For SDG 17: Partnerships read Clubfoot by Thomas M. Cook which addresses collaboration between those carrying out the work of Dr. Ignacio Ponseti and the Iowa City Noon Rotary Club to promote clubfoot treatment. #17BooksFor17SDGs

For SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Instinutions read "Mother: by m.s. RedCherries. Mother is a poetry collection which explores Indigenous identity and.resilience through the lens of personal and collective history. #17BooksFor17SDGs

For SDG 15: Life on Land read Tallgrass Conversations by Cindy Crosby and Thomas Dean which discusses the importance of prairie ecosystems and our role in conserving them. #17BooksFor17SDGs

For SDG 14: Life Below Water read the River Knows by Neil D. Hamilton, which explores the intricate relationship between humans and waterways, emphasizing the importance of protecting aquatic ecosystems. #17BooksFor17SDGs

For SDG 13: Climate Action, read We Hold Our Breath: A Journey to Texas Between Storms by Micah Fields, a University of Iowa Nonfiction Writing Program graduate. #17BooksFor17SDGs

For SDG 12: Responsible Production, read A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley. A Thousand Acres explores the environmental and social impacts of modern agriculture. #17BooksFor17SDGs

For SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, read Co-Crafting the Just City by James A. Throgmorton, which received the John Friedmann Book Award from the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning. #17BooksFor17SDGs

For SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities read Unexplained Presence by TIsa Bryant. Unexplained Presence reinterprets the experiences of marginalized figures, especially black individuals within historical and cultural frameworks. #17BooksFor17SDGs

For Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, explore The Dawn of Industrial Agriculture in Iowa by E. Durrenberger. This book discusses the transformation of agriculture through innovation and infrastructure development. #17BooksFor17SDGs

For SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, read On Behalf of the Family Farm: Iowa Farm Women's Activism since 1945, which explores women in agriculture and their responses to economic and technological changes. #17BooksFor17SDGs

For SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, read Tending Iowa's Land: Pathways to a Sustainable Future by Cornelia Mutel, which explores sustainable land management and renewable practices, highlighting the critical role of clean energy. #17BooksFor17SDGs

For SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, read "Trophic Cascade" by Camille Dungy. Which is a collection of poems about motherhood, ecology, and the interconnectedness of life, highlighting the impact of human and environmental relationships. #17booksfor17sdgs

For SDG 5: Gender Equality, read "The Body Alone" by Nina Lohman, which critiques gender inequality by revealing systematic biases that dismiss women's pain and limit their access to equitable healthcare. #17BooksFor17SDGs

For SDG 4: Quality Education, read "Susie Clark: The Bravest Girl You've Ever Seen" by Joshalyn Hickey-Johnson, illustrated by Hayle Calvin, which tells how 13-year-old Susie Clark became the first Black student to integrate a U.S. public school by court order. #17BooksFor17SDGs

For SDG 3: Good Health and Well Being - "Roughsleepers" by Tracy Kidder, in which this UI grad follows Dr. Jim O'Connell for five years as he cares for the unhoused. #17BooksFor17SDGs

For SDG 2: Zero Hunger read Barons: Money, Power and the Corruption of America’s Food Industry by Austin Frerick of Cedar Rapids. A stark portrait of the consequences of corporate consolidation, and hope for a different path. #17BooksFor17SDGs

For SDG1 No Poverty, read “This Other Eden” by Paul Harding. This Iowa Writers’ Workshop graduate’s novel was inspired by the story of Malaga Island where the racially integrated population faces extreme poverty. #17booksfor17sdgs Learn more at

From Dec. 2 to 18, UNESCO Cities of Literature will spotlight the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. We'll share book recommendations for each SDG using #17Booksfor17SDGs

RT @USUNESCO: 💡#DidYouKnow? Iowa City is an @UNESCO Creative City of Literature since 2008. With the oldest creative writing program in the…

We were happy to see the Book Festival among the many events listed in the latest JoCo Know newsletter. It's a great way to learn about what is happening in our community. Check out the newsletter and sign up to learn more.