodiversity Summit to bring fresh thinking to the world’s greatest challenges.

Read this book if: you’re curious about how organisations can harness the strengths of neurodiverse teams to tackle big problems and adapt to changes.

Dunne, M. (2024) The Neurodiversity Edge: The essential guide to embracing autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other neurological differences for any organization. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Learning from Neurodivergent Leaders: How to start, survive and thrive in leadership by Nancy Doyle

Dr. Nancy Doyle is on the panel of speakers at Event 23: Is the Business World leading society on Neuroinclusion?

Drawing on her experience as founder and Chief Science Officer of Genius Within, an international B-corp focused on neurodiversity inclusion, and as a neurodivergent leader herself, Nancy Doyle has written this book as a manual for leaders and aspiring leaders who think differently. She shares personal stories from a wide variety of contributors with lived experience, exposing the ‘unwritten rules of leadership’, and giving realistic advice on navigating the strengths and challenges of the path to becoming a leader as a neurodivergent person.

Read this book if: you’re a leader or considering leadership, and you have – or think you might have – a neurodivergent condition. It’s also a great read if you want to understand the lived experience of neurodivergent leaders.

Doyle, N. (2025) Learning from Neurodivergent Leaders: How to start, survive and thrive in leadership. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Dyslexia and Me: How to survive and thrive if you’re neurodivergent by Onyinye Udokporo

Onyinye Udokporo is on the panel of speakers at Event 23: Is the Business World leading society on Neuroinclusion?

Dyslexia and Me is Onyinye Udokporo’s personal story of learning to embrace her dyslexia diagnosis and forging a path for herself as a successful entrepreneur and educator. Dealing with themes of intersectionality and representation, she aims to be the role model for others that she wished she had had whilst growing up in London as a young girl of Nigerian heritage.

Read this book if: you’re looking for inspiration and encouragement to overcome obstacles and find your strengths.

Udokporo, O. (2023) Dyslexia and Me: How to survive and thrive if you’re neurodivergent. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Podcasts

Don’t feel like reading? Check out these podcasts featuring Neurodiversity Celebration Week speakers:

Do you have any recommendations of books and resources on neurodiversity? Let us know in the comments.

World BookDay 2025

The theme of World Book Day this year is Read Your Way which “encourages everyone to let go of reading pressures and expectations”. So in keeping with the theme, do have look at our current book display, including interesting and non-business related titles. Also, we have some fun activities. Stop by the book display and let us know your favourite book and take a break to colour in your own World Book Day bookmark.

Photo of the World Mental Health Day book display in the Sainsbury Library.

World Mental Health Day 2024

For World Mental Health Day 2024, mental health in the workplace is the focus. With 875,000 workers suffering from work related stress, depression and anxiety in 2022/23 and 15% of UK workers estimated to have existing mental health conditions (Mental Health Foundation Statistics), awareness and action for mental health is necessary. Addressing mental health in the workplace is for the benefit of everyone – for both the individual and the workplace (mental health is the 5th most common reason for sickness absence) and thus is a priority to tackle from a personal and organisational level. Work can be good for your mental health in giving a sense of purpose but balance between work and life is key. This mental health day we have collated a selection of self-help and work-life balance books to help in taking a step for better mental health. You could also come and take a break at the Sainsbury Library at our colouring and puzzle station or try your hand at some origami! Find more in our recommendations of 7 Fun Things to do in the Library.

Featured books

Photo of the Green Libraries week book display in the Sainsbury Library.

Every Library is a Green Library: Sustainability book display inspired by Green Libraries Week 2024!

Green Libraries week – running 7th–13th October 2024 – is a campaign organised by CILIP that aims to enable public libraries in England to address Environmental Responsibility and to work with their communities to take action. This extends to all libraries; school and university libraries have joined public libraries in signing the Green Libraries Manifesto. As part of Saïd Business School which provides an abundance of online Insights into Climate Change, the Sainsbury Library contains a wealth of resources on how we can help the planet from all levels – both physical and digital (take a look at our Climate Action Libguide!). This Green Libraries week, we have provided a selection of climate awareness resources in our library display ranging from public and social responsibility to marketing, economic, and library action on climate change.

Sustainable Libraries

Sustainable Thinking: Ensuring your Library’s Future in an Uncertain World by Rebekkah Smith Aldrich

Forward thinking on the development of environmental aspects of libraries and the aims and objectives of libraries. A sustainable library requires sustainable thinking, and this book defines how sustainable thinking encompasses equally the environment, economics and social equity.

Going Green: Implementing Sustainable Strategies in Libraries Around the World: Buildings, Management, Programmes and Services edited by Petra Hauke, Madeleine Charney and Harri Sahavirta

This collection of articles covers environmental aspects of libraries, including energy conservation and how to reduce the ecological footprint in libraries’ everyday operations. The social role and responsibility of libraries as leaders in environmental sustainability
is assessed, as well as examples of implemented practices from academic libraries across the world, including Kenya, USA, and Germany.

Public Action and Climate Change Mitigation

Heat: How to Stop the Planet from Burning by George Monbiot

Providing guidance on how we as the public can help the environment and prevent global warming.

Regeneration: Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation by Paul Hawken

Connects people to resources on solutions and actions to be taken to end the climate crisis. The Project Regeneration website also provides further insight. They have a weekly newsletter called The Waggle about regeneration and the restoration of earth’s life.

Human Choice and Climate Change edited by Steve Rayner and Elizabeth L. Malone

The Uninhabitable Earth: A Story of the Future by David Wallace-Wells

Highlights both the social aspects of climate change and presents the economic setback that climate change proposes, emphasising its widespread detriment.

Economics and Capitalism

Completing Capitalism: Heal Business to Heal the World by Bruno Roche and Jay Jakub

Green Swans: The Coming Boom in Regenerative Capitalism by John Elkington

Elkington discusses the social responsibility of business and declares his manifesto for a system to serve people, planet and prosperity.

The Zeronauts: Breaking the Sustainability Barrier by John Elkington

Elkington introduces ‘Zeronauts’ in his book; innovators who aim to drive problems of carbon, waste, and poverty to zero. These innovators widely tackle economic, social and environmental challenges. Sifting through the environmental aspects of technical innovations, Elkington produces a five stage ‘Pathways to Zero’ model.

Prosperity Without Growth: Economics for a Finite Planet by Tim Jackson

Focussing on the issues of continued economic growth in developed nations, Jackson highlights the detrimental environmental impact that rising consumption causes. Jackson finds a solution for how human society can prosper within the limited resourced earth that does not rely on continued economic growth without the ecosystem’s ability to support it.

Climate Shock: The Economic Consequences of a Hotter Planet by Gernot Wagner and Martin Weitzman

‘If you had a 10 percent chance of having a fatal car accident, you’d take necessary precautions. If your finances had a 10 percent chance of suffering a severe loss, you’d reevaluate your assets. So, if we know the world is warming and there’s a 10 percent chance this might eventually lead to a catastrophe beyond anything we could imagine, why aren’t we doing more about climate change right now?’. Taking an economic lens, Wagner and Weitzman analyse the consequences and possible solutions to this warming planet making previous work on this topic accessible for the general public.

Guides, Business and Marketing

The Green Bundle: Pairing the Market with the Planet by Magali A. Delmas with David Colgan

A guide which aims to teach how the market of green products needs a two-fold marketing strategy that appeals to both the altruistic and egoistic values of consumers – termed ‘the green bundle’. Marketing strategy, environmentalism and human psychology are collated in this extensive guide.

The Future of Luxury Brands: Artification and Sustainability edited by Annamma Joy

A pioneering book analysing sustainability and the environmental aspects of four major sections of the luxury goods industry; the art world, fashion, hospitality services and fine wines.

The Green Executive: Corporate Leadership in a Low Carbon Economy by Gareth Kane

Global problems are made into digestible practical actions for businesses.

Harnessing Markets for Biodiversity: Towards Conservation and Sustainable Use by Dan Biller

Sustainable Business: Key Issues by Helen Kopnina, Rory Padfield and Josephine Mylan

This textbook provides an accessible overview of some concepts of sustainability in business. This updated version considers recent developments such as the climate emergency and COVID-19 and suggests a solution of circular rather than linear economy – a Cradle-to-Cradle
Framework rather than Cradle to Grave. The challenges and solutions offered in this textbook direct us to making sustainability a reality.

Business and the Environment: Implications of the New Environmentalism edited by Denis Fischbacher-Smith

For more resources, see our posts about other recent book displays.

Fresh Green Leaves: New Reading on Sustainable, Responsible & Ethical Business

A Spotlight on Wellbeing

The 'Fresh Green Leaves' book display in the library.

Fresh Green Leaves: New Reading on Sustainable, Responsible & Ethical Business

Sainsbury Library welcomes you to flick through, gain inspiration and learn from the leaves of our books with our display ‘Fresh Green Leaves: New Reading on Sustainable, Responsible & Ethical Business’.

Inspired by the Future Climate Innovators Summer School, and with the assistance of our work experience student, the titles look at climate crisis solutions, social justice, environmental economics, and the role of capitalism in creating a sustainable future. There are many different perspectives on display complementing the school’s interdisciplinary and global approach to sustainability. Some argue harnessing profits is the solution, others argue for degrowth; some examine the few who control resources, whilst others examine human psychology; some discuss global solutions and others individual choices. However, they all share the idea that the earth is everyone’s business and desire for a greener world.

Also, on display are two “cli-fis” (climate fiction for those new to the genre) that imagine possible futures in light of the climate crisis. These are ideal for those who desire, or prefer, the art of storytelling and imagination to explore the above themes.

The books have been separated below into themes and excerpts from the book’s blurbs give a snapshot into the book. Some books are available online, others in our library and some in other libraries across Oxford. You can see the options by selecting the titles below. But the best way to check out the display is by coming into the library, flicking through in person and seeing what piques your interest!

Comprehensive Collaborative Guides

Both these titles from Paul Hawken cover a wide range of topics, drawn from numerous sources, alongside practical solutions for the climate crisis. They also contain high-quality photographs adding a visual experience to the themes in the book.

From land to ocean, food to industries – Regeneration proposes an extensive menu of actions that collectively can reverse the overheating and degradation of our planet. The solutions, techniques, and practices range from solar power, electric vehicles, and tree planting to bioregions, azolla fern and forest farms; they are all doable, science-based, and comprise a precise and unequivocal course of action.

You can find out more at Project Regeneration too

For the first time ever, an international coalition of leading researchers, scientists and policymakers has come together to offer a set of realistic and bold solutions to climate change. All the techniques described here – some well-known, some you may have never heard of – are economically viable, and communities throughout the world are already enacting them. You can find out more.

You can find out more at Project Drawdown too

Books on Environmental Economics & Capitalism

  • The World for Sale: Money, Power and the Traders Who Barter the Earth’s Resources– The modern world is built on commodities – from the oil that fuels our cars to the metals that power our smartphones We rarely stop to consider where they come from. But we should.
  • Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire: how business can save the world– Free market capitalism is one of humanity’s greatest inventions, and the greatest source of prosperity the world has ever seen. But it’s also on the verge of destroying the planet and destabilizing society in its single-minded pursuit of maximizing shareholder value.
  • This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate– Forget everything you think you know about global warming. It’s not about carbon – it’s about capitalism. The good news is that we can seize this existential crisis to transform our failed economic system and build something radically better.
  • Green think: How profit can save the planet – in Green think, Fedrizzi turns conventional wisdom on its head by showing how profit can save the planet, and how sustainability is the biggest business opportunity of the 21st century.
  • Less is more: How degrowth will save the world (not in Sainsbury Library but available in other Bodleian Libraries) -. Our planet is in trouble. But how can we reverse the current crisis and create a sustainable future? The answer is: DEGROWTH
  • Environmental Economics: a very short introduction (available online)–Stephen Smith discusses environmental issues including pollution control, reducing environmental damage, and global climate change policies, answering questions about how we should balance environmental and economic considerations, and what form government policies should take.

Sustainability and Environment

Climate Change and Solutions:

Cli-fi:

  • The Carbon Diaries 2015– “It’s January 1st, 2015, and the UK is the first nation to introduce carbon dioxide rationing, in a drastic bid to combat climate change (…) The Carbon Diaries 2015 is one girl’s drastic bid to stay sane in a world unravelling at the seams.”
  • The Ministry for the Future– “From legendary science fiction author Kim Stanley Robinson comes a remarkable vision of climate change over the coming decades (…) using fictional eyewitness accounts to tell the story of how climate change will affect us all”

For more resources, see our posts about other recent book displays.

A Spotlight on Wellbeing

Celebrating in true library fashion!

Financial Times and Schroders Business Book of the Year Award 2023

Welcome to the World of AI

Wellbeing book display in the library.

A Spotlight on Wellbeing

The Sainsbury Library has decided to shine a spotlight on well-being, mental health, and self-help. University is often stressful but the final term even more so! We have put together different resources and displays to support wellbeing and mental health.

Wellbeing and Study Padlet

Poster for Wellbeing PadletHave you got any study tips? Do you have particular activities that help your wellbeing?

We have created a padlet to share top tips for wellbeing and studying. Please contribute by sharing your tips and read what other people have posted. Even if you do not have anything to share, we hope you still learn something useful.

Origami and colouring pages

We have our usual jigsaw puzzle for readers to complete, alongside colouring books with coloured pencils provided. We have also put out individual colouring sheets that can be taken to desks. We found a lot of fun designs including smiling dogs (Pomeranians and dachshunds), lazy cats, dragons and flowers.

We also have an origami section which includes paper and three fun books with instructions:

Books

Our book display showcases books within the Sainsbury Library collection, but also the wider Bodleian with graphic novels, illustrated books and online audiobooks. The Bodleian Libraries is one of six legal deposit libraries in the country this means we have a lot of books that you might not expect to find in university libraries.

For more information about each book go to the ‘About the Books’ below.

Graphic novels/illustrated books, read in library

Managing stress, online audiobooks:

Oxford SSO required for access:

Motivation and thinking, physical books:

Happiness and self-help, physical books:

Window Display

Our window display shows data on the business of mental health and wellbeing. It showcases data and charts relating to stress, corporate wellness services and fitness trends.

About the books (from the blurbs!):

  • Michael Rosen’s Sad Book — ‘Who is sad? Sad is anyone. It comes along and finds you’
  • Neurocomic- ‘Do you know what your brain is made of? How does memory function? What is a neuron and how does it work? For that matter what’s a comic and in the words of Lewis Caroll’s famous caterpillar: who are you?’
  • The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse-‘A book of hope for uncertain times. Enter the world of Charlie’s four unlikely friends, discover their story and their most important life lessons.’
  • Lighter Than My Shadow- ‘a hand-drawn story of struggle and recovery, a trip into the black heart of a taboo illness, an exposure of those who are so weak as to prey on the vulnerable, and an inspiration to anybody who believes in the human power to endure towards happiness.’
  • Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo and Me-‘Searching to make sense of the popular idea of the ‘crazy artist’, she finds inspiration from the lives and work of other artists and writers who suffered from mood disorders, including Vincent van Gogh, Georgia O’Keeffe, William Styron, and Sylvia Plath.’
  • Why zebras don’t get ulcers– ‘Combining cutting-edge research with a healthy dose of good humour and practical advice, Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers explains how prolonged stress causes or intensifies a range of physical and mental afflictions, including depression, ulcers, colitis, heart disease, and more.’
  • The mindfulness solution everyday practices for everyday problems-‘Mindfulness offers a path to well-being and tools for coping with life’s inevitable hurdles. And though mindfulness may sound exotic, you can cultivate it-and reap its proven benefits-without special training or lots of spare time. Trusted therapist and mindfulness expert Dr. Ronald Siegel shows exactly how in this inviting guide.’
  • Overcoming Stress-Induced Brain Fog-‘Brain fog is real—and it can cloud your thinking, sap your creativity and motivation, and take the joy right out of life. This book offers quick, proven-effective solutions to help you cut through the haze and think clearly.’
  • Teach yourself to think. ‘Five easy-to-follow steps to clear productive thinking (…)Thinking is the most fundamental skill. Your happiness and your success depends on your thinking. The book offers a structure that broadens our ability to respond to and cope with a vast range of situations.’
  • Drive : the surprising truth about what motivates us. ‘Daniel H. Pink explains in this paradigm-shattering book, the true secret to high performance and satisfaction in today’s world is the deeply human need to direct our own lives, to learn and create new things, and to do better by ourselves and the world.’
  • The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life -‘Manson makes the argument, backed by both academic research and well-timed poop jokes, that improving our lives hinges not on our ability to turn lemons into lemonade but on learning to stomach lemons better.’
  • On Being Authentic – ‘To thine own self be true.’ From Polonius’s words in Hamlet right up to Oprah, we are constantly urged to look within. Why is being authentic the ultimate aim in life for so many people, and why does it mean looking inside rather than out? Is it about finding the ‘real’ me, or something greater than me, even God? And should we welcome what we find?’
  • Happiness & economics-‘Curiously, economists, whose discipline has much to do with human well-being, have shied away from factoring the study of happiness into their work (…) This is the first book to establish empirically the link between happiness and economics-and between happiness and democracy. Two respected economists, Bruno S. Frey and Alois Stutzer, integrate insights and findings from psychology, where attempts to measure quality of life are well-documented, as well as from sociology and political science’
  • Happiness: Unlocking the mysteries of psychological wealth. ‘Utilizing sophisticated methodology and three decades of research by the world’s leading expert on happiness, Happiness challenges the present thinking of the causes and consequences of happiness and redefines our modern notions of happiness.’
Celebrating IWD in true library fashion

Celebrating in true library fashion!

Saïd Business School is celebrating two important occasions: International Women’s Day and hosting the Oxford Africa Business Forum 2024. The Sainsbury Library has decided to join in the celebrations with two different but complementary displays.

We have a window display at our library entrance, train station side, showcasing the library’s ebook collection of titles relating to doing business, entrepreneurship, and women’s empowerment in Africa. Our second display showcases books primarily from our physical collection, with a focus on women in business and women’s economic empowerment globally. Remember to look at both sides of the display. One side shows our books focused on the African continent and the other has books focused on women, business, and inclusion. To help you navigate each display, the titles have been split up into different categories.

The library would like to highlight that the books can be borrowed by students and staff within Saïd Business School and across the wider university community. Please see our library information page for our opening hours. Most of the ebooks will require a University of Oxford Single-Sign-On but, as highlighted below, some are open access and available to anyone!

Window Display
For our Window Display, the focus is on celebrating Oxford Africa Business Forum 2024 which is marking its 15th anniversary this year! The forum’s theme this year is Business as a Force for Nation Building and ‘is centred on the integral role businesses play in national development.’1 This is a perfect chance for the library to share and showcase its resources relating to Africa and Business. The display contains descriptions of the books and a QR code to access the ebook. Please note that many of the titles require an Oxford SSO but some on the list are open access.

Business and Development books
Our first category of books links to the Oxford Africa Business Forum’s theme of business and development within the continent.

Entrepreneurship and Leadership books
Our second category of books links to the school’s wider Oxford Saïd Africa Initiative and the Oxford Africa Business Alliance which aim to invest in Africa, support the next generation of African leaders, and to ‘stimulate a vigorous dialogue about business, investment and entrepreneurship in Africa’2.

Women’s Empowerment:
Our third category of books focus on women’s economic empowerment and includes a book on leadership co-authored by Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who is a global financial and economics expert and the first woman and first African to be director general of the World Trade Organisation. These titles are also part of our International Women’s Day display to highlight the link between the two themes.

Book Display
Our physical book display primarily showcases books from our library’s general business collection which can be found in our Annexe room. The display has books on a wide range of topics from philosophers reimagining human development and public policy to women sharing their workplace experiences and career tips for women. There is something here for every reader!

Whilst not creating the display with IWD’s theme of ‘Inspiring Inclusivity’ in mind, the books on display highlight the theme throughout. The display has books from diverse authors such as Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Saadia Zahid, and Junheng Li. Titles have also been picked that showcase the international side of our collection.

Historical Books – all physical:

Books on leadership, careers, and working women’s lives-all physical books:

Books on philosophical and economical empowerment-ebooks and physical:

These titles are also included in our Oxford Africa Business Forum window display but link to International Women’s Day.

References
1. Africa Business Forum (n.d) Available at: https://www.oxfordafricaforum.com/ (Accessed: 7 March 2024)
2. Oxford Africa Business Alliance (n.d). Available at: https://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/about-us/school/our-community/oxford-africa-business-alliance (Accessed 7 March 2024)