Green Goes with Everything: Simple Steps to a Healthier Life and a Cleaner Planet [Hardcover]

Sloan Barnett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 23, 2008

Imagine if your best friend gave you vital information that could protect you and your family, and save you money, and help the planet. Imagine if you were given clear, simple choices, small changes that could have a big impact on your life. And you could still wear leather shoes and deodorant. You'd listen, right?

Well, think of Today show contributor Sloan Barnett as that friend. A mother of three, a dedicated consumer advocate, Sloan gives us a fast, simple, down-toearth primer on the ways our homes are making us sick, and what we can all do to transform them into the safe sanctuaries we want and need them to be.

Sloan exposes the toxic truth behind the household products we use every day -- from laundry detergent to toothpaste to lipstick. She explains how these and other seemingly benign stuff can harm us and our children. She offers an array of alternatives, and inspires us to see that we're never helpless: Every day, we have the power to make better, smarter, safer choices.

Packed with common sense and sass, product picks and practical tips, Green Goes With Everything is for everyone who wants to live a healthier life.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

According to Barnett, the Green Editor for KNTV in San Francisco, human beings are saturating their bodies, their children's bodies and their homes with noxious waste, pathogens and carcinogens. Barnett recounts having her blood and urine tested to illustrate how toxins have deeply embedded themselves—her results show positive for bisphenonol A (linked to birth defects and reproductive problems) and perchlorate (an active ingredient in rocket fuel found in contaminated food). The book is divided into seven clean-it-up chapters full of solid information and helpful tips aimed at greening different areas of your life, such as how to best filter household water. Barnett's well-written environmental call-to-arms is passionate and authoritative; her findings correlating childhood illnesses with ordinary—and highly toxic—cleaning supplies is alarming. However, readers will likely find Barnett's claims slightly suspect for the fact that her sensible advice is compromised by her relentless endorsement of Shaklee products (her husband happens to be the Shaklee CEO). (Sept.)
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Review

"A must-read for anyone who cares about the health of their family and our wonderful blue planet. Sloan has done a lot of background investigation to support the incredible information that is given in a very reader-friendly and engaging style." -- Professor Wangari Maathai, Winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize, and founder of The Green Belt Movement

"Sloan Barnett has written a thoroughly researched, highly readable handbook for 'cleaning up our act' at home. Follow even a little of her advice, and your children will eat healthier, breathe cleaner air, and learn for themselves how to identify and avoid potentially toxic materials." -- Dr. John Spengler, Akira Yamaguchi Professor of Environmental Health and Human Habitation, Harvard School of Public Health.

"Barnett's well-written environmental call-to-arms is passionate and authoritative; her findings correlating childhood illnesses with ordinary -- and highly toxic -- cleaning supplies is alarming." -- Publishers Weekly

"Those seeking an easy-to-use handbook with clearly stated actions to take for a greener life will enjoy Barnett's, which organizes its chapters around various aspects of clean: clean body, food, water, air and energy." -- Booklist

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Atria Books; First Edition first Printing edition (September 23, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416578455
• ISBN-13: 978-1416578451
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #299,835 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #64 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > How-to & Home Improvements > Green Housecleaning

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Clean Green Tips for a Healthier Planet and Life, September 28, 2008

By 

Eco-Friendly Interior Designer (New York, New York USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Green Goes with Everything: Simple Steps to a Healthier Life and a Cleaner Planet (Hardcover)

Over the past year, there have been dozens of books on the green theme published, and Green Goes with Everything: Simple Steps to a Healthier Life and Cleaner Planet, by Sloane Barnett, is the newest. Barnett does her research and presents a good primer to get anyone started on a healthy, toxic-free life.

My biggest complaint is Barnett's obsession over non-toxic cleaning products and cleaning the home. On one hand, I get it--her son, Spencer, had an asthma attack at age three that landed him in the hospital. (Spencer gets better once the toxic cleaning products are removed.) The other source of her obsession is what is a bit annoying--her husband is CEO of Shaklee products, which are non-toxic household cleaning products.

Now, Barnett is not alone--there are entire books written about how to clean your home and with what products. I just think too many--including Barnett--go on and on about cleaning and non-toxic products--just DO IT and move on to more important subjects. really--cleaning the house is not rocket science...

The first three chapters are devoted to the subject of a non-toxic home. In chapter one, we learn "the real dirt on clean." The chapter discusses the probable toxins in our home and what is "scary" vs. is "safe" dirt.

Chapter two informs about the dangerous cleaning products in our home.

Chapter three is about alternative safe cleaning products. This is where we hear how wonderful and superior Shaklee products are. A bit too info-commercial for my tastes. Barnett does offer some simple handmade cleaning solutions and non-toxic household cleaning products that Shaklee doesn't manufacture. The reality--most of the "alternative" non-toxic cleaning products work just fine.

Chapter 4 is about non-toxic body care products. Hair color, deodorant and other unsafe products are discussed and safe alternatives are provided.

In chapter 6, Barnett explains how to eat organic while buying smarter and cheaper and what chemicals to avoid in food.

Chapter 7 discusses clean water. Good advice on how to make your tap water safe and to avoid the extremely wasteful throwaway bottles.

In chapter 8, a broader look at how to keep the air in ones home clean is discussed. Barnett writes about fireplaces and stoves, cabinets, furniture and upholstery and mattresses--all stuff that outgasses and degrades the air quality. She does a good basic job of this, but for an comprehensive guide to all facets of furniture, walls, floors and more, a great companion to this book is: the award winner, HARMONIOUS ENVIRONMENT: BEAUTIFY, DETOXIFY & ENERGIZE YOUR LIFE, YOUR HOME & YOUR PLANET.

Chapter 9 covers energy in the home and Barnett provides easy ways to save on energy in the home.

There are resources at the end of the book for many green products.

Recommend as a good, green primer for the home.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I LOVED this book!! Finally a Finally -- a practical, simple book about toxins and how to remove them!, September 29, 2008

By 

Cynthia A. Arko - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Green Goes with Everything: Simple Steps to a Healthier Life and a Cleaner Planet (Hardcover)

I found Green Goes With Everthing -- to be a witty, practical read that gives simple information on what toxins are, why they are relevant, and how to get them out of your home and body. The thing I love so much about this book is that it is written in a way that makes it simple to take action. It is informative without being preachy. It is detailed without being overwhelming. The author ends each chapter with five green "hot tips". If we all implement just one tip from each chapter we all will be contibuting to a healthier planet, a healthier home and a healthier body!

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally Getting Green, September 25, 2008

By 

Gina Pell (San Francisco, CA<P>San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Green Goes with Everything: Simple Steps to a Healthier Life and a Cleaner Planet (Hardcover)

Inspired by my best friend Zem of ecofabulous, I've been recycling for over a decade. I even bought a hybrid car two years ago but I've been really slow to go completely green. It wasn't until I read "Green Goes with Everything," that I was propelled to throw out all my toxic household products. This book lit a fire under me to get serious about the products I buy and what I surround myself with. I read it in one day! Anyone who has a child should definitely read this book. Sloan is smart, funny, relatable, and clearly spells out simple steps to living a greener, healthier life. Quick read. Everlasting lessons.