Eco-Libris green holiday guide: Green gifts for book lovers under $25

If you're looking for holiday gifts for people who are avid readers that will be both eco-friendly and affordable (let's say no more than $25), we've got some great ideas for you!

No, this is not your usual guide with recommendations on "green" books like we used to have in the last couple of years (if you want some ideas for such books check our green books campaign), but rather a holiday guide with some creative idea we thought were worth recommending on. To make sure your gift will be fully appreciated, we divided it to 10 types of book lovers and we hope it will help you in finding your perfect gift!

Last but not list, as you will see, most of these gifts are provided by friends and partners of Eco-Libris so we might not be very objective, but at the same time we know these bookstores, publishers and companies very well, so we feel very confident to recommend on their products. And so without further ado, here's our green holiday guide to book lovers:

1. For the book lovers who like shopping

Strand's tote bag designed by Adrian Tomine (Strand Bookstore, $12.95)

Strand Bookstore is a great independent bookstore and is famous not only for its outstanding variety of books but also in their artists series totes, providing some great options for people who want to do shopping with something more than just the regular doll reusable shopping bag.

More about this shopping bag: The Strand is breaking new ground with the latest tote bag in our artist series, which is designed by famed graphic novelist Adrian Tomine. He's drawn us the many faces of Strand customers, and there are different people depicted on each side of the bag. Plus, our oval logo has been replaced by a multi-hued staggered-lettered STRAND mixed among the faces. Maybe the coolest bag we've ever done!

2. For the book lovers who will appreciate something different

Pachyderm Paper Book (Mr. Ellie Pooh, $15)

And what can be more different than a beautiful paper book made of elephant poo?

More about this paper book: These elephant dung paper journals have a kraft colored poo paper inside with covers that vary in color and design. Each notebook is embellished with authentic kitle bark binding. Elephants love eating kitle bark. They are 6" x 7.5" with ~60 pages. The items are 100% handmade 50% elephant poo, 50% post consumer. The paper in each book is naturally textured and acid free. These elephant dung paper books are great gift items for the elephant lover as well as the journal collector. Great for the little ones too. Quite sturdy.

3. For the book lovers who like to take notes

Recycled Notebook (Modern Paper Goods, $3.99)

Yes, some book lovers like to take notes, whether it's a shopping list to the next visit in their local bookstore or just some thoughts they have while reading a good book. This notebook is a really beautiful and useful gift, and you have many more magnificent designs of notebooks made of recycled paper to choose from. Here's more about this notebook: Everyone's all abuzz about the lush new note

books by talented artist Fiona Richards. Made with 100% recycled paper & printed with soy inks, they are environmentally friendly & perfect for any task: whether you use them to take notes in the office or for to-do lists, Cartolina's trademark vivid palette & intricate designs will brighten your day. Each notebook contains approximately 30 unlined pages; the outer cover is made of a slightly rigid, uncoated coverstock. Its construction makes it resilient for long-term use, yet light enough to tote around in a small purse.

4. For book lovers who like to get books in the library but are too lazy to get there

1-Month membership at BookSwim (BookSwim, $0)

BookSwim is America's most-gifted book rental service, delivers UNLIMITED books "Netflix®-style" by mail with no due dates, no late fees, and free shipping both ways! Now they offer a free 1-month trial for 3 Books In Circulation Unlimited! Send back 2 books, hold 1 book. Receive 2 more Unlimited rentals! This is a great gift at zero costs (after the free month, the monthly fee is $23.95 for this plan) and it also includes free shipping. Could it get any better?

5. For book lovers who are happy to share good books to other readers

Starter Kit for 25 Books (BookCrossing, $14.95)

BookCrossing.com is a great place for book lovers. BookCrossing, according to wikipedia, is defined as "the practice of leaving a book in a public place to be picked up and read by others, who then do likewise." The term is derived from bookcrossing.com, a free online book club which began in order to encourage the practice, aiming to connect people through books.There are currently 898,299 BookCrossers and 6,699,448 books travelling throughout 132 countries!

More about this kit: It includes 25 bookplates, sticky notes, officially official stickers and bookmarks - everything you need to get 25 books tagged and noticed! Perfect for newbies. Economical for all. Each Release Kit contains 2 3/4 x 5 1/2 inch Bookplate Labels, 3 x 4 inch International Sticky Notes, 2 x 7 inch Bookmarks for 25 books and 25 Official BookCrossing Stickers. All products are in English unless otherwise specified. Substitution products in other languages may be requested in the 'Comments' section of the order. Order extra - they make great gifts!

6. For the book lovers who prefers to choose his gift by themselves

Holiday Reindeer Gift Card (Indigo Books & Music, $25)

Gift card is always a great option as it enables the gift reciever to choose whatever they want to buy, so you can't really go wrong. Almost any book retailer has such gift cards, but Indigo is the only one that actually provides information online and though in-store kiosk that allows consumers to make informed decisions about where the paper content of their book comes from.

Rudolph comes to life (with a little 3D magic) in this unique gift card! And watch as his metallic red nose shines with the holiday spirit. This $25 gift card can be used to buy books, CDs, DVDs and much more in any Indigo, Chapters, Coles or World’s …+ read moreRudolph comes to life (with a little 3D magic) in this unique gift card! And watch as his metallic red nose shines with the holiday spirit. This $25 gift card can be used to buy books, CDs, DVDs and much more in any Indigo, Chapters, Coles or World’s Biggest Bookstore across Canada or online at chapters.indigo.ca. When you order a gift card it will be shipped in a note card which can be personalized during checkout. You can also send an Electronic Gift Certificate in the same value via email.

7. For the book lovers that use the Kindle

Belkin Grip Kindle Sleeve (Fits 6" Display), Perfect Plum (Belkin, $24.99)

As we mentioned earlier, we believe that among e-readers (not including iPad) Amazon's Kindle is the greenest option. Now, if you want to make it even greener, this cool sleeve is a great gift, as it will help to keep the Kindle safe and operational for a long time and hence reduce the chances it will be replaced and thrown away any time soon.

More about the Kindle sleeve: Featuring a Perfect Plum color scheme, Belkin's Grip Sleeve (Fits 6" Display, Latest Generation Kindle) is designed to protect your Amazon latest generation Kindle, so you can safely take it with you wherever you go. The Grip Sleeve offers a sleek, contemporary style and a custom fit with a secure zipper closure. Made of durable neoprene and silicone, the sleeve also has a soft lining that helps to protect your device from scratches.

8. For book lovers that would enjoy helping a new (animated e-) book created

Supporting the creating of TERMINALLY ILLIN': World's Awesomest Cancer Comic Book! (Kickstarter, $20)

Kickstarter is a great website that provides you the opportunity to help funding creative projects from the worlds of music, film, art, technology, design, food, publishing and other creative fields that needs this funding. This is not about investment or lending. Project creators keep 100% ownership and control over their work. Instead, they offer products and experiences that are unique to each project. In this case, Kaylin Marie and Jon Solo ask you to be a part in helping them bring an amazing illustrated story to life! Slightly cynical, slightly irreverent, and REALLY hilarious, "Terminally Illin" is a candid look into the life of a young adult battling cancer, but with a psychedelic-sci-fi twist! It's more than a comic book: It's provocative, educational, entertaining, and totally original.

Here, the added value is more social than environmental (besides being able to support a project of a young artist) - For every comic book sold, they will give one to a cancer patient. They are looking to raise $8,500. They already got $1,340 and 46 days to get the rest. $20 pledge will give the person you're giving this gift the following: a custom BUTTON, MAGNET, or STICKER. *PLUS* they'll email you a PDF file of the entire comic book that you can read from any electronic device and AUTOGRAPHED COMIC BOOK, with your name published on our thank you page! And just remember that if he won't raise all the money, you will get your money back.



9. For book lovers who are interested in reducing their footprint (and like to laugh)

Jeff Garlin's audiobook: My Footprint: Carrying the Weight of the World (Simon & Schuster Audio, CD- $22.79, download - $7.49)

How can anyone not like Jeff Garlin? He is a really funny guy and if you watch Curb Your Enthusiasm you know what I'm talking about. But besides being a comedian, 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 an audiobook released by Simon & Simon Audio: My Footprint: Carrying the Weight of the World.

Now this is the time to say something about the audiobook format. I believe 'My Footprint' is one of the cases where the advantages of hearing a story in this format are so obvious. Garlin is telling the story (he's reading it to Leonard Nimoy by the way) and as a comedian he knows to tell a story. Listening to this audiobook, I found myself laughing again and again, and I had this magical feeling I'm attending one of Garlin's comedy sets at the Comedy Store in West Hollywood.

One more word about audiobooks - we believe they represent one of the options to read books sustainably, especially when you download them - an option that represents right now about 21% of all sales (the rest are CDs). Here you can both purchase it as a CD ($22.79) or download it ($7.49).


10. For book lovers who will be happy to get some trees planted on their behalf

Balancing out 10 books by planting 10 trees + 10 stickers + beautiful holiday greeting card (Eco-Libris, $11.50)

Yes, this is a sort of self-promotion, but we thought it's also a nice option of an affordable eco-friendly gift, so why not mentioning it in our own guide?

So here's our holiday gift offer for you: Plant trees to balance out the books your loved ones read. We will send them a beautiful holiday card and Eco-Libris stickers to display on their books’ sleeves. Just change the shipping address on the PayPal payment page to the address of the gift receiver (or send us a separate email to info@ecolibris.net with the details) and we will take care of the rest! If you're buying books as gifts, you can also add the stickers and the card, making it a great green gift.

The holiday greeting cards we send are made by Doodle Greetings (see picture above). Not only these cards come with a beautiful design, but they are also eco-friendly - printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper and are made chlorine-free and acid free. This is a good fit with Eco-Libris stickers, which are also made of recycled paper!

This is also very affordable gift offer, starting from $6.50 for 5 trees/stickers and a holiday gift card! $25, which is the maximum cost of the gifts on this guide will get you 25 trees and stickers with the beautiful holiday gift card. Interested? go to our holidays gift page and check it out.

If you have more ideas, please feel free to comment and share them with us!

Happy Holidays,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Promoting sustainable reading!

The Green Collar Holiday Gift Guide for Book Lovers - Part 5

The final part is here! After almost two exciting weeks, in which we presented forty recommendations on our holiday guide, we're happy to bring you the final part with the last 10 recommendations.

Just to remind you what the Green Collar Holiday Gift Guide for Book Lovers is all about - we try to assist all the good people who want to give books as gifts this year with recommendations on the best green books to give as gifts this holiday season.

We do so by having a very special holiday guide with 50 recommendations of great green-themed books that will be a good fit as holiday gifts. As you will see the guide is not only about the books, but also about the people who recommend it.

We tried to personalize the guide as much as possible so we will learn not only about green books but also about the people who carry the green economy on their shoulders. Therefore with each recommendation you will find a personal angle that presents the recommender, his workplace and/or why they chose that specific book to recommend on.

As promised, today we present part 5 (last part) of the guide. As you can see today and on other parts of the guide, we have some great people who are part of the green economy and also wrote great books which the recommend on. We hope you will enjoy the variety of offers and find here great ideas for green gifts. Enjoy!

41. "Good News for a Change: Hope for a Troubled Planet" by David T. Suzuki and Holly Dressel

Recommended by: Ryan Anderson, Industrial Designer at Admark Display

What the book is about? (from David Suzuki Foundation's website) We all know the bad news. Every day, along with all the bulletins on social upheavals and terrorist attacks, we read reports of the damage that industrial development is wreaking on our soil, air and water. We seem intent on continuing to live this way, even though many scientific experts tell us our actions are suicidal. The good news is that thousands of individuals, groups and businesses are already changing their ways.

A growing number of companies are still making money while benefiting their local communities. The authors have also uncovered hundreds of working solutions that can help all of us to imagine and achieve a new and happier future. There is a spontaneous, global quest for ways to survive sustainably that is opening up a very different planetary future from the one based on endless economic and industrial demands. And, say Suzuki and Dressel, many of the technologies we need to realize our goals—to save species, to conserve soil, to right social wrongs—are already within our grasp.

Why would this book make a great gift? Easy to read collection of non fiction stories from around the world, written by a Canadian environmentalist. Offers a glimmer of hope while addressing how much work is required, and the simple small steps that need to happen to get there. Not over complicated, a Good Read!
.
Getting personal: This book was part of my Industrial Design College Curriculum.

42. "The Ecology of Commerce" by Paul Hawken

Recommended by: Frank Marquardt, Writer, Editor and Director of Content at Native Instinct

What the book is about? (Amazon.com review) Paul Hawken, the entrepreneur behind the Smith & Hawken gardening supplies empire, is no ordinary capitalist. Drawing as much on Baba Ram Dass and Vaclav Havel as he does on Peter Drucker and WalMart for his case studies, Hawken is on a one-man crusade to reform our economic system by demanding that First World businesses reduce their consumption of energy and resources by 80 percent in the next 50 years.

As if that weren't enough, Hawken argues that business goals should be redefined to embrace such fuzzy categories as whether the work is aesthetically pleasing and the employees are having fun; this applies to corporate giants and mom-and-pop operations alike. He proposes a culture of business in which the real world, the natural world, is allowed to flourish as well, and in which the planet's needs are addressed. Wall Street may not be ready for Hawken's provocative brand of environmental awareness, but this fine book is full of captivating ideas.

Why would this book make a great gift? The Ecology of Commerce came out nearly 15 years ago, but it remains fresh and inspiring- and more topical than ever now that businesses have started to catch up with its central insight, that if we ruin the natural world, we'll ruin business. This book is responsible for many notable career-conversions, the most notable of whom is Interface's Ray Anderson. If the person's a neophyte to sustainability, I think this book remains the best big-picture, in-depth view of sustainability and business.

Getting Personal: I read it for the first time at the end of 2000, and it changed my life. I've been writing about and working with nonprofit and startup organizations to promote sustainability ever since, and credit Paul Hawken's passionate, clear-eyed vision for giving me the framework for understanding the urgency for going green. I still think it's among the best written and most engaging books in the growing literature of green.

43. "Low Carbon Diet: A 30 Day Program to Lose 5000 Pounds--Be Part of the Global Warming Solution!" by David Gershon

Recommended by: Angela Ford, President/CEO, T.A.G. Worldwide, Inc.

What the book is about? from the book's website): This “30 Day Program to Lose 5000 Pounds” is a fun, accessible, easy to use guide that will show you, step-by-step, how to dramatically reduce your CO₂ output in just a month’s time.

Grounded in over two decades of environmental behavior change research, this illustrated workbook offers much more than a list of eco-friendly actions. It walks you through every step of the process, from calculating your current CO₂ “footprint” to tracking your progress.

By making simple changes to actions you take every day, you’ll learn how to reduce your annual household CO₂ output by at least 15%. And, for those who are more ambitious, you’ll discover how you can help your workplace, local schools, and community do the same.

Why would this book make a great gift? It is a really simple way for a family or novice to begin a sustainable lifestyle.

Getting Personal: About Angela (from LinkedIn) - Licensed Real Estate Broker; Sustainability Consultant; Real Estate Property Manager; LEED-AP (Accredited Professional); Climate Exchange initial assessment consultant; an emphasis on the construction, maintenance, management and “greening” of both residential and commercial properties.

44. "Small Is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered" by E. F. Schumacher

Recommended by: Fred Schlomka, Entrepreneur & Consultant
What the book is about? (from Wikipedia) First published in 1973, Small Is Beautiful brought Schumacher's critiques of Western economics to a wider audience during the 1973 energy crisis and emergence of globalization. The Times Literary Supplement ranked Small Is Beautiful among the 100 most influential books published since World War II. "Can such a system conceivably deal with the problems we are now having to face? The answer is self-evident: greed and envy demand continuous and limitless economic growth of a material kind, without proper regard for conservation, and this type of growth cannot possibly fit into a finite environment. We must therefore study the essential nature of the private enterprise system and the possibilities of evolving an alternative system which might fit the new situation." E.F.Shumaker 1973

Why would this book make a great gift? Shumaker's 'Small is Beautiful' remains a good primer, and a useful reminder that today's 'Green Movement' has roots going back decades. In many ways British economist E.F.Shumaker helped provide the philosophical basis for the modern environmental movement, appropriate technology, and sustainable economies.

Getting Personal: (from LinkedIn) For over twenty-five years Fred Schlomka has been the chief executive of several companies and non-profit organizations on both sides of the Atlantic including American Caribbean Builders in Florida and Mosaic Communities in Israel. In 2003 he was awarded a Social Entrepreneur Fellowship from the Echoing Green Foundation in New York. He has also lectured on Palestine/Israel issues in Europe and the USA, and his articles have been published widely.

45. "Earth: The Sequel: The Race to Reinvent Energy and Stop Global Warming" by Fred Krupp and Miriam Horn

Recommended by: Phil Cavanagh, CMM, Senior Director, Global Events and Trade Shows at Monster Worldwide, Inc

What the book is about? (from Eco-Libris review) "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; a spirit embraced and promoted by EDF for several decades since its founding in 1967. Neither a textbook nor a scientific investigation, Earth: The Sequel is more than anything a journalistic journey that follows the unfolding saga of various energy start-ups and technologies through the shifting sands of venture capital, big $$$, crazy R&D dreams and policy nightmares.

Why would this book make a great gift? In this environment, this is a great business-centric read. Throughout this hardcopy book, there are very engaging profiles of individuals who are at various levels of blending business practices with an environmental position...It is a great and uplifting read on what we can do at work with a focus towards the race to reinvent energy and stop global warming.

Getting Personal: I do not work in an environmental or energy industry, but found the book inspiring in the use of engaging profiles of how others are creatively enhancing their diverse businesses.

46. "It's Easy Being Green: A Handbook for Earth-Friendly Living" by Crissy Trask

Recommended by: Cameron Ruen, Graphic Designer/Marketing Coordinator at SWANCC

What the book is about? (from the back cover) It's Easy Being Green is a handy tool to help you make better choices for the environment. This is what the busy person needs to start making changes today. Get informative, comprehensive and practical information for adopting greener buying habits and identifying earth-friendly products; shopping for green products online; participating in online activism; and learning from over 250 eco-tips for cultivating a sustainable environment.

Take the difficulty and guesswork out of greener living by learning the following:
Install rain gutters and rain barrels to collect rainwater from your roof to use in the garden.
Shift appliance use to off-peak hours. Some utility companies offer off-peak rates!
Make your own household cleaners instead of relying on toxic commercial products.
Submerge a plastic bottle in your toilet tank to save one quart of water per flush and thousands of gallons a year.

This book concurrently presents a plan, tips and an Internet resources list that you can use to follow-through on good intentions. An extensive product labels list is also provided to help interpret how some foods are produced. If you haven't invested in substantially greener behaviors, consumerism and politics because you didn't know how or thought it was difficult, help is here: It's Easy Being Green is a handbook for all those who aspire do more to protect the environment but want it to be simpler. You can make a difference!

Why would this book make a great gift? An easy read with practical tips for everyday actions. I think it is particularly useful for the person who doesn't know where to start.

Getting Personal: (from LinkedIn) The Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) is a unit of local government and a non-profit corporation. Twenty-three towns in northern Cook County joined together to form SWANCC in 1988. SWANCC developed a long-term plan to manage the region’s garbage that was adopted by its Board of Directors in 1991. Since then, SWANCC has been at work implementing this balanced and environmentally safe solution to the region’s garbage challenges.

47. "Fish Forever: The Definitive Guide to Understanding, Selecting, and Preparing Healthy, Delicious, and Environmentally Sustainable Seafood" by Paul Johnson

Recommended by: Kate Wing, Senior Program Officer, Marine Conservation Initiative at Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and Board member at Pacific Marine Conservation Council

What the book is about? (from Amazon.com) Few people know more about fish than Paul Johnson, whose Monterey Fish Market in San Francisco supplies seafood to some of the nation's most celebrated chefs, from Alice Waters, Thomas Keller, and Michael Mina to Todd English, Daniel Boulud, and Alain Ducasse. Now, Johnson at last shares his peerless seafood expertise.

Written for people who love seafood but worry about the overfishing of certain species as well as mercury and other contaminants, Fish Forever pinpoints today's least-endangered, least-contaminated, best-tasting fish and shellfish species. Johnson provides in-depth guidance on 70 different fish along with 96 stylish international recipes that highlight the outstanding culinary qualities of each.

In addition to teaching readers about sustainable fishing practices, Johnson will be donating a portion of his royalties to Save Our Wild Salmon, an organization that works to restore wild salmon runs. Complete with over 60 beautiful color photographs, how-to tips, and fascinating sidebars, Fish Forever is a must-have kitchen resource for seafood lovers everywhere. A mutiple award winner, this great book also won the IACP's "Best Single-Subject Cookbook."

Why would this book make a great gift? The best thing about giving Paul Johnson's "Fish Forever" is that it includes recipes for almost any fish you might encounter in North America. So it works for your mom in Minnesota and your friend in Florida.

Paul's the owner of Monterey Fish Market, which supplies restaurants like Hayes Street Grill and Chez Panisse. He has been a long time proponent of sustainable fishing, but as a businessman, he also knows that he has to satisfy customers who want something "firm and not too fishy." This book will get you to break out of your habits of eating top predators, like tuna and swordfish, and into snacking further down the food chain.

Getting Personal: (from LinkedIn) Starting as a phycologist, at the bottom of the food chain, I moved on to the Senate as a fellow on the Oceans & Fisheries subcommittee. From there, I've tackled tuna & shark fisheries, collaborative research, ocean renewable energy, aquaculture, California's nearshore rockfish, and marine protected areas. I'm interested in finding common sense solutions among diverse viewpoints, working with economic incentives to reach conservation goals, and innovations that protect scarce natural resources.
48. "Little Green Books" of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (4 books)

Recommended by: Larry Kaufman, Communications Manager at Keep America Beautiful

What the book is about? The theme of Little Green Books focuses on improving the environment and preserving habitats, aiming to get kids and their parents interested in going green. Each book in the series is made out of recycled materials and printed with soy ink and will include tips for kids on what they can do to become more “green,” etc. The four titles that launched in Sept. include:

* "I Can Save the Earth!: One Little Monster Learns to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle" - The story of Max, a little green monster, and his journey from being a wasteful “environmental nightmare” to environmental awareness.

* "The Polar Bears’ Home: A Story About Global Warming" - A father and daughter learn about polar bears, and how they can reduce global warming through conservation.

* "Little Panda and Little Monkey" - Little ones will love to cuddle with these super soft fleece cloth books that are made out of cotton and recycled Polartec® fleece.

In January, a new book ... "The Adventures of a Plastic Bottle: A Story about Recycling” ... will be coming out.

Why would this book make a great gift? This is an eco-friendly line of Little Green Books children’s novelty and storybooks aimed at parents and children looking to learn more about the environment. These books are nicely done ... and they're for kids!

Getting Personal: Keep America Beautiful is partnering with Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing to promote Little Green Books.

Eco-Libris is also collaborating with Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing - in a celebration of their new line of Little Green Books, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing has partnered with Eco-Libris in an educational contest - I CAN SAVE THE EARTH!.

49. "The Green Business Bible" by Gareth Kane

Recommended by: Graeme Mills, Director at GPM Network

What the book is about?(from the book's web page) Business is coming under increasing pressure from Government, customers and campaigning groups to improve its environmental performance. Soaring oil, utility and compliance costs are hitting companies where it hurts - on their bottom line. But there is another way of looking at the green agenda - as an opportunity rather than a threat.

Written by renowned green business expert Gareth Kane, this e-book contains everything you need to know about making your business green and increasing profits:

• The Three Secrets of Green Business Success.

• Preparing To Go Green - change management, indicators , communication and marketing.

• Small Steps - the easy actions that will cut waste of materials, water and energy and save you money.

• Huge Leaps - the really big changes that will make your business truly green by changing your processes, products and business models.

• Hundreds of handy hints and tips.

• Includes brainstorming checklists and brainstorming tool.
  

Why would this book make a great gift? This eBook is practical and although sometimes dealing with technical subjects, its doesn't over complicate.

Getting Personal: My business is a consultancy dealing in environmental communications and research, so I do use this book as an aid to research projects or copy writing.

50. "Greening Your Business: The Hands-On Guide to Creating a Successful and Sustainable Business" by Daniel Sitarz

Recommended by: Dan Sitarz, the author, attorney, lecturer, educator, and business entrepreneur.

What the book is about? Every element of a business’s impact on the environment is examined in this comprehensive book—energy and water use, waste generation, transportation, computing and office equipment, supply chains and purchasing, building practices, and product and service design. The included CD contains dozens of fillable worksheets for developing a comprehensive business environmental plan, many Excel® spreadsheet programs for business carbon emission calculations and other green business strategies, and over 1,500 pages of additional business environmental publications. It retails for $29.95 and is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other book stores. More information about this book is available at: www.greeningyourbusiness.org.

Why would this book make a great gift? Greening Your Business: The Hands-On Guide to Creating a Successful and Sustainable Business" would make an excellent gift for anyone who owns or operates a business. It provides a hands-on guide to saving energy, saving materials, and saving money by reducing their businesses’ impact on the Earth.

Getting personal: (from the book's website) Dan Sitarz is an attorney, author, lecturer, educator, and business entrepreneur. In 1992, in cooperation with the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, he wrote and edited the popular abridged version of the central agreement of the Earth Summit: Agenda 21: The Earth Summit Strategy to Save our Planet.

This book was selected as one of the top 25 Environmental Reference Books by the Sierra Club (Sierra Club Green Guide) and one of the top 21 Books for the 21st Century, jointly by the International Center for Environment and Public Policy of the California Institute of Public Affairs, The Commission on Environmental Strategy and Planning of the World Conservation Union (ICUN), and the World Future Society (Future Survey).

If you choose to give your friends or family this book as a present on the holidays, 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 the holidays.

The Green Collar Holiday Gift Guide for Book Lovers - Part 1

The Green Collar Holiday Gift Guide for Book Lovers - Part 2

The Green Collar Holiday Gift Guide for Book Lovers - Part 3

The Green Collar Holiday Gift Guide for Book Lovers - Part 4

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris
www.ecolibris.net

The Green Collar Holiday Gift Guide for Book Lovers - Part 4

The holiday season has already begun and if you're thinking about what gifts to give this year, we hope you think about books. A good book is always a great gift! So how about a green-themed book that is both interesting/fun/valuable (or all at once) and affordable?

To help you find the best green books to give as gifts this holiday season, Eco-Libris blog is continuing the tradition we started last year and presenting a new holiday guide. This year we have a very special guide with recommendations from people who are involved in the green economy, or as we call it "The Green Collar Holiday Gift Guide for Book Lovers ".

The guide includes 50 recommendations of great green-themed books that will be a good fit as holiday gifts. As you will see the guide is not only about the books, but also about the people who recommend it. We tried to personalize the guide as much as possible so we will learn not only about green books but also about the people who carry the green economy on their shoulders.

Therefore with each recommendation you will find a personal angle that presents the recommender, his workplace and/or why they chose that specific book to recommend on.

Today we present part 4 (out of five) of the guide. As you can see today and on other parts of the guide, we have some great people who are part of the green economy and also wrote great books which the recommend on. We hope you will enjoy the variety of offers and find here great ideas for green gifts. Enjoy!

31. "Sustainability 101: A Toolkit for Your Business" by Anca Novacovici and Jennifer Woofter

Recommended by: Anca Novacovici, the author and the founder of Eco-Coach

What the book is about? This succinct introductory manual is designed to help organizations, whether committed to going green or still trying to get on board, become more socially and environmentally responsible. The book provides nearly one hundred recommendations, with detailed "how to" instructions and websites where you can go for more information, and focuses on the environmental as well as the social aspects of sustainability in an organization. Because it is clearly segmented into steps, a 'newbie' can pick up the book and not feel intimidated, and someone who is more seasoned and is looking for additional ideas does not need to read through material that he/she is already familiar with.

Jennifer and I developed this book based on our experience working with many different companies across various industries. We found that there was a fear of the unknown and many individuals did not know where to start even though there were simple steps that they could take that would move them forward. So, we wanted to share this information with as many people as possible, since there is a lot to do in a short period of time (to decrease the impact that humans are having on the planet). Both of our missions are to further the green movement and help more and more companies and individuals save money, improve employee and customer satisfaction, and save the planet in the process.

Why would this book make a great gift? This is a great office gift - for your boss, a colleague, customers or for yourself! It is easy and actionable reading, and is also great for those who do not have a lot of time to spend on the subject but would like to do something. Reading it will give the recipient lots of ideas of how to become more environmentally friendly and socially conscious not just at work, but at home! You can check it out on the Eco-Coach website and soon on Amazon.com
.
Getting personal: Anca Novacovici is the founder of Eco-Coach (http://www.eco-coach.com), an environmental sustainability consulting company based in Washington DC. Her company is going on its third year, and focuses on both businesses and individuals.

32. "The Green Collar Economy: How One Solution Can Fix Our Two Biggest Problems" by Van Jones

Recommended by: Judy Harper, Consultant at 505 Marketing

What the book is about? (from the publisher's website - HarperCollins) In The Green Collar Economy, acclaimed activist and political advisor Van Jones delivers a real solution that both rescues our economy and saves the environment. The economy is built on and powered almost exclusively by oil, natural gas, and coal—all fast-diminishing nonrenewable resources. As supplies disappear, the price of energy climbs and nearly everything becomes more expensive. With costs and unemployment soaring, the economy stalls. Not only that, when we burn these fuels, the greenhouse gases they create overheat the atmosphere. As the headlines make clear, total climate chaos looms over us. The bottom line: we cannot continue with business as usual. We cannot drill and burn our way out of these dual dilemmas.

Instead, Van Jones illustrates how we can invent and invest our way out of the pollution-based grey economy and into the healthy new green economy. Built by a broad coalition deeply rooted in the lives and struggles of ordinary people, this path has the practical benefit of both cutting energy prices and generating enough work to pull the U.S. economy out of its present death spiral.

Why would this book make a great gift? This book is about a very serious problem but is an enjoyable read because it shows that solutions are available and we just need to start putting them into practice.

Getting Personal: Judy also warmly recommends on "Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution - and How It Can Renew America" by Thomas L. Friedman (no .7 on our guide): This is a very interesting, simple to understand description of what's happening to our world and what we can do to fix it.

.
33. " Green to Gold: How Smart Companies Use Environmental Strategy to Innovate, Create Value, and Build Competitive Advantage by Daniel C. Esty and Andrew S. Winston

Recommended by:Debora Blair, Channel Operations Manager at Tennant Company

What the book is about? from the publisher's website - Yale University Press): The essential guide for forward-thinking business leaders who see the Green Wave coming and want to profit from it. This book explores what every executive must know to manage the environmental challenges facing society and business.

Based on the authors' years of experience and hundreds of interviews with corporate leaders around the world, 'Green to Gold' shows how companies generate lasting value, cutting costs, reducing risk, increasing revenues, and creating strong brands, by building environmental thinking into their business strategies.

Daniel C. Esty and Andrew S. Winston provide clear how-to advice and concrete examples from companies like BP, Toyota, IKEA, GE, and Nike that are achieving both environmental and business success. The authors show how these cutting-edge companies are establishing an “eco-advantage” in the marketplace as traditional elements of competitive differentiation fade in importance. Esty and Winston not only highlight successful strategies but also make plain what does not work by describing why environmental initiatives sometimes fail despite the best intentions.

Why would this book make a great gift? I believe "Green to Gold" is a great holiday gift for anyone managing all or part of a business as it is practical and shows numerous benefits to focusing on environmental issues and saving valuable resources.

Getting Personal: I am on a corporate sustainability team that has undertaken numerous initiatives with regards to waste and conservation. With every success we make, we see more and more opportunity for improvement.

34. "The 21st Century Energy Initiative: How to solve our energy problems, once and for all" by Mark Paul

Recommended by: Mark Paul, the author and Managing Partner at Synergy Consulting Group, LLC

What the book is about? This eBook is for those who are interested in making a difference in the world. It is unique, in that it is not a politically-charged treatise on why "the other side" is wrong. Rather - it digs deep as to the root causes of our current energy problems, and uncovers [1] how we got here in the first place and [2] how we can solve our energy problems. And... what the reader can do about it.

Why would this book make a great gift? Since time is of the essence on this important issue, a unique gift to others may well provide the grass-roots spark this country needs to become the world leader in bringing renewable energy to the rest of the world. Even more than what Obama is promising!

Getting Personal: I have a degree in Physics as a result of the OPEC-led oil embargo of 1973. I planned on solving the world's energy problems, but life got in my way. After 9/11, I decided to learn more about the root causes and how to fix this "grand challenge", once and for all. After years of research, I decided to put forth a plan to solve it. The 21st Century Energy Initiative is all about how Government, Businesses and Research Universities can / should work together to address this problem.

Realizing that this is a huge undertaking, I decided to write the book to share an innovative approach (based on researching what does NOT work). I also decided to become more involved personally... bringing my 30 years of technology commercialization experience to bear and implement a scaled-down version of the 21st Century Energy Initiative - to something I could lead. NXergy is a renewable energy technology accelerator. Information on this company can be found at www.nxergy.com.

35. "How The Land Of Litter Became The Kingdom Of Clean" by Dave Street

Recommended by: Greg Barber, Environmental printer

What the book is about? "How The Land Of Litter Became The Kingdom Of Clean" is a 48 page cover book that is all 4 color process and has illustrations of knights and Dragons discussing with the children of the

castle the merits of recycling or not recycling. Does it really make a difference if one person litters. The Knight tells the children that if one child litters and then all the children litter, then that litter could clog the drains and maybe the castle and all the crop could be ruined if there is a huge rainstorm.

Why would this book make a great gift? This book deals with a lot of environmental issues and I personally found the book entertaining and very informative in educating the reader of the three R's (Recycle, ReUse, Reduce). I see this book as a great gift for kids up to 14 years old. But, remember, I loved reading it also, and parents reading to your kids will enjoy reading to them.

Getting Personal: Greg is the publisher and the printer of the book - the book is published by Barber Books and environmental printer the Greg Barber Company (www.gregbarberco.com). It is printed on 100% Post Consumer Recycled Paper and 100% Processed Chlorine-Free Paper (in other words, this book really practices what it teaches!) Greg Barber is also the printer of Eco-Libris stickers and a very recommended green printer!

36. "Carbon Finance: The Financial Implications of Climate Change" by Sonia Labatt and Rodney R White

Recommended by: Nader Shwayhat, Energy and Financial Products and Services Manager

What the book is about? (Praise for Carbon Finance from Amazon.com)

"A timely, objective, and informative analysis of the financial opportunities and challenges presented by climate change, including a thorough description of adaptive measures and insurance products for managing risk in a carbon constrained economy."
—James R. Evans, M. Eng. P. Geo., Senior Manager, Environmental Risk Management, RBC Financial Group

"Climate change will have enormous financial implications in the years to come. How businesses and investors respond to the risks and opportunities from this issue will have an enormous rippling effect in the global economy. Sonia Labatt and Rodney White's insights and thoughtful analysis should be read by all who want to successfully navigate this global business issue."
—Andrea Moffat, Director, Corporate Programs, Ceres

Why would this book make a great gift? "Carbon Finance" lays out the fundamentals of the Carbon value chain, how the Kyoto Protocol was set-up to combat the carbon emissions problem, and what the mechanics are of a Cap and Trade system. Obama has been a big proponent of Cap and Trade over Carbon Taxation and this book will help the reader understand the implications of such a program. It's be a key read for the upcoming policy and media debates.

Getting Personal: Nader is Entrepreneurial Product Strategist and Business Development Professional with extensive venture-backed startup experience within the energy and financial services markets. His experience includes personal consulting and volunteering activities in the clean-tech space developing voluntary carbon market exchanges, writing energy market analysis, and mentoring solar-power vehicle racing teams.

37. "I am Mr. Ellie Pooh Story Book" by Dr. Karl Wald

Recommended by: Dr. Karl Wald, the author and the founder of Mr. Ellie Pooh

What the book is about? This elephant dung paper book tells the story of Mr. Ellie Pooh and the plight of the Sri Lankan elephant. It basically gives the "kids" version of how we can interact with nature to "Save the Elephants". There is hope, there may be a solution, and they are holding it in their hands...Mr. Ellie Pooh's elephant dung paper.

The book is 8"x8" and printed on ois printed on 100% recycled, 75% elephant dung paper. The perfect book for any childrens library. Perfect for the home schooler or show and tell. The kids will go wild.

Why would this book make a great gift? The Mr. Ellie Pooh Storybook is printed on 100% recycled, elephant dung paper. No trees were cut down to make this product. Your children will be amazed after reading this book that they are holding such a marvelous product in their hands, and saving a piece of Earth too.

Getting Personal: Mr. Ellie Pooh is a new eco-friendly innovative company making handmade paper products partially made from elephant poo. Yes, elephant dung! Dr. Karl Wald and Thusitha Ranasinghe are spear heading a conservation program to help save wild elephants in Sri Lanka.

And there's also a special 15% discount offer for our readers - all you have to do is just enter the word "ecolibris" in the coupon box on the checkout process (starts here - http://store.mrelliepooh.com/woboboco.html) and you'll get the discount! 38. "Deep Economy: The Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future" by Bill McKibben

Recommended by: Indigo C, Social Entrepreneur (Founder at Satori International, Commander In Chief at The Zen Army, Director at The Environmental Corps, Founder at Deedz)

What the book is about? (from Deep Economy's website) In this powerful and provocative manifesto, Bill McKibben offers the biggest challenge in a generation to the prevailing view of our economy. For the first time in human history, he observes, "more" is no longer synonymous with "better"—indeed, for many of us, they have become almost opposites. 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. Our purchases, he says, need not be at odds with the things we truly value.

McKibben's animating idea is that we need to move beyond "growth" as the paramount economic ideal and pursue prosperity in a more local direction, with cities, suburbs, and regions producing more of their own food, generating more of their own energy, and even creating more of their own culture and entertainment. He shows this concept blossoming around the world with striking results, from the burgeoning economies of India and China to the more mature societies of Europe and New England. For those who worry about environmental threats, he offers a route out of the worst of those problems; for those who wonder if there isn't something more to life than buying, he provides the insight to think about one's life as an individual and as a member of a larger community.

McKibben offers a realistic, if challenging, scenario for a hopeful future. As he so eloquently shows, the more we nurture the essential humanity of our economy, the more we will recapture our own.

Why would this book make a great gift? I think it is a good guidebook for understanding the necessary evolution of community. Rather than punching out " economic crisis" solutions, Bill Mckibben looks to the roots of just what the economy IS. What makes an economy work, and what will sustain it. This would make a great gift because giving a gift that allows the recipient to learn to give back makes the whole world a better place in the end... to give is to receive.

Getting Personal: (from her LinkedIn page) Ghandi said, " Be the change you want to see in the world". I feel as though I am truly blessed to be a part of this world at this moment. EVOLUTION is palpable, CHOICE is POSSIBLE and CHANGE is Inevitable. My Epiphany of sorts is that I must spend a considerable portion of each day of my life - working to a better tomorrow.

39. "It's Not About the Money: Unlock Your Money Type to Achieve Spiritual and Financial Abundance" by Brent Kessel

Recommended by: Brent Kessel, the author and co-founder of Abacus Portfolios

What the book is about?Although not overtly ‘green,’ this book is all about curtailing our consumerism by understanding what motivates most of our purchases, as well as investing in a safe, globally-diversified, sustainable way. Kessel offers new ways to think about spending, saving, giving and earning money to reach personal financial goals and maintain a real sense of security and confidence about one’s future.

Why would this book make a great gift? Do you know someone who is struggling to make ends meet, keep their house, or solidify their savings? This holiday season, all of us are trying to find a way to give something of value and meaning to our loved ones without breaking the bank.

For less than the price of a typical bank fee, buy those in financial distress a copy of It’s Not About the Money, which Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine just named one of the Top Five Business Books for 2008. It’s an investment which will give them a game plan for staying safe, sane and calm in this chaotic economy.

Getting Personal: Brent Kessel, CFP, is co-founder of Abacus Portfolios, a portfolio management company offering socially responsible investing while focusing on global, environmental and economic sustainability.

40. "Green Jobs Philly" by Paul Glover

Recommended by: Paul Glover, the author and community consultant and organizer

What the book is about? My new book "Green Jobs Philly" translates this movement into policies and programs practical and controllable locally, without waiting for federal, state or corporate funding. Lots of proposals for grassroots funding of neighborhood technologies. And, suiting the times, it's small (48pp) and inexpensive. http://www.paulglover.org/gjp.html See also http://www.greenjobsphilly.org/news

Why would this book make a great gift? This small volume is a powerful and efficient introduction, with specific practical proposals, for bringing green jobs to your city or town.

Getting personal: I started Ithaca HOURS local currency, Ithaca Health Alliance, Citizen Planners of Los Angeles, Philadelphia Orchard Project, and many more groups during the past 35 years. Also authored Hometown Money, Health Democracy, Los Angeles: A History of the Future, A Crime Not a Crisis, and other books.

I write newspaper and magazine articles about ecological urban design and grassroots economic development. I teach Metropolitan Ecology, and Green Jobs, at Temple University and am editor of Green Jobs Philly News. I consult (Greenplanners) with communities seeking to navigate busted economies. Full list and homepage: http://www.paulglover.org

If you choose to give your friends or family this book as a present on the holidays, 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 the holidays.

The Green Collar Holiday Gift Guide for Book Lovers - Part 1

The Green Collar Holiday Gift Guide for Book Lovers - Part 2

The Green Collar Holiday Gift Guide for Book Lovers - Part 3

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris
www.ecolibris.net