Green Books Campaign: ‘Going Green: A Wise Consumer’s Guide to a Shrinking Planet’

After receiving an invitation to take part in the green lit campaign, “It’s Time for a Green Book: 1 Day, 100 Bloggers, 100 Green Books, 100 Reviews,” I was excited to take part in this mass effort to promote green books. “Green books” are books that have been printed using recycled and FSC certified paper.  This campaign is organized by Eco-Libris, a company that specializes in encouraging both publishers and readers to get “greener,” and to produce and purchase books that are printed in an environmentally responsible way. 

Book Review: Going Green: A Wise Consumer’s Guide to a Shrinking Planet

Full of overwhelmingly detailed information, this book reads like a college textbook.  When I first read the title, I was expecting a book aimed specifically at moms who want to “go green” and who make the all buying decisions for their families.  Not that this book wasn’t mom-friendly, but it focuses on technical statistics, data, and verbiage that, at times, made it hard for me to digest in one sitting.  For example, the first chapter of the book “Choosing Energy Efficient and Clean Transportation” is a heavy chapter that contains lots of scientific and technical information.  It discusses everything from enzyme costs, ethanol, to cellulose, and petroleum diesel.  I find that for my needs as a mom who is trying to make greener choices for herself and her family, the information was just not practical enough or simple enough for me to take something away that could be implemented immediately.

One part of the book that I did find really interesting, however, was the story about Tyson Foods and the business of poultry farming.  Not only are the chickens subjected to harsh breeding and living conditions in an effort to produce “superior growth,” but the processing plant employees are also repeatedly exposed to dangerous working conditions, receive low wages, and are unable to unionize.  It was also very sad to read how the chickens are treated and how they suffer throughout their short lives.  Just reading chapter four was enough to convert me to vegetarianism. 

My favorite chapter of the book was chapter five, “Choosing Green and Worker Friendly Clothes.”  Learning about the harmful effects of bleaches, clothing dyes, and easy care and permanent press fabrics really opened my eyes about what types of chemicals I’m putting near my and my family’s skin.  You should really think twice before dropping your clothes off at the dry cleaners.  And did you know that hemp is superior to cotton because it doesn’t require pesticides or fertilizers to produce?  Read page 192 for more details…

Overall, this book is full of useful and comprehensive information that will educate and enlighten you about some of the ordinary things in our lives and how they are causing extraordinary changes to our environment.  Most of the changes, unfortunately, are not for the better, but there are things we all can do to help stop our “shrinking planet.”  If you are a mom looking for an easy read or quick reference book with some simple tips and advice on what you can do go green, this book may not fit the bill.  But, if you are the type who loves information and wants the background details to everything you read–then this book IS for you.  Or, if you are like me, and just want to know what to buy, where to shop, what to do (or not do), or how to eat, then this book may not be that useful to you. 

The really good thing about this book is that it covers everything about how to go green in nearly every aspect of life.  From green transportation, to energy efficient appliances, to smarter food choices, and even how to invest in companies who practice green methods, “Going Green…” is a thorough reference that will equip the reader with relevant and useful knowledge so that he or she becomes consciously aware, and can make better choices both now and in the future. 

Disclaimer:  A complimentary copy of this book was provided to Mommy Reporter in exchange for an honest opinion and review.  No other form of compensation was received. 

Tags: 1 day, 100 bloggers, 100 reviews, Eco-Libris, Going Green: A Wise Consumer's Guide to a Shrinking Planet, Green Books Campaign

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 at 10:00 am and is filed under Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.