This book was written to save the world. “The Green Book,” a New York Times bestseller, is nothing short of a call to action. Its power grows at the turn of every page.
Written by Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas M. Kostigen, “The Green Book” is a dictionary of useful facts about perhaps the most desperate predicament man has ever faced.
The book is already leading by example. Published on 100 percent recycled paper and made from processed trees, this bright green book could be considered a living plant. Just like a flower turns carbon dioxide into the oxygen we breathe, the information taken from this book breathes life into Mother Nature, providing facts that will benefit our planet.
Elizabeth Rogers, one half of the driving force behind this go green book, is no stranger to the environmentally savvy community. She has worked with the Natural Resources Defense Council and is currently working as an environmental consultant where she resides in Venice, Calif. Rogers is also creator and producer of the environmentally conscious MTV show, “Trippin.”
Kostigen, the more Indiana Jones half of the writing team, is somewhat of a pioneer. He has traveled all over the world to investigate and target the harmful effects man has produced on the planet. He has also traveled abroad to areas with fewer media outlets in order to educate people about environmental issues, global warming, social issues and government policies.
Kostigen writes the “Better Planet” column for Discover Magazine. He also works with CERES (corporate environmental responsibility), Coop-American, and has been affiliated with a host of other organizations that work to bring awareness to our current social and environmental crisis.
The book is written in a logical manner. Each chapter begins with “The Big Picture,” providing the facts on topics such as home, travel, shopping and work. But it’s the manner in which the authors relate the facts to real life scenarios that makes them stick.
“If everyone in the country saved just one gallon from their daily shower, over the course of a year it would equal twice the amount of freshwater withdrawn from the Great Lakes every day,” Rogers and Kostigen wrote.
Each chapter is then further broken down into “The Little Things,” bits of information that collectively make a world of difference. Remember the kid smelling the markers because of the strong fumes they let out? Those fumes are produced by harsh chemicals that can leak into the groundwater from the landfills they are disposed in.
One simple suggestion the authors of “The Green Book” make is to use non-toxic, waterbased markers with refillable heads. The facts are deliberately plain and easy to retain, which is why this book is such a treasure.
Each chapter is concluded by a memo from a celebrity. They provide a breath of humor and emotion that sticks with the reader. Will Ferrell, Jennifer Aniston, Justin Timberlake and Tiki Barber are among the celebrities who provide their insight while endorsing this book.
Many of the facts presented not only save our planet’s natural fossil fuels and cut down on pollution, they help cut down on utility bills. This book provides facts that allow you to make wiser purchasing decisions – another highly practical motive to reading this book.
“If every American home changed out just five regular light fixtures or the bulbs in them with more energy-efficient compact fluorescent ones, we’d keep more than 1 trillion pounds of greenhouse gases out of our air – equal to the emissions of 8 million cars.
That’s $6 billion in energy savings for Americans,” Rogers and Kostigen wrote.
The book is a must read. The facts are clever and entertaining to read, all while benefiting you and the impact you leave on this planet. Though much of the hard facts presented in this book are easily accessible online, “The Green Book” is still worth the purchase.
Aside from the fact that the information received from this book will in turn pay for itself, there is an incredible, positive outlook one will achieve after reading this book. “The Green Book” eloquently provides memorable facts, each coupled with humor and emotion throughout.