What Can I Do?: An Alphabet for Living [Paperback]

Lisa Harrow (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2004

Concern for the health of our planet led award-winning actress Lisa Harrow and her husband, internationally renowned whale biologist Roger Payne, to create the performance piece "Lessons from Copernicus.” But Lisa and Roger found that, following performances of their show, audience members frequently wanted to know: What can I do to help? What can we all do to stop the destructive impact of our current way of life? "What Can I Do? is Lisa's response, a guidebook on how to take action. "What Can I Do? initially accompanied performances of "Lessons from Copernicus as a resource for audiences to take home. Its immediate success led Lisa to expand the guide for public and educational use. "What Can I Do? is at once practical and charming. The book is written as "An Alphabet for Living," providing readers with an extensive annotated list of Web sites where anyone can begin to explore the practices of sustainable living. Each site in the book has been selected for its wealth of information and links, and each serves as a valuable tool for finding fresh ways to view the world and live gently in it. The advice inside covers a broad array of subjects: from stopping the junk mail in your mailbox to reaping the economic and social benefits of green business; from buying sustainably harvested seafood to donating and recycling your obsolete electronics; from finding local food producers to getting your town to turn garbage into soil-improving compost.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Lisa Harrow has played many lead roles with the Royal Shakespeare Company in England and starred in film, television, and other theater productions. Her New York stage debut was as Vivian Bearing in Wit. She is married to Dr. Roger Payne, founder and president of Ocean Alliance and internationally recognized expert on whales. Lisa and Roger live in Woodstock, Vermont.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Chelsea Green Publishing (August 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931498660
• ISBN-13: 978-1931498661
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,591,888 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #64 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Outdoors & Nature > Environment > Conservation

More About the Author

Lisa Harrow has played many lead roles with the Royal Shakespeare Company in England and starred in film, television, and other theater productions. Her New York stage debut was as Vivian Bearing in Wit. She is married to Dr. Roger Payne, founder and president of Ocean Alliance and internationally recognized expert on whales. Lisa and Roger live in Woodstock, Vermont.

Lisa and Roger wrote and perform Lessons From Copernicus, a stunning mix of art and science that vividly demonstrates how mankind has gone horribly wrong—and how it is not too late to change course. What Can I Do? grew out of their performances.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Saving the Earth does not get much easier than this, April 19, 2005

By 

Paul Lappen (Manchester, CT USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: What Can I Do?: An Alphabet for Living (Paperback)

Most people want to do whatever they can to make the world a better place and protect the Earth. For them, marching in demonstrations or engaging in direct action is not an option. What to do? In subjects ranging from Air to Water to Food to Global Warming, this book lists many web sites with more information to get the reader involved in protecting the environment.

Perhaps the reader just wants to find out what sort of recycling facilities are in their town. One of their first stops should be to www.earth911.org. To look for reusable or biodegradable diapers, visit www.organicbebe.com. The Wildlife Conservation Society (www.wcs.org) has a very distinguished record in conserving endangered species. For those who have compost heaps, Starbucks will give you their coffee grounds. Details are at www.starbucks.com/aboutus/compost, or talk to your local manager.

A handy wallet card on produce and pesticides called "The Shopper's Guide to Pesticides" (bring it with you when shopping) is available from www.foodnews.org. A good site on global warming is www.climatestar.org. The Busy Person's Guide to Greener Living can be found at www.greenmatters.com. Do you have stuff you no longer need that someone else may want? Before that trip to the landfill, visit www.freecycle.org. Adopt a lobster (and help ensure a continued supply of lobsters) at www.lobsters.org, the Lobster Conservancy.

This is a wonderful book. It's small (it really can fit in your back pocket), it's well laid out, and the reader can pick their level of involvement. It is very highly recommended. Saving the environment does not get much easier than this.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a wonderful book!, November 15, 2004

By 

Sally Carpenter (Vermont,USA Cape Breton, NS) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: What Can I Do?: An Alphabet for Living (Paperback)

This little book is simply amazing! It is a wealth of information,contacts and web sites regarding the environment and ways we can do our part to help. It is like the spark of desire, that hopefully, ignites the fire of action, encouraging us to seek out and "embrace a more environmentally friendly lifestyle". It is witty, informative and easy to navigate. A perfect gift and an exceptional manual for a meaningful life.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Useful, Delightful, Hopeful, November 8, 2004

By 

A. E. Braestrup (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: What Can I Do?: An Alphabet for Living (Paperback)

As is the list of environmental problems so overwhelming and the scale so global, so is the feeling that one person can't make a difference. And, even in the trying, the choices are so many and the information so contradictory, that it's hard to know where to start. Here, at last, is the logical successor to "50 Simple Things...," better, more evolved, and yet easier. A wealth of choices that can be tailored to match what you feel you CAN do now, what you MIGHT feel you can do later, and what you SHOULD be telling your friends-- in short, a compendium of answers on a scale that any of us can comprehend.