We’ve carefully selected this list of books, each one read and vetted by our team, to help you sharpen your skills in the alternative protein space. Whether you’re interested in food science, animal ethics, or the impact of the food system on climate, we hope these reads will help you become a stronger candidate and eventually make a bigger impact in the industry.
Alt Proteins
Clean Meat: How Growing Meat Without Animals Will Revolutionize Dinner and the World
by Paul Shapiro
Clean Meat explores the emerging field of lab-grown meat, produced from animal cells without slaughter. The book covers the science, ethics, and potential impact of this technology on food production, animal welfare, and the environment, highlighting its role in the future of sustainable food systems.
Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures
When we think of fungi, we likely think of mushrooms. But mushrooms are only fruiting bodies, analogous to apples on a tree. Most fungi live out of sight, yet make up a massively diverse kingdom of organisms that supports and sustains nearly all living systems. Fungi provide a key to understanding the planet on which we live, and the ways we think, feel, and behave.
Slime: How Algae Created Us, Plague Us, and Just Might Save Us
by Ruth Kassinger
This book explores the history, science, and future of algae, discussing its role in the earth's ecosystems, its impact on human civilization, and its potential to address future challenges like food security and climate change.
Food Science & Health
How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease
By Michael Greger M.D.
In How Not to Die, Dr. Michael Greger, the internationally-renowned nutrition expert, physician, and founder of NutritionFacts.org, examines the fifteen top causes of premature death in America--heart disease, various cancers, diabetes, Parkinson's, high blood pressure, and more--and explains how nutritional and lifestyle interventions can sometimes trump prescription pills and other pharmaceutical and surgical approaches to help prevent and reverse these diseases, freeing us to live healthier lives.
Essentials of Food Science
by Vaclavik, Christian, and Campbell
The fifth edition of the Essential of Food Science text continues its approach of presenting the essential information of food chemistry, food technology, and food preparations while providing a single source of information for the non-major food science student.
Climate
The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History
by Elizabeth Kolbert
A Pulitzer Prize-winning book that discusses the current mass extinction event driven by human activities, connecting the dots between biodiversity loss and environmental degradation.
Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming
Edited by Paul Hawken
A comprehensive plan that offers solutions to reverse global warming, compiled from experts across various fields. It includes strategies related to energy, food, land use, and more.
Business & Professional Development
Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die
by Chip Heath & Dan Heath
This is one of the top books we recommend to professionals across all functions, and it was the first book we read in our company's internal book club. Made to Stick will teach you how to create ideas that are memorable and impactful. It gives concrete examples and explores what makes some ideas "stick" while others are forgotten. We think there are many crucial concepts here that should be applied when talking about, marketing, and positioning alternative protein products!
Traction: How Any Startup Can Achieve Explosive Customer Growth
by Gabriel Weinberg & Justin Mares
We absolutely loved this book. Traction offers a comprehensive guide to various marketing strategies that can help any company grow its customer base. It's a great read for STEM professionals looking to boost their marketing and business skills, and can also be valuable for those already in marketing.
Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World
by Cal Newport
We liked this book because it not only taught us the value of focused, undistracted work in a world full of distractions, but it also offers practical advice on how to achieve "deep work" and increase productivity.
Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... And Others Don't
by Jim Collins
A business book that explores how companies transition from being good to becoming great, based on extensive research and analysis.
Thinking, Fast and Slow
by Daniel Kahneman
Kahneman, a Nobel laureate, explores the two systems of thinking that drive our decisions—one fast and intuitive, the other slow and deliberative—and how they impact judgment and decision-making.
Contagious: Why Things Catch On
by Jonah Berger
Berger's book examines why certain ideas, products, and behaviors spread like wildfire, exploring the factors that contribute to something going viral.
Animals & Ethics
Animal Liberation
by Peter Singer
A groundbreaking work that argues for the ethical treatment of animals, often credited with launching the modern animal rights movement.
Eating Animals
by Jonathan Safran Foer
A personal exploration of the ethics of eating meat, blending memoir, philosophy, and investigative journalism to challenge the reader's assumptions about food.
For Love of Animals: Christian Ethics, Consistent Action
by Charles Camosy
We delved into what influences different people with different backgrounds to avoid animal products. This touching book explores the intersection of Christian ethics and animal welfare, advocating for a consistent and compassionate approach to animals. After reading it, you'll be better equipped to speak about how Christian values and ethics apply to our industry's mission
