Lazy Environmentalist, The: Your Guide to Easy, Stylish, Green Living

by Josh Dorfman

Josh Dorfman's perspective is a leading voice for anyone involved in new consumer-based environmentalism."-Tom Arnold, TerraPass. We can't all camp out in old-growth forests, lying down in front of the bulldozers. And it's not only that we're too busy: Some of us just don't want our fabulous threads to get caked with mud. But that doesn't mean we don't care passionately about the environment. Luckily, the days when becoming environmentally aware entailed eating bread that tasted like dirt, wearing clothes that looked like frayed burlap sacks, and spending summer vacations assailing whaling ships with Greenpeace are passing away. It is now perfectly possible (and increasingly easy) to be well fed, well coiffed, well dressed, and well traveled while remaining deeply committed to an ecologically sustainable lifestyle. BRBRIn IThe Lazy Environmentalist/I, Josh Dorfman-host of the Sirius Satellite Radio program of the same name-provides comprehensive guidance to fashion-forward consumers who are as concerned about the long-term health of our planet as they are about the design of their bathroom fixtures. Covering topics that range from clothing to electronic gadgetry, home decor to recreation, and gardening to financial investment, Dorfman lets us know which trends to watch and which eco-conscious products-cars, toothbrushes, cell phones, pet accessories-to buy. Green, it turns out, can be an extremely stylish color.

Genres: Nonfiction, Green, Environment, Reference, Self Help

271 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Jodie St. Clair]

This book is much more focused on what is out their to purchase. The idea that Green living is just buying earth friendly products, not buying less and conserving use. While buying earth friendly is a step in the right direction, it isn't really enough.

[Wench]

This was basically a list of environmentally-oriented websites, and mostly shit to buy. Which was not at all what I expected from the description or title. Although maybe I should have. It's not a manual for green living. It's more of a manual for assuaging some guilt as you spend more money.

[Mona Khalil]

For a collection of resources, conventional and not, this book does its job. Beyond that, not really.

[Saralyn]

Felt like an advertisement for certain companies. (Not to mention, left out some pretty great green companies.)

[Carl Wade]

Pg 18: Several swap site listed but freecycle.org sounds best with local members. Transportation required. Betty's friends do this full time. We could have freecycle at family or church event and less food. Where? out in the parking lot.
Pg 24: Neighborrow.com list items willing to loan, but hjow do you get them back.
Pg 53: White motor scooters get 60 to 80 MPG. There are also electric.
Pg 58: Buses are equal to cars if just 7 people use it. A full bus is 6 times more efficient.
Pg 77: Fourth energy user is the water heater. 9% of power use. 120* setting for low and 180* for high. Timers are not mentioned.
Pg 87: For a wind map go to skystreamenergy.com.
Pg 97: Waterpik makes a shower pause switch.
Pg 131: Walk Score is a company that scores how walkable a community is. walkscore.com. Good point for Ray; may be only to the zip code.
Pg 122 Habitat for Humanity has their own store for salvaged material called ReStores. Is there one in Seattle? If not why not. habitat.org/env/restores.aspx
Pf 159: Seventh Generation also has plastic bag from recycled materials.
Pg 179: Zwaggle a free swap site for kids and babies. Just pay for shipping.
Pg 217: Greenforall.org has jobs also for retrofitting buildings for energy efficiency.

[Nicole]

a little disappointing and maybe not as strict of a view of green living as i'd like. he mostly catalogs retailers/websites that sell eco friendly stuff- from cars to kitchens to accessories.

[Letizia]

So, I read it before reading the reviews about the book; honestly, I did enjoy it. In my opinion, it has a lot of brief information on how to start incorporating a "green" style to your routine. What I also liked was the information about transportation, which it is still trendy in many countries. For instance, in Mexico even though car agencies are selling electric cars, there is still very little knowledge and education on the benefits of having one. It is still a new topic "LEED architecture". This, just to give you an idea that it is probably not the "greenest" tips for environmentalist, but it does to the new market. Just as Josh mentioned in his last pages, if we want to make a change we have to work as a team, this means applauding what corporations are trying to do. Environmentalist are greatly admired, it takes courage, motivation, respect, education to make great changes to acquire a new habit to respect nature and people. Overall, I give a 4 star review because I agree that if we work as a team, the impact can be greater; not everyone can be a faithful environmentalist, so targeting all kinds of consumers is important too.

[Tamara]

This is essentially a shopping guide for being green. Most companies recommended reside in the major U.S. cities, so web shopping is required for us Ohioans. (Except for Wal-Mart. Yes, it does actually suggest Wal-Mart, the "world's largest purchaser of organic cotton.")

I wish it had given $$$$$ ratings, because being green can certainly be expensive. And there were no pics. Always a no-no when laziness is involved.

If you're going to read this one, I suggest reading it within the next year, otherwise much of it will be out of date.

[Janelle]

This was like a consumer reports for being green. Many of the products were designer level or specific to New York or Seattle or California, so didn't really apply to my lifestyle. However, the categories allowed me to skip around to those areas that were more applicable to me and gave me some good ideas. I also found some useful websites.

If green living really interests you I'd instead recommend watching The Sundance Channel's "Big Ideas for a Small Planet." It picks a certain focus for each episode and then explores it. I find it a more approachable format than this book.

[Harmony Wu]

Browsing thru it...it's got lots of good info/links, but its blah-blah-blah overly narrative format discourages the kind of pick up, read, get ideas and implement Stuff I think I need.

Also reading It's Easy Being Green--that's more in line with the kind of encouragement/inspiration I need to get my ass in gear on enviro changes I need/want to make.

[Wendy Holcombe]

A wonderful resource to help you find just the green item you are looking for. Can't find eco friendly shoes or clothes? this book with help. Need to know more about the hybrid choices? It's in here. How about a green funeral? That's right, you can even find out how to plan a greener funeral with the help of this book.

This is a book that will need to be updated often, but at this date it is well worth the investment.

[Kristen]

Finally finished this. It isn't really a book to read through, it is more of a reference. Also, it is focused on consumerism only. Expensive consumerism for the most part.
And there is a lot of repeat info, which is an odd waste of pages for a environmentally-focused book.
Wouldn't really recommend this - all the info in this book is pretty much a google-search away.

[Sara]

Though the premise of the book is good, it doesn't go beyond the very basic material aspects of being green. Much of the information provided is repeated many times and I was unimpressed with the limited lists of sources.

[Missy Stults]

An interesting book that provides useful lists of organizations and product manufacturers for a variety of goods and services. The challenge here is that most of the goods identified focus on "stylish" materials. Not necessary the types of goods I was interested in.

[Corbin]

Focused too much on attracting consumers to a green alternative, rather than changing the consumptive attitude.

[Anke]

Great addition and cross reference to the Better World Handbook.

[Erin Terese Flynn]

An easy read with some useful resources included

[Kelly]

Nice reference book for making more responsible purchases, only slight concern is that it will soon be dated as we all become more "green".

[Bliss]

This book was a good list of resources for organic and eco-friendly products.

[Beth Yeh]

I didn't like this book. It just didn't engage my feeling of environmentalism.

[Matt]

Good stuff, might find it gets outdated, but a good resource for businesses and interesting commentary on some of the good design being practiced with the environment in mind.

[Krista Bolan]

Excellent guide with lots of good links and information to green businesses/organizations, in various categories like sporting goods, clothes, travel, etc.

[Jennifer]

A bit like reading a phone book. It's mostly a listing of goods and services by different categories.

[Bree]

so, so, so not helpful and materialistic.

[Meg Wilson]

You don't really need to read the book; just go to the website http://www.lazyenvironmentalist.com/

[Makenzie]

this is very interesting if you want or need to know about becoming green, its surprisingly really simple

[Caitlyn]

The go-to guide for information about environmental topics and the resource references needed.

[DD Ramirez]

I love this little book. It's plausible, funny and genuinely clever; one of those books that you say, "hmmm, I can do this."

[Brittney]

Should had opened the book before I bought it, was basically a *green* consumer guide.

[A]

This was pretty much a directory of websites where you could buy "green" household items and things. Lazy? Yes. But not exactly inspiring.