​Welcome! Whether you're a student looking to further your learning, a friend, or a fellow designer searching for inspiration, this page is made for you. Many people have written to me asking what they should read to properly educate themselves. This is a personal collection of favourites on the subjects of environment, energy, economics  diet, and further personal favourites- all of which have had incalculable influence on the evolution of my understanding of the world.
Trigger warning: These books may change your life.

Browse Benson's Reading List

Introduction to Permaculture

Permaculture: A Beginner's Guide, By Graham Burnett

"My first recommendation to those dipping their toes into the waters of Permaculture Design. Beautifully illustrated ideas and images. An easily understood, yet comprehensive introduction to the key principles of Permaculture. A beautiful read."
Buy your copy directly from Graham here

Earth User's Guide To Permaculture, By Rosemary Morrow 

"A true Permaculture pioneer, Roe's book was foundational to my understanding of many non-land based Permaculture principles. Her well cultivated PeopleCare ethic is demonstrated in these pages and I recommend it to anyone interested in teaching or working with people systems."

The One Straw Revolution: An Introduction to Natural Farming, By Masanobu Fukuoka

"Fukuoka, it is said, was the man behind the man behind Permaculture. Fukuoka's early natural farming successes and failures were the necessary prelude to 'Permaculture One', and its distinct influence can be found in later works by both Holmgren and Mollison. An easy and inspiring read that distills the essence of Permaculture through anecdote and autobiography."

Permaculture Design: A Step-By-Step Guide, By Aranya 

​"I am never caught teaching or consulting without this practically sized and excellently laid out book in my back pocket. A constant compass reference when consulting. Do yourself a favour a get this book BEFORE you start your project."

Permaculture: A Designers Manual, By Bill Mollison & David Holmgren

​"The definitive work and well received work. If you have a copy, treasure it. If you don't, you will discover how hard they can be to come by nowadays. It is called a manual for a reason as it is meant for use by reference. Many of the early ideas found in "Permaculture One" are refined and distilled in these pages. Seldom a day goes by where I don't hastily flick to a page when in need. Always open on the table or briefly stashed on the most easily accessible book shelf. Best accompanied by watching "Global Gardener" which was made at a similar point in time by Mollison."

Pattern

A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction, By by Christopher Alexander & Murray Silverstein & and Sara Ishikawa

​"A very dense read. Not for vacation. I had to approach this book as if studying for an exam, and though that may sound drab, its benefits have been immense. A great teachers reference, and a glimpse of a better future where our homes, towns, cities, and Countries are designed to work for us, not the other way around. I wish to helicopter pamphlet 1 million copies of this on every local government building."

RetroSuburbia: The Downshifters Guide To A Resilient Future, By David Holmgren

​"At first I found the reading of this book challenging. It reads a little chunky, and it is VERY information dense. However I constantly find myself referencing it, and I have since recognised it for the gold mine of knowledge and information it truly is. Holmgren has once again contributed to the global environmentalist movement with unrelenting intellectual prowess, and this book certainly deserves substantial accolade at home in Australia. Its utility during the COVID19 pandemic was massive"
 Check out Melliodora Publishing here

The Story Telling Animal: How Stories Make Us Human, By Jonathan Gottschall

​"Gottschall traverses the road of ethnomythology along the scientific, neurophysiological foundations that make us who we are. It has influenced my teaching and learning style tremendously. An easy and captivating read."

Songlines: The Power and Promise, By Lynne Kelly & Margo Neale 

​"The first installation in a personally much anticipated series. A thorough investigation into the traditional knowledge libraries of First Nations Australians, told through contrasting and at times complimenting perspectives. Again, this book influenced the way I think about learning and retention of knowledge"

Sand Talk: How Indigenous Thinking Can Save The World, By Tyson Yunkaporta

​"I'll admit, it was slow to get me, but get me it did. Sand Talk describes the power of symbol and pattern in aboriginal Australian culture, and outlines a model for re-integration of this powerful knowledge system into todays world. Some chapters lost me, and some I openly disagreed with, but Tysons tone is very conversational to the point where you feel you are able to hold adverse opinions safely. It is a very warm book to read."

Education

Earth User's Guide To Teaching Permaculture, By Rosemary Morrow

​"Plainly stated, I'd be lost teaching without it. A great tool for understanding learning patterns, creating healthy learning environments, and catering for a wide range of learners. Written by one of the worlds best."

Outdoor Classrooms: A Handbook For School Gardens, By Carolyn Nuttal & Janet Millington

​"Before reading this book, I greatly underestimated the set and setting of learning spaces. If you have an education centre, or run courses in any capacity, this book is an ideal primer"

Environment, Climate, Ecology

The New Wild: Why Invasive Species Will Be Natures Salvation, By Fred Pearce

​"An absolute classic. Fred Pierce illuminates the stellar job naturalised species are doing in our ever expanding urban badlands. These species which thrive in the cracks of pavements, on the sides of houses and in the swamps of pollution are single handedly feeding our pollinators and scrambling to secure our soils and watershed. They are creating habitats and cooling our cities. 
Critically, I will confess to its slightly repetitive literary style, however the message far outweighs the need for an interesting and thrilling read. Cannot recommend enough."

Beyond The War On Invasive Species: A Permaculture Approach, By Tao Orion

​"The integrated literature on invasion biology I was looking for. Putting into context the polarised science  on invasion biology. The Foreword by Holmgren is in itself worth the read. As usual, it is dense and succinct. Orion summarises the historical development on what we know as invasion biology today, and where it failed to meet the criteria that respectable sub-sciences demand. It focuses on a systems based viewpoint, and how the reductionist and abstracted scrutiny of individual species not only underserves the complexity of the species itself, but of the system it inhabits and relates to..
A perfect book to go in tandem with "The New Wild", both make for an excellent few weeks of reading and re education. If this doesn't get your fires of injustice lit, then I don't know what will."

Fire Country, By Victor Steffensen

"Steffensons view that ecosystems (particularly in Australia) have evolved to rely on integrated and integral human disturbance is not unique, but it is presented with fresh perspective. .
Since colonisation, the lack of broad scale patterned land cultivation has lead to build up of highly flammable dry grasses that inevitably lead to massive destruction events every 5-10 years. This, Steffenson argues, can all be avoided with the re-learning of cultural burning. 
Australia  is choked up, and Steffensons book acts as a primary source for knowledge in the journey towards better stewardship of the Great Southern Land."

Seas, Rivers, Oceans

When The Rivers Run Dry, By Fred Pearce

"Pearce expertly and succinctly demonstrates how humans have clogged, drained, and continue to kill the river systems and larger hydrological cycles that sustain all life on Earth. He strongly emphasises the backwards role of Dams and their superlative psychosis regarding dominion over nature. It’s a sobering read. Like waking up from a dream, it snaps you into water wise living. This book goes straight to the top of my recommended reading list."

Eat Like A Fish: My Adventures As A Fisherman Turned Restorative Ocean Farmer, By Bren Smith

"A page tuner! This is a story of redemption, of following ones compass to the outskirts of the unknown and coming out on top. Smith carefully mixes autobiographical recount, with precise how-to, and a 3D farmers revolutionary manifesto. This is a love story to the ocean, to the planet, and to home and community."

Rainwater Harvesting For Drylands And Beyond: Water-harvesting Earthworks (Volume 2), By Brad Lancaster

"One of the canonical texts on rainwater harvesting. A very practical, incredibly useful "how-to" book. Volume one is omitted as recommendation, as it covers the very basics that are taught in most PDC's or Introduction to Permaculture courses. Head straight for volume two and start "planting the rain"! "

Earth & Soil

The Humanure Handbook: Shit In A Nutshell, By Joseph Jenkins

"A brilliant how to handbook on essential waste reduction and recycling techniques. I have said it before and will say it again, I want to drop this on the doorstep of every head of state  and local government."

Dirt: The Erosion Of Civilizations, By David R. Montgomery

"An underrated, necessary, and important historical exploration into the relationship between human civilisations and soil stewardship, or lack thereof. From ancient Egyptians, to Romans, to the great dustbowl of the 1930's, Montgomery makes a compelling case that the destruction of these great systems pivoted on the stability and health of the soils that sustained them."

Radical Mycology: A Treatise On Seeing And Working With Fungi, By Peter McCoy

"An absolute classic. A joyful, dense, rigorous treatise on fungi cultivation at all levels. This book contains history, interactive games, handouts, everything a book could possibly contain and more. Not suitable for internationalal travel based on its size, however that has not and will not stop me from trekking it around the world with me. If you're an experienced cultivator/grower of Mushrooms and fungi, or just starting out- get this book."

Mycelium Running, By Paul Stamets

"One of the best of its kind, written by the best in his field. A compilation of years of experience and scientific study on Mycology and working with Fungi to restore and rehabilitate ecosystems. The introductory chapters are invaluable as introductions to Mycology, and the techniques outlines towards the end are easily implementable for all skill levels"

Money & How We Spend It

Sacred Economics: Money, Gift, and Society, in the Age of Transition, By Charles Eisenstein
Doing Good Better, By William MacAskill
"Eisenstein's "More for you, is more for me" ethic has influenced me in more ways than I care to admit. With fierce intellect, Eisenstein brings his formally economics educated opinions to the table with a healthy side of empathy, systems thinking and heart. Buy this and gift it to a friend, and feel all the richer for it. Whilst personally erring on the side of utopianism, we can all stand to learn a lot from this way of thinking and integrating into our own lives the ethics outlined in this brilliant book"
"Of all the Effective Altruism books and founder, William MacAskill's 'Doing Good Better' drove the point home for me. It made me re evaluate the role of charity, donation, and money in general. Its biggest takeaway was perhaps that the most effective good we can do for our planet it to quickly encourage economic growth in poor countries. Its outline for deciding what careers has the most impact,a and the rubric for choosing charities to donate to are invaluable  "

What We Eat

​How Can I Use Herbs In My Daily Life, By Isabell Shipard

"My one stop shop for herbalism information. Look no further, one to have on the shelf, for sure"

​The Permaculture Book Of Human Nutrition And Ferment, By Bill Mollison

"Mollison's fascinating anthropological exploration of food and processing techniques. Valuable as a manual for some, and otherwise an interesting read for those interested in how food affects culture."

​Cooked: A Natural History Of Transformation, By Michael Pollan

"I loved this book! Pollen posits that cooking fast tracked humankind's evolution and encouraged the development of our physiology and culture. The book is broken into four main chapters:  Earth, Air, Fire, and Water, and Pollen traces the history of human use of these elements on food. A total page turner, bring a snack it makes you hungry!"

​How To Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence, By Michael Pollan

"We are clearly currently experiencing a major global psychedelic renaissance. With the War On Drugs firmly lost, Pollan takes the necessary steps to explore a safe and well researched way forward into the world of entheogenics. He analyses the chemical processes and their perceived dangers, the history of psychedelics and what contributed to their perception and eventual criminalisation in the 1970's, and what the therapeutic way forward can look like in the current political and scientific climate"

​Eating Animals, By Jonathan Safran Foer

"The case for vegetarianism/veganism is often singular in its scope regarding basic resource and energy auditing, throwing out the baby with the bathwater so to speak. However I highly value this book for its compelling enquiry into the moral concerns around eating animals."

Everything Else

A collection of personal favourites that this list would be all the worse for without

​Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion, By Sam Harris

"Harris strikes again. This is my go to book for gift giving. It demonstrates the physiological and psychological case for meditation and mindfulness practice, without the muddied waters of organised religions who traditionally dominate this domain. This book is a lifeline for secular enthusiasts of self enquiry and spiritual development, told through the scientific lense of a neuroscientist and experienced meditator. I have since practiced "religiously" for multiple years and highly recommend the Waking Up App."

​Salt: Selected Essays and Stories, By Bruce Pascoe

"A compilation of essays and short stories full of true Australian patriotism and love. Love for a country that has, over the past 150 years, seen the most dramatic change of culture and land.  Pacoe's fictions are well developed and full of heart. His political essays poignant and unapologetic in their intent. This is a heart recommendation, devoted to my love of Australia, warts and all."

​Letters To A Young Contrarian, By Christopher Hitchens

"A love letter to the joys and necessity of debate by one of the greatest polemicists who ever lived. Peppered with anecdotes of personal and professional life, Hitchens says "There is no point bemoaning and besmirching polarisation and partisanship. Polarisation and partisanship is the natural and best state of affairs". This altered my view on utopian idealistic pictures of  agreement and uniformity of thought, and sharpened my radar to hints of authoritarian thinking in this manner. "

​Dark Emu, By Bruce Pascoe

" Essential reading for all Australians. Dark Emu is a historic exploration of pre-colonial Australia through the lens of our first explorers, settlers, pastoralists and protectors. Pascoe, a historian and Yuin man, has combed through the journals and various hard evidence from Australia’s early settlers on a mission to debunk the colonial myth that Australia's first nation peoples were “mere hunter gatherers”.  Based on these excerpts, Pascoe puts forward a compelling argument for the evidence of sophisticated agricultural systems, aquaculture systems, sensible and complex housing, resource storage, land management, and culture & law."

​1984, By George Orwell 

"What list would be complete without it. "There are times in life where resistance to the cliche "Orwellian" seems futile", Hitchens so poetically recounts of his time in the 4 Axis of Evil states. Seldom does a book carry such weight and power to transform an entire people, with notable exceptions such as "1984" and "The Gulag Archipelago". There is much to learn in these pages, and more to explore on "Why Orwell Matters", again by the formidable Christopher Hitchens. If you were educated in the Western world and somehow avoided reading it at school, its time to bite the bullet and dive in. I promise its worth it. "

​Crime and Punishment, By Fyodor Dostoyevsky

"Recommended by a mentor as essential reading. Dostoyevsky brilliantly shows how quickly things can go from bad, to much worse. It’s a classic for a reason, and one of the best novels of the 19th century (or perhaps en par with Brothers Karamazov). I would highly recommend to those who are curious about the human condition."

​Siddhartha, By Herman Hesse

"This book was my first literary love. I read it when I was around 13, and it shifted my view of consciousness dramatically. I remember a feeling of bodily ecstasy upon reading its final pages, and began reading it again as soon as I finished it. I have since read it five to six times and will come back in times of need. Each time around the block reveals something new " 

​Free Will, By Sam Harris

"Sam Harris does with under one hundred pages what many fail to do in thousands. His clarity of thought, crisp arguments and well rounded point of view lay out a masterclass in compassion and reason.  I read it in two sittings, and rarely does a day go by where I don't think of its contents in one abstraction or another. "

​12 Rules For Life: An Antidote To Chaos, By Jordan B. Peterson

"This book single handedly changed my taste in literature. Admittedly the first chapter is laborious to read, but it sets the stage for the many revelations in the thrilling book to follow. Stay the course, and organise your life according to these chapters!"