GreenLivingZone.com

Archive for the ‘Green Movie & Book Reviews’ Category

Is it possible to have a good life without wasting so much?

No Impact Man – a green movie review by Karen A Teeters

No Impact Man on DVD

Colin Beavan, author of the book and blog of the same name had an inspired idea for a project, for a book, but he never imagined his and his family’s wild year of radical low consumption would be made into a documentary. And may I add a very entertaining, light, fun, inspirational and even educational documentary movie at that!

In the beginning of the film Colin expresses this thought,”Is it possible to have a good life without wasting so much?” And sometimes when he introduced some really austere and strict ideas that were met with a bit of resistance and maybe second guessing even on his part, you know he was wondering what the answer would actually be  at the outcome of this experiment of his.

So Colin’s idea of foregoing electricity, coffee, processed foods, paper goods, restaurant eating and buying used items, getting rid of TV and more to see how one family’s commitment would impact the rest of the inhabitants on the planet was filmed for the world to see.

His wife and his sweet toddler daughter had no idea what they were getting into when they agreed.  Michelle Conlin was a good sport even when she admitted on camera her temptation to cheat because of her admitted coffee/caffeine  addiction. So seeing  her at the corner Starbucks succumbing with  an all too recognizable cup in hand and hearing  her all too human rationalizations helped the other half of the more skeptical  and less virtuous viewers relate. What is a woman to do for the love of a good hearted husband? You could see she worked hard and deserved a cup of Starbucks caffeine from time to time! Read the rest of this entry »

A green book review by Karen Ann Teeters You could buy a book that lists and explains a hundred ways to go green, to conserve resources, to protect nature and people and you should buy that book. And then you’ll read it and think – Where do I start? What will my life be like if I commit to all these green tips? Can I do it and stick with it when most people I know don’t even get it? How do I get support and encouragement and deal with the ridicule? If you have all those questions, I have another book suggestion for you! Vanessa Farquharson has made the green commitment and has written a very intelligent, witty book about the experience of going green everyday for a whole year.

The clever title of her book is Sleeping Naked is Green and is one of the reasons I bought this book over Living with Ed and No Impact Man but those books are on my green book review list! The subtitle is: “How an eco-cynic unplugged her fridge, sold her car and found love in 366 days.” Sounds like more fun than most best selling fiction books these days, doesn’t it? Read the rest of this entry »