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Members' Book Review - Green Living for Dummies

Green Living for Dummies by Michael Grosvenor and Liz Barclay

Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Reviewed by Cultivate Member, Angela Hummerston

This book is an introduction to taking simple steps towards sustainable living, including a guide to ethical shopping and investing.  Whilst this book is written for the UK market, it does have relevance for people living in Ireland.  Some of the information supplied is common sense, but there is also less obvious information and advice. The information is gathered together in a format which explains our choices clearly.  The reader can pick and choose which areas of life to affect.  There is the possibility of dipping a toe into a greener lifestyle, or at the other end of the scale plunging headlong into a new lifestyle.  This book presents the options clearly and succinctly.

Importantly, the authors make no attempt to influence the reader, but explain the various options available to working towards a greener lifestyle.  For example: they point out the dilemma between buying organic potatoes from New Zealand or non-organic potatoes from Cyprus.   It is up to the reader to make that choice. Throughout the book the authors stress that there is no one path to follow, there is no right way, but it is up to each person to choose, and this book gives the information needed to make an informed choice.

‘Green Living for Dummies’ is well laid out, instructive and humorous.  It is an enjoyable read, and packed with realistic advice on how to live a greener lifestyle.