L Is for Lifestyle: Christian Living That Doesn't Cost the Earth

by Ruth Valerio

You wake up and jump in the shower. The water is hot and the house warm. You eat breakfast: coffee made with water boiled in the kettle, and cereal with milk kept cool in the fridge. You throw out the foil trays from last night's takeaway before jumping in the car and setting off for work. You've done nothing unusual, but already your lifestyle choices have had an impact on people and the environment across the world. So how can we live more responsibly? In this A-Z, Ruth Valerio highlights the main threats to people and our planet, God's beloved creation. She shows us how, by making small changes to our lifestyle, we can learn the secret of a life that is both fair and simple.

Genres: Christian Non Fiction, Christian

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really useful summary of ways that you can make a difference as an individual with many references to other books and relevant organisations. Definitely one to refer back to with easy to refer to summaries at the end of each chapter - and very clever how the author managed to find a chapter title to match every letter in the alphabet!

[gigi · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE LOVE LOVE.
As a 16 year old girl obsessed with God’s creation and politics (2 crazy things LOL) I absolutely loved Dr. Valerio’s writing 🩵.
I especially loved how there are action points at the end of each chapter WHICH ARE REASONABLE AND EASY TO DO!!! People often talk about how we need to change the world before it’s too late but fail to give you options that you can actually achieve. ESPECIALLY if you’re still an underage gal living at home.
So people of all ages I implore you to read!!! Loved how everything was linked to our faith but I think that a non-Christian can read this, enjoy it and learn a lot from it :)

[Carolyn Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most recent (2019) edition of this books brings it into the 2020s and is entirely relevant to the culture we find ourselves in. The book is both challenging and encouraging: challenging in the many aspects of ones lifestyle that has an impact on the environment and the human population, but also encouraging as a lot of the lifestyle changes that are suggested are easily implemented. The book widens our perspective and gives a very practical outlook on how ones everyday life can change the world.

[Celeste Majcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was every bit as good as I had been promised it would be. A must read for all, especially in the current state of the world. The short chapters make it really easy to read while cooking and cleaning, and sorting the chapters according to the alphabet has successfully helped me memorise the key features of each, which makes going back to it considerably easier.

[Frans Kempe · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was not really what i had expected. The author put most of the focus on trying to pursuade the reader to choose a life style "protecting the Earth" . This is done by using alot of information and facts mostly from the UK, which was outdated in the version i read. The Bible and Christian way was described well in some chapters but absent and sidelined in most.

[Helena Cookman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful read

Want to read something that makes you think twice and evaluate your lifestyle, actions and belief? Then this book is for you! Ruth puts so many important world issues into perspective that will make you want to make a change for the greater good.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informed, chatty and yet serious, with interesting ideas for actions. I found the a-z format really good for reading short sections then taking time to reflect and absorb.

[Greta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good introduction for anyone wanting to live a more sustainable and simpler lifestyle. It balances Christian values with fact-based science and research.

[Evelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative and interesting.

[Estelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book with useful action points and not just theories

[HelenA33 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Challenging and inspiring me to make small changes in my lifestyle to help the planet. Understandably, I found some of it a bit dated now as technology and the world seem to be moving so fast, but I now know since reading the book that there is a later edition. I would read it again (and that’s rare for me to want to do!)

[Valerie Comer · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is your lifestyle like? If you live in North America or in Europe, I can make a guess. Sure, it will vary depending on your income and specific location, but most of us (those with regular internet access) are fairly comfortable. Do we ever stop to wonder how our lifestyle impacts people in other parts of the world?

A few years ago lots of us would have been astonished at the thought but, more recently, we’ve become aware of how interconnected all the countries really are. Still, sometimes we shove those thoughts onto the back burner and ignore them, preferring to go our merry ways and not think too much about it. Thinking might require changes.

The author not only embraces those changes but leads the charge in challenging the rest of us, as well. L is for Lifestyle seems at first like a cute alphabet book with chapters like “A is for Activists” and “G is for Globalization” and “S is for Simplicity.” It didn’t take me long to realize that the author hadn’t stretched the concepts (much!) to fit the alphabet, but that each chapter contains a targeted examination of the subtitle: “Christian living that doesn’t cost the earth.” Each also ends with suggested action points.

If you’ve ever wondered whether little steps add up, if anything you do personally even matters, I suggest you pick up L is for Lifestyle.

[Aimee Packwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is probably a very good book if you have never read anything about ethical living before. The problem I had with it, was the majority of the book was devoted to explaining why we need to live an ethical life, what the problems were with climate change etc- I was already sold on those arguments, which was why I bought the book-I didn't need to be persuaded.There were lots of ideas for ethical living- but in my attempts to live ethically I have heard them all before, so there was noting new (shower instead of bath, buy fairtrade etc) and not much to challenge me. But perhaps I am not the target audience, as I already try to live ethically (try being the operative word), perhaps it is very useful for people just starting out.

[Jonathan Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very challenging book that aims to
change you. Coming from a Biblical starting point, Ruth uses facts and practical examples to show us what the needs are in the world: and how we can make a difference.
Not an easy read in 2 ways: the alphabet style makes it lack flow; and the stats and stories are incredibly disturbing.
However, I think it is an essential read.

I read the 1st and 3rd editions. I wish she had kept Dewi’s introduction from the 1st edition. One of Wales greatest prophets. Greatly missed.

[Neil Hollow · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book to dip into rather than read from cover to cover. Ruth came to speak at my church and present our first eco-congregation award. She's a brilliant communicator and this is a great book, highly recommend it. She's also helped with some advice to our book published and written a very nice review of it as well.