Dr. Anita Vandyke—author, zero-waste advocate, and aerospace engineer—is a powerhouse in the world of sustainable living, blending science with soulful, actionable change. Based in Australia, Vandyke’s passion for the environment and mindful consumption has turned her into a pivotal figure in the green movement, inspiring a growing community to embrace a zero-waste lifestyle with ease and grace. With her book, A Zero Waste Life, she distills her approach into digestible, encouraging steps, making it clear that a sustainable lifestyle isn’t just about sacrifice but enrichment and community.

In her daily life, books serve as both guidance and grounding. Her bedside table currently holds Intermezzo by Sally Rooney, while her favourite book, Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan, lingered with her for weeks. Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up genuinely shifted her worldview—a fitting transformation for someone dedicated to reducing life’s excess. And, like many of us, she’s charmed by characters who embody resilience and introspection; for Vandyke it's Anne Elliot from Persuasion. In her rotation of meaningful reads, Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic remains the best gift she’s ever received, and Charlotte Wood’s Stone Yard Devotion was, in her words, “divine.”

Below, we speak with Dr Anita Vandyke on her literary influences, uncovering the narratives that shaped her approach to life and the ones she recommends you have to read at least once.

The last book I read …

James by Percival Everett

On my bedside table: I am currently reading …

Intermezzo by Sally Rooney

My favourite book of all time …

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan (this lingered in my mind for weeks)

The literary character I most identify with is …

Anne Elliot from Persuasion by Jane Austen

The book that changed my life is …

The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo (it truly was life changing)

The best book I ever received is…

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

The book I would give as a gift is …

Devotions by Mary Oliver

Growing up, the best book on my bookshelf was …

Dark Visions by L.J. Smith (the OG teen writer)

The Australian writer I admire the most is….

Charlotte Wood, her latest book Stone Yard Devotion was divine

My favourite living author is …

Claire Keegan

A book everyone should read at least once is…

The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel