I have been on a library kick lately.
So much so that I went into my Amazon list and removed all the books on my wishlist and added them to my “For Later” shelf in my Chicago Public Library account.
While basically zero of my books have been cozy-up-by-the-fire-and-finish-in-one-day-books, they have all been really enlightening and I read them on the bus commuting to work.
Here’s what I have been reading. Have you read any of these?
The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals
By: Michael Pollan
source: amazon.com
Summary:
“Pollan follows each of the food chains that sustain us—industrial food, organic or alternative food, and food we forage ourselves—from the source to a final meal, and in the process develops a definitive account of the American way of eating. His absorbing narrative takes us from Iowa cornfields to food-science laboratories, from feedlots and fast-food restaurants to organic farms and hunting grounds, always emphasizing our dynamic coevolutionary relationship with the handful of plant and animal species we depend on.” – Michaelpollan.com
What I learned:
- Next time you eat a chicken nugget really think about the taste. Does it actually taste like chicken?
- Organic agriculture is almost as bad as conventional agriculture
- Buying local is better for everyone involved
Dress with Sense
By: Christina Dean
source: amazon.com
Summary:
“This four-chapter guide will cater to your appetite to have a more conscious dress sense and will take you through how you can:
BUY better and make more responsible choices when hitting the shops
WEAR your clothes more creatively, and rescue hidden treasures from the depths of your wardrobe.
CARE for your clothes by learning better more environmentally friendly ways to wash
DISPOSE of them by swapping, gifting, donating or recycling – anything but throwing them in the trash!” – redress.com
What I learned:
- Take care of your clothes
- I need to learn how to sew more than a button or fix a hole
- Avoid low-quality clothes, go for high-quality and then make it work for you
- If your clothes don’t fit, take them to the tailor! I have a skirt and dress pants with the tailor right now
The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative
By: Florence Williams
source: amazon.com
Summary:
“From forest trails in Korea, to islands in Finland, to groves of eucalyptus in California, Williams investigates the science at the confluence of environment, mood, health, and creativity. Delving into completely new research, she uncovers the powers of the natural world to improve health, promote reflection and innovation, and ultimately strengthen our relationships. As our modern lives shift dramatically indoors, these ideas—and the answers they yield—are more urgent than ever.”- florencewilliams.com
What I learned:
- Take the more scenic route to work, its better for you even if it is longer
- Listen to some nature sounds, birdsong preferably
- Basically living in the city is terrible for you
Zero Waste Home: The Ultimate Guide to Simplifying your Life by Reducing your Waste
By: Bea Johnson
source: amazon.com
Summary:
“In Zero Waste Home, Bea Johnson shares the story of how she simplified her life by reducing her waste. Today, Bea, her husband, Scott, and their two young sons produce just one quart of garbage a year, and their overall quality of life has changed for the better: they now have more time together, they’ve cut their annual spending by a remarkable 40 percent, and they are healthier than they’ve ever been.” – zerowastehome.com
What I learned:
- The zero waste queen didn’t start this lifestyle until later in life, so that means it’s never too late to start
- Lots of good resources and recipes
Life Without Plastic: The Practice Step-by-step Guide to Avoiding Plastic to Keep your Family and the Planet Healthy
By: Chantal Plamondon
source: amazon.com
Summary:
“LIFE WITHOUT PLASTIC: The Practical Step-by-Step Guide to Avoiding Plastic to Keep Your Family and the Planet Healthy strives to create more awareness about BPA-based products, polystyrene and other single-use plastics, and provides readers with ideas for safe, reusable and affordable alternatives. By removing plastic from your home, you can reduce your environmental footprint, minimize threats to wildlife, support local businesses and live a healthier, simpler life.” – lifewithoutplastic.com
What I learned:
- I really don’t like reading about all the ways plastic can kill us
- That’s it so far, I just started this one!
Other books on my radar:
- Ecological Intelligence: How Knowing the Hidden Impacts of What We Buy Can Change Everything, by Daniel Goleman
- The More of Less: FInding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own, by Joshua Becker
- Waste and Want: A Social History of Trash, by Susan Strasser
- Plenty: One Man, One Woman, and A Raucous Year of Eating Locally, by Alisa Smith
- Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life, by Barbara Kingsolver
waste not want not 