What's the best green book to give your dad on Father's Day?

Mother's Day is already behind us and now it's time for fathers to get some attention. Father's Day will be celebrated in many courtiers (including the U.S.) on June 15 and it's time to start thinking - what gift will make your father happy? If bringing something to your mom was relatively easy, I bet finding your dad the right gift is much harder (at least in my case..).

As always I think a book is a great gift and a green book is even better, benefiting both your father and the environment! To help you finding the right green book to give this Father's Day, we went over all the books reviewed and covered on our blog and chose ten books that we think will suit ten different types of dads we detailed below.

I must admit that this time it was a bit harder than finding the right books for Mother's Day, as it seems that the majority of green books are targeted at women. Nevertheless, there are still plenty of great green books I'm sure dads will enjoy. So check out the our list and we hope you find the right green book to your dad!


1. For the father who likes to build and renovate

Green Building & Remodeling for Dummies by Eric Corey Freed

Does your father like to renovate the house on the weekends? is he dreaming about the building a new house? if you answer 'yes' to any of these questions, that's a book he will need to do it in a green manner.

This book, written by Eric Corey Freed, an architect from San Francisco, CA, is "your friendly, step-by-step guide to every facet of this Earth-friendly method of construction." The book provides an introduction to every facet of green building, from start to finish, including the materials, architecture, and construction methods of green building and remodeling for both homeowners and professionals such as architects, interior designers, and contractors.

2. For the thinking father

Deep Economy: The Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future

This is a book for all the fathers who don't get everything for granted and always like to learn about the alternatives, especially when it comes to the models that dictate our lives.

In this powerful and provocative manifesto, Bill McKibben offers the biggest challenge in a generation to the prevailing view of our economy. McKibben puts forward a new way to think about the things we buy, the food we eat, the energy we use, and the money that pays for it all. The book opens up a different way of thinking about happiness, individuality, community and ambition -- all while providing solid info on the most important issues facing us as a society today.


3. For the escapist father

How to live off-grid: Journeys Outside the System by Nick Rosen

If your father ever considered leaving his bourgeois life and living off the grid, this guide is a must for him. If he haven't, after reading the book, he might will..

In "How to live off-grid", Nick Rosen goes into every detail of off-grid living. He provides not only the inspiration to get off the beaten track and find your own space, but also countless resources to help you do just what he suggests. To gather the information to write this book, Nick took to the road with his wife and baby daughter in a converted care bus fuelled by vegetable oil and sun. They toured the UK meeting with off-gridders of all sorts. Their stories are fascinating, inspiring and sometimes quite far-out. But they all have some lessons to pass on to those of us who until now have only dream about being self-sufficient.

4. For the techie father who is interested in energy

Earth: The Sequel by Fred Krupp and Miriam Horn

This is the perfect book for all the techie fathers out there that new technologies make them feel woozy (from the good reasons) and will be happy to learn a thing or two about clean energy.

This new book, co-authored by Environmental Defense Fund's (EDF) Fred Krupp and Miriam Horn, brings a fresh and well researched perspective on “the race to reinvent energy and stop global warming.” 'Earth: The Sequel' is not only a primer on the various new technologies being developed to produce clean energy, reduce pollution and increase efficient energy use, but also a celebration of the spirit of entrepreneurship around these developments.

5. For the father with farming ambitions

Farewell My Subaru: An Epic Adventure in Local Living by Doug Fine

Here's a book about the experiences of a guy who exchanged the suburbs he grew up in into a farm life in New Mexico. Maybe it will convince your father to follow suit..

Like many Americans, Doug Fine enjoys his creature comforts, but he also knows full well they keep him addicted to oil. So he wonders: Is it possible to keep his Netflix and his car, his Wi-Fi and his subwoofers, and still reduce his carbon footprint? In an attempt to find out, Fine up and moves to a remote ranch in New Mexico, where he brazenly vows to grow his own food, use sunlight to power his world, and drive on restaurant grease. Both a hilarious romp and an inspiring call to action, 'Farewell, My Subaru' makes a profound statement about trading today’s instant gratifications for a deeper, more enduring kind of satisfaction.

6. For the corporate father

Climate Change: What's Your Business Strategy? by Andrew J. Hoffman and John G. Woody

Does your father work in a managerial position in the corporate world? this book is will be of interest to any decision maker in the corporate world. Eventually it might be that not only your father will thank you for this book, but all of her company..

Believe or not - climate change is one of the most pressing challenges facing the world today. Most of all, it is quickly becoming a crucial business issue. But how will you and your company respond? You need fast and reliable advice from the world's foremost experts. 'Climate Change' delivers just that: four strategies from two MBA professors with broad and deep experience with environmental issues.

7. For the busy father

The Armchair Environmentalist by Karen Christensen

Everyone are busy, and so is your probably your father. This is the book to show them how going green is not necessarily time consuming.

The Armchair Environmentalist is “a three minute-a-day action plan to save the world.” It focuses on what individuals can do to reduce their use of energy and water and create a healthier environment at home and at work. It is an easy read and chocked full of cute pictures and graphics. Printed on 100% recycled paper, this little book can fit easily into a briefcase or handbag, making it that much easier to take the info "to go".

8. For the nature-loving father

Naked in the Woods – Joseph Knowles and the Legacy of Frontier Fakery by Jim Motavalli

If your father enjoys spending time in nature and prefer the woods over the living room, he will enjoy this story about a unique person who went naked into the wilderness to survive for two months without any food, human contact, tools or ready made shelter.

Joseph Knowles was a forty-five-year-old part-time painter, ex-Navy man, friend of the Sioux, and onetime hunting guide who stepped-nearly naked-into the woods to live off the land and his own devices. In 'Naked in the Woods', environmental author and journalist Jim Motavalli not only portrays faithfully the life and times of Knowles, and the enthusiasm and controversy around his wilderness exploits, but also opens a window to the era.

9. For the father who wants to be a green parent

The Green Parent: A Kid-Friendly Guide to Earth-Friendly Living

This book is for fathers (and mothers) who would like to green up their family's life style and teach their children about living green.

'The Green Parent' covers a variety of subjects that have environmental impacts from parenting points of view - energy, water, garbage, pets, transportation, work, shopping and many more. Each chapter is dedicated to a different subject and includes useful tips, recommendations how to use your money wisely while going green, suggestions how to get your kids involved in the process of greening up, information on relevant issues such as green labels and very interesting interview with green parents.

10. For the father who is looking for the right answers

Hey Mr. Green by Bob Schildgen

“Should I buy my beer in bottles or cans?” - if your father has many everyday questions like this one, this book would make him very happy.

Hey, Mr. Green is a cumulative assortment of green every day questions and answers posed to Bob Schildgen (aka “Mr Green”) for his column in the Sierra Magazine. It is divided into five sections: “At Home” ( domestic details,) “Food for Thought” (eating and drinking better while spending less,) “Out and About” (fueling up and the great outdoors,) “The three Rs ( you know what this means, ) and “The Big Picture” (environmental politics, religion, and other interesting meal time topics.)

If you choose to give your father a book as a gift, you are more than welcome to balance it out with Eco-Libris, add our sticker to the book and make it the perfect green gift for Father's Day.

Happy Father's Day,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: plant a tree for every book you read!