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Sleeping Naked Is Green: How an Eco-Cynic Unplugged Her Fridge, Sold Her Car, and Found Love in 366 Days
No one likes listening to smug hippies bragging about how they don't use toilet paper, or worse yet, lecturing about the evils of plastic bags and SUVs. But most of us do want to lessen our ecological footprint. With this in mind, Farquharson takes on the intense personal challenge of making one green change to her lifestyle every single day for a year to ultimately figure out what's doable and what's too hardcore.Vanessa goes to the extremes of selling her car, unplugging the fridge, and washing her hair with vinegar, but she also does easy things like switching to an all-natural lip balm. All the while, she is forced to reflect on what it truly means to be green.Whether confronting her environmental hypocrisy or figuring out the best place in her living room for a compost bin full of worms and rotting cabbage, Vanessa writes about her foray into the green world with self-deprecating, humorous, and accessible insight. This isn't a how-to book of tips, it's not about being eco-chic; it's an honest look at what happens when an average girl throws herself into the murkiest depths of the green movement.Reviews"A humorous, self-deprecating tale of the crazy things that happen to normal people when they take the green plunge. Vanessa Farquharson will have you wanting to try your own experiments, too, because she shows how easy some of these planet-saving changes can be."--Alisa Smith, co-author of "The 100-Mile A Year of Local Eating""By spending a year putting the planet's needs as a top priority, Vanessa Farquharson's search for love and connection leads her to happiness she never thought she could know. An entertaining approach to 'greenlightenment, ' "Sleeping Naked Is Green" will surely inspire other skeptics to find their inner environmentalist."--Gillian Deacon, author of "Green for Life""One step a day doesn't seem like much, but over the course of a whole year it adds up to a world of difference. This isn't just a well-written and fun book about going green, it is about watching a personal transformation. Being inspired was never so entertaining."--Lloyd Alter, TreeHugger.com
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
19 people are currently reading
684 people want to read
About the author
Vanessa Farquharson
5 books6 followersVanessa writes for the National Post, based in Toronto.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews
October 18, 2009
many things about this book were infuriating. let's start with the title. how the hell is sleeping naked "green"? in her entry on the subject, the author claims that eschewing pajamas means that she has fewer laundry items that need attention, thus saving water, i guess, when she does laundry. i find this really unconvincing. i mean, sleep naked if you want, & wear pajamas if you prefer, but the ludicrous/borderline salacious title was really just the tip of the iceberg for this extremely questionable book.
the premise is that the author, vanessa, will make one green environmentally-friendly change every day for a year. & she will start a blog in order to document these changes. it's not quite clear whether or not the challenge & blog were actually conceived to eventually be a book, or whether this was just an idea vanessa had one day, hatched from the goodness of her heart after seeing "an inconvenient truth". judging by the fact that she already has a literary agent during the challenge, despite not having written any other books, & the fact that she pitched the idea as a column to the newspaper she works for, you have to assume that there is some kind of mercenary eco-stunt element to the project, even if vanessa's concern about the environment is somewhat legit.
this book shares a common conceit with the equally execrable (that means "shitty") farewell my subuaru--both authors endeavor to prove that an "average" (read: white, educated, & class-privileged) citizen of a developed western nation (the united states in farewell my subaru & canada in this book) can make changes in their everyday lives that will benefit the environment & lead to greater sustainability without really having to seriously change their lifestyles too much. i mean, vanessa charts her eco-progress through daily blogging. she's not exactly interested in living out in the canadian prairie land in a grass hut with no electricity or wireless internet access. although she does cancel her cable service as part of green challenge. *slow clap*
canceling her cable service is pretty typical of the green challemges vanessa sets for herself. her very first daily challenge is to start using only recycled paper towels, & while she eventually weans herself off paper towels altogether, i fail to see this as some kind of laudable accomplishment. i guess a trip to the grocery store will show me that paper towels are still a very popular consumer product, but i've never used them in my life, so it's hard for me to see going without as any kind of big deal. i feel similarly about vanessa's numerous challenges that concern greening her beauty regimen. she starts using a natural organic bronzer (& i ask, why use bronzer at all?). she starts using all-natural lipstick (why use lipstick at all?). eventually she gives up make-up altogether, along with her straightening iron, hot showers (opting for lukewarm instead), & shaving her legs, & i guess maybe baby steps were necessary to get off mainstream beauty products altogether, but when the weaning is accompanied by much gnashing of teeth over how her pale un-lipsticked frizzy-haired visage is sure to be ignored by available menfolk & she won't land a boyfriend until the green challenge is over & she's able to be pretty again, & what's the point of using organic cotton sheets & sleeping naked when she's alone alone alooooone...well, it gets a little ridiculous.
much has also been made of the incredible amount of traveling vanessa did during her challenge--from toronto to england to the west bank to spain to toronto to portland, oregon, to toronto, plus a trip to new york, plus some time up at her parents' country cabin, plus booking another flight to spain shortly before the challenge ends. she makes sure to let us know that she "carbon-offset" all this flying using terrapass. oh! you "carbon-offset" it, which is basically the eco equivalent of plague-ridden europeans making a pilgrimage to the papal homestead in order to purchase the leftover goodwill of the saints to ensure their spots in the kigdom of heaven. it's just fucking ludicrous. don't think i don't feel bad for rolling my eyes this hard at someone who is at least trying--plenty of people make no effort whatsoever to consider the environmental impact of their choices, & plenty of people who have considered their environmental impact have gone to great lengths to justify not making greener choices, or to condemn other people's green choices are somehow fraught with great hypocrisy. it's not really a game i care to play, but it's almost impossible to take vanessa's book seriously. i'm sure she challenged herself a great deal & spent a lot of time re-drawing the boundaries of her comfort zone, & by all indications, her blog project inspired a fair few people to think about their carbon footprints in new ways, & that's all well & good. but at the end of the day, it strikes me as very insular & self-congratulatory, & the passages about falling in love with her boyfriend had the same ick factor that brought down a homemade life for me--there's just something very hubristic about including your first blush at new love in your memoir about something that really has fuck-all to do with your new love.
in sum: almost shockingly banal.
the premise is that the author, vanessa, will make one green environmentally-friendly change every day for a year. & she will start a blog in order to document these changes. it's not quite clear whether or not the challenge & blog were actually conceived to eventually be a book, or whether this was just an idea vanessa had one day, hatched from the goodness of her heart after seeing "an inconvenient truth". judging by the fact that she already has a literary agent during the challenge, despite not having written any other books, & the fact that she pitched the idea as a column to the newspaper she works for, you have to assume that there is some kind of mercenary eco-stunt element to the project, even if vanessa's concern about the environment is somewhat legit.
this book shares a common conceit with the equally execrable (that means "shitty") farewell my subuaru--both authors endeavor to prove that an "average" (read: white, educated, & class-privileged) citizen of a developed western nation (the united states in farewell my subaru & canada in this book) can make changes in their everyday lives that will benefit the environment & lead to greater sustainability without really having to seriously change their lifestyles too much. i mean, vanessa charts her eco-progress through daily blogging. she's not exactly interested in living out in the canadian prairie land in a grass hut with no electricity or wireless internet access. although she does cancel her cable service as part of green challenge. *slow clap*
canceling her cable service is pretty typical of the green challemges vanessa sets for herself. her very first daily challenge is to start using only recycled paper towels, & while she eventually weans herself off paper towels altogether, i fail to see this as some kind of laudable accomplishment. i guess a trip to the grocery store will show me that paper towels are still a very popular consumer product, but i've never used them in my life, so it's hard for me to see going without as any kind of big deal. i feel similarly about vanessa's numerous challenges that concern greening her beauty regimen. she starts using a natural organic bronzer (& i ask, why use bronzer at all?). she starts using all-natural lipstick (why use lipstick at all?). eventually she gives up make-up altogether, along with her straightening iron, hot showers (opting for lukewarm instead), & shaving her legs, & i guess maybe baby steps were necessary to get off mainstream beauty products altogether, but when the weaning is accompanied by much gnashing of teeth over how her pale un-lipsticked frizzy-haired visage is sure to be ignored by available menfolk & she won't land a boyfriend until the green challenge is over & she's able to be pretty again, & what's the point of using organic cotton sheets & sleeping naked when she's alone alone alooooone...well, it gets a little ridiculous.
much has also been made of the incredible amount of traveling vanessa did during her challenge--from toronto to england to the west bank to spain to toronto to portland, oregon, to toronto, plus a trip to new york, plus some time up at her parents' country cabin, plus booking another flight to spain shortly before the challenge ends. she makes sure to let us know that she "carbon-offset" all this flying using terrapass. oh! you "carbon-offset" it, which is basically the eco equivalent of plague-ridden europeans making a pilgrimage to the papal homestead in order to purchase the leftover goodwill of the saints to ensure their spots in the kigdom of heaven. it's just fucking ludicrous. don't think i don't feel bad for rolling my eyes this hard at someone who is at least trying--plenty of people make no effort whatsoever to consider the environmental impact of their choices, & plenty of people who have considered their environmental impact have gone to great lengths to justify not making greener choices, or to condemn other people's green choices are somehow fraught with great hypocrisy. it's not really a game i care to play, but it's almost impossible to take vanessa's book seriously. i'm sure she challenged herself a great deal & spent a lot of time re-drawing the boundaries of her comfort zone, & by all indications, her blog project inspired a fair few people to think about their carbon footprints in new ways, & that's all well & good. but at the end of the day, it strikes me as very insular & self-congratulatory, & the passages about falling in love with her boyfriend had the same ick factor that brought down a homemade life for me--there's just something very hubristic about including your first blush at new love in your memoir about something that really has fuck-all to do with your new love.
in sum: almost shockingly banal.
December 9, 2010
This book rubbed me the wrong way consistently, and on multiple levels. On the surface, it's an ideal blog-to-book deal: the author makes one "green change" (she never puts it in quotes, but it's just too perfectly calculated not to be informed by marketing) per day for a full year, thus raising awareness and illustrating how You Too can save the planet. In theory, this is fine. The writing is not bad either, though her bubbly, semi-thoughtless tone could use some work. However.
Here's the thing. Farquharson makes a whole lot of tiny, tiny changes, like using cloth napkins, using compact fluorescents, and turning down her heat. She makes a few large changes, like selling her car. Again, in theory, this is fine. Good for you.
Then she takes ten plane rides. Ten. She goes from Toronto to England to the West Bank to Madrid to Toronto to Oregon and back to Toronto. Later she goes to and from Banff, and to and from NYC. By the end of the book, she's planning another trip to Spain. She thinks about this guiltily, wondering whether she should do it, obviously knowing that planes cause huge damage, researches carbon offsets, concludes that they're basically indulgences--and books all the flights.
Now, ok. Take some plane rides if you must. We all do. Still, the contrast between the set of small green changes and the massive environmental harm of plane travel really negates the main argument of the book.
She's also coming at this from an extremely family-privileged point of view. The plane tickets are one thing--how does one afford that amount, exactly? Oh, you asked your mom to buy some of the tickets! Then she spontaneously buys a house in Toronto. Seriously? In your late twenties? While single, and working as a JOURNALIST? "Throw money at it," while never mentioned explicitly (well, of course), is a pretty problematic underlying assumption.
Finally, there's the "tee hee! boys!" problem. It is not "green" to date or not date particular people, ok? This is really off-putting.
2.5 at best.
Here's the thing. Farquharson makes a whole lot of tiny, tiny changes, like using cloth napkins, using compact fluorescents, and turning down her heat. She makes a few large changes, like selling her car. Again, in theory, this is fine. Good for you.
Then she takes ten plane rides. Ten. She goes from Toronto to England to the West Bank to Madrid to Toronto to Oregon and back to Toronto. Later she goes to and from Banff, and to and from NYC. By the end of the book, she's planning another trip to Spain. She thinks about this guiltily, wondering whether she should do it, obviously knowing that planes cause huge damage, researches carbon offsets, concludes that they're basically indulgences--and books all the flights.
Now, ok. Take some plane rides if you must. We all do. Still, the contrast between the set of small green changes and the massive environmental harm of plane travel really negates the main argument of the book.
She's also coming at this from an extremely family-privileged point of view. The plane tickets are one thing--how does one afford that amount, exactly? Oh, you asked your mom to buy some of the tickets! Then she spontaneously buys a house in Toronto. Seriously? In your late twenties? While single, and working as a JOURNALIST? "Throw money at it," while never mentioned explicitly (well, of course), is a pretty problematic underlying assumption.
Finally, there's the "tee hee! boys!" problem. It is not "green" to date or not date particular people, ok? This is really off-putting.
2.5 at best.
July 6, 2015
Sleeping Naked is Green is not some mind-numbing, educational nonfiction. It's fun, funny, and relatable! The author wasn't quite sold on the environmentalist movement, so she decides to give it a try for research's sake. What can be done easily? What habits would be lasting? What applies to single people? To families? People in apartments vs. houses? She pretty much gives everything a try from using recycled products, to cutting out disposables, to selling her car. And she shares all of her trials and successes with honesty and humor.
Each chapter of Sleeping Naked is Green starts with the list of all of the changes the author implemented during each month. Then for some of those days she goes into details about why she made the change, how she made it, or just a story about what happened that day. Other times, it's just something quick and funny. There's a great balance between personal anecdotes, scientific information, and practical green living tips.
What I loved best about Sleeping Naked is Green is that it's not a how-to manual on living a green lifestyle and it's not preachy about all of the things that you need to be doing to decrease your carbon footprint. It's just one woman's adventure in making changes, both large and small, over the course of one year. She stumbles, makes ridiculous changes (drinking booze from the bottle!), and ultimately learns what she can live with and what she can't live without. And most importantly, she learns more about environmental issues and finds local resources that she may have never discovered otherwise. It just goes to show that we can all do our part.
Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.
Each chapter of Sleeping Naked is Green starts with the list of all of the changes the author implemented during each month. Then for some of those days she goes into details about why she made the change, how she made it, or just a story about what happened that day. Other times, it's just something quick and funny. There's a great balance between personal anecdotes, scientific information, and practical green living tips.
What I loved best about Sleeping Naked is Green is that it's not a how-to manual on living a green lifestyle and it's not preachy about all of the things that you need to be doing to decrease your carbon footprint. It's just one woman's adventure in making changes, both large and small, over the course of one year. She stumbles, makes ridiculous changes (drinking booze from the bottle!), and ultimately learns what she can live with and what she can't live without. And most importantly, she learns more about environmental issues and finds local resources that she may have never discovered otherwise. It just goes to show that we can all do our part.
Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.
August 27, 2014
NO! This book is not for adults only. It is in fact a very serious environmental book giving you wonderful tips on how to reduce that hideous environmental footprint you are leaving on the earth. Like not using toilet paper for one, and switching to environmentally friendly condoms (yes, there is such a thing).
Vanessa, the author, decides to take on a year long challenge, to be more green, and blog about it - Green as a Thistle. Yes, this blog/challenge idea has been overdone lately, but, I still love it. It's like reality TV. They are both easy to relate to and attempt on your own. She starts out by eliminating paper towel, changing the lightbulbs, eating a few organic things - the easy stuff. However, she quickly finds herself getting caught up in green thinking and starts to make bigger changes; unplugging her fridge, getting rid of her car, building a worm composter and storing it in her tiny apartment.
She ends up making 366 changes (on account of the leap year) and most of them were pretty small and unoriginal. The book filters out most of the boring stuff and leaves in the more interesting blog posts and her extended commentary. Some of the more memorable ones included, as above mentioned, the no toilet paper. After extensive research she modifies this to something along the lines of no toilet paper for 'number one'. I'm sure you are wondering about the earth friendly condoms I mentioned in the opening as well? The book does go off on small tangents dealing with the impact of certain changes on Vanessa's personal life. Being a young single gal she does have a love life, a self described small and uneventful one...which is more chic lit than fifty shades. The title is one of the comments she often makes through the book, mostly that she wants to have a reason to sleep naked (other than the environmental one) haha.
Personally, I did not find the green aspect all that informative. I just mean there was nothing that I haven't heard of before (including reusable menstrual pads) or incorporated into my life already. What I did find interesting was her experiences; how some changes were easy, how some changes were hard, how she managed to find a green accountant, etc. It was interesting to see her change from an enviro-cynic to an enviro-mentalist. Near the end you could really tell that every decision she was making dealt with the environmental impact first, then cost or looks or whatever. Which is why it was surprising that she admitted after the challenge she went back to many of her old behaviours. :(
Having said that, I would recommend this book to anyone with a green interest and especially those without...so, pretty much everyone.
http://bookwormsfeastofbooks.blogspot...
Vanessa, the author, decides to take on a year long challenge, to be more green, and blog about it - Green as a Thistle. Yes, this blog/challenge idea has been overdone lately, but, I still love it. It's like reality TV. They are both easy to relate to and attempt on your own. She starts out by eliminating paper towel, changing the lightbulbs, eating a few organic things - the easy stuff. However, she quickly finds herself getting caught up in green thinking and starts to make bigger changes; unplugging her fridge, getting rid of her car, building a worm composter and storing it in her tiny apartment.
She ends up making 366 changes (on account of the leap year) and most of them were pretty small and unoriginal. The book filters out most of the boring stuff and leaves in the more interesting blog posts and her extended commentary. Some of the more memorable ones included, as above mentioned, the no toilet paper. After extensive research she modifies this to something along the lines of no toilet paper for 'number one'. I'm sure you are wondering about the earth friendly condoms I mentioned in the opening as well? The book does go off on small tangents dealing with the impact of certain changes on Vanessa's personal life. Being a young single gal she does have a love life, a self described small and uneventful one...which is more chic lit than fifty shades. The title is one of the comments she often makes through the book, mostly that she wants to have a reason to sleep naked (other than the environmental one) haha.
Personally, I did not find the green aspect all that informative. I just mean there was nothing that I haven't heard of before (including reusable menstrual pads) or incorporated into my life already. What I did find interesting was her experiences; how some changes were easy, how some changes were hard, how she managed to find a green accountant, etc. It was interesting to see her change from an enviro-cynic to an enviro-mentalist. Near the end you could really tell that every decision she was making dealt with the environmental impact first, then cost or looks or whatever. Which is why it was surprising that she admitted after the challenge she went back to many of her old behaviours. :(
Having said that, I would recommend this book to anyone with a green interest and especially those without...so, pretty much everyone.
http://bookwormsfeastofbooks.blogspot...
March 19, 2016
Não é literatura, pois não... Mas é divertido e agradável de ler (sobretudo para "gaijas", o meu marido não achou grande piada). E acho que funciona bem ao nível da consciencialização da importância das acções individuais, que muitas vezes parecem inconsequentes. Mesmo para quem, como eu, já pratica diversas "atitudes ecológicas" (leite biológico, reciclagem, compostagem, entre outras), é sempre possível ir um pouco mais além... Recomendo, particularmente para mulheres.
February 27, 2011
Sleeping Naked is Green / 978-0-547-07328-6
Vanessa is an average woman in a big city - having recently seen "An Inconvenient Truth", she feels compelled to do *something* to help the environment, but she has no idea where to start. She decides that she will make one "green" change a day, for a whole year, and then decide which changes she can keep and which she can't. And, to keep her motivated, she'll keep a daily online blog so that she won't be able to drop out of the challenge without disappointing her readers. Over the course of her year, her changes run the gamut from the small (changing to recycled paper towels), the slightly silly (sleeping naked to reduce laundry loads), and the extreme (turning off her refrigerator and oven - entirely).
"Sleeping Naked is Green" isn't a compilation of Vanessa's blog posts (which is what I'd expected), but rather a sort of running diary on Vanessa's life during her challenge, as she struggles to green her life, keep a daily blog, keep her job, and maintain her relationships with her friends and family. Each chapter opens with the breakdown of her changes for the entire month (i.e. February 1st, Switch to recycled paper towels; February 2nd, Push back the thermostat; etc.), which is then followed by little diary-like entries for interesting/pertinent days of that month (each chapter usually deals with approximately 10 days of that month). Along the way, we read about Vanessa's green changes, their impact on her life, her musings on the green movement, and a great deal about the inner workings of her personal and professional life.
Even without the "educational" aspect, "Sleeping Naked is Green" is worth a second look simply because it is such an interesting read. Vanessa is a skilled writer, and readers will laugh at her green woes as her sister sets her apartment on fire (she hadn't realized the kettle was electric), as her cat accidentally dives into a 'fermenting' toilet bowl and proceeds to redecorate the apartment, and as her homemade worm compost bin accidentally falls apart on the living room carpet. Vanessa notes wryly how often she exchanges congratulations from other "greenies" on 'lack of body odor', and she marvels at the internal changes to her own body when she adjusts to life without (much) heating and air conditioner and subsequently notices "hot flashes" in other people's homes. As such, the book is an interesting and humorous read from start to finish, even without such green information as the fact that many non-organic beekeepers kill their bees at the end of each season, whereas most organic beekeepers do not because getting a hive certified as organic is an expensive investment. I, for one, did not know that and I found the information to be very interesting. I was also interested by Vanessa's approval of the Diva Cup - it's certainly nice to here a testimonial from someone who has tried the product in question. Not that Vanessa name drops - in fact, most of her changes don't provide a brand name at all which is somewhat reassuring as she doesn't come off like a commercial.
This isn't, though, the perfect book for everyone. Vanessa is a somewhat self-described cynic and while her self-deprecating tone maintains a careful lightheartedness necessary for such a serious and contentious topic (she frets that Al Gore will not approve of her recycled paper towels, preferring free-trade organic wool towels, hand-woven by workers who are both fairly paid and local, and delivered to the store via bicycle courier), she can also be extremely critical of the green movement, in ways that can be extremely insightful and pointed (she notes with disdain the overabundance of plastic water bottles and free pens and armbands at green trade shows and recycling initiatives) but also sometimes in ways that seem rather shallow and childish. In fact, Vanessa can sometimes, despite her good intentions at cheerful snark, come off pretty sneeringly with regards to people she deems too idealistic ('eager beavers'), too serious ('serious activists'), and too fashion-impaired (she hates Teva, Birkenstock, and Gore-Tex). There's a lot of overtones a la "Sex and the City", with Vanessa spending entire paychecks on a single pair of pants, with her hoping for a "signature blue Tiffany" canvas bag, and with her bemoaning, a little too frequently at times, her lack of a boyfriend.
Vanessa's light-hearted approach to her challenge can also sometimes undermine her message - pledging to drink local alcohol, organic produce, and "happy meat" only goes so far when she also admits to eating out more frequently on purpose because restaurants are an exception to her rules. Offsetting her flights with carbon credits is a good move, but most of her flights aren't business flights that are necessary for her job, but are rather vacations - Vanessa does a *lot* of flying to Europe, Israel, and other destinations, largely to visit friends and relatives. She does, however, go to the bathroom *before* she gets on the plane, so that the extra gasoline required to carry her full bladder cross-country isn't expended. It's difficult to gauge how I feel about this: on the one hand, I applaud Vanessa's attempt to be more conscious of how her choices affect the environment; on the other hand, I feel that flying to Spain so she can kiss her new boyfriend (who is himself flying in from Israel) is a bit much. One thing is clear - Vanessa is equally unsure how *she* feels about all this, and I definitely believe her heart is in the right place. And if I can't give up my oven and fridge, who am I to criticize her flight choices?
In terms of environmental impact, some of Vanessa's choices are questionable. She switches to a cash-only, exact-change policy over credit cards, but I personally suspect that the environmental impact of cash is greater than that of credit cards. She continues to eat meat (which raises a lot of ire on her blog from vegetarians) and signs up for a butchering class to raise her own awareness of where her food comes from, but she shuns any rennet-based cheese because she finds the process "horrifying" when she finally learns where her cheese comes from. She drives and flies to multiple locations for various "awareness tours", when it seems like staying home and reading a book might be a better choice. For that matter, which is worse: reading this book in paper format or reading it in electronic format and consuming electricity? The fact that there are no easy answers to these dilemmas is something Vanessa emphasizes and I agree with her assessment that, really, the important thing is to at least try.
"Sleeping Naked is Green" isn't for everyone. Vanessa can be endearingly shallow, a little too metropolitan, and a bit too willing to bend or break her rules when it suits her. On the other hand, she is willing to make a massive amount of serious and brave changes, including giving up her fridge and living with butter bells, warm soy milk, and water vases filled with carrots. She is earnest, witty, amusing, and more than willing to make digs at herself and to laugh at her own mistakes and foibles. Despite my expectation that there would be nothing new here (how many green books can a person read before they know it all?), many of her changes are thought-provoking things I had not previously considered. Bio-degradable pens, kitchen scrubs made from recycled plastic, organic honey to save the bee population, Diva Cups, and corn-based cat litter are just a few of the wonders that await the reader in this clever, provocative, and amusing read.
However, be aware: I don't think this book was printed on recycled, unbleached paper.
NOTE: This review is based on a free Advance Review Copy of this book provided through Amazon Vine.
~ Ana Mardoll
Vanessa is an average woman in a big city - having recently seen "An Inconvenient Truth", she feels compelled to do *something* to help the environment, but she has no idea where to start. She decides that she will make one "green" change a day, for a whole year, and then decide which changes she can keep and which she can't. And, to keep her motivated, she'll keep a daily online blog so that she won't be able to drop out of the challenge without disappointing her readers. Over the course of her year, her changes run the gamut from the small (changing to recycled paper towels), the slightly silly (sleeping naked to reduce laundry loads), and the extreme (turning off her refrigerator and oven - entirely).
"Sleeping Naked is Green" isn't a compilation of Vanessa's blog posts (which is what I'd expected), but rather a sort of running diary on Vanessa's life during her challenge, as she struggles to green her life, keep a daily blog, keep her job, and maintain her relationships with her friends and family. Each chapter opens with the breakdown of her changes for the entire month (i.e. February 1st, Switch to recycled paper towels; February 2nd, Push back the thermostat; etc.), which is then followed by little diary-like entries for interesting/pertinent days of that month (each chapter usually deals with approximately 10 days of that month). Along the way, we read about Vanessa's green changes, their impact on her life, her musings on the green movement, and a great deal about the inner workings of her personal and professional life.
Even without the "educational" aspect, "Sleeping Naked is Green" is worth a second look simply because it is such an interesting read. Vanessa is a skilled writer, and readers will laugh at her green woes as her sister sets her apartment on fire (she hadn't realized the kettle was electric), as her cat accidentally dives into a 'fermenting' toilet bowl and proceeds to redecorate the apartment, and as her homemade worm compost bin accidentally falls apart on the living room carpet. Vanessa notes wryly how often she exchanges congratulations from other "greenies" on 'lack of body odor', and she marvels at the internal changes to her own body when she adjusts to life without (much) heating and air conditioner and subsequently notices "hot flashes" in other people's homes. As such, the book is an interesting and humorous read from start to finish, even without such green information as the fact that many non-organic beekeepers kill their bees at the end of each season, whereas most organic beekeepers do not because getting a hive certified as organic is an expensive investment. I, for one, did not know that and I found the information to be very interesting. I was also interested by Vanessa's approval of the Diva Cup - it's certainly nice to here a testimonial from someone who has tried the product in question. Not that Vanessa name drops - in fact, most of her changes don't provide a brand name at all which is somewhat reassuring as she doesn't come off like a commercial.
This isn't, though, the perfect book for everyone. Vanessa is a somewhat self-described cynic and while her self-deprecating tone maintains a careful lightheartedness necessary for such a serious and contentious topic (she frets that Al Gore will not approve of her recycled paper towels, preferring free-trade organic wool towels, hand-woven by workers who are both fairly paid and local, and delivered to the store via bicycle courier), she can also be extremely critical of the green movement, in ways that can be extremely insightful and pointed (she notes with disdain the overabundance of plastic water bottles and free pens and armbands at green trade shows and recycling initiatives) but also sometimes in ways that seem rather shallow and childish. In fact, Vanessa can sometimes, despite her good intentions at cheerful snark, come off pretty sneeringly with regards to people she deems too idealistic ('eager beavers'), too serious ('serious activists'), and too fashion-impaired (she hates Teva, Birkenstock, and Gore-Tex). There's a lot of overtones a la "Sex and the City", with Vanessa spending entire paychecks on a single pair of pants, with her hoping for a "signature blue Tiffany" canvas bag, and with her bemoaning, a little too frequently at times, her lack of a boyfriend.
Vanessa's light-hearted approach to her challenge can also sometimes undermine her message - pledging to drink local alcohol, organic produce, and "happy meat" only goes so far when she also admits to eating out more frequently on purpose because restaurants are an exception to her rules. Offsetting her flights with carbon credits is a good move, but most of her flights aren't business flights that are necessary for her job, but are rather vacations - Vanessa does a *lot* of flying to Europe, Israel, and other destinations, largely to visit friends and relatives. She does, however, go to the bathroom *before* she gets on the plane, so that the extra gasoline required to carry her full bladder cross-country isn't expended. It's difficult to gauge how I feel about this: on the one hand, I applaud Vanessa's attempt to be more conscious of how her choices affect the environment; on the other hand, I feel that flying to Spain so she can kiss her new boyfriend (who is himself flying in from Israel) is a bit much. One thing is clear - Vanessa is equally unsure how *she* feels about all this, and I definitely believe her heart is in the right place. And if I can't give up my oven and fridge, who am I to criticize her flight choices?
In terms of environmental impact, some of Vanessa's choices are questionable. She switches to a cash-only, exact-change policy over credit cards, but I personally suspect that the environmental impact of cash is greater than that of credit cards. She continues to eat meat (which raises a lot of ire on her blog from vegetarians) and signs up for a butchering class to raise her own awareness of where her food comes from, but she shuns any rennet-based cheese because she finds the process "horrifying" when she finally learns where her cheese comes from. She drives and flies to multiple locations for various "awareness tours", when it seems like staying home and reading a book might be a better choice. For that matter, which is worse: reading this book in paper format or reading it in electronic format and consuming electricity? The fact that there are no easy answers to these dilemmas is something Vanessa emphasizes and I agree with her assessment that, really, the important thing is to at least try.
"Sleeping Naked is Green" isn't for everyone. Vanessa can be endearingly shallow, a little too metropolitan, and a bit too willing to bend or break her rules when it suits her. On the other hand, she is willing to make a massive amount of serious and brave changes, including giving up her fridge and living with butter bells, warm soy milk, and water vases filled with carrots. She is earnest, witty, amusing, and more than willing to make digs at herself and to laugh at her own mistakes and foibles. Despite my expectation that there would be nothing new here (how many green books can a person read before they know it all?), many of her changes are thought-provoking things I had not previously considered. Bio-degradable pens, kitchen scrubs made from recycled plastic, organic honey to save the bee population, Diva Cups, and corn-based cat litter are just a few of the wonders that await the reader in this clever, provocative, and amusing read.
However, be aware: I don't think this book was printed on recycled, unbleached paper.
NOTE: This review is based on a free Advance Review Copy of this book provided through Amazon Vine.
~ Ana Mardoll
June 7, 2022
Funny and quick read
March 30, 2016
Once upon a time, I was a greenie. I was in love with the idea of saving the planet, and the words "organic," "eco," and "vegan" gave me a little thrill. However, I was kind of bad at it, and I'd buy fast food and hope none of my vegan mafia friends ever saw me in the drive-thru.
This author reminds me of this version of me from ten-plus years ago.
She seems like she's in love with the idea of being green, instead of actually feeling like she's ready to make these green changes. Like, she switches to recycled paper towels and vegan floss right away. That reminds me of something I would do, buy something because it says it's green instead of because I felt it was really making an impact.
However, it took awhile, but I started to develop a little empathy for her. I've tried to be green and a vegan, and I've also done things way outside of my comfort zone, like move to Asia. I get taking on something for a set time and then "cheating" or lusting after your old life.
The part that really knocked this down a couple stars was her approach to cheating -- admitting she lied to her blog readers, saying things like "I know, I know, flying to Banff to a writer's conference, but I really want to! So too bad, Mother Nature!" (that's a paraphrase, but not far off). She seemed to take on her cheating in a way that was like - who cares? Not me! Also, she was quite judgmental of others. I believe she was taking joy in being cynical or sardonic, but it came across as disconnected and superior -- she mocked a company for putting a lot of effort into making a green tube of lipstick, saying something along the lines of "Not sure a tube of lipstick is really worth spending hours and hours obsessing over -- better to spend that time figuring out the oil industry?" Which might have been sarcastic after her obsessive yearlong green blog, but it just came across as judgey.
And the last nail in the coffin was this thread she wove through the whole book of how desperately she wanted a man. At one point, she said something about how going green and saving the Earth means nothing if she doesn't have someone to make her smoothies, fix broken appliances, and give her a massage. WTF?? Maybe this also hit a little too close to home, but at the time I was a "green" "vegan" I was also lovelorn and thinking my life was not fulfilled since I was single. Eventually, I met someone and wanted to slap that version of myself in the face for being so self-pitying. To watch this woman challenge herself to try new things and be a better version of herself, only to be like, "Screw nature, I need a man!" was disheartening.
I finished this book basically as a hate read. The concluding message won me over a little bit, but it was hard to empathize with this "eco-cynic" whose true objective was to find a man and make babies. And yes, like some others mentioned, big eyeroll to the house her parents bought her and the fact she couldn't even go meat or alcohol free for short periods of time.
This author reminds me of this version of me from ten-plus years ago.
She seems like she's in love with the idea of being green, instead of actually feeling like she's ready to make these green changes. Like, she switches to recycled paper towels and vegan floss right away. That reminds me of something I would do, buy something because it says it's green instead of because I felt it was really making an impact.
However, it took awhile, but I started to develop a little empathy for her. I've tried to be green and a vegan, and I've also done things way outside of my comfort zone, like move to Asia. I get taking on something for a set time and then "cheating" or lusting after your old life.
The part that really knocked this down a couple stars was her approach to cheating -- admitting she lied to her blog readers, saying things like "I know, I know, flying to Banff to a writer's conference, but I really want to! So too bad, Mother Nature!" (that's a paraphrase, but not far off). She seemed to take on her cheating in a way that was like - who cares? Not me! Also, she was quite judgmental of others. I believe she was taking joy in being cynical or sardonic, but it came across as disconnected and superior -- she mocked a company for putting a lot of effort into making a green tube of lipstick, saying something along the lines of "Not sure a tube of lipstick is really worth spending hours and hours obsessing over -- better to spend that time figuring out the oil industry?" Which might have been sarcastic after her obsessive yearlong green blog, but it just came across as judgey.
And the last nail in the coffin was this thread she wove through the whole book of how desperately she wanted a man. At one point, she said something about how going green and saving the Earth means nothing if she doesn't have someone to make her smoothies, fix broken appliances, and give her a massage. WTF?? Maybe this also hit a little too close to home, but at the time I was a "green" "vegan" I was also lovelorn and thinking my life was not fulfilled since I was single. Eventually, I met someone and wanted to slap that version of myself in the face for being so self-pitying. To watch this woman challenge herself to try new things and be a better version of herself, only to be like, "Screw nature, I need a man!" was disheartening.
I finished this book basically as a hate read. The concluding message won me over a little bit, but it was hard to empathize with this "eco-cynic" whose true objective was to find a man and make babies. And yes, like some others mentioned, big eyeroll to the house her parents bought her and the fact she couldn't even go meat or alcohol free for short periods of time.
April 15, 2011
Summary: Vanessa, an Arts & Life reporter for the National Post in Toronto, undertakes one of those "every day for a year" challenges in which she makes a "green" change to her life. These range from the simple (switching to all-natural lip balm) to the extreme (unplugging her fridge).
I was sold on this the minute I read the word "Farch" - "the season that includes February and March, when it's not really winter any more but it's definitely not spring". Farquharson made me laugh so often, and in a non-fiction, blog-to-book exercise that's really important. I felt a strong connection to her (not only because we both have a passion for organisation and highlighters) but because she let us into her life without oversharing.
The book didn't feature all of the 365 days, a very wise editorial choice (there's not very much to say about "order photos in bulk" as a resolution), but probably about 150 of them over the year. She includes some very funny stories: her horror at discovering that the one and only rental car available was an SUV; the poignancy of someone becoming "vegan by default" due to a general dislike of meat and eggs; the true glory of showering in the dark.
Some of the green changes she makes are so blindingly obvious I'm surprised they needed to be made (why was she using an air purifier before?), but kudos to someone who underwent a serious lifestyle change, was honest about it, and has inspired others to do so.
I've made a selection of changes (small ones!) from the book which I will try to use myself, and I've noted down a few of the blogs she frequented. So I've managed to take away from this book in an educational as well as an entertainment way.
I was sold on this the minute I read the word "Farch" - "the season that includes February and March, when it's not really winter any more but it's definitely not spring". Farquharson made me laugh so often, and in a non-fiction, blog-to-book exercise that's really important. I felt a strong connection to her (not only because we both have a passion for organisation and highlighters) but because she let us into her life without oversharing.
The book didn't feature all of the 365 days, a very wise editorial choice (there's not very much to say about "order photos in bulk" as a resolution), but probably about 150 of them over the year. She includes some very funny stories: her horror at discovering that the one and only rental car available was an SUV; the poignancy of someone becoming "vegan by default" due to a general dislike of meat and eggs; the true glory of showering in the dark.
Some of the green changes she makes are so blindingly obvious I'm surprised they needed to be made (why was she using an air purifier before?), but kudos to someone who underwent a serious lifestyle change, was honest about it, and has inspired others to do so.
I've made a selection of changes (small ones!) from the book which I will try to use myself, and I've noted down a few of the blogs she frequented. So I've managed to take away from this book in an educational as well as an entertainment way.
September 24, 2012
Quite an inspiring book. I like to be eco-friendly, but I cant say I'd do everything that she did (Diva cup? Ahh I may be a looong way off from that). I do admire all of her changes though and I appreciate that she wasn't preachy or blindly hypocritical about the tasks. While being green is great, there are a lot of grey areas and I dont think that you should put every aspect of your life on hold or fully cancel just to fulfil a green initiative. I think that its important to do what we can, push ourselves a bit, limit, reduce and manage our waste and consumption, but dont push it to the point of being unhappy or depriving yourself of everything in life. I liked that she acknowledged that thinking about every green aspect of every single thing can drive you a little (or a lot!) crazy.
I also did get a number of great ideas from the book, and some websites (how great are www.goodsearch.com and www.freerice.com!) and I have already started trying to do my little bit, and I have been inspired in many other ways. Overall a pretty great book and I would definitely recommend it to someone wanting to make some positive changes in their lives.
Her blog isnt quite up to date but I'm happy that I was updated on certain aspects (dont want to spoil anything) but the list of every change is posted quite nicely on her website and I plan to send that link out to some friends to give them a few ideas on ways that they can move towards eco-friendliness.
I also did get a number of great ideas from the book, and some websites (how great are www.goodsearch.com and www.freerice.com!) and I have already started trying to do my little bit, and I have been inspired in many other ways. Overall a pretty great book and I would definitely recommend it to someone wanting to make some positive changes in their lives.
Her blog isnt quite up to date but I'm happy that I was updated on certain aspects (dont want to spoil anything) but the list of every change is posted quite nicely on her website and I plan to send that link out to some friends to give them a few ideas on ways that they can move towards eco-friendliness.
August 9, 2009
I'm another one who wanted to love this book, but didn't. The concept (and the blog) are great - make 366 "green" changes over the course of a (leap) year and write about them as a "normal" person, i.e. what worked and what didn't.
The changes vary from switching to recycled paper towels to unplugging the fridge and getting rid of the car.
As a blog, the day to day changes and commentary works. As a book - we hear about day 30 and 35, but not the days in between. It left me with questions. (Conversely, it could have been a very very long book if it were intended to instruct.)
From an environmental side - Vanessa made some amazing changes. But admits at the end of the year that she intends to plug in her fridge and buy Cheetos. (For the record, I've never unplugged my fridge.)
In the end, its about balance. What works for one person may not be a change another can make.
Oh, and the love senario? meh.
I would, on the other hand, recommend it as light reading and good for creating discussions. But I wanted to be inspired. I wasn't.
The changes vary from switching to recycled paper towels to unplugging the fridge and getting rid of the car.
As a blog, the day to day changes and commentary works. As a book - we hear about day 30 and 35, but not the days in between. It left me with questions. (Conversely, it could have been a very very long book if it were intended to instruct.)
From an environmental side - Vanessa made some amazing changes. But admits at the end of the year that she intends to plug in her fridge and buy Cheetos. (For the record, I've never unplugged my fridge.)
In the end, its about balance. What works for one person may not be a change another can make.
Oh, and the love senario? meh.
I would, on the other hand, recommend it as light reading and good for creating discussions. But I wanted to be inspired. I wasn't.
February 14, 2010
OK, I really like this book. It reminds me of SO many things I've lost sight of in my haste to begin my professional career - slightly important things like the environment and my health.
There are lots of things in here that will never ever be ok in my book - a washcloth and water bottle will NOT replace TP for me. EVER (but I do try to only use recycled TP at home). I also don't know if I'll ever be able to do without a car, although I sincerely would love to. But other small changes would be so easy to implement - I think I'm willing to give the Diva cup a try during the next "lunar cycle" and a friendly reminder that buying things used is almost ALWAYS a better choice than skipping down to the local box-store monstronsity for a new one is...well...good to hear!
Almost makes me want to move to Canada...wait - there are SO many reasons to move to Canada anyway!!!!
There are lots of things in here that will never ever be ok in my book - a washcloth and water bottle will NOT replace TP for me. EVER (but I do try to only use recycled TP at home). I also don't know if I'll ever be able to do without a car, although I sincerely would love to. But other small changes would be so easy to implement - I think I'm willing to give the Diva cup a try during the next "lunar cycle" and a friendly reminder that buying things used is almost ALWAYS a better choice than skipping down to the local box-store monstronsity for a new one is...well...good to hear!
Almost makes me want to move to Canada...wait - there are SO many reasons to move to Canada anyway!!!!
April 4, 2013
Vanessa Farquharson amusingly relates, through what I assume are select edited blog posts, her attempt to become more environmentally conscious over the course of a year by making one small green change each day. About nine months in, she's dismayed to realize it's a leap year, and therefore she must make 366 changes, not 365. She perseveres and is successful. Many of her changes are fairly inconsequential, but many, such as unplugging her refrigerator, are more dramatic. Reading Sleeping Naked is Green is a great way to realize just how un-green you are (or at least it was for me). She includes monthly lists of her changes if you want to emulate her actions.
May 24, 2011
Honestly, I remember the blog being more interesting. I like that there is a complete list at the beginning of each month so readers can follow along. Yet, the book itself seems indulgent in a way that I don't remember the blog being. Also, I recall Vanessa as being a far more engaging blogger than book author. Her story doesn't sustain itself well. Nevertheless, it's an okay read. I probably wouldn't recommend it to anyone and I definitely had points where I had to encourage myself to push through.
July 26, 2014
Whatever. It was cute enough but I got super bored after the first third or so. Same stuff every blog entry. It's hard to be an environmentalist and not be a hypocrite. We should keep trying anyway. Little changes do matter. Got it. Never made it to the part where she falls in love but that's ok. I've got more interesting stuff to read this summer...
September 19, 2013
On the whole I like her sense of humor and auto sarcasm. And the format of short journal entries is refreshing. However, there are so many hilarious things one can say on the subject of green living without turning into a bitch...
July 12, 2009
A girly urban version of Farewell My Subaru. Not quite as funny but there are a couple of chuckles and lots of green ideas. Check out her blog at greenasathistle.com
March 20, 2012
A bit too precious for me.
July 28, 2016
I totally enjoyed reading this book! She approached "going green" with honesty & a touch of humour while trying to find a balance in her life & lifestyle choices.
December 10, 2017
Carbon footprints, global warming, green living — are these phrases an inconvenient truth that keep you awake at night, wondering how you can live in a more environmentally friendly way? For many people, merely contemplating these things is enough to make them give up trying to help the earth before they even start! But before you allow yourself to become discouraged, there is a book out there that will inspire you to make changes in your life that are beneficial to the earth;
Sleeping Naked Is Green: How an Eco-Cynic Unplugged Her Fridge, Sold Her Car, and Found Love in 366 Days
(Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; 2009) by Vanessa Farquharson.
This amusing and chatty book is both educational and irreverent, putting to death the notion that all environmentalists and “greenies” take themselves far too seriously. The idea behind writing and publishing this book was to provide inspiration to everyman, to convince the public that we all can make small changes to our lives that result in less damage to the environment, and to show people how easy (or difficult) those changes are to make.
Farquharson is a journalist with a taste for the finer things in life. But unable to shake her growing environmental worries three weeks after watching Al Gore film’s An Inconvenient Truth, she decides to change her life to become more environmentally friendly. Her strategy is to make one change each day for one year, announce it to the public on a blog created specifically for this purpose, and to write about that change; how it helped preserve the environment and how disruptive to her life that particular change ended up being. The author makes small changes, like giving up paper towels, to large changes, like unplugging her refrigerator (something that I have long contemplated doing, but cannot due to the wildlife roaming my apartment). Farquharson’s cat also makes changes, like changing to corn cob litter, which the author enthuses about. (After years of pet care experience, I always recommend corn cob litter to all my cat and small animal clients as being the best litter to use in small NYC apartments.)
Farquharson’s rather dry and sometimes sardonic sense of humor combined with a wonderful storytelling instinct makes her book more than just a “how to” guide or checklist; it is a personal journal/journey; informative and interesting in turns, and always amusing. I often felt like we were friends, sitting in a coffee shop and talking about a variety of topics from how to save the environment without smelling bad to looking for love. She writes about how certain “green” lifestyle changes didn’t work out so well for her (but could work better for other people) and discusses what I think is her strongest criticism of the green movement: the inability of individuals to calculate how important each lifestyle change is to the environment, which leaves those who wish to change their habits floundering around in the dark trying to decide which changes have the most impact. I agree with Farquharson that it would be immensely satisfying to be able to visualize the importance of one’s changes, and would likely broaden the appeal of the environmental movement overall.
There were a few lifestyle changes that Farquharson made that were not well explained, and I mention these because I was genuinely confused, not because I am trying to split hairs. The author doesn’t say how giving up chewing gum or stopping Q-tips use help save the environment, for example, and I always thought that using a microwave was more environmentally-friendly than using either an electric or gas-powered range, yet she advocates not purchasing one (but there is no explanation why).
This humorous book provides an accessible and realistic look into one woman’s struggle to make personal lifestyle changes that benefit her community and her world. Even though this book originally was published as a series of blog entries, this is the first example of a book that I’ve read that successfully makes that magical leap from blog to book. Additionally, unlike a blog, it is possible to read this book on the subway or an airplane, or when you lack internet access. And without getting eyestrain. Since I am also trying to “reduce, reuse and recycle,” and because I think you will really like this book, I am happy to mail my copy of Sleeping Naked Is Green to the first person who emails me or comments here asking for it.
NOTE: Originally published at scienceblogs.com on 28 June 2009.
This amusing and chatty book is both educational and irreverent, putting to death the notion that all environmentalists and “greenies” take themselves far too seriously. The idea behind writing and publishing this book was to provide inspiration to everyman, to convince the public that we all can make small changes to our lives that result in less damage to the environment, and to show people how easy (or difficult) those changes are to make.
Farquharson is a journalist with a taste for the finer things in life. But unable to shake her growing environmental worries three weeks after watching Al Gore film’s An Inconvenient Truth, she decides to change her life to become more environmentally friendly. Her strategy is to make one change each day for one year, announce it to the public on a blog created specifically for this purpose, and to write about that change; how it helped preserve the environment and how disruptive to her life that particular change ended up being. The author makes small changes, like giving up paper towels, to large changes, like unplugging her refrigerator (something that I have long contemplated doing, but cannot due to the wildlife roaming my apartment). Farquharson’s cat also makes changes, like changing to corn cob litter, which the author enthuses about. (After years of pet care experience, I always recommend corn cob litter to all my cat and small animal clients as being the best litter to use in small NYC apartments.)
Farquharson’s rather dry and sometimes sardonic sense of humor combined with a wonderful storytelling instinct makes her book more than just a “how to” guide or checklist; it is a personal journal/journey; informative and interesting in turns, and always amusing. I often felt like we were friends, sitting in a coffee shop and talking about a variety of topics from how to save the environment without smelling bad to looking for love. She writes about how certain “green” lifestyle changes didn’t work out so well for her (but could work better for other people) and discusses what I think is her strongest criticism of the green movement: the inability of individuals to calculate how important each lifestyle change is to the environment, which leaves those who wish to change their habits floundering around in the dark trying to decide which changes have the most impact. I agree with Farquharson that it would be immensely satisfying to be able to visualize the importance of one’s changes, and would likely broaden the appeal of the environmental movement overall.
There were a few lifestyle changes that Farquharson made that were not well explained, and I mention these because I was genuinely confused, not because I am trying to split hairs. The author doesn’t say how giving up chewing gum or stopping Q-tips use help save the environment, for example, and I always thought that using a microwave was more environmentally-friendly than using either an electric or gas-powered range, yet she advocates not purchasing one (but there is no explanation why).
This humorous book provides an accessible and realistic look into one woman’s struggle to make personal lifestyle changes that benefit her community and her world. Even though this book originally was published as a series of blog entries, this is the first example of a book that I’ve read that successfully makes that magical leap from blog to book. Additionally, unlike a blog, it is possible to read this book on the subway or an airplane, or when you lack internet access. And without getting eyestrain. Since I am also trying to “reduce, reuse and recycle,” and because I think you will really like this book, I am happy to mail my copy of Sleeping Naked Is Green to the first person who emails me or comments here asking for it.
NOTE: Originally published at scienceblogs.com on 28 June 2009.
January 26, 2021
I enjoyed this book 5 stars' worth. I went into it with low expectations, despite a hazy recommendation from my mom, who'd decided to move it off her bookshelf. Vanessa starts off talking about all her favorite reality TV stars, and, as I've never liked reality TV, I didn't think we'd get along. She goes on despairingly about tote bags for 3 pages and I had to remind myself that this book was published a decade ago, and plenty of people still don't use totes, anyway. Every time she referenced Al Gore and his influential documentary that I've never seen, I mentally updated the book by substituting "Greta Thunberg."
And yet . . . it's a great read. This book clearly comes from a blog, but Vanessa takes such a sardonic, sarcastic, idealist-facing-the-constraints-of-her-idealism tone that, as she moves away from Tyra Banks and toward vermiculture, I was swept up in her year-long journey. (I should probably call her "Farquharson" in this review, but it's hard to use someone's last name when they give you such insight into their identity.) As someone already moving toward sustainability, I found a lot of her early changes and swaps less interesting, but her motivation to keep changing in bigger and better ways was, frankly, inspiring. Somewhere a couple months into her challenge she moves from bamboo toothbrushes to those drastic choices to re-think her life that form the cover's tagline: unplugging her fridge, selling her car, and other big, difficult-to-imagine changes. I was so curious to read how she handled the lack of refrigerator by the time she decided to do it. As to the "found love" part of her year, I want to say: I loved and related to that story; something similar happened to me.
I missed the photos she referenced attaching to some blog posts. I know this published version curates her best writing, but the daily changes that don't get described feel easy to overlook. I fully plan to go back through the list of each month's swaps and contemplate: could I do that? Vanessa is lucky to live in Toronto; where I am in the United States, there's nowhere to buy groceries within walking distance, so that cuts out my own chances of going without a fridge and car. But plenty of the small changes, the efforts to buy something made from recycled materials or purchase products without plastic packaging or use biodegradable products (biodegradable products that define biodegradable), those are options I can achieve. I wish Vanessa had made a forceful statement that using up what you have is the most sustainable choice, whether that be digging out hand lotion that's been sitting in the back of a cupboard in your bathroom or simply refraining from buying new clothes because you still have plenty that fit.
If you, like me, are on your own sustainable journey and feel inspired, these conversations about individual lifestyle changes are happening more and more on YouTube and Instagram. I'd recommend checking out Shelbizleee or Sustainably Vegan (both of whom write sustainable blogs) for recommendations of 2021 products, resources, and data about sustainability and the ways we, as individual consumers, can change the market. But Vanessa's Green as a Thistle blog still exists, so she's still adding her voice to this dialogue, too!
And yet . . . it's a great read. This book clearly comes from a blog, but Vanessa takes such a sardonic, sarcastic, idealist-facing-the-constraints-of-her-idealism tone that, as she moves away from Tyra Banks and toward vermiculture, I was swept up in her year-long journey. (I should probably call her "Farquharson" in this review, but it's hard to use someone's last name when they give you such insight into their identity.) As someone already moving toward sustainability, I found a lot of her early changes and swaps less interesting, but her motivation to keep changing in bigger and better ways was, frankly, inspiring. Somewhere a couple months into her challenge she moves from bamboo toothbrushes to those drastic choices to re-think her life that form the cover's tagline: unplugging her fridge, selling her car, and other big, difficult-to-imagine changes. I was so curious to read how she handled the lack of refrigerator by the time she decided to do it. As to the "found love" part of her year, I want to say: I loved and related to that story; something similar happened to me.
I missed the photos she referenced attaching to some blog posts. I know this published version curates her best writing, but the daily changes that don't get described feel easy to overlook. I fully plan to go back through the list of each month's swaps and contemplate: could I do that? Vanessa is lucky to live in Toronto; where I am in the United States, there's nowhere to buy groceries within walking distance, so that cuts out my own chances of going without a fridge and car. But plenty of the small changes, the efforts to buy something made from recycled materials or purchase products without plastic packaging or use biodegradable products (biodegradable products that define biodegradable), those are options I can achieve. I wish Vanessa had made a forceful statement that using up what you have is the most sustainable choice, whether that be digging out hand lotion that's been sitting in the back of a cupboard in your bathroom or simply refraining from buying new clothes because you still have plenty that fit.
If you, like me, are on your own sustainable journey and feel inspired, these conversations about individual lifestyle changes are happening more and more on YouTube and Instagram. I'd recommend checking out Shelbizleee or Sustainably Vegan (both of whom write sustainable blogs) for recommendations of 2021 products, resources, and data about sustainability and the ways we, as individual consumers, can change the market. But Vanessa's Green as a Thistle blog still exists, so she's still adding her voice to this dialogue, too!
December 2, 2018
I really liked this book. That said, I really like a lot of books.
In order to prevent myself from buying that adorable reading log with cacti and llamas on it from Powell's, I'm going to finally start using goodreads to write reviews. So, here it goes.
Farquharson presents a cute, relatable, and comic account of her experience trying to live an environmentally friendly lifestyle. There are bits and pieces of the story that really have nothing to do with environmentalism. Including the author's struggles to find a boy who will love her despite her unshaven legs and only slightly effective all-natural deodorant. However, they at least give the reader an insight into her personality and a social context for her environmental misadventures.
This book is certainly not a "how-to save the planet one day at a time" so much as it is a look at the stigmas and struggles of putting the planet first. For me, the most important topics that Farquharson covers are related to the environmentalists she describes. She talks a lot about the hypocrisy she encounters in the green community and its consequential guilt and confusion. As Farquharson becomes acquianted with "real environmentalists" she notes that they can be smug and sometimes aggressive. (C'mon guys, where'd the peace and love mantra go?) For me - and other self-concious people like me - it can be hard to dive right into being a shameless eco-warrior because there's a pressure to be the greenest possible while also not being too much of a nature-freak. Farquharson finds that she's becoming entrenched in the competitiveness of it and even calls herself out on her developing smugness as well as the fact that she's becoming "smug about not being smug."
One of the drawbacks a reader might come across is the author's hypocrisy (she did take ten transcontinental flights just over the course of her green year). An additional turn-off would be her cushy financial status.
Hardcore environmentalists might condemn Farquharson for her flaws, but I've decided she earns forgiveness based on her ownership of the hypocrisy. (And the fact that no one is free from it, not even the most natural of the hippies). Her financial status might also cause some resentment in the green community. Short of donating her life-savings and inheritance to charity, selling her new three-story house and walking off into the frigid Canadian wilderness there's not much you could reasonably expect her to do about the status she was obviously born into. She seems like a decent person trying to do good for the world. (Maybe she is judgmental at times.) Even if she had to consume a lot of apparently-just-okay Ontario wine to do it, that's still something worth rewarding.
For the sake of time, the homework I'm currently avoiding, and to stop myself before I start ranting...
I think "Sleeping Naked is Green" deserves at least 4 out of 5 stars. Although, the fourth one is mostly for entertainment value.
In order to prevent myself from buying that adorable reading log with cacti and llamas on it from Powell's, I'm going to finally start using goodreads to write reviews. So, here it goes.
Farquharson presents a cute, relatable, and comic account of her experience trying to live an environmentally friendly lifestyle. There are bits and pieces of the story that really have nothing to do with environmentalism. Including the author's struggles to find a boy who will love her despite her unshaven legs and only slightly effective all-natural deodorant. However, they at least give the reader an insight into her personality and a social context for her environmental misadventures.
This book is certainly not a "how-to save the planet one day at a time" so much as it is a look at the stigmas and struggles of putting the planet first. For me, the most important topics that Farquharson covers are related to the environmentalists she describes. She talks a lot about the hypocrisy she encounters in the green community and its consequential guilt and confusion. As Farquharson becomes acquianted with "real environmentalists" she notes that they can be smug and sometimes aggressive. (C'mon guys, where'd the peace and love mantra go?) For me - and other self-concious people like me - it can be hard to dive right into being a shameless eco-warrior because there's a pressure to be the greenest possible while also not being too much of a nature-freak. Farquharson finds that she's becoming entrenched in the competitiveness of it and even calls herself out on her developing smugness as well as the fact that she's becoming "smug about not being smug."
One of the drawbacks a reader might come across is the author's hypocrisy (she did take ten transcontinental flights just over the course of her green year). An additional turn-off would be her cushy financial status.
Hardcore environmentalists might condemn Farquharson for her flaws, but I've decided she earns forgiveness based on her ownership of the hypocrisy. (And the fact that no one is free from it, not even the most natural of the hippies). Her financial status might also cause some resentment in the green community. Short of donating her life-savings and inheritance to charity, selling her new three-story house and walking off into the frigid Canadian wilderness there's not much you could reasonably expect her to do about the status she was obviously born into. She seems like a decent person trying to do good for the world. (Maybe she is judgmental at times.) Even if she had to consume a lot of apparently-just-okay Ontario wine to do it, that's still something worth rewarding.
For the sake of time, the homework I'm currently avoiding, and to stop myself before I start ranting...
I think "Sleeping Naked is Green" deserves at least 4 out of 5 stars. Although, the fourth one is mostly for entertainment value.
March 24, 2018
Writing a blog about one green change you make to your life each day is a cute idea, but really isn't all that realistic. Then writing a book about writing that blog is even more oddball. I naively assumed the author would feature the changes she made each day and briefly discuss why. Really, however, the book is a memoir about writing the blog and desperately trying to think up more green ideas, even if they are stupid. Just one example is sleep; sleep is "green" because you don't produce carbon while doing so. Sigh. The author also spends a lot of the book pining over boyfriends or lack thereof. And worst of all, the author really doesn't seem to know anything about environmental issues, aside from what she learns reading other blogs. Do you really want to get advice on making meaningful environmental changes in your life from someone who writes "words like dioxin tend to bore me" (p. 181)? If you are interested in the carbon footprint of various different things, I'd recommend the much more intelligent, but still readable How Bad Are Bananas? by Mike Berners-Lee.
July 8, 2023
This was not quite as informative as I expected it to be, and yet, I learned much from it! I had knowledge of several of her changes and had never pursued investing in them in the past. Although I have incorporated recycling and some other environmental-impact-lessening changes into my daily life, I could certain do more and have a short list (Many many fewer than 366 changes!) to pursue in the near future. Though I am aware there are many of the larger changes (no vacuum, no refrigerator, for example) I just can't wrap my head around, there are always more I could do.
Interestingly, I also gained more confirmation for those changes I've already made, especially with regard to organic food, etc! So...bonus!
Also, I will read about anything Ms. Farquharson writes in the future! (Except horror. I just cannot do horror... :)) I truly appreciate her sense of humor and vocabulary!! And...what a title! LOL
Interestingly, I also gained more confirmation for those changes I've already made, especially with regard to organic food, etc! So...bonus!
Also, I will read about anything Ms. Farquharson writes in the future! (Except horror. I just cannot do horror... :)) I truly appreciate her sense of humor and vocabulary!! And...what a title! LOL
November 17, 2016
Vanessa Farquharson heeft een jaar lang elke dag een nieuwe groene verandering in haar leven doorgevoerd en daar een blog over bijgehouden. In een soort dagboekvorm lees je hoe ze dit ervaren heeft. Het boek was bij vlagen hilarisch en soms ook wel echt leerzaam.
Wat ik jammer vind is dat Farquharson vaak open deuren intrapt, zoals de groene verandering 'lampen uitdoen als ik wegga' - ik bedoel, ja duh - of ze heeft meteen een extreme groene verandering, zoals de koelkast uitzetten. Of ze komt met veranderingen die echt niet ter zake doen, zoals zich inschrijven op een groene datingsite.
Toch zaten er nog goede tips bij. Zoals gerecycled toiletpapier gebruiken - waarom doe ik dat nog niet? Meteen mee begonnen.
Wat ik jammer vind is dat Farquharson vaak open deuren intrapt, zoals de groene verandering 'lampen uitdoen als ik wegga' - ik bedoel, ja duh - of ze heeft meteen een extreme groene verandering, zoals de koelkast uitzetten. Of ze komt met veranderingen die echt niet ter zake doen, zoals zich inschrijven op een groene datingsite.
Toch zaten er nog goede tips bij. Zoals gerecycled toiletpapier gebruiken - waarom doe ik dat nog niet? Meteen mee begonnen.
July 15, 2017
I gave this three stars instead of two (which would be more accurate in terms of my feelings while reading this) because I guess I'm the wrong audience. What I have in common with Vanessa is the white, middle class born-into-an-affluent country background, but apart from that? I just didn't get half of her "problems" like with the hair drying because - oh horror - her frizzy hair will not attract men!
What bothered me most was her attitude towards other people trying to live green and vegans. Clearly, if you don't appreciate the pleasures of fine wine and buying cheap clothes made in sweatshops, if you don't know anything about what her and her friends consider pop culture, you're just devoid of humour and ridiculous.
What bothered me most was her attitude towards other people trying to live green and vegans. Clearly, if you don't appreciate the pleasures of fine wine and buying cheap clothes made in sweatshops, if you don't know anything about what her and her friends consider pop culture, you're just devoid of humour and ridiculous.
August 3, 2019
At first I was put off by the somewhat self-conscious "blog-type" writing, the overuse of humor and cynicism, as if Farquharson were really too cool for all of this. But as her green challenge continued and her writing became more honest, more committed to green living even through her frustration and fatigue, I found myself enjoying each chapter and thinking about each choice. Also, I'm usually impatient and bored with love stories, but I actually rooted for her and wondered with some suspense which of the men she knew would be "the one!"
I flinched at some of the green choices - not using toilet paper for number one? Taking a butchering class? - but admired her passion and persistence. I may try making some of these changes myself, and I hope Farquharson writes another book.
I flinched at some of the green choices - not using toilet paper for number one? Taking a butchering class? - but admired her passion and persistence. I may try making some of these changes myself, and I hope Farquharson writes another book.
January 4, 2023
Cringey eye rolls, two thumbs down. Read this book for the first time years ago. Ventured a re-read because I thought I'd get some ideas for reducing waste and generally being more aware of my environmental impact. Came away with a couple good ideas and a whole lot of irritation. The author comes across as immature and obnoxiously self-absorbed. Paints herself as a card-carrying environmentalist and yet in one year she takes multiple international vacations and impulsively buys and moves into a house (on her parents' dime). She sells her car and unplugs her fridge, but refuses to do basic things like eat fully vegetarian and acts like giving up her blow dryer is some admirable hardship. Save your time and skip this one.
September 3, 2024
Each chapter was split up as a month. Each month had little changes the author did to live a more green life. The book is based off of a blog the author did back in the day.
There were some good ideas in there that I will implement and it gave a humourous approach to living a more sustainable life.
It was a very easy read but I didn't like her attitude towards the moment. She had a few takes that were just kind of annoying and out of touch.
I enjoyed reading it but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone
There were some good ideas in there that I will implement and it gave a humourous approach to living a more sustainable life.
It was a very easy read but I didn't like her attitude towards the moment. She had a few takes that were just kind of annoying and out of touch.
I enjoyed reading it but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone
January 21, 2017
It was interesting to see what happened behind the blog. And I love that Vanessa Farquharson want only to share her own experience and not to preach you what you shouldn't do anymore, like many other eco blogs.
But what annoys me while reading was that she not explain all changes. Will be more helpful for readers from other countries if she is give not just a list with changes, but explain them with few words. Some of them was confusing and incomprehensible for me.
But what annoys me while reading was that she not explain all changes. Will be more helpful for readers from other countries if she is give not just a list with changes, but explain them with few words. Some of them was confusing and incomprehensible for me.
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