Showing posts with label book gift. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book gift. Show all posts

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Best green books to give your your mom for Mother's Day

Mother's Day is going to be celebrated tomorrow in many countries and if you're one of those who still haven't bought your mom a gift and are asking themselves what I can bring my mom to make her happy, we might have an idea for you!

How about a book? And to be more specific - How about a green book? A book is always a great gift and we want to help you with recommendations on the best green book to give your mom for Mother's Day. So we chose ten books which we believe will be a great fit to ten different types of moms we detailed below. We hope you'll find the right book on this list for your mom!

Also, if your mom read ebooks, go ahead and buy her your book of choice in an electronic format - we added links to the Kindle option whenever it is available.

1. For the fashionable mother -

Green is the New Black: How to Change the World with Style by Tamsin Blanchard


Is your mother into fashion, but needs an introduction to eco-fashion? well, this is a great book to start the eco-fashion journey with.

Tamsin Blanchard, the Style Director of Telegraph Magazine and a longtime fashion journalist, wrote a guide on how to green up your lifestyle, without compromising on style, quality, being fashionable, etc. She is focusing on topics such as eco-fashion, eco-style, eco-friendly shoes and bags and getting the (green) look. In addition the book also presents the alternative way to be green and fashionable - DIY.

2. For the shopping mother -

Big Green Purs
e - Use Your Spending Power to Create a Cleaner, Greener World by Diane MacEachern

If your mother is in charge of shopping in the house, this is the perfect book for her. It will show her how she can change the world with a simple but deadly weapon: her purse.

This book is a call-to-action for women to use their power as buyers (women spend 85 percent of every dollar in the marketplace) to make a difference. MacEachern's message is simple but revolutionary: if women harness the "power of their purse" and intentionally shift their spending money to commodities that have the greatest environmental benefit, they can create a cleaner, greener world.

Big Green Purse is also available in an electronic format.


3. For the Jeff Garlin's fan mother -

My Footprint: Carrying the Weight of the World (audioboo
k) by Jeff Garlin

How do you know if your mother a fan of Jeff Garlin? Very simple. Does she watch ''Curb Your Enthusiasm', where he co-stars with "Seinfeld" creator Larry David? if your reply is Yes, then you can be positive your mother is a Garlin's fan!

Jeff Garlin
is a funny guy. Well, he's a comedian. But he's also a serious guy and in August 2008 he decided to set up an impressive goal: Reducing both his physical and carbon footprint. His journey is documented in a new and extremely funny audiobook released by Simon & Simon Audio. Read by the author, with a special guest appearance by Leonard Nimoy, My Footprint features exclusive audio material unavailable in any other format.

4. For the food and cooking loving mother -
The Food Matters Cookbook: 500 Revolutionary Recipes for Better Living by Mark Bittman

Does your mom know Mark Bittman? If the answer is Yes she'll love this book, if by any chance she doesn't know him yet, what are you waiting for??

"Bittman, New York Times columnist and bestselling author (How to Cook Everything) provides a rational approach to eating that not only improves health but also helps the environment." (Publishers Weekly)

From the award-winning champion of conscious eating and author of the bestselling Food Matters comes The Food Matters Cookbook, offering the most comprehensive and straightforward ideas yet for cooking easy, delicious foods that are as good for you as they are for the planet. The Food Matters Cookbook is the essential encyclopedia and guidebook to responsible eating, with more than 500 recipes that capture Bittman’s typically relaxed approach to everything in the kitchen.

The Food Matters Cookbook is also available in an electronic format.

5. For the suburban mother -

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 mother 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.

Farewell, My Subaru is also available in an electronic format.

6. For the small business owner mother -

Greening Your Small Business: How to Improve Your Bottom Line, Grow Your Brand, Satisfy Your Customers - and Save the Planet by Jennifer Kaplan

Does your mother own (or work in) a small business? this book is the ultimate resource for small business owners who want to go green without going broke. With this great book in hand, not only your mom will thank you, but all of her small business!

Greening Your Small Business is the definitive resource
rce for those who want their small businesses to be cutting- edge, competitive, profitable, and eco-conscious. Filled with stories from small business owners of all stripes, Greening Your Small Business addresses every aspect of going green, from basics such as recycling, reducing waste, energy efficiency, and reducing the IT footprint, to more in-depth concerns such as green marketing and communications, green business travel, and green employee benefits.

Greening Your Small Business is also available in an electronic format.

7. For the mom to be or the mother with little children -

Spit That Out!: The Overly Informed Parent's Guide to Raising Children in the Age of Environmental Guilt
by Paige Wolf

Do you have a little brother or sister? Are you going to have another sibling? If you do, here's a great book for your mom!

"Thanks to Paige Wolf, all busy moms and moms-to-be on the verge of a "green mom nervous breakdown" have the answers they need!" -- SheKnows.com SheKnows.com SheKnows.com.

Have you ever stayed up all night scraping lead paint off the walls (and then realized you've actually made the problem worse)? Googled every toy in the house to make sure they didn't contain high levels of cadmium or lead? Searched every product in the cabinet for the mere mention of a paraben? As a new mother, Paige Wolf has been committed to living an eco-friendly and healthy lifestyle. But with the flood of constantly changing information, it's become an increasingly difficult task. In addition to the age-old daunting task of raising happy, healthy babies, mothers are constantly bombarded with new and contradictory research concerning environmental toxins, long-term product effects, and the far-reaching impact of every product we purchase and decision we make.

Spit That Out! answers the questions posed by mothers on the verge of a "green mom nervous breakdown" and turns to experts to present facts, debunk myths, and help parents stay on a reasonable and responsible course without losing their minds. Whether they are cloth-diapering, holistic mamas or moms who still can't give up their designer duds, all modern mothers can relate to the desperation of wanting to do the best for their children - and feeling hopelessly overwhelmed in the process. Spit That Out! feeds an audience of mothers hungry for commiseration, direction, and relief.

Spit That Out! is also available in an electronic format.

8. For the mother with a big carbon footprint -

101 Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint: Simple Things We All Can Do to Lessen Our Impact on the Environment
by Andrea Bohmholdt

Is your mom interested in reducing her carbon footprint? Want to help her? Here's the guide she'll need.

Packed with 101 creative tips for conserving the environment, this guide helps burgeoning environmentalists gradually change their lifestyle to consume less energy. Easy to follow and understand, the succinct guide explains the environmental crisis and how individual ways of living contribute directly to the problem. It then focuses on offering simple solutions to help the environment, such as reducing heat by one or two degrees, unplugging mobile phones when they are finished charging, and completing weekly shopping goals in a single excursion. Additional resources are provided to help readers begin to make the changes that will ultimately make a global difference.

9. For the mother who wants to be an urban farmer -

Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer by Novella Carpenter


Does your mom secretly dream on growing vegetables and maybe some animal farms, or in other words, on becoming an urban farmer? If she does, this book, who was described by Michael Pollan as 'edgy, moving and hilarious' is the one for her.

An unforgettably charming memoir, Farm City is full of hilarious moments, fascinating farmer's tips, and a great deal of heart. When Novella Carpenter-captivated by the idea of backyard self-sufficiency- moved to inner city Oakland and discovered a weed-choked, garbage- strewn abandoned lot next door to her house, she closed her eyes and pictured heirloom tomatoes and a chicken coop. The story of how her urban farm grew from a few chickens to one populated with turkeys, geese, rabbits, ducks, and two three-hundred-pound pigs will capture the imagination of anyone who has ever considered leaving the city behind for a more natural lifestyle.

Farm City is also available in an electronic format.

10. For the mother who would like a good green guide -

Ecoholic: Your Guide to the Most Environmentally Friendly Information, Products, and Services by Adria Vasil

This book is for every mom who wants to go green and start living in an eco-friendly way and needs a good guide for this long journey. This excellent guide is the best green compass you can give her - it's thorough, useful and funny!

Ecoholic is an eye-opening guide to decoding the green from the greenwashed in the maze of products lining our shelves. Unlike other eco guidebooks, Ecoholic names names and gives you the dirt on what not to buy and why, as well as the dish on the most sustainable food, the greenest clothes, beauty products, home supplies, banking choices, sports gear, kids stuff and much much more. And yes, it will even take the toxins out of your love life. Ecoholic is a witty and indispensable guide to the small eco choices that make the biggest difference. No wonder reviewers have called this "sassy eco-bible" your " sacred text when it comes to making any life decisions."

Ecoholic is also available in an electronic format.

If you choose to give your mother 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 Mother's Day.

Happy Mother's Day!
Raz @ Eco-Libris

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

Friday, May 7, 2010

What green book you should give your mom on Mother's Day?

Mother's Day is going to be celebrated in many countries on Sunday and many people are already asking themselves - what can I bring my mom? what will make her happy?

My mom is a librarian and an avid reader and I always try to find an interesting book for her. This year it will be 'Sustainable Sushi' by Casson Trenor. In any event, a book is always a great gift and we want to help you with recommendations on the best green book to give your mom this Mother's Day.

We chose ten books from the ones we covered on our blog, which we believe will be a great fit to ten different types of moms we detailed below.

1. For the fashionable mother -

Green is the New Black: How to Change the World with Style by Tamsin Blanchard


Is your mother into fashion, but needs an introduction to eco-fashion? well, this is a great book to start the eco-fashion journey with.

Tamsin Blanchard, the Style Director of Telegraph Magazine and a longtime fashion journalist, wrote a guide on how to green up your lifestyle, without compromising on style, quality, being fashionable, etc. She is focusing on topics such as eco-fashion, eco-style, eco-friendly shoes and bags and getting the (green) look. In addition the book also presents the alternative way to be green and fashionable - DIY.

2. For the shopping mother -

Big Green Purse - Use Your Spending Power to Create a Cleaner, Greener World by Diane MacEachern

If your mother is in charge of shopping in the house, this is the perfect book for her. It will show her how she can change the world with a simple but deadly weapon: her purse.

This book is a call-to-action for women to use their power as buyers (women spend 85 percent of every dollar in the marketplace) to make a difference. MacEachern's message is simple but revolutionary: if women harness the "power of their purse" and intentionally shift their spending money to commodities that have the greatest environmental benefit, they can create a cleaner, greener world.

3. For the Jeff Garlin's fan mother -

My Footprint: Carrying the Weight of the World (audioboo
k) by Jeff Garlin

How do you know if your mother a fan of Jeff Garlin? Very simple. Does she watch ''Curb Your Enthusiasm', where he co-stars with "Seinfeld" creator Larry David? if your reply is Yes, then you can be positive your mother is a Garlin's fan!

Jeff Garlin
is a funny guy. Well, he's a comedian. But he's also a serious guy and in August 2008 he decided to set up an impressive goal: Reducing both his physical and carbon footprint. His journey is documented in a new and extremely funny audiobook released by Simon & Simon Audio. Read by the author, with a special guest appearance by Leonard Nimoy, My Footprint features exclusive audio material unavailable in any other format.

4. For the food (and cooking) loving mother -

100-Mile Diet: A Year of Local Eating by Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon

This book can change your mom's kitchen for good. The 100-Mile Diet begins in a cottage in the Canadian wilderness with no light, fridge, car or hot water; After an inspired meal gathered only from the wild, Alisa and James launched a year-long diet of food only found within 100 miles of their home. They found themselves returning from their cottage not starving, but with armfuls more food than they arrived with.

It wouldn’t be easy. Stepping outside the industrial food system, Smith and MacKinnon found themselves relying on World War II-era cookbooks and maverick farmers who refuse to play by the rules of a global economy. They bargained for sacred squash at a suburban Buddhist temple, discovered the true sweetness of honey, and learned the lost history of dozens of varieties of local wheat. What began as a struggle slowly transformed into one of the deepest pleasures of their lives.

5. For the suburban mother -

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 mother 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 small business owner mother -

Greening Your Small Business: How to Improve Your Bottom Line, Grow Your Brand, Satisfy Your Customers - and Save the Planet by Jennifer Kaplan

Does your mother own (or work in) a small business? this book is the ultimate resource for small business owners who want to go green without going broke. With this great book in hand, not only your mom will thank you, but all of her small business!

Greening Your Small Business is the definitive resource
rce for those who want their small businesses to be cutting- edge, competitive, profitable, and eco-conscious. Filled with stories from small business owners of all stripes, Greening Your Small Business addresses every aspect of going green, from basics such as recycling, reducing waste, energy efficiency, and reducing the IT footprint, to more in-depth concerns such as green marketing and communications, green business travel, and green employee benefits.

7. For the busy mother -

The Armchair Environmentalist by Karen Christensen

Everyone are busy, especially moms. 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 mother with a big carbon footprint -

How to live a low-carbon life: the individual's guide to stopping climate change by Chris Goodball

How big is your mom's carbon footprint? don't know but wants to help her reduce it anyway? here's the guide she'll need.

A handbook for cutting your carbon footprint and bills, written by a former director at consumer champion Which?. It’s ideal for anyone at the early stage of greening up their life when you want the facts, and you want a cash-saving incentive to help you get motivated. Goodall’s book has a sufficient depth of detail to help your mom make decisions and shopping choices to cut her carbon emissions, instead of general and ultimately unhelpful advice like “drive less”, “use less energy” or “shop greener.”

9. For the mother who wants to be an urban farmer -

Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer by Novella Carpenter


Does your mom secretly dream on growing vegetables and maybe some animal farms, or in other words, on becoming an urban farmer? If she does, this book, who was described by Michael Pollan as 'edgy, moving and hilarious' is the one for her.

An unforgettably charming memoir, Farm City is full of hilarious moments, fascinating farmer's tips, and a great deal of heart. When Novella Carpenter-captivated by the idea of backyard self-sufficiency- moved to inner city Oakland and discovered a weed-choked, garbage- strewn abandoned lot next door to her house, she closed her eyes and pictured heirloom tomatoes and a chicken coop. The story of how her urban farm grew from a few chickens to one populated with turkeys, geese, rabbits, ducks, and two three-hundred-pound pigs will capture the imagination of anyone who has ever considered leaving the city behind for a more natural lifestyle.

10. For the mother who would like a good green guide -

Ecoholic: Your Guide to the Most Environmentally Friendly Information, Products, and Services by Adria Vasil

This book is for every mom who wants to go green and start living in an eco-friendly way and needs a good guide for this long journey. This excellent guide is the best green compass you can give her - it's thorough, useful and funny!

Ecoholic is an eye-opening guide to decoding the green from the greenwashed in the maze of products lining our shelves. Unlike other eco guidebooks, Ecoholic names names and gives you the dirt on what not to buy and why, as well as the dish on the most sustainable food, the greenest clothes, beauty products, home supplies, banking choices, sports gear, kids stuff and much much more. And yes, it will even take the toxins out of your love life. Ecoholic is a witty and indispensable guide to the small eco choices that make the biggest difference. No wonder reviewers have called this "sassy eco-bible" your " sacred text when it comes to making any life decisions."

If you choose to give your mother 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 Mother's Day.

Happy Mother's Day,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

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

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Which green book you should give your mom on Mother's Day?

Mother's Day is going to be celebrated in many countries tomorrow and many people are already asking themselves - what can I bring my mom? what will make her happy?

My mom is a librarian and an avid reader and I always try to find an interesting book for her. This year it will be 'The Omnivore's Dilemma' by Michael Pollan. In any event, a book is always a great gift and we want to help you with recommendations on the best green book to give your mom this Mother's Day.

We chose ten books from the ones we covered on our blog, which we believe will be a great fit to ten different types of moms we detailed below. We published this list for last year's Mother's Day, but it's still a great list, so check it out and we hope you find the right green book to your mom!

1. For the fashionable mother -

Green is the New Black: How to Change the World with Style by Tamsin Blanchard

Is your mother into fashion, but needs an introduction to eco-fashion? well, this is a great book to start the eco-fashion journey with.

Tamsin Blanchard, the Style Director of Telegraph Magazine and a longtime fashion journalist, wrote a guide on how to green up your lifestyle, without compromising on style, quality, being fashionable, etc. She is focusing on topics such as eco-fashion, eco-style, eco-friendly shoes and bags and getting the (green) look. In addition the book also presents the alternative way to be green and fashionable - DIY.

2. For the shopping mother -

Big Green Purse - Use Your Spending Power to Create a Cleaner, Greener World by Diane MacEachern

If your mother is in charge of shopping in the house, this is the perfect book for her. It will show her how she can change the world with a simple but deadly weapon: her purse.

This book is a call-to-action for women to use their power as buyers (women spend 85 percent of every dollar in the marketplace) to make a difference. MacEachern's message is simple but revolutionary: if women harness the "power of their purse" and intentionally shift their spending money to commodities that have the greatest environmental benefit, they can create a cleaner, greener world.

3. For the Ed Begley, Jr.'s fan mother -

Living Like Ed - A Guide to the Eco-Friendly Life by Ed Begley, Jr.

Was your mother a fan of Dr. Erlich of the television series "St. Elsewhere" or likes to watch Living With Ed? If the answer is 'Yes', she will probably be happy for the opportunity to meet again with Ed Begley Jr.

Begley Jr., an actor and a committed environmentalist, presents a do-it-yourself guide to green living that explains how to incorporate eco-friendly products and practices into one's everyday life. The book is covering areas such as the home, transportation, recycling, energy, food, gardening, clothing and furnishing. Begley shares his experiences on what works, what doesn't, and what will save you money!

4. For the food (and cooking) loving mother -

100-Mile Diet: A Year of Local Eating by Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon

This book can change your mom's kitchen for good. The 100-Mile Diet begins in a cottage in the Canadian wilderness with no light, fridge, car or hot water; After an inspired meal gathered only from the wild, Alisa and James launched a year-long diet of food only found within 100 miles of their home. They found themselves returning from their cottage not starving, but with armfuls more food than they arrived with.

It wouldn’t be easy. Stepping outside the industrial food system, Smith and MacKinnon found themselves relying on World War II-era cookbooks and maverick farmers who refuse to play by the rules of a global economy. They bargained for sacred squash at a suburban Buddhist temple, discovered the true sweetness of honey, and learned the lost history of dozens of varieties of local wheat. What began as a struggle slowly transformed into one of the deepest pleasures of their lives.

5. For the suburban mother -

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 mother 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 mother -

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

Does your mother 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 mom 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. 'Climate Change' gives you a first-hand look at how world-class thinkers would react to this pressing issue if they were in your shoes.

7. For the busy mother -

The Armchair Environmentalist by Karen Christensen

Everyone are busy, especially moms. 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 mother with a big carbon footprint -

How to live a low-carbon life: the individual's guide to stopping climate change by Chris Goodball

How big is your mom's carbon footprint? don't know but wants to help her reduce it anyway? here's the guide she'll need.

A handbook for cutting your carbon footprint and bills, written by a former director at consumer champion Which?. It’s ideal for anyone at the early stage of greening up their life when you want the facts, and you want a cash-saving incentive to help you get motivated. Goodall’s book has a sufficient depth of detail to help your mom make decisions and shopping choices to cut her carbon emissions, instead of general and ultimately unhelpful advice like “drive less”, “use less energy” or “shop greener.”

9. For the mother who wants to learn more about green biz -

Stirring It Up: How to Make Money and Save the World by Gary Hirshberg

Here's a book you should give your mother if you're considering a career in the green biz world, or if you're already there, and your mom is not sure if it's the right move for you or wants to know more on what does it actually mean 'to do good and well at the same time'.

Gary Hirshberg has been at the forefront of movements working for environmental and social transformation for 30 years. From his early days as an educator and activist to his current position as President and CE-Yo of Stonyfield Farm, the world’s largest organic yogurt company, Hirshberg’s positive outlook has inspired thousands of people to recognize their ability to make the world a better place. In 'Stirring it Up', Hirshberg presents stunning evidence that business not only can save the planet, but is able to simultaneously deliver higher growth and superior profits as well.

10. For the mother who would like to have (almost) all her green options in one book -

Wake Up and Smell the Planet: The Non-Pompous, Non-Preachy Grist Guide to Greening Your Day by Grist Magazine

Wouldn't it be great if one book would provide mom with all the green options she has on her daily life? well, check out this guide.

This is a handy guide to making green decisions throughout your day. It's not a guide about guilt, but about making little choices throughout the day that improve the planet - what to eat, what to wear, how to dispose of dog poop or diapers, how to travel from point A to point B, where to have a post-work cocktail, and so on. 'Wake Up and Smell the Planet' covers a full 24 hours of confusing and often contradictory options. Like a wise (and wisecracking) friend who isn't afraid to share secret tips, the book will give you easy tips for simplifying your life and lessening your impact.

If you choose to give your mother 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 Mother's Day.

Happy Mother's Day,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

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

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Book-themed gift baskets are going green with Eco-Libris
















Books always make a great gift, and today we have the pleasure to announce on collaboration with a company that makes it even better: book-themed gift baskets!

Bookworm Baskets sell great gift baskets, which some you can see on these photos. Each of their baskets have been carefully designed to enhance the readers enjoyment of a specific showcased book. The baskets contain items that complement the "theme" of the wonderful book chosen.

And now Bookworm Baskets are going green with Eco-Libris: they will balance out every book they sell by planting a tree with us! And all of their books will have our "One tree planted for this book" stickers on them.

Bookworm Baskets already took steps to green up their baskets, using BIOFOAM (100% biodegradable packing "peanuts"), as well as, recycled corrugated cardboard boxes and recycled newsprint paper for shipping.

Currently, Bookworm Baskets have baby and children's books on the website but in the next few weeks they will be adding more options for adults - birthday, special occasion, etc. So if you're looking for a book gift basket for any kind of occasion, don't forget to check their website - http://www.bookwormbaskets.com.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Saturday, May 3, 2008

Which green book you should give your mom on Mother's Day?

Mother's Day is going to be celebrated in many countries next Sunday (May 11) and many people are already asking themselves - what can I bring my mom? what will make her happy?

My mom is a librarian and an avid reader and I always try to find an interesting book for her. This year I haven't found one yet, but I'm still working on it.. In any case, a book is always a great gift and we want to help you with recommendations on the best green books to give this Mother's Day.

We went over all the books reviewed and covered so far on our blog and chose ten books that we think will suit ten different types of moms we detailed below. Check out the our list and we hope you find the right green book to your mom!

1. For the fashionable mother -

Green is the New Black: How to Change the World with Style by Tamsin Blanchard

Is your mother into fashion, but needs an introduction to eco-fashion? well, this is a great book to start the eco-fashion journey with.

Tamsin Blanchard, the Style Director of Telegraph Magazine and a longtime fashion journalist, wrote a guide on how to green up your lifestyle, without compromising on style, quality, being fashionable, etc. She is focusing on topics such as eco-fashion, eco-style, eco-friendly shoes and bags and getting the (green) look. In addition the book also presents the alternative way to be green and fashionable - DIY.

2. For the shopping mother -

Big Green Purse - Use Your Spending Power to Create a Cleaner, Greener World by Diane MacEachern

If your mother is in charge of shopping in the house, this is the perfect book for her. It will show her how she can change the world with a simple but deadly weapon: her purse.

This book is a call-to-action for women to use their power as buyers (women spend 85 percent of every dollar in the marketplace) to make a difference. MacEachern's message is simple but revolutionary: if women harness the "power of their purse" and intentionally shift their spending money to commodities that have the greatest environmental benefit, they can create a cleaner, greener world.

3. For the Ed Begley, Jr.'s fan mother -

Living Like Ed - A Guide to the Eco-Friendly Life by Ed Begley, Jr.

Was your mother a fan of Dr. Erlich of the television series "St. Elsewhere" or likes to watch Living With Ed? If the answer is 'Yes', she will probably be happy for the opportunity to meet again with Ed Begley Jr.

Begley Jr., an actor and a committed environmentalist, presents a do-it-yourself guide to green living that explains how to incorporate eco-friendly products and practices into one's everyday life. The book is covering areas such as the home, transportation, recycling, energy, food, gardening, clothing and furnishing. Begley shares his experiences on what works, what doesn't, and what will save you money!

4. For the food (and cooking) loving mother -

100-Mile Diet: A Year of Local Eating by Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon

This book can change your mom's kitchen for good. The 100-Mile Diet begins in a cottage in the Canadian wilderness with no light, fridge, car or hot water; After an inspired meal gathered only from the wild, Alisa and James launched a year-long diet of food only found within 100 miles of their home. They found themselves returning from their cottage not starving, but with armfuls more food than they arrived with.

It wouldn’t be easy. Stepping outside the industrial food system, Smith and MacKinnon found themselves relying on World War II-era cookbooks and maverick farmers who refuse to play by the rules of a global economy. They bargained for sacred squash at a suburban Buddhist temple, discovered the true sweetness of honey, and learned the lost history of dozens of varieties of local wheat. What began as a struggle slowly transformed into one of the deepest pleasures of their lives.

5. For the suburban mother -

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 mother 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 mother -

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

Does your mother 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 mom 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. 'Climate Change' gives you a first-hand look at how world-class thinkers would react to this pressing issue if they were in your shoes.

7. For the busy mother -

The Armchair Environmentalist by Karen Christensen

Everyone are busy, especially moms. 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 mother with a big carbon footprint -

How to live a low-carbon life: the individual's guide to stopping climate change by Chris Goodball

How big is your mom's carbon footprint? don't know but wants to help her reduce it anyway? here's the guide she'll need.

A handbook for cutting your carbon footprint and bills, written by a former director at consumer champion Which?. It’s ideal for anyone at the early stage of greening up their life when you want the facts, and you want a cash-saving incentive to help you get motivated. Goodall’s book has a sufficient depth of detail to help your mom make decisions and shopping choices to cut her carbon emissions, instead of general and ultimately unhelpful advice like “drive less”, “use less energy” or “shop greener.”

9. For the mother who wants to learn more about green biz -

Stirring It Up: How to Make Money and Save the World by Gary Hirshberg

Here's a book you should give your mother if you're considering a career in the green biz world, or if you're already there, and your mom is not sure if it's the right move for you or wants to know more on what does it actually mean 'to do good and well at the same time'.

Gary Hirshberg has been at the forefront of movements working for environmental and social transformation for 30 years. From his early days as an educator and activist to his current position as President and CE-Yo of Stonyfield Farm, the world’s largest organic yogurt company, Hirshberg’s positive outlook has inspired thousands of people to recognize their ability to make the world a better place. In 'Stirring it Up', Hirshberg presents stunning evidence that business not only can save the planet, but is able to simultaneously deliver higher growth and superior profits as well.

10. For the mother who would like to have (almost) all her green options in one book -

Wake Up and Smell the Planet: The Non-Pompous, Non-Preachy Grist Guide to Greening Your Day by Grist Magazine

Wouldn't it be great if one book would provide mom with all the green options she has on her daily life? well, check out this guide.

This is a handy guide to making green decisions throughout your day. It's not a guide about guilt, but about making little choices throughout the day that improve the planet - what to eat, what to wear, how to dispose of dog poop or diapers, how to travel from point A to point B, where to have a post-work cocktail, and so on. 'Wake Up and Smell the Planet' covers a full 24 hours of confusing and often contradictory options. Like a wise (and wisecracking) friend who isn't afraid to share secret tips, the book will give you easy tips for simplifying your life and lessening your impact.

If you choose to give your mother 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 Mother's Day.

Happy Mother's Day,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

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