Wake Up and Smell the Planet: The Non-Pompous, Non-Preachy Grist Guide to Greening Your Day

by Brangien Davis (Editor), Katharine Wroth (Editor)

Forget the guilt; forget the panic; learn to live green. That seems to be the message of Grist's guide to grassroots sustainability. Readers familiar with the online magazine's credo will know what to expect: "We believe that news about green issues and sustainable living doesn't have to be predictable, demoralizing, or dull. We butter the vegetables! And add salt!" Wake Up and Smell the Planet supports that philosophy with helpful suggestions about making little choices that ultimately make a big difference. A cheering answer to "What can I do?"

Genres: Nonfiction, Environment, Science, Nature, Ecology, Green

176 pages, Paperback

First published October 31, 2007

Reviews

[Robert Hudder · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why bother reading a book about environmentalism that must be woefully out of date?

Well, firstly, it isn't so out of date as most of society has still done very little.

Secondly, it is interesting to track my own habits as they have changed.

and of course, what has gotten better, what has become an industry and green washed, and what is no longer useful.

Even then, there wasn't much talk about internet and its impact. Smartphones weren't really a thing.

Food systems haven't evolved so much. I realize that for me personally, the impact of being a single dad has greatly impacted my ability to eat greener... Also, the local vs food miles wasn't very nuanced. Greenhouse tomatoes are a bit of a pig. Seasonality wasn't even addressed. Anyway, still a good read to see what I have done or not done. A lot just didn't apply.

[Fred Dameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good guide to things we can all do every day that will extend our ability to live the lives we currently lead. From some obvious ones, drive slower, take shorter showers, buy fair trade and local products to things we don't think of. Such as, don't use your dryer since there is no such thing as an energy star dryer, use cotton only shirts and pants but check to make sure it's fair trade. The purchases we make every day really do affect the planet but where do you look for info? Each section has a list of web sites that will help you buy green/fair trade/low consumption etc. a really enjoyable read that uses humor to get the point across.

[Kris Donaldson · Rating 3 out of 5]

decent information and decently funny. also despite other reviews it is still decently relevant today (though I skipped the chapter on CDs and DVDs). The tldr is reduce and reuse where you can (consumerism is your enemy!), cut down on driving absolutely as much as you can, eat locally (bonus points for mostly plants and organic), and avoid #3 plastic like the plague. My biggest disappointment in this was there was an odd emphasis on health regarding plastics, I'm trying to save the planet, not this one meat suit.

[Rod · Rating 4 out of 5]

As might be expected with a book that's a couple decades old now, certain things here (especially web sites) are likely to be out of date. But the good thing about resources like this is the ideas that it can give you about activities you can try that will make a real, positive difference. And yes, you will feel guilty for the stuff you're not doing. We should.

[Becca Fanucci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun writing style... not much in there I didn’t know but some good reminders

[kristen della · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned a ton with this book! Great book to find small easy changes to better your environmental impact.

[Guy]

This book was written after years of compiling data from the Grist.org website and the questions that many people have asked over and over. Grist was founded by Chip Giller of Seattle. He started it as an e-mailed newsletter to like minded individuals. Grist.org has an audience over 750,000 and growing.

I enjoyed reading this book as it was written in a way that reminded me of listening to NPRs Car Talk guys. Filled with lots of facts and humor. I learned that make-up, beauty supplies are one of the products filled with things that are not good for ones body. The book brings up boths sides of a topic, for example the age old debate over disposable vs cloth diapers. Facts are provided for both sides and then the final comment is given to the best of the two. The section on birth control was very funny.

A quick read and worthwhile.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who would have thought that reading about how to change your habits & save the planet could make you laugh out loud? The humor makes reality easier to digest, as do the short sections/chapters and grey "sidebars." (They're not really on the side.) Some of their suggestions will take some dedication to achieve, but others are so simple anyone could do them--and everyone should. Forgoing plastic water bottles is one example. Long live ceramic & stainless steel! The book also weighs the pros & cons of disposable & cloth diapers, microwave ovens, dishwashers, etc. I highly recommend this book as a companion to Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver (which I think everyone in America should read).

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Grist so my opinion is probably very biased, but I loved this book. It has lots of a great suggestions on how to green your life, some that are easy to follow and some that are a little harder but nothing too drastic. This book is a lot like It's Easy Being Green: A Handbook for Earth-Friendly Living by Crissy Trask. Plus it's printed on recycled paper and uses soy inks!

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I seriously love this book. They have a great Web site too (Grist). It's the kind of book you'll want to keep by your bedside or on the coffee table and pick up again every so often to help you remember this or that. Really, this book is so much for anyone--not just tree-hugging, tofu-eating, patchouli-wearing hippies. If you only ever buy one environmental book, buy this one. I'm giving it 5 stars because the writers manage to be irreverent while still being reverent, minus one star because they're also kind of dorky.

[Zen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun Fun Fun! Written in mag-style (short articles), this is great for educating yourself without having to read a treatise. They even admit that book publishing is not green. LOL! Anyway, I think my favorite section was about green burials. I always thought I would get cremated but now I know that my cremated self can get pressed into blocks (with others) that can be used to renew coral reefs! How cool is that?!

I have to return this to the library - but I'll definitely borrow it again!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just like the title says, "The Non-Pompous, Non-preachy Grist Guide to Greening Your Day."

It gives you facts about what goes in and comes out of your daily routines and habits, but it also gives you practical solutions on how to avoid making or producing things that damage the earth.

I really appreciated the abundance of website references and product sites. Totally buying flushable diapers one day (gdiapers.com!)

[Nadine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It takes the reader through a basic day and offers ways to green your life--some big, some small. Lots of humor, and it brings up things I'd never thought of before--for instance, how green are your sex toys? A very easy read with lots of good ideas, and it's non-preachy. No guilt involved!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book that provides more info to make you more green. From what cat litter to use/not use and what health and beauty products to use/not use, this book is full of a lot of great info, and is pretty dang funny.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always looking for ways to reduce my negative impact on the planet. This is a super quick read of a guide with thoughts on how to conserve more and waste less without being extreme.
I've read others in this category and they tend to get repetitious, but this book gave me a few new ideas.

[Kat O'B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, little read with great info. I read it in bits at bedtime the way I usually do a magazine. I borrowed this book, but kind of want my own copy so I can skim over it now and again-- just to keep reminding myself to stay on top of my "green" game!

[Summer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of great tips for lessening your impact on the planet.

[Alexa Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read. As promised, it isn't preachy. It educates about consumption without requiring that you move off the grid, install solar panels and a bidet.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book makes you think about being green in ways we usually do not think about. It shows disturbing facts, too. Makes me want to be a lot greener than I currently am.

[T · Rating 1 out of 5]

Most of the "tips" are of the common sense variety.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a lot of information I already knew, but it was still a fun, interesting read.

[Meadow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very witty. And as advertised, not preachy or pompous. Worth reading and putting into practice.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun guide to living green, I'm going to save it as a reference.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for eco-lovers and eco-awkwards alike. This book provides great everyday tips on how to make your world a little bit "greener", from grist.org

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Grist, but this book was kind of disappointing. It has some useful information, but it's organized in a way that makes the good stuff hard to find. Plenty of snark, but not enough substance.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cool little book with information about changes you can make in your daily life. Ways to be a great consumer with humor mixed in for the ride!

[Julie Tong · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy quick read to living green. Simple easy ways to help make the world a better place.

[L · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of information and useful tips presented in a kind of breezy, fun way.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of good suggestions for living a greener life.

[Rachel Maxwell · Rating 1 out of 5]

WAAAAAYYYY to crazy crunchy for me. I'm not giving up razors. I don't care how much plastic is takes. Not helpful. Very preachy while trying to hide under the guise of being funny. Not so much