Green book of the week: The Virtuous Consumer by Leslie Garrett

Today we review a green book that is a great guide for the rest of us!

Our book is:

The Virtuous Consumer: Your Essential Shopping Guide for a Better, Kinder, Healthier World

Author: Leslie Garrett

LESLIE GARRETT is a National Award-Winning Journalist, Author and Editor, based near Toronto, Canada. Her work has appeared in Chatelaine, Canadian Living, Today’s Parent and many other national publications. Her syndicated column The Virtuous Consumer runs monthly in City Parent, Big Apple Parent, About Families and many other publications.

She also writes The Virtuous Traveler, a syndicated column that appears in the online newsletter of NBC travel editor Peter Greenberg and was syndicated in The Globe & Mail. Together her columns reached close to two million readers.

Leslie has also written a dozen children’s books, including a biography of renowned environmentalist David Suzuki and “EarthSmart”, a book for young children on protecting the environment. Her books are widely available and well reviewed.

Publisher: New World Library

Published on: June 2007

What this book is about? (from the publisher's website)

Sure, there are people who chain themselves to old-growth trees, raise their one child diaper-free, and make their own soap. The Virtuous Consumer is for the rest of us, struggling to make choices that are better for the planet — and for us. Leslie Garrett has created a comprehensive reference guide that — like a smart, funny, and eco-conscious friend — will steer you toward ethical purchases for everything from lipstick to cars, kids' toys to a new mattress. The Virtuous Consumer is your key to shopping consciously and creating a simpler, greener lifestyle.

What we think about it?

I want to begin and say that I agree with the book's description - just like Festivus, it is definitely for the rest of us. I guess some fellows I personally like, such as Mark Boyle won't find it handy, but many others who struggle with consuming issues and eventually buy some stuff will find this book very useful.

This is definitely not a guide that drives you to shop. No Sir! Garrett is well aware of the three R's (reduce, reuse, recycle) - for her this is a viable part of the choice to live consciously and she brings it to the reader's attention whenever possible, as well as the fact that buying less is always a reasonable option.

I've read many guides that provide you with great information and recommendations on the best choices you have as a consumer. Still, I found The Virtuous Consumer different. It is thorough, detailed, brings you information straight from the experts and is very comprehensive - it talks about almost everything, from cleaning products to parties and celebrations. But what really got me into this book is Garrett's attitude - she's funny, realistic, frank and always personal, providing examples from her own experiences.

This attitude makes The Virtuous Consumer much less of a textbook and much more of a friend you want to hear her advice. All I can say is that although I read about it in many places, this is the first guide that actually got me to move my butt and check the labels of some of the cosmetic products I use to see if they have 'fragrance' on the list of ingredients (unfortunately the answer is yes..), and to consider for the first time other options that are better both to me and to the environment. And I'm sure this is not the last time this book will push me to check products I buy and consider better alternatives.

Lat but not least, I also want to mention that this book is printed on 100% post consumer-waste recycled paper.

Bottom Line: A useful and enjoyable guide that I recommend with all my heart!

Disclosure: We received a copy of this book from the author.

If you're looking for other interesting green-themed books, you are invited to check out our green books page on Eco-Libris website's green resources section.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Promoting sustainable reading!

Green printing is going mainstream!

We were happy to read that green printing is now not only the quest of a small number of printers, but it's also on the agenda of the the world’s largest graphic arts trade association - Printing Industries of America.

Yes, Printing Industries of America is providing now its members with a new tool for who wants to go green: The Green Guide for Graphic Communications.

According to their website the guide will help printers to turn your green profile into a market position, make appropriate and credible green claims, issue periodic reports on your green progress, better understand third-party certification and eco-labels,communicate effectively with customers, prospects, and other stakeholders, and so on.

It sounds like a valuable “how-to” guide for printers, that shows them how going green can not only benefit the environment, but also their business, and I hope many of them will make a good use of it.

This guide is provided free of charge to members of Printing Industries of America. You can read more about the guide at http://www.printing.org/greenguide?id=PGAMA

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Promoting green printing

Who's on Plenty Magazine's state-by-state guide to green hotspots?

I always look for a good green guide whenever I am going somewhere so to learn what green hotspots I can visit. Actually, I'm still waiting for the guide that we'll give me updated info on the green places in Chicago, Miami or any other of the major big cities. In the meantime, Plenty Magazine offers its version of state-by-state guide to green hotspots.

Kimberly Fusaro and Madhu Puri brings you several dozen of our favorite spots around the United States, showing you that you don't have to venture far from home to find eco-friendly places to eat, shop, and play.

I was happy to find new recommendations on places I didn't know about. I also found two bookstores on the guide, including our friends at Doylestown Bookshop in Pennsylvania that are taking part in our bookstores program, which also got a mention! (the other one is the Lower East Side Girls Club Fair Trade Gift Shop and Book Store) Here's what's written about Doylestown Bookshop:

Big, bad independent bookstore. Partner with Eco-Libris, which plants trees for books. 16 S. Main St., Doylestown, PA. 215-230-7610; doylestownbookshop.com

So you're welcome to check this guide, add your own recommendations at the end and of course visit and enjoy these great green hotspots. And if you know of any other good green local guides, please feel free to share it with us!

Yours,

Raz @ Eco-Libris

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

Recommnedation on a guide with the best green books to read this summer

Summer is almost here (maybe already here, depends where you live..), and nothing like a good green book to chill a hot day.

Which green book fits summer the best? SmartPlanet's team chose ten of the hottest eco books of the season, from ethical wedding and green beauty guides to eco getaway listings and tips for recycling rubbish.

This guide includes green books such as How Green Are My Wellies?, by Anna Shepard, Ecoescape 2008, by Laura Burgess and more. You can find the SmartPlanet's guide at http://www.smartplanet.com/news/household/10001230/10-great-green-books-for-summer.htm.

The guide also reminds that you can always green up these books by balancing them out with Eco-Libris, as well use swapping books sites such as BookCrossing and greenmetropolis.com. We definitely support both recommendations!

And last word - thank you to all the dear people who sent their congrats for my beautiful new baby girl - Shira (see photo below)! Shira is already doing her first green steps and I can't wait to read her a green book :-)

Yours,

Raz @ Eco-Libris

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

Monday's green books series: The Green Parent

Today on our Monday's green books series, I'm reviewing a book that may look like it is aimed only at parents who are green or want to go green, but actually is relevant to all the parents who care about the quality of life of their children, both now and in the future. In other words, it's a book that will be of interest to (almost) every parent out there.

Our book for today is:

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

Author: Jenn Savedge

Jennifer Savedge's articles have appeared in ePregnancy, iParenting.com, Carolina Parent, Healthy Living, as well as children's publications such as Appleseeds, Cobblestone, and Odyssey. Jenn lives with her husband and two daughters in Luray, VA. 'The Green Parent' is her first book.

Publisher: Kedzie Press

Published in: April 2008

What it is about:
'The Green Parent' is an extensive guide for parents who would like to green up their family's life style and teach their children about living green. 'The Green Parent' covers a variety of subjects that have environmental impacts - energy, water, garbage, pets, transportation, work, shopping and many more.

Each chapter is dedicated to a different subject and includes useful tips (how to make your own cleaning agents from natural ingredients), recommendations how to use your money wisely while going green (buy ENERGY STAR appliances), suggestions how to get your kids involved in the process of greening up (light patrol to help you remember to turn off the lights), information on relevant issues such as green labels and interview with green parents. Both parents and kids will learn ways to make the biggest impact, save the most money, and discover how making even the smallest of changes can make a big difference.

Why you should get it:

It sometimes not easy find the right ways to go green. It might be even harder as a parent. 'The Green Parent' is definitely a good guide to make this green journey easier.

One of the things I liked mostly about the book are the interviews, as Savedge conducted interviews with some very interesting green parents who talk about their personal experiences with their children. You can find in the book interviews with Kathleen Ridihalgh, who write the blog 'Great Green Tips', Leslie Garret, a journalist and author ('The Virtuous Consumer'), Corey Colwell-Lipson, founder of the organization 'Green Halloween', Bill McKibben, Colin Beaven ('No Man Impact') and others.

I'm not a parent yet, so I cannot relate yet to many of the parents-children issues that are brought up in the book, but I'm going to be a father very soon, so I am starting my journey into green parenthood. For me, one of the book's main strengths is that it shows new parents that being a green parent is not only for rich people with spare time. Many times it's just the opposite - buying less, buying used items, generating less waste, saving energy and water, recycling - all of these practices will save your family money and can be done even by parents with the busiest schedule. And the book is full of examples how to do it and great resources to receive further information.

And maybe most important part - the book tries to help parents with the million dollar question - how you promote environmental stewardship that does not sound like "eco-naggin" in the ears of the children? from the stories of the green parents in the interviews and tips of fun activities that will make green more understandable and attractive for kids to great suggestions on how to incorporate green into the kids' daily activities (how to make their lunch waste-free).

Last word - this book is my fave also because not only that it's printed on 100% PCW recycled paper (processed chlorine free, FSC-certified and manufactured using biogas), but it is also the first book to be published under the Kedzie Press' Million Tree-A-Thon initiative: for each book sold, Kedzie Press will plant one tree, in collaboration with Eco-Libris, with the goal of planting one million trees by December 2009. So we're very proud to plant a tree for each copy of 'The Green Parent' and to have our logo on the cover of the book.

What others say about it:
“In The Green Parent, author Jenn Savedge guides us through how to live "green" and pass that love and respect for the earth on to our children…Savedge writes with an infectious optimism that motivates us to change our ways and change the world in the process.” Leslie Garrett, journalist and author of The Virtuous Consumer, mother of three

"A great resource for updated details on green living - especially useful for parents who no longer have the time to stay in the loop on best practices." Sara Prout, Development Officer, Bainbridge Graduate Institute, mother of three

“This thoughtful must-have book for parents reminds us of the old Native American saying: We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors; we borrow it from our Children." Doug Farr, Author of Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design with Nature

“The Green Parent is a fabulous read for parents who are trying to improve the health of the children, household, communities and planet!” Lee Welles, author of the Gaia Girls Book Series.

Want to learn more about the book? check out Jenn Savedge's blog: http://thegreenparent.blogspot.com/ and also watch her on NBC 4, Virginia: http://video.nbc4.com/player/?id=235603.

And if you're looking for other interesting green books, you are invited to check out our green books page on our website's green resources section.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

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

Green Chic: Saving in Earth in Style – A Monday's Green Book Review

In January we covered Big Green Purse, a book about the way women can help change the world by using their enormous power as consumers. Today's book touches upon some similar topics, but many others as well. This week's book review is written by our new blogger, Harriet Watson. Welcome on board!

Welcome to another Monday on the Eco-Libris blog. You know what that means? That's right: Another Monday...another book! And this book is especially FABulous!

You know how every once in a while you read a book that makes you laugh, cry, learn...an experience filled with so many `Oh!', and `Yes!' moments that it reminds you why you LOVE reading so much? A book written by someone you wish was your BBF (forget Paris Hilton, y'all), because they sound so funny, hip, and interesting? Pick up a copy of Green Chic: Saving in Earth in Style, by high-style author and fashion journalist, Christie Matheson, and you too can revel in such pleasure!

`Want to go green without giving up great style? Not sure how to make changes - or why they matter? Welcome to the world of GREEN CHIC.' What is `green chic'? In this sassy and clever little book, Matheson talks about everything from beauty-chic to car-chic. She covers topics ranging from where to get eco-vibrators (oh, hi mom!), compostable trash bags, green(er) wedding rings, and how to offset airplane miles and make your car less of a polluting hellion. She educates you about the impact of your choices, and couches the technical aspects of production and consumer use, offering staggering statistics. All that in language that's easy to understand and not science-heavy. And although you may be already in-the-know, she'll teach you how to use the words `carbon footprint' and `greenwashing' in a sentence, AND know what they mean. This handy-dandy book even has a `green-glossary'! There is definitely an emphasis on how to lighten our...ummm...carbon footprint ;)..but there's so much more.

Green Chic is NOT about giving up everything you own; either to dumpster dive, or buy `greener' options. Green Chic is about taking time to figure out your style, what makes you happy, to not let the trend of the minute dictate what you buy (hence what you throw out). And it specifically tells you NOT to throw out what you have. Use what you have. If it's possible, make things `greener' until they need to be replaced. So, roll up the car windows to reduce `drag' and drive the speed limit to get higher mpg's. And when the old clunker goes, buy a hybrid. Or a used car. While you're renting (okay, so maybe forever), use less water when you flush the toilet by displacing the water in the tank with a milk bottle (cool, huh?) And when you do use your voice as a consumer, make sure to replace what you have thoughtfully and eco-consciously. Don't know What to replace your things with? Fortunately, Matheson includes a reference guide to help you out with ideas and specific companies that sell timelessly green chic items.

The best aspect of this book is that Matheson's personality shines through. She doesn't guilt-trip herself or anyone else about not doing `all the right things'. She's light and chatty, and doesn't scold you anymore than she scolds herself for buying regular deodorant and Jimmy Choo shoes (albeit very, VERY occasionally...and on sale....used). She breaks down how we can be green chic into manageable steps:

if you turn off one 75 watt incandescent bulb, for 3 hours each day, you'll keep 125 pounds of Co2 out of the environment. That's one lamp!*

Turning the heat in your home down one degree saves 240 pounds of CO2 per year. 240 pounds. That's no small chunk of pound-age!

She also encourages us to make profound positive and pro-active changes in our lives, to shift our mindset so that we incorporate conscious living broadly into every part of our lives. And she does so with such approachability, and positivity, that we WANT to become green chic!

This book, Eco-Libris friends, is going on my kitchen shelf so that I can refer to it over and over again. How timelessly chic is that!

Title: Green Chic: Saving in Earth in Style

Author: Christie Matheson

Publisher: http://www.sourcebooks.com/

Publication Date: March 1st, 2008

Pages: 240

Yours,

Harriet Watson @ Eco-Libris

Plant Trees with Eco-Libris!