The Better World Shopping Guide: Every Dollar Makes a Difference (Paperback)

by Ellis Jones (Author)
Key Phrases: corporate criminals, equality index, natural value, Worst Corporation, Green Business, Newman's Own (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This is the only comprehensive guide for socially and environmentally responsible consumers available. It contains over fifteen years of comprehensive research distilled into a pocket-sized, shopping-friendly format, ranking every product on the shelf from A to F-turning your grocery list into a most powerful tool to change the world.

About the Author
Ellis Jones has been teaching students to make a difference in the world for the past 15 years. A scholar of social responsibility, social change and everyday activism, he founded and directs the Better World Network, giving presentations throughout the US. He currently teaches sociology at University of California, Davis.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: New Society Publishers (November 20, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0865715769
• ISBN-13: 978-0865715769
• Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 3.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #399,496 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ultimate Eco resource, November 29, 2006

By	KW Wright (Chicago) - See all my reviews

We purchased this book directly from the author at the Green Festival in San Francisco in November 2006. We were very excited to find it as we ourselves have done research into many of these companies for our own purchasing needs. We try our best to live responsibly but are by no means hippies, we each own a car (although rarely drive them) and live a comfortable existance. We try to consume as little as we can but the reality is that we don't want to look like tramps who just rolled off a box-car. We like to dress nice, drink good wine, and live in a nicely furnished place. This book has been a great addition to our lives, it takes the wonder and even some of the guilt out of shopping. The letter grading of the companies is excellent and could not be any clearer, the additional information (like the "corporate villian" and "corporate hero") next to the ratings is terriffic and concise. We have shown this book to friends and they all want a copy. This is an invaluable tool and we never shop without it. Bravo Mr. Jones!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Invaluable!, November 30, 2006

By	S. Ralls (Springfield, MO USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is an invaluable quick-reference guide for ethical and eco-friendly shopping. It's comprehensive, listing popular national brands, regional brands, and smaller organics, among others. It's fantastic for shopping, as it's small and portable, but packed with info and easy to use, with simple A-through-F grades. I do try to be an educated, careful consumer, but when shopping without time for researching first, it's great to be able to look the item up and get a quick answer. I've bought a few extra for Christmas gifts!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful book to simplify your shopping decisions, January 9, 2007

By	Ezekiel Farwell (Vermont, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you are a conciencious person who wants to "vote" with your dollars when you shop, you may feel frustrated by the myriad of choices facing you at the supermarket. It's hard to remember which companies are environmentally and socially responsible and which are not. Even worse, many brands are owned by terrible companies which are not indicated anywhere on the packaging. For example Kraft and Nabisco are owned by a company called Altria which owns Phillip Morris cigarettes. Most people have heard how bad Phillip Morris is, but might not know that the same company owns many common brands of food. This book helps you make decisions about which products to buy by rating companies and brands on their social and environmental records. The book is organized by product type, making it easy to use while shopping. Though it includes most major brands, some companies are not rated in this book, and that is the only reason I give it 4 stars instead of 5. This is the first edition of the book, and I'm sure future releases will be more complete.