Living Like Ed: A Guide to the Eco-Friendly Life (Paperback)

by Ed Begley Jr. (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
“Filled with sound advice and first-hand experience from someone who has been walking the walk for more than 38 years, Living Like Ed provides a wide array of practical options for anyone who wants to make his life a little-or a lot-greener. Ed Begley is more than a beloved Hollywood figure; he¹s an all-American hero, and Living Like Ed is a comprehensive yet accessible guide to becoming more environmentally savvy that light greens and bright greens alike will find themselves dog-earing for years to come.”
—Treehugger.com


From the Trade Paperback edition. --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Review
“Filled with sound advice and first-hand experience from someone who has been walking the walk for more than 38 years, Living Like Ed provides a wide array of practical options for anyone who wants to make his life a little-or a lot-greener. Ed Begley is more than a beloved Hollywood figure; he¹s an all-American hero, and Living Like Ed is a comprehensive yet accessible guide to becoming more environmentally savvy that light greens and bright greens alike will find themselves dog-earing for years to come.”
—Treehugger.com

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Clarkson Potter (February 19, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0307396436
• ISBN-13: 978-0307396433
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 6.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #121,709 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Living Like Ed is a winner!, February 19, 2008

By	Nerissa Oden "thevideoqueen" (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Length:: 5:34 Mins

5 minute video explaining why I recommend "Living Like Ed." I did my best to be entertaining and informative. I didn't reveal info within book, instead I focused on how the book was surprisingly helpful to me.

It's easy to read and skim--everyman language. Helpful. Even to green know-it-alls like me. My idea of a "perfect gift" for friends, family, renters, home owners, even landlords like me.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good introduction to making your home and life eco-friendly, March 3, 2008

By	suetonius "seutonius" (Phoenix) - See all my reviews

I bought this book because I am a fan of the HGTV show. Living with Ed is reality show about Ed Begley Jr., his delightful wife Rachelle and their Los Angeles area home. The house has been modified over the years Begley has owned it be as eco-friendly as possible with solar panels, wind mills and CFL bulbs. The book Living Like Ed is small paperback that touches on some of the green modifications that anyone can do to save money and be kind to the environment.

Some of the tips are common-sense: don't waste water, grow some of your own food in a vegetable garden, turn off all the lights when you leave the house, walk or ride a bike instead of taking your car for short trips.

Some tips are more expensive. Equipping a house with enough solar panels to get "off the grid" will cost many tens of thousands of dollars, the cost of which may never be amortized. Buying a hybrid-fuel car will cost more than a regularly-powered vehicle.

There are some ideas that I found very helpful: completely disconnecting all unused electronic gadgets and chargers can save up to 10% of your electrical use. Avoid buying items that come with excess packaging. Donate old magazines, toys and electronics to charity. This way these things will help a good cause and keep toxins out of landfills.

One of Ed's central themes is the development of a mindset that looks for ways to reuse and recycle things rather than wasting.

Highly recommended.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eco-nut or savior of the planet?, March 27, 2008

By	Robert Crespo (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As someone who is very concerned about our home, planet Earth, I found Ed Beagley's book very illuminating. Many people ask "what can I really do to help save the planet? After all I'm only one person."

The contents of the book is laid out very well as it's divided into topical sections such as the home, transportation, garden etc. In each of these sections he explains how one can make small changes or large changes to impact the planet in a positive way. For example, I used to waste a lot of water shaving by letting the water just run and run. Now I fill my bathroom sink up with a reasonable quantity of water and shave just using that small little pool. It doesn't seem like I am saving a lot of water but multiply that by 30 days in the month and 365 days a year and I can see how I'm saving many many gallons of water.

Some of the suggestions in the book I have already put into place before reading Ed Beagley's book such as converting over to compact fluorescent bulbs. However he has also raised my awareness for doing a more vigilant job of recycling as well as the dangers of everyday toxins in our homes. Will I be willing to pay more money for less toxic paint for example? I'm not sure but he has certainly given me something to think about.

I also became acquainted with his line of cleaning products called Beagley's Best which is an all natural non-toxic line of household cleaning liquids. I have used all three of his products, the all-purpose cleaner, the glass cleaner, and the amazing spot remover. I am now a Beagley's Best convert when it comes to my cleaning products and best of all they do not smell or leave and offensive order behind. In fact they are virtually odor free. My wife used to complain that the majority of cleaning products made her feel sick after she used them. I recently did a spring cleaning of my apartment and used only Beagley's Best cleaning products and I have to say that it was a most pleasant experience as there were no toxic fumes and it made my work easier because the products worked really well.

So what is my recommendation regarding this book? I think everybody should read Ed's book as it's accessible, easy to read, and entertaining.