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The Green Book: The Everyday Guide to Saving the Planet One Simple Step at a Time
Ellen DeGeneres, Robert Redford, Will Ferrell, Jennifer Aniston, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Martha Stewart, Tyra Banks, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Tiki Barber, Owen Wilson, and Justin Timberlake tell you how they make a difference to the environment.
Inside The Green Book , find out how you can
- Don’t ask for ATM receipts. If everyone in the United States refused their receipts, it would save a roll of paper more than two billion feet long, or enough to circle the equator fifteen times!
- Turn off the tap while you brush your teeth. You’ll conserve up to five gallons of water per day. Throughout the entire United States, the daily savings could add up to more water than is consumed every day in all of New York City.
- Get a voice-mail service for your home phone. If all answering machines in U.S. homes were replaced by voice-mail services, the annual energy savings would total nearly two billion kilowatt hours. The resulting reduction in air pollution would be equivalent to removing 250,000 cars from the road for a year!
With wit and authority, authors Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas Kostigen provide hundreds of solutions for all areas of your life, pinpointing the smallest changes that have the biggest impact on the health of our precious planet.
Inside The Green Book , find out how you can
- Don’t ask for ATM receipts. If everyone in the United States refused their receipts, it would save a roll of paper more than two billion feet long, or enough to circle the equator fifteen times!
- Turn off the tap while you brush your teeth. You’ll conserve up to five gallons of water per day. Throughout the entire United States, the daily savings could add up to more water than is consumed every day in all of New York City.
- Get a voice-mail service for your home phone. If all answering machines in U.S. homes were replaced by voice-mail services, the annual energy savings would total nearly two billion kilowatt hours. The resulting reduction in air pollution would be equivalent to removing 250,000 cars from the road for a year!
With wit and authority, authors Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas Kostigen provide hundreds of solutions for all areas of your life, pinpointing the smallest changes that have the biggest impact on the health of our precious planet.
201 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
33 people are currently reading
617 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 222 reviews
July 10, 2015
Lovely cover design and interior format., but the book was disappointing. It'd serve as a nice introduction for those who haven't a clue how to recycle--and by that I mean those entirely void of clue.
First two chapters were okay, but then it became very repetitive, in ideas and advice, and annoying, in analogies and attempts at communicating just what vast changes can come about by being environment-friendly.
For example, it was tolerable the first twenty times they used such equivalents as doing this or that would save a space "the size of Texas" or "could wrap around the Earth ______ times".
But it escalated into a sort of desperate scribbling that translates to the reader as "ohgod ohgod I hope the readers find this entertaining and informative. Are they laughing? I hope they are. Please please, be laughing...*nervous chuckle*" An example of this would be on page 97:
If for the next year you replaced your purchases of
disposable razors with refill cartridges, the amount
of energy saved by not manufacturing the extra plastic
could brew you five pots of coffee. If half of the
disposable razors sold per year were replaced with
refills, the energy saved could fly twenty-six
thousand San Diego java lovers to pick their own Kona
coffee on the Big Island of Hawaii.
I groaned hardcore at that point and felt a little sick.
Given the mediocre content and the overhyping via lame analogy, the celebrity quotes were a gross addition.
But, I have to say, any mainstream attention to the increasingly dire need for recycling and resource management is welcome.
First two chapters were okay, but then it became very repetitive, in ideas and advice, and annoying, in analogies and attempts at communicating just what vast changes can come about by being environment-friendly.
For example, it was tolerable the first twenty times they used such equivalents as doing this or that would save a space "the size of Texas" or "could wrap around the Earth ______ times".
But it escalated into a sort of desperate scribbling that translates to the reader as "ohgod ohgod I hope the readers find this entertaining and informative. Are they laughing? I hope they are. Please please, be laughing...*nervous chuckle*" An example of this would be on page 97:
If for the next year you replaced your purchases of
disposable razors with refill cartridges, the amount
of energy saved by not manufacturing the extra plastic
could brew you five pots of coffee. If half of the
disposable razors sold per year were replaced with
refills, the energy saved could fly twenty-six
thousand San Diego java lovers to pick their own Kona
coffee on the Big Island of Hawaii.
I groaned hardcore at that point and felt a little sick.
Given the mediocre content and the overhyping via lame analogy, the celebrity quotes were a gross addition.
But, I have to say, any mainstream attention to the increasingly dire need for recycling and resource management is welcome.
June 16, 2008
The information was basic and repetitive.
December 28, 2019
I like how this book gave facts about how your actions can have a positive effect on the environment. It makes me more motivated to do the actions the author suggests. There were suggestions for so many things that I never would have realized could be a problem to the environment and/or I did not know had solutions for. The only thing I wasn't a fan of in this book was that the same paragraph was used at the end of every chapter opener.
April 7, 2008
I really liked how this book gave a lot of statistics. If you cut your shower by 2 minutes, you'll save 10 gallons of water. It really brings things to light, and I wrote down a lot of tips on what I can do to cut down on waste and conserve natural resources.
March 3, 2022
Maybe life was utterly different in 2007. I don't really remember. I can say that this book is timid to the point of meaningless now. We can't recycle our way out of global climate change, and turning out the lights when you leave the room, while a good idea, is not going to stop the glaciers from melting. This book wants you to think that securing a better environmental future won't require sacrifices of each of us. It will.
December 8, 2025
I saw this in my local store and clearly saw a red book. To my surprise I read the title and it said the green book. I’m at a crossroads in my life because of this book. I’m either colour blind or I have some form of dyslexia. Anyway it’s a pretty good book that provides some fairly good solutions on how to make a positive impact on the environment in our day to day lives. Would recommend.
June 17, 2020
Informação muito básica e não muito interessante para quem não vive nos Estados Unidos da América. A apresentação da informação é pobre e pouco criativa, e mesmo repetitiva. A intenção de colocar testemunhos de pessoas mediáticas foi boa do ponto de vista de vendas, mas não acrescenta nada de relevante, e sinceramente algumas intervenções são descabidas. Vale por alguma da informação ser fora da caixa e por ser impresso em papel reciclado.
September 30, 2012
(transcribed from a 2009 blog entry)
This holiday season, I received two books detailing how we can help the environment.
The first one, the New York Times' green book, was a disappointment. The celebrity vignettes are well-intentioned, if at times bizarre (William McDonough and Cameron Diaz?)
Some of the advice in this book isn't very good. Take the following Travel tip:
Seek out locations that aren't overexposed, overcrowded, or in environmenmentally sensitive areas. Overcrowding in already densely populated areas can lead to increased pollution by wastewater, garbage, heating, noise, and traffic emissions.
Unfortunately, the impact of tourism on the environment is more complicated.
As any trail designer will tell you, concentrating visitors in certain areas can actually be good for the environment, because it limits overall damage. Similarly, it hurts the environment less to ride the teacups at "overexposed, overcrowded" Disney World than it does to ride an airboat through the environmentally sensitive Everglades.
But you can also visit the Everglades without particularly hurting the environment, provided you stay on the boardwalks and paved paths. In fact, you might become so enchanted with the amazing bird, alligator, and otter populations that you are moved to reduce your environmental impact upon returning home.
In fact, income from legitimate eco-tourism empowers some communities to avoid unsustainably harvesting their natural resources!
We generate pollution everywhere. In a densely-populated city, the larger shared buildings waste less heat. Destinations are closer together, so we don't have to drive as far. That means less pollution, not more.
The chapter on school advises:
Try using a digital library or the World Wide Web instead of traveling to your local branch to do research. You'll save time and money. The circulation of books from public libraries is 1.9 billion a year, or about 7 items checked out per person. If every American checked out and researched online a single book a year, we would save three hundred million trips to the bookshelves.
These numbers sound fishy to me, but let's assume they're right. Let's further assume that no one ever walks or bikes to the library, which has minimal environmental impact.
I'm all for the Internet, but do we really want to discourage kids from using the library? The Internet is a gigantic but profoundly non-authorive source of information. Information published in books has to pass a higher threshhold of quality and suitability.
Electronic books are great, but the availability of titles remains limited. And e-book delivery platforms are still pretty expensive.
In order to function as citizens of a participatory democracy, it is imperative that we remain well-informed. Without resources like libraries we wouldn't be able to cope effectively with the challenges that affect our environment.
Then the chapter on work goes on to give this contradictory advice:
More than two hours of the average office worker's time is used per day sending e-mails and surfing the Internet. Internet data servers use as much energy in the United States as is used by all U.S. TVs combined.
And the final fifty-one pages of the book are, you guessed it, references to Internet data servers! Why pulp trees to print web addresses that will already be out of date when the book is published? Why not set up a single web site, include the URL at the end of the book, and maintain links to everything from there?
Clearly, there is work to be done improving the energy efficiency of Internet server farms. Instead, the authors of the green book would have us to communicate and read less! Unless we're using the Internet to avoid a trip to the library.
It is unreasonable to expect that we should stop living our lives to help the environment. Ultimately, the whole point of environmentalism is to enrich our lives by securing the wonder of nature for ourselves and our descendants.
The book's saving grace is a page on which Will Ferrell recounts the "limitless joy" that driving his electric car to the hazardous waste facility affords him. For my money, they should have let Ferrell write the whole book.
I'm glad to say that I really did enjoy Living Like Ed, A Guide to the Eco-Friendly Life, by Ed Begley Jr., late of Real Genius fame. Ed is the real deal. His book is full of great information, much of which I had never read anywhere else.
This holiday season, I received two books detailing how we can help the environment.
The first one, the New York Times' green book, was a disappointment. The celebrity vignettes are well-intentioned, if at times bizarre (William McDonough and Cameron Diaz?)
Some of the advice in this book isn't very good. Take the following Travel tip:
Seek out locations that aren't overexposed, overcrowded, or in environmenmentally sensitive areas. Overcrowding in already densely populated areas can lead to increased pollution by wastewater, garbage, heating, noise, and traffic emissions.
Unfortunately, the impact of tourism on the environment is more complicated.
As any trail designer will tell you, concentrating visitors in certain areas can actually be good for the environment, because it limits overall damage. Similarly, it hurts the environment less to ride the teacups at "overexposed, overcrowded" Disney World than it does to ride an airboat through the environmentally sensitive Everglades.
But you can also visit the Everglades without particularly hurting the environment, provided you stay on the boardwalks and paved paths. In fact, you might become so enchanted with the amazing bird, alligator, and otter populations that you are moved to reduce your environmental impact upon returning home.
In fact, income from legitimate eco-tourism empowers some communities to avoid unsustainably harvesting their natural resources!
We generate pollution everywhere. In a densely-populated city, the larger shared buildings waste less heat. Destinations are closer together, so we don't have to drive as far. That means less pollution, not more.
The chapter on school advises:
Try using a digital library or the World Wide Web instead of traveling to your local branch to do research. You'll save time and money. The circulation of books from public libraries is 1.9 billion a year, or about 7 items checked out per person. If every American checked out and researched online a single book a year, we would save three hundred million trips to the bookshelves.
These numbers sound fishy to me, but let's assume they're right. Let's further assume that no one ever walks or bikes to the library, which has minimal environmental impact.
I'm all for the Internet, but do we really want to discourage kids from using the library? The Internet is a gigantic but profoundly non-authorive source of information. Information published in books has to pass a higher threshhold of quality and suitability.
Electronic books are great, but the availability of titles remains limited. And e-book delivery platforms are still pretty expensive.
In order to function as citizens of a participatory democracy, it is imperative that we remain well-informed. Without resources like libraries we wouldn't be able to cope effectively with the challenges that affect our environment.
Then the chapter on work goes on to give this contradictory advice:
More than two hours of the average office worker's time is used per day sending e-mails and surfing the Internet. Internet data servers use as much energy in the United States as is used by all U.S. TVs combined.
And the final fifty-one pages of the book are, you guessed it, references to Internet data servers! Why pulp trees to print web addresses that will already be out of date when the book is published? Why not set up a single web site, include the URL at the end of the book, and maintain links to everything from there?
Clearly, there is work to be done improving the energy efficiency of Internet server farms. Instead, the authors of the green book would have us to communicate and read less! Unless we're using the Internet to avoid a trip to the library.
It is unreasonable to expect that we should stop living our lives to help the environment. Ultimately, the whole point of environmentalism is to enrich our lives by securing the wonder of nature for ourselves and our descendants.
The book's saving grace is a page on which Will Ferrell recounts the "limitless joy" that driving his electric car to the hazardous waste facility affords him. For my money, they should have let Ferrell write the whole book.
I'm glad to say that I really did enjoy Living Like Ed, A Guide to the Eco-Friendly Life, by Ed Begley Jr., late of Real Genius fame. Ed is the real deal. His book is full of great information, much of which I had never read anywhere else.
August 14, 2019
I found this book for free from the Book Thing of Baltimore and thought it was worth a read since I have been trying to make more sustainable choices lately. I was a little turned off from the start by the little guest blurbs written by celebrities, coming from a book that's supposed to guide the average person living an average life - its a little misguided to say the least. There was some outdated but well meaning advice on recycling which was fine I suppose, until I got to the part that advised people use homeopathy instead of their prescription medications. FUCK THAT.
Homeopathy is a scam based on two fallacies: 1, that like cures like. This would be like giving your kid some more lead to cure their lead poisoning. 2, that dissolving stuff in water makes for a more powerful medicine through water's ability to "remember things". That would be like saying you can make hot sauce stronger by adding a crap ton of water to it, because the water remembers the taste. Neither of these make any goddamn sense unless you are either desperate or uninformed, which peddlers of homeopathy really count on.
Rarely is a book not worth finishing, but an advice book that advocates homeopathy in place of meds prescribed by your doctor is bullshit. FUCK HOMEOPATHY.
Homeopathy is a scam based on two fallacies: 1, that like cures like. This would be like giving your kid some more lead to cure their lead poisoning. 2, that dissolving stuff in water makes for a more powerful medicine through water's ability to "remember things". That would be like saying you can make hot sauce stronger by adding a crap ton of water to it, because the water remembers the taste. Neither of these make any goddamn sense unless you are either desperate or uninformed, which peddlers of homeopathy really count on.
Rarely is a book not worth finishing, but an advice book that advocates homeopathy in place of meds prescribed by your doctor is bullshit. FUCK HOMEOPATHY.
January 22, 2014
This book does so little and wastes too much paper (recycled or not). It's so disappointing. Its "Simple Steps" are silly and don't offer much useful information. Likewise, the suggestions made in each chapter are almost goofy. For instance, there was a whole paragraph about which type of inflammatory device was best for the environment (plastic lighters vs. wood matches vs. paper matches). Also, every single suggestion was concluded with an outlandish if-we-all-pitched-in statement like (I'm making this up), "If we all saved the clippings from our pets' fur, rather than throwing it out, we could use it to make clothes for all the children in Africa." It's ridiculous.
At a minimum, what this book needs is:
* a major reorganization;
* actual steps that can help readers green their lives;
* real-life examples of how greening can save the reader time and/or money; and
* real-life examples of how other people have greened their lives.
And, for goodness' sake, lose the celebrity endorsements about going green. They're lame and absurd.
I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone.
At a minimum, what this book needs is:
* a major reorganization;
* actual steps that can help readers green their lives;
* real-life examples of how greening can save the reader time and/or money; and
* real-life examples of how other people have greened their lives.
And, for goodness' sake, lose the celebrity endorsements about going green. They're lame and absurd.
I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone.
December 26, 2016
The writing formula was really tiresome... After the 2nd chapter I was like, "OK OK OKOKOKOKOK. I GET IT." They spent more time making huge analogies and "what-ifs" than they did actually giving helpful advice. A little more in the "how" department would have been helpful. Examples would have also been helpful. Faith Hill telling me her daughter likes to sort the recycling wasn't really all that helpful.
My biggest pet peeve with this book was the recommendation to stop going to the library and look at e-books instead.
That is wrong. E-books are limited, the internet is way too full of distraction for kids, and I believe that every person should go to the library more. Libraries are good. Books from the thrift store are great. Books from used book stores are great. Tangible books make a huge difference to me. Perhaps, if the option is available to you, walk or bike to the library- or carpool- but don't write it off, stay at home and stare at your computer screen instead. That is not good advice.
*Donated
My biggest pet peeve with this book was the recommendation to stop going to the library and look at e-books instead.
That is wrong. E-books are limited, the internet is way too full of distraction for kids, and I believe that every person should go to the library more. Libraries are good. Books from the thrift store are great. Books from used book stores are great. Tangible books make a huge difference to me. Perhaps, if the option is available to you, walk or bike to the library- or carpool- but don't write it off, stay at home and stare at your computer screen instead. That is not good advice.
*Donated
May 25, 2013
Kind of a waste of space of a book. I would think even in 2007 people would have known to turn off the tap while brushing their teeth, do some of their grocery shopping at local farmers markets, and to not have hotels wash their linens everyday. On top of the pretty lame tips, there are these 1-page wisdoms from celebrities on how they got in touch with the eco-friendly world: during their trip to Africa, when they bought a Prius (2x), or how they recycle at home.
"You don't have to change the way you live to recycle. It really isn't that big of a commitment." This is a good summary of how the "green" movement took a turn for the worse. Improving the health of the earth - the quality of the air, soil and water for generations should come, so that all living beings all over the world can enjoy it, is probably something worth committing too.
This book is trite.
"You don't have to change the way you live to recycle. It really isn't that big of a commitment." This is a good summary of how the "green" movement took a turn for the worse. Improving the health of the earth - the quality of the air, soil and water for generations should come, so that all living beings all over the world can enjoy it, is probably something worth committing too.
This book is trite.
July 9, 2014
This is not a book you should read if you are hoping to learn about a lot of different ways that you can live a greener life. It's basically a bunch of celebrities sharing a thing or two about what they do to be "green." I'm not sure that I really need to hear that Jennifer Aniston takes three minute showers to conserve water. That's great, but I'm not sure that it would move a reader to do the same or really teach someone how to live a greener life. I'm not sure that the average person who is interested in living a greener life needs to hear the call to action from a celebrity to change their ways. There are many other books out there that can teach you how to actually live a greener life than this one, so please look elsewhere.
August 2, 2009
When confronting issues of ecology and conservation, I can often feel hopeless -- that no matter what I do, it's not enough. Or my efforts make little effect at all. This book made me feel that one person can -- and should -- do what she can to help save the planet. Not only were there hundreds of ideas on how to make small changes, the impact of those changes was clearly spelled out. Now I now that by skipping the beef in one meal, I save 2500 gallons of water. The same kinds of comparisons are made in each and every section of this fabulous book. I have already recommended it to a dozen people!
November 22, 2017
I learned quite a lot of information about being environmentally conservative in this book. It's all about taking care of our planet and being responsible for our actions (waste created and how it's dealt with). I breezed through this book in a hour because it's laid out so simply!
There are 12 chapters and each one focuses on an aspect of our every day life in which we could take better care of our planet: home, entertainment, travel, communication & technology, school, work, shopping, health and beauty, sports, money & finance, building and going carbon neutral.
Because of this book I'm considering: 1) buying an electric car (Tesla model s is really cool!). 2)utilizing a hazardous waste disposal. 3) finding a disposal site for our glass recycling (our county's recycling collection no longer accepts glass).
I think every one should read this! We are all human. We all contribute to our earth's "health" whether negative or positive. We all should be environmentally conscious. A quote from the book:
"It doesn't matter whether your Democrat, Republican or Independent, as the environment and things like global warming know no political affiliation, but ti's true that they often become the political football and are treated as political sport. Politics will always be a part of the equation. Whom we elect to office on every level will always play into it all. The whole political system can be irritating sluggish, stalemated and the barriers and seem insurmountable. But then little pockets of inspiration slowly begin opening up, joining together and building a collective force that can suddenly give way to tremendous change." ~Robert Redford
There are 12 chapters and each one focuses on an aspect of our every day life in which we could take better care of our planet: home, entertainment, travel, communication & technology, school, work, shopping, health and beauty, sports, money & finance, building and going carbon neutral.
Because of this book I'm considering: 1) buying an electric car (Tesla model s is really cool!). 2)utilizing a hazardous waste disposal. 3) finding a disposal site for our glass recycling (our county's recycling collection no longer accepts glass).
I think every one should read this! We are all human. We all contribute to our earth's "health" whether negative or positive. We all should be environmentally conscious. A quote from the book:
"It doesn't matter whether your Democrat, Republican or Independent, as the environment and things like global warming know no political affiliation, but ti's true that they often become the political football and are treated as political sport. Politics will always be a part of the equation. Whom we elect to office on every level will always play into it all. The whole political system can be irritating sluggish, stalemated and the barriers and seem insurmountable. But then little pockets of inspiration slowly begin opening up, joining together and building a collective force that can suddenly give way to tremendous change." ~Robert Redford
December 21, 2021
God what a disappointment.
I have 3 MAJOR issues with this book though that at some points made my jaw drop in disbelief. I can't believe these things got past the first draft.
1) This book encourages readers to switch out prescription (yes, PRESCRIPTION) medication with 'natural alternatives'. Literal quote from the book: Consider using homeopathic medicines instead of over-the-counter or prescription pharmaceuticals to treat medical conditions. Wow. Just, wow. Please don't stop taking prescriptions for this B/S. This is such a dangerous recommendation and I cannot stress that enough.
2)While it never says that humans should switch to a vegetarian diet, the book says that dog owners should make their dogs try a vegetarian diet. Not only is this a terrible suggestion, it can be dangerous to your pet's health if not approved by a vet. Also it just seems pretty damn hypocritical when you don't suggest that humans (who waste a ton of meat) not switch, but instead their scapegoated pets make an entire lifestyle switch. Good lord.
3)Faux furs. If you're going to write a book about being eco-friendly, the least you could do is research and not recommend something that's long been debunked. Real fur has been proven to be much better for the environment and actually lasts longer than faux fur, which releases microplastics every time they're washed.
Just, be smart, research things. Don't take everything this book says as law.
Oh, bonus note: this book apparently has not a clue that 'Africa' is made up of 54 different countries with their own unique cultures. I swear to god if I have to read "...a person in Africa..." one more time....
I have 3 MAJOR issues with this book though that at some points made my jaw drop in disbelief. I can't believe these things got past the first draft.
1) This book encourages readers to switch out prescription (yes, PRESCRIPTION) medication with 'natural alternatives'. Literal quote from the book: Consider using homeopathic medicines instead of over-the-counter or prescription pharmaceuticals to treat medical conditions. Wow. Just, wow. Please don't stop taking prescriptions for this B/S. This is such a dangerous recommendation and I cannot stress that enough.
2)While it never says that humans should switch to a vegetarian diet, the book says that dog owners should make their dogs try a vegetarian diet. Not only is this a terrible suggestion, it can be dangerous to your pet's health if not approved by a vet. Also it just seems pretty damn hypocritical when you don't suggest that humans (who waste a ton of meat) not switch, but instead their scapegoated pets make an entire lifestyle switch. Good lord.
3)Faux furs. If you're going to write a book about being eco-friendly, the least you could do is research and not recommend something that's long been debunked. Real fur has been proven to be much better for the environment and actually lasts longer than faux fur, which releases microplastics every time they're washed.
Just, be smart, research things. Don't take everything this book says as law.
Oh, bonus note: this book apparently has not a clue that 'Africa' is made up of 54 different countries with their own unique cultures. I swear to god if I have to read "...a person in Africa..." one more time....
January 11, 2022
This book was published in 2007. Many things have changed since then. Some of the tips given are old news now (2022). One example is the recommendation to switch to compact fluorescent bulbs. Now LED lights are the most efficient way to provide lighting and no mention of them is made. There is a lot to digest in this book. Many are little things we can do to save our planet, which if done by many, will make a difference. Many of the tips include the cumulative effect if masses of folks did a particular thing. For example, "Turn off your power strips when not in use. The average American home continuously leaks about 50 watts of electricity. Eliminating that trickle would save $1 billion a year in wasted electricity." (page 39) Now, in 2022, I am already practicing many of the changes suggested here. Yes, there is much more that I can do, and this little book will help me move in that direction.
June 25, 2024
Greenwashing, outdated, repetitive, promotes homeopathy and had questionable statistics…if you are looking for a book that’s basically a waste of recycled paper that tells you it’s your fault for the planet being this way instead of the ppl that can actually make a change this is for you or if you are looking for a book where the privilege of rich ppl just ooze of the page then here you go…If you want rich ppl to tell you what they do to “save the planet” and “be green” and then turn around and fly absolutely everywhere in their private jets even tho it’s only a short drive or even walk away then this is perfect…perfect for ppl who want worse and more obvious advice than wikihow…I’m so glad I read this book…it definitely wasn’t a waste of my time…I definitely don’t want you to read it just so you can feel what I felt and waste your time as well so I’m not the only one…no…it’s definitely a great book that’s not boring or annoying whatsoever…
May 27, 2022
Amazing book on how to save our planet from Global Warming by taking small baby steps.Like Atomic Habits type book for eco-friendly habits. 100% Practical book.
For example ATM receipts are one of the top sources of litter on the Planet. If everyone in USA left their receipt in the machine, it would save a roll of paper more than 2 billion feet long enough to circle the equator fifteen times.
This book contains 12 chapters with 100+ short paragraphs on how to save our planet from our home to office. Short tips can create huge impact like turn off water while brushing your teeth.
Stop using plastic products use glass or ceramic products. We should use e-documents rather than paper for bank statements, mail letters etc.
This book will open your eyes and many business ideas for futuristic thinkers. Highly Recommended
Together we can do this. Go Green
Dil Nawaz
For example ATM receipts are one of the top sources of litter on the Planet. If everyone in USA left their receipt in the machine, it would save a roll of paper more than 2 billion feet long enough to circle the equator fifteen times.
This book contains 12 chapters with 100+ short paragraphs on how to save our planet from our home to office. Short tips can create huge impact like turn off water while brushing your teeth.
Stop using plastic products use glass or ceramic products. We should use e-documents rather than paper for bank statements, mail letters etc.
This book will open your eyes and many business ideas for futuristic thinkers. Highly Recommended
Together we can do this. Go Green
Dil Nawaz
March 20, 2017
Before I get too far into this review I should make clear that I'm a huge fan of sustainability and conservation. I'm even pursuing a graduate certificate in Environmental Sustainability right now. This is a good book and I definitely learned some things but I think this is another of those science books that needs to be dusted off every ten years in order to remain relevant with the stats. The book was honestly good enough that I would have given it a four star rating had they stuck to science and science based research, but they let a reference to homeopathic medicine (i.e. snake oil, voodoo, magic) slip into the book and that's an automatic negative one star. It also makes the other more seemingly science fact things that they talk about seem more and more like some crappy Facebook post from a pseudoscience website as a result. So, there is a lot of good stuff here, but I'm forced to say that you should validate what you take away from the book and make sure that it's accurate before you implement any significant changes to your lifestyle based on all of that.
It's a short read though and you should be able to get through it in a couple days at the most. I'll admit, I skipped the chapter on make up and cosmetics . . . you know, since I'm a dude and all.
It's a short read though and you should be able to get through it in a couple days at the most. I'll admit, I skipped the chapter on make up and cosmetics . . . you know, since I'm a dude and all.
October 10, 2018
Very nice collection of pieces of advice by famous actors and artists of what can be done to have a more positive impact on the environment. The compelling foreword is by Cradle to Cradle co-founder Bill McDonough and actress Cameron Diaz. Enjoyd reading the book, it shows that we are all in it together when it comes to bringing our lifestyle in line with the laws of Nature and to not only reduce our negative impact, but to be actually beneficial with what we do for Nature as the Cradle to Cradle design principles highlight. I'd read the book in connection with the 2 landmark books, "Cradle to Cradle" and "The Upcycle" by the Cradle to Cradle co-founders Michael Braungart and Bill McDonough.
March 17, 2019
I bought this book used at a university's book store, which is fitting given that the purpose of the book is to learn how to be more "green" or environmentally friendly. It's a quick read, and has what I have to assume adds up to hundreds of tips on how to reduce your footprint. It's a light, academic style of book which is different from what I normally read but still enjoyable and easy.
Good for anyone interested in learning a little more about how to help the planet without necessarily taking that deep dive.
Each chapter starts with a commentary on green-living from a well known public figure or celebrity, which was neat.
Good for anyone interested in learning a little more about how to help the planet without necessarily taking that deep dive.
Each chapter starts with a commentary on green-living from a well known public figure or celebrity, which was neat.
January 8, 2020
This book is for people, who are completely clueless about recycling and their carbon footprint.
The only good thing is does it remind people that environmentalism is a collective effort (i.e. everyone making a small change actually makes a large difference). This is a fact, that people would do well to keep in mind.
Mostly this book has just awful tips.
My pick: "If you buy baby lotion, aim for a container that can be reused and eventually recycled."
There's multiple tips like this, but for different products, why didn't Rogers just summarize these to: Avoid single-use containers.
The only good thing is does it remind people that environmentalism is a collective effort (i.e. everyone making a small change actually makes a large difference). This is a fact, that people would do well to keep in mind.
Mostly this book has just awful tips.
My pick: "If you buy baby lotion, aim for a container that can be reused and eventually recycled."
There's multiple tips like this, but for different products, why didn't Rogers just summarize these to: Avoid single-use containers.
March 21, 2023
There are so many ideas in here that it would be impossible to do all of them. So I recommend you start by doing things you know you could do.
Also since it was written in 2007 time has changed the environmental landscape.
I am not concerned about fax machines these days. I have not used one recently. I now convert a document to a pdf and send it attached to an email or message.
Nonetheless there are some great ideas here for someone that wants to treat our resources more kindly.
Grab a few and adopt them.
Also since it was written in 2007 time has changed the environmental landscape.
I am not concerned about fax machines these days. I have not used one recently. I now convert a document to a pdf and send it attached to an email or message.
Nonetheless there are some great ideas here for someone that wants to treat our resources more kindly.
Grab a few and adopt them.
February 2, 2020
Important topic, but the the information is basic and already dated.
Best thing about this book is that it's made from recycled materials and that I didn't buy it - I read a used copy from our Friends of the Library Bookstore.
Forget my crummy review and please be good to the planet today. 😊 Skip a straw. Avoid one-time-use items. Recycle what plastic you absolutely must use. And for the love of Pete, don't buy bottled water.
Best thing about this book is that it's made from recycled materials and that I didn't buy it - I read a used copy from our Friends of the Library Bookstore.
Forget my crummy review and please be good to the planet today. 😊 Skip a straw. Avoid one-time-use items. Recycle what plastic you absolutely must use. And for the love of Pete, don't buy bottled water.
August 1, 2020
Very enlightening book and inspired me to reduce my carbon footprint. As many people have stated, it is very repetitive and can be dull at times but nonetheless it's information that is useful to know. The book provides tons and tons of examples on the impact humans have on the Earth and maybe goes overboard at times but I think if more people were made aware of their actions and read this book then we'd be in a better place.
August 12, 2021
so much of it is no longer applicable, such as fax machines and eliminating an answering machine
almost every 'you could do this' has a shock value of 'and it would be as if every person in japan did it!' which got old after a few pages
and some tips just barely tried at all- 'get only one set of disposable silverware when you get your take-out lunch.' what about bringing your own and using zero disposables? this book is half trying.
almost every 'you could do this' has a shock value of 'and it would be as if every person in japan did it!' which got old after a few pages
and some tips just barely tried at all- 'get only one set of disposable silverware when you get your take-out lunch.' what about bringing your own and using zero disposables? this book is half trying.
September 14, 2021
not everything is relevant to today’s world but there are some really good tips in here on how to be better to the earth. still a great read and really good if you’re planning to buy a house. i feel like that was a really good point in the book.
i read it over a month’s time just bc i got busy but it’s a quick read
reading some of the other reviews, yes it is repetitive and slightly cheesy but if you’re just beginning to learn about recycling it’s a good start
i read it over a month’s time just bc i got busy but it’s a quick read
reading some of the other reviews, yes it is repetitive and slightly cheesy but if you’re just beginning to learn about recycling it’s a good start
September 9, 2020
So happy to be done reading this. Outdated and kind of obnoxious—BUT whether I liked it or not, it definitely did turn on my awareness to what I am and am not doing to conserve energy and minimize waste on this weird little planet. For that, I commend you, green book. Now off you go to the donation bin...reuse!
December 16, 2020
This book is dated 2007, and you can definitely tell. There are quite a few references that are obsolete, and many businesses as a matter of course use the tips they prescribe already. It also puts a lot of onus on the individual rather than the big businesses. But for the environmentally conscious individual, it's a good primer.
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