Use Less Stuff

by Robert Lilienfeld

Let's face it. Recycling has its limits. But so does our Earth. As environmentalists Robert Lilienfeld and William Rathje explain, the answer to our twenty-first-century garbage crisis is both simple... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0449001687
• ISBN13: 9780449001684
• Release Date: November 1998
• Publisher: Ballantine Books
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Novel approach

The authors of the book argue that as good as recycling is, reducing the amount of resources we consume is even better. The second half of the book is mostly ideas on how to do so. Unlike most of the "cheapskate" books out there, with silly ideas such as "take the bus instead of driving", "don't shower every day", "become a vegetarian", and "replace your lawn with a rock garden"; the authors suggest that reducing consumption doesn't mean reducing your standard of living or changing your life. The novelty of this book is that seemly environmentally unfriendly advice such as "go ahead and run your car with A/C", "throw the 10lb worth of paper away instead of driving your car to the recycling depot", "buy prepared convenience food instead of fresh produce if you don't have the time", and "buy smaller packages instead of bulk if you can't use it all" is actually more ecologically friendly than their sacred cow alternatives. Overall, this book is enjoyable because it suggests lifestyle ideas that will maintain or increase quality of life, while still being good for the planet.

Great Ideas and Entertaining Reading

Check out this different approach to the subject of environmental awareness. The authors do a unique job of educating and influencing while providing you with good, easy-to-implement ideas, and entertaining perspectives. I've used ideas from it in my day-to-day life, shared learnings with others, and used it as a tool in my work with corporate America in the area of reaching employees with the whole life approach to environmentalism...at work and at home. This book goes far beyond recycling to looking at our earth from a sustainable development perspective -- a perspective we'll all benefit from considering.