Be The Change: Making a Difference in a Messed-Up World

by Robin Greenfield, Antonia Banyard

For young readers ages 8 to 12, an inspiring, lively guide to sustainable living from YouTube star and zero-waste activist Robin Greenfield.

Features kid-friendly information on the highly popular movement towards zero-waste living, as well as information on the climate crisis and solutions.

Robin Greenfield loves this planet, and he’s willing to go to extremes to show kids how our way of life is causing it harm. He’s walked around New York City dressed in his own garbage, cycled across the U.S. on a bamboo bike (three times), and survived one year on food he foraged or grew himself. For Robin, it’s all worth it: he brings attention to important topics like food and water waste; our dependency on fossil fuels; our piles of stuff (and the energy required to produce it); and our disconnection from community and the wider world.

In this uplifting book, Robin uses his own experiences—backed by solid information and a ton of great ideas—to show kids that no one is too young to make a difference, and no action is too small to make a start.

Robin donates 100 percent of his proceeds from this book directly to environmental nonprofits.

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature

96 pages, Hardcover

Published April 20, 2022

About the author

Robin Greenfield is a truth-seeker, activist, social reformer and servant to Earth, humanity and the plants and animals we share our home with. His life is an experiment with truth and integrity. At the heart of Robin’s action based philosophy is his dedication to living simply and sustainably as a means of resistance to systems of oppression and exploitation. Through living closely connected to Earth, he is on a path of personal liberation. Through living simply he rejects societal standards of consumerism that contribute to great inequity and injustice.

Robin’s public activism involves dramatic gestures designed to reach the mainstream and to provoke critical thought, self-reflection and positive change. His activism creates nuanced conversations on the critical issues of our time, with a focus on solutions for living in harmony. His activism has been covered by media worldwide and he has been named “The Robin Hood of modern times” by France 2 TV and “The Forest Gump of ecology”.

Robin has committed to a set of lifetime vows – to earn below the federal poverty threshold, to resist federal taxes and to keep his net worth and possessions to a minimum. He donates 100% of his media earnings to grassroots nonprofits, with a focus on supporting Black and Indigenous women-led organizations that contribute to healing Earth and humanity, while serving the communities most affected by the dominator society.

What Robin is dedicated to is simple – liberation and basic rights for all – Earth, humanity and our plant and animal relatives. He believes that community, diversity and bio-diversity are central to all true solutions for a harmonious existence as a humanity. In a time when many feel disempowered, Robin chooses to live in gratitude and celebration of life. What keeps him going is his belief that our actions do matter and that as individuals and communities we have the power to liberate ourselves and contribute to the well-being of our communities.

Reviews

[The Silvan Reverie | Sarah Street]

This works well as an interesting memoir of Rob Greenfield's dedication to sustainable living. It's certainly inspiring on one level, however I think this has to work for the right audience to inspire a young child to "be the change." I think certain kids will love reading this and take the suggestions seriously, likely inspiring the adults in their lives to make changes as well. This is certainly speaking to those with a more privileged lifestyle -- those with lots of extra stuff and the ability to waste food without concern. I think this might not hit home for all kids, though. That said, I appreciate the themes introduced and how it ties in to real life experiences. The photographs used throughout the books are engaging. Overall this is an empowering message for children, for those interested in affecting positive environmental changes in our world.

***Note: I was given a review copy of this book via Greystone Kids. Opinions are my own.

[Nicole Nikolova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Имате ли чувството, че сте заринати с вещи? Че имате твърде много от всичко? Че постоянно изхвърляте боклуци и кошовете около вас преливат? Изхвърляте ли твърде често храна? А става ли ви гузно?

Знаете ли, има какво да направите. Промяната невинаги е лесна, но с малки стъпки в правилната посока всичко е възможно. Можем да живеем по-щастливи с по-малко. Можем да планираме по-добре покупките си. Можем да рециклираме повече отпадъци и да се опитаме да намалим боклуците, които изхвърляме ежедневно.

Малки стъпки. Всеки ден. Струва ми се, че това стои в основата на устойчивия начин на живот.

Не е нужно да бъдем като Роб Грийнфилд, написал “Бъди промяната. Кратък наръчник за устойчив живот”. Той е активист и приключенец и, за да обърне вниманието на обществеността към определени проблеми, често стига до крайности. В продължение на месец носи всичките си боклуци върху себе си. Опитва да отглежда сам всичко, което яде за определен период от време. Обикаля цяла Америка с колело и носи само една раница с вещи. По време на обиколката се храни с отпадъци, които намира по контейнерите на хранителните магазини.

Не е нужно да сме като Роб Грийнфийлд. Но е нужно да се запознаем с проблемите, които ни заобикалят, за да променим малко навиците си. Например, да не изхвърляме всичко на боклука, а да търсим начини да даряваме, преизползваме и рециклираме по правилен начин вещите си. Да трупаме като цяло по-малко вещи. Да използваме по-малко вода в домакинството. Да гасим тока, когато не сме в стаята и да изключваме електроуредите.

Ей такива, уж дребни неща, а всъщност могат да донесат промяна. Човек на ден създава около 0.74кг боклук. Не е много, но сметнете за седмица, за месец, за година. Умножете по членовете на семейството ви. По населението на града, в който живеете. Умножете го по 8млрд. души.

В книгата има много примери как и какво можем да направим, за да живеем по-устойчиво в различни категории - вещи, храна, вода, електричество, природни ресурси и други.

Книгата е подходяща за всеки над 8 години, защото дава един ценен поглед над случващото се в световен мащаб. И макар, че сме само капка в океана, ни дава надежда, че можем да променим нещо, макар и малко.

***
Всички мои ревюта четете в блога Catwolf's Writings - линк в профила.

[Mihaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Чудесна книга, с която да се покажат на децата (а и на някои възрастни) устойчиви практики в дома и личния живот. Разделена е на няколко различни глави (например храна, транспорт, отпадъци, енергия и др.). Във всяка глава първо се поставя проблемът, после се дава пример от акциите и живота на Роб Грийнфилд и накрая се дават съветите за по-устойчив живот. Аз следя Роб Грийнфилд отдавна и го намирам за много вдъхновяващ, радвам се, че книгата я има и на български. Подходяща е за може би 10-14(15?) годишни деца, написана е леко и увличащо, освен примерите за акциите на Роб, има и примери от други деца и тийнейджъри по света.

[Dcbruhbruh · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The small changes we make as individuals matter greatly, but they won't change the entire system. The system is too huge for anyone to change singlehandedly. But at the same time, the system is made up of people like you and me. [...]. And as more of us change, the system itself changes. Corporations and governments are just as (or more) responsible for creating the problems, and for solving them. They're also made up of individual people like you and me. And they must change too." (p. 76)

[Dawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to be inspired by someone who is also from my home state of Wisconsin. Instead I wound up feeling as if the things I do to help the environment are either not valid and/or not enough. Basically this book made me feel like crap.

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this book is written for a younger audience, there is so much takeaway and motivational value for anyone of any age. I came away with a different and renewed perspective of the waste I create and how I can cut back. For example, how much food do I toss in the trash daily? Greenfield suggests that instead of heaping our plates, we help ourselves to less, instead of tossing a fruit because of a brown spot or a bruise, we cut them out and eat the rest of the fruit, and instead of tossing spoiled or wilted food, we compost it (26).

Greenfield does not want or expect us to be like him. Instead, he wants us to "feel empowered to do one small thing, then another and another until you become the change you wish to see in the world" (77).

This is a powerful and inspirational book that gets us all thinking about the waste we create daily and how we can cut back. And most importantly, how we can get our children to think about their own waste and help them create a more sustainable lifestyle. The pictures are bold and inviting, and the book provides simple and realistic ideas on how we all can cut back on waste.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, Rob Greenfield is a guy who makes a living doing extreme things to showcase environmental things and then being on social media about it (I'd never heard of him). This is a fun book with lots of photos that show the things he does (wear all his garbage for a month, bike across the country eating out of dumpsters, etc), WHY he did them -- what was he trying to draw attention to? What are the implications of this in terms of the planet? And how kids could also address this issue in their own lives.

It's fun and might give kids some ideas for the lives, either for projects or because they are budding greenies.

[Jenna Gilbertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great to expose children to social justice and environmental activism. It shared somewhat extreme examples of what the author did, but provides a healthy balance of a call to action for smaller steps kids can take now.

I appreciated the features of diverse youth and women who have made a difference in these areas.

The author donates proceeds to environmental nonprofits, which makes his message even more meaningful and trustworthy. Students will love this book, and I know each one will walk away with at least one message or step to reframe their thinking and take action.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do want to give this to every child I know, but it's really not just for kids. The explanations may be boiled down to be more digestible, but there are so many adults who I feel could benefit from ideas being presented this way. We don't have to understand every complicated nuance of a problem to see the benefits in taking what small steps we can towards being a part of bettering it.

[katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

(sent to me to review for free). a great resource for kids who want to get involved in helping their communities and living healthier lives. I will probably come back to this too for the helpful tips!

[Mas Camp · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids and I enjoyed learning how to change our habits and life for the better and easier ways of sustainable living. Being mindful of how society works and how we can avoid those pitfalls can be hard, but not if you have this book!

[Michelle Glatt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewing for School Library Connection

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Practical, inspiring, and necessary.

[Esther Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids loved this book. Especially good for preteens

[Samantha Delgado · Rating 5 out of 5]

everyone should read this book

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Kids and I enjoyed this book. Learning how to live better among Mother Earth is important and these are some great starting points to learn the power we all have. We try to focus on each category as we can and know in the end we are trying to be the change we want to see as well.

[Helen Geng · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read June 2022

NYPL book

[Книжни Криле · Rating 5 out of 5]

„Бъди промяната“ (изд. Ракета) е едновременно наръчник, манифест и зов за събуждане – книга, която не просто информира, а вдъхновява към действие. Написана от необикновения екологичен активист Роб Грийнфийлд, тя носи дълбоко личен и неподправено честен тон, с който приканва читателя да се вгледа в собствения си живот и да поеме отговорност за въздействието си върху света. Прочетете ревюто на „Книжни Криле“: https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/202...