From Publishers Weekly
Put good food on your table, put good products in your home, plant a tree, drive a cool car, stop being toxic—these are five of the 10 simplistic but generally sensible bromides espoused by health magazine publisher Steinman. He's earnest, sometimes even bombastic, about how an army of "green patriots" can individually and incrementally confront global warming by embracing a "carbon-neutral" lifestyle. The "good food" chapter harrowingly recounts a visit to California's Central Valley—the most productive agricultural land in the United States but also the site of pesticides and poisoned water that have sickened generations of farm workers. However, his solution—to buy locally, eat organically and patronize food producers who emphasize organic products—is still out of reach for most Americans. A chapter on the importance of trees in combating global warming starts with the big picture of Costa Rica's remarkable commitment to reforestation before narrowing its focus to a list of manufacturers providing recycled papers. The ethic of every-little-thing-helps infuses the book—the author even counsels such micro-acts as unplugging unused appliances that draw "standby" power. A lengthy resource guide provides tips on everything from organic food deliveries and eco-friendly furniture to recycled toothbrushes.
(Jan.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
Steinman, founder of Freedom Press and publisher of Healthy Living magazine, draws the connection between personal health and a healthy environment, argues that global warming is a greater threat to national security than terrorism, and avers that a "sound environmental policy" will enhance our standing in the world and strengthen our economy. He rants a bit in the opening pages but soon settles down to solid journalism and practical advice for lowering our society's dependence on fossil fuels, suggesting we each become a "green patriot" living as "carbon-neutral" and nontoxic a life as possible. Inquisitive, outspoken, and down-to-earth, Steinman tells harrowing tales about families who have suffered severe illness caused by exposure to pesticides and other environmental chemicals, then switches gears to profile green entrepreneurs and organic farmers and recommend a slew of Earth-friendly products. Although many reports on the state of the biosphere leave readers feeling helpless, Steinman motivates and empowers.
Donna SeamanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
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