Review and Giveaway: Green, American Style by Anna M. Clark

My Thoughts: This Saturday (April 24th) marks the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day! In celebration of this, I'd like to share a new book with you called Green, American Style by Anna M. Clark, which includes 85 ways to save money as well as impact the planet in a positive way. I've always tried to be "Green" in my daily actions... recycling, buying recycled products when available, finding creative ways to re-use items prior to throwing them out, participating in Freecycle, etc. Not only has Anna explained how the movement behind becoming more eco-friendly and green, she has provided ways we can impact the earth in a positive way (that also saves us money), and tells us how we can be Green at work and how to help spread the word.

According to Anna Clark, there are 25 things you can do (at home, at the store, on the go, and at the table) that will save you an average of almost $4,000 per year. Some of the things are as easy as changing some of your lightbulbs to the more energy efficient CFLs, shopping on Craigslist and Freecycle, using a reusable water bottle, and packing lunch (pages 114-115). I'm already doing some of these things, but she gave me quite a few great ideas for other ways to be more eco-friendly and save money. Additionally, she explains that moving to online banking not only saves us big bucks on postage and late fees (she says around $400 per year), but it also saves trees, and cuts down on CO2 and waste (page 119).

While reading this book, I realized that while I do a lot of the "typical" Green things like recycling, buying organic or recycled products when possible, turning off lights, etc, I haven't done a good job of thinking outside the box to include things like online banking (yes, I do this, but not for everything), direct deposit (who would have thought I'd save paper and gas doing this!), using the broom instead of the hose to clean the sidewalks, etc. I feel inspired to take my Green thinking to a whole new level, and Anna has given me help to make it happen.

If you get a chance, stop by http://www.annamclark.com/savemoregreen/ or download her 10 Ways to Save pdf here.

Perfect for : Personal Use


Green, American Style: Becoming Earth-Friendly and Reaping the Benefits
by Anna M. Clark
Baker Books (April 1, 2010) ~ 253 pages
Non-Fiction / Christian Life / Earth Care

Edition Reviewed: Paperback - Review copy received courtesy of the publisher, many thanks to both the author and the publisher for sending me a copy to review!

About the Book:

Your guide to going green and loving it
Green is not about giving up. It's about gaining more money, time, opportunity, health, and well-being. Green, American Style proposes a uniquely American perspective that takes into account your values, our country's democratic and capitalistic history, and our ingrained resistance to reining in. More than a list of ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle, this book explores the green movement from the diverse perspectives of business, faith, and lifestyle, showing you the economic, physical, and spiritual benefits of sustainable living.

Q&A With Author Anna Clark:

Q: What made you write this book?

In 2005 I had my first child. To say it was life-changing would be an understatement. I began to feel an overwhelming responsibility toward my child. When I had my daughter, Jordan, I decided to revisit my faith, which I hadn’t paid attention to for about fifteen years. I read the Bible for the first time. I also joined a discussion group for sustainable living. My whole life I’ve had an affinity for animals, and I was saddened that habitat loss through overconsumption was causing mass extinction. One day, I woke up to the fact that change must begin with me. I suddenly felt a conviction that I wanted to contribute to the kind of world I wanted to bring kids into.

I started by reducing, reusing, and recycling. Then I launched a green business and we built a green home. I found myself having fun with it because I was saving money, eating healthier, meeting interesting people, learning, speaking, and writing. As sustainability converged with my faith journey, I became amazed by how intertwined simpler living is with spiritual fulfillment, sharing with those less fortunate, and caring for God’s creation. Green, as I began to see it, was nothing more than the Golden Rule.

Q: What is Green, American Style about?

Green, American Style is about saving money, getting healthy, and protecting our future. And I believe women can especially benefit from its message, since we are particularly influential as keepers of the community and mothers of the next generation. Inside my book, you’ll see how environmental issues have been politicized—but the green movement is not about politics. It’s about survival. Never before has our country faced such critical issues as globalization, energy insecurity, water shortages, habitat loss, and health epidemics ranging from asthma to infertility. From an ecological standpoint, these issues are all connected.

Although these issues leave many of us feeling helpless, we have more power than we think we do. Each one of us can make a difference as consumers, parents, and citizens. We Americans can reap tremendous opportunities and wellbeing through earth-friendly living and through spreading these values in our backyards, communities, churches, and places of business. My book shows why sustainability really is the best way to preserve the American way of life in the 21st century.

Q: What do you hope moms will get out of reading your book?
I want readers to get over viewing green as being difficult or a threat to their lifestyle. My book is full of practical wisdom anyone can benefit from. I got into green to make a better world. What I’m getting out of it is a better life. Today I enjoy the feeling of making a difference through small acts like turning off the lights, growing my own tomatoes, and eating delicious organic foods. I love living in my earth-friendly home and finding new ways to conserve energy and money. I also continue to find inspiration in nature—not just for my writing, but also as a path to spiritual renewal.

At the most basic level, you can look at it this way: Green living helps you get healthy and protect your family’s future while saving a good chunk of the family budget. In fact, the advice I suggest in my book can save an average family over $7,000 a year! Who can’t get excited about that?

About the Author: (From the publisher's press release)

Anna Clark is a mom of two preschoolers and president of EarthPeople, a global consulting firm helping clients with profitable green strategies. She began by asking herself the question, "Can one person really make a difference?" Today, she has an international base of clients implementing her ideas to improve the environment while making money in the "eco" economy.

And for Anna, going green starts at home, where she's drastically cut her family's utility bills; reduced grocery waste while eating healthier; discovered natural, non-toxic cleaning options; and found unexpected joy in activities as simple as helping her children plant trees and care for a garden. Anna's discovered that anyone can make a difference in caring for Creation, while saving money and keeping their family healthy--and she can't wait to show you how. Join her at savemoregreen.net to help lead the change.

Giveaway:

1. Leave a comment and tell me one "Green" thing you do. (1 entry daily, must leave a different "Green" thing per entry!!)

2. Post a link to the giveaway on your blog and/or Facebook and report it here (1 entry)

3. Become a follower (link is on the right hand sidebar) and leave a comment here (or "remind" me you are already a follower so I know you want to be included in this giveaway) (1 entry)

The drawing will be held May 15th. Winner: I will send you an email, please reply with your address so I can mail out your book!

This giveaway is open to residents within the United States, no PO Boxes.

~ Wendi