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We are what we eat, but we also are what we use to clean our homes, pamper our skin, and decorate our rooms, according to Renée Loux, accomplished raw food chef, award-winning author, and host of Fine Living TV’s Easy Being Green. In her new book, Easy Green Living, she applies her whole-foods philosophy to home, garden, and beauty routines.
Renée Loux demonstrates that being green at home is easy, affordable, and better in every sense of the word. She discusses the daily choices we face that can keep the home, personal care, and beauty routines free of toxins. She exposes the dirt on cleaning products and common hazardous ingredients and reveals her recommendations for greener options, including her Green Thumb Guides for choosing non-toxic, eco-smart, and human-friendly products. Peppered with compelling and inspiring facts, Easy Green Living is full of 5 Step lists, products and recipes for green cleaning, helpful charts, safer choices for every room, and inspirational advice so we can save the planet–one cleaning spritz at a time.
As recent special issues of Vanity Fair, Time, Newsweek, and other major publications have demonstrated, going green is an idea whose time has come. Whether addressing big-picture topics like renewable energy, or offering simple suggestions for everyday living, this complete lifestyle guide shows that healthier choices don’t mean a radical or complicated life change–it is, after all, easy to be green.
{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
Highly Recommened
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have re-read this book at least four times. Ms. Loux did extensive research, citing sources for every assertion she made. I reviewed a random sampling of her footnotes, and for each study she referenced the evidence was reflected accurately in her book. In addition, her Green Thumb Guides are immensely helpful and thoroughly researched as well.
I am new to the green movement, and I feel that I can trust Ms. Loux as a source of quality information to help me make positive changes.
great book!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is a great book. Lots of good info on ingredients found in cleaning and beauty items. Have recommended this book to several of my friends. Would definitely buy it again.
The only drawback to this book is that the pages started comming loose from the binding within a few days of flipping through it. No problem, though. Just took it down to the office supply store and had a spiral binding put on it for a few dollars.
Good Advice
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have been paying more attention to try to “go green” as much as possible. As the title of the book says, it is fairly easy to implement and get ideas from. Nothing that will painfully or adversely affect your life, with many little things that can help out. Even if you are able to try to use just some of the things, even some of the more eco-freindly products that are recommended, it helps. Well done book that conveys the message without making you feel bad or guilty.
Fabulous book
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
“Easy Green Living” is an absolutely wonderful book that shows you how to live green. I have learned so much from this book and have recommended it to family and friends. Everyone should use this as a guide to living green and healthier. It’s packed with very important information. Renee breaks down various products (beauty, cleaning, etc.), and helps you to understand what to look for and what to stay away from. I have several books on living green and this is by far the best one out there.
Excellent!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have a few green living books, and this one is by far the best (and makes some other popular green guides look like trendy, puff pieces).
It’s informative, well set out and very practical. Everything you need to know to go green is in this book!
An excellent investment.
Easy decision on easy green
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Easy Green Living is a practical and down-to-earth guide to greening your lifestyle. It is very approachable and allows the reader to diagnose their current way of life while picking up tips to make simple decisions to improve the environment. It has been an invaluable reference for me and is a resource that I have continued to turn to for advice. It is going to be my holiday ’09 gift for friends and family!
Easy to read
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This book is very easy to read with wonderful and useful information. If you want to start thinking “green” then this book is a great start.
Easy fun read filled with useful information, tips, and resources
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought Easy Green Living for the recipes (like the air freshener containing vodka and essential oil – very nice) inside because I’d just read another book on being green, so I thought I had enough information. Then I started reading Loux’s take on the environment, and I couldn’t stop. She detailed reasons from personal health to protecting the earth’s resources for becoming environmentally friendly. Loux writes well and breaks the topic down with ease without lecturing. She often injects personal stories as examples. And, she’s budget conscious. She is quick to point out which options are budget friendly and which aren’t necessarily. Easy Green Living is a valuable resource for anyone wishing to understand the current movement toward being environmentally friendly.
superb if you have no idea what you’re doing
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I love this book, but I am mostly a novice at DIY stuff, pretty much, so keep that in mind… I know one review said this stuff is pretty basic and it is, really, but that doesn’t detract from the validity of what she says or the recipes and she does give listings of products that one could buy instead of making it oneself, which is a nice option, too. But I like being able to make my own cleaning spray, every time I use it, I know that 1- it’s not loaded with unpronounceable chemicals and I have to open windows so I don’t pass out from the fumes and 2- I made it, yay! I can make it and I know exactly what is going in it, I choose what I want or don’t want, I can research alternatives if I don’t like something, and I’m not always just being a complacent consumer. I am a huge book addict and this was a great first stepping stone to the world of DIY and (ps, I hate this phrase, it’s used sooooo often, however) “greener living.” There is a lot I didn’t know, a lot I knew but ignored and a lot of just straight up good advice and information in this book. She backs up her claims with lots and lots of references, and gives great information on the hazards of so many common chemicals and chemical soups that make up so much of everything we use, consume, ingest, put on ourselves and into the environment. I’ve since done more research and obtained a few more books for some different recipes, but I haven’t found many that differ very much from the ones in this book. I do not regret buying this book at all! I find myself referring to it for one reason or another almost everyday, I would recommend this book to anyone, novice or not.
Green your whole life!!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Greening your life seems to be a process. It’s not something that you can do in one day. It’s taken me a few years to slowly get rid of the things that weren’t good for me, especially cleansers, beauty products, and food. Not only will using green products help you and your body, but they can help the earth as well!
This woman really did her homework. She not only stated where she received the abundance of information she wrote about, but she gave tons of resources as well!!
Even if you don’t want to give up your everyday products, like: fabric softener, oven cleaner, and makeup, you don’t have to!! There are many more natural and healthy substitutes you can use, by buying better products, or making them yourself!!
Greening your life is not as hard as you would think!
Recommended!
Outstanding! This book is a textbook …
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
… on holistic and natural living. I thought I was pretty knowledgeable about green living but I learned a huge amount from this book, including some amazing and very scary facts about all the dangerous chemicals that manufacturers put into things that we eat, breathe and live in.
These are chemicals like formaldehyde, chlorine and many, many, more that respected household names consistently include in everyday products. I was totally blown away – almost ANY product in your typical supermarket will contain these harmful chemicals.
What’s even more amazing is that there are plenty of natural options that already exist, and have existed for decades, and in some cases, centuries, that do the job at least as well, in some cases much better, with no environmental fallout. The price of these options (always a practical consideration for most of us) are sometimes cheaper, sometimes more expensive but definitely worth considering given the benefits.
If you haven’t read this book please buy it, or at least get if from your local library. That’s what I did – I picked up a whole slew of books from the library, of which this is the only one that I really, really liked.
I like it so much in fact, that I had to buy a copy for myself and it’s one of two books that I’m going to be giving as Christmas presents; the other one is In Fitness And In Health. Check it out, it changed my life and I guarantee it will change yours!
Loads of Information
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This book is loaded with great ideas for just being more aware of our environment, but some of the information is for better health and wellness. I have not finished the book yet, but I will keep it in my reference library.
EASY GREEN LIVING
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Good ideas, things everyone should know. Enjoyed it and will try hard to follow many of the suggestions.
My First Review
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have never been motivated enough by any book to spend time and thought writing a review but this book is the exception. The book is unusually thorough, covering its subject matter in depth and breadth. We should all read it cover to cover but its simple and compact organization invites us to browse and still get lots of ideas. Though I’m not into cosmetics, I found even that section interesting.
The book is well written and an easy read. Technical readers will find it a pleasant experience with good sentence structure and enjoyable phrasing.
Renee makes her ideas clear without preachiness or hysteria. She believes we can live the good life and do the right thing (read sustainable, healthy, thoughtful) at the same time. Life on this planet is short; we should make it as good as possible. This book helps define some ways to improve the experience. You might try one of Renee’s receipies from her other books. She thinks and cooks -wow.
My favorite writer is Louise Erdrich and now in second place is Renee Loux. That’s a strange pairing but I guess it’s that they both talk about things important to the world.
Too many details!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
With all the five star ratings previously, I had high expectations for this book. Sadly, it did not live up to those expectations and for one reason only: this book includes way too much information about chemicals and the harm they cause. Don’t get me wrong, I want to know ‘generally’ about these things such as parabens, etc. but I don’t need a complete list of every chemical manufactured on the planet and what they do. I did not find that positive or motivating. Having said that, YOU may want to know! And, I would actually buy this book again. It is a great reference book that you could go back to over and over again. And, because it is so detailed, it would really help you find anything you could possible ever need. For example, later today I will be checking a website that she mentioned that sells eco-friendly lightbulbs that can be used with a dimmer switch! And I may take a look at a company that sells reclaimed wood for replacing my floors…It really is a great book, I just felt that I was skipping over the parts which I didn’t have such an interest in.
Highly Recommended!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I purchased this book because I wanted to green my home (and of course make environmentally friendly choices too). I’ve been trying to do this for years and have been overwhelmed. With so many products claiming to be “natural” and “eco-friendly” – even though I can’t pronounce half the ingredients on the label – I needed help making these daily choices.
I purchased the book because reviews said it was detailed and comprehensive…and I was not disappointed! I read the book cover-to-cover and it’s absolutely packed with information. At the same time, the author was engaging and entertaining – Renee Loux made the content easy and fun to read. Very inspiring!
She starts out with all these great tips. Chapter 1 alone made the book worth the purchase. In the following chapters, she leaves no question unanswered. She covers everything. I’ve already gone back to the book several times – it’s an encyclopedia for greening your life!
Definitely recommended!
A Comprehensive Reference Guide and Fantastic Gift Idea
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Loux’s Easy Green Living is a great guide for anyone looking to live as free from manufactured chemicals as possible. The nice thing about this book is that anyone at any level of “green” living can use it. There are great, easy beginner steps and there are also wonderful product guides and chemical information that are helpful for those that adopted this lifestyle long ago.
Loux speaks to her audience in a clear and concise manner that is respectful and encouraging; one does not feel preached to while reading her suggestions. The information is organized well and each chapter follows the same pattern which make it much easier to find information when needed in the future. The endnotes are well documented and the index is a phenominal reference for the book.
On a personal note, I used to keep to myself about my “green” choices. This book really inspired me to share what I know with friends and family. Like so many, I always hate to feel like I’m preaching so I give this book as a gift. I put no more than three sticky notes on pages that I think the recipient will like. I include the book in a basket (or cleaning bucket) with a bottle of Dr. Bronner – Organic Castile Soap Unscented Baby-Mild, 32 fl oz liquid, a box of baking soda, a recipe card for the cleaner I use, a couple of reusable wash rags, and a spray bottle with pre-made cleaner so my giftee can try it out. Everyone looks at it funny at first, but after a couple of weeks I start to hear how much they love the book!
I used to have to reference all of this information in the binder I’ve collected it in through the years, but I finally have an easy to reference book and I love it!!
The Best Book for Eco-Friendly Living
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is the most comprehensive, easy to use, guide for eco-friendly living that I have seen in years. I strongly recommend that you consider purchasing this book and using it as a handy reference for everything from personal care products to paint to household items. I have purchased several of these from Amazon after reading it cover to cover from the local library and I will be giving them as Christmas gifts this year. The book will quite simply change your life for the better.
Incredibly Informative and Easy to Understand
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I borrowed this book from a friend and found it so informative that I bought a copy for myself as a “green products encyclopedia”. I appreciate the author’s sincere concern for our environment and her “matter of fact” style without being preachy. I consider myself and environmentalist and I was surprised at how much I learned about toxins found in unexpected products. I recommend this book for every household.
Great Resource on Going Green
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This book is well-written and interesting to read. It’s filled with simple tips, product recommendations, and relevant facts. This book definitely made our household greener!
A Must-Have for Green Living
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have recommended this book to the Richardson Public Library. It is packed with lists of eco-friendly products one can buy, and even has recipes for making one’s own cleaning items. I thought I was fairly green, but believe me, there was ample room for improvement, and this book is my new friend.
best of the bunch
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ve read many green living books and I have found this one to be my favourite by far. I’ve been surprised by the effectiveness of many of the homemade recipes and look forward to trying the rest of them.
Pretty basic…
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I bought this book because I was looking for recipes for homemade cleaning products. It does have a few of those, but far more pages are devoted to product listings. That would be OK, except the author basically repeats information that is on the manufacturer’s website – no actual reviews or opinions are given. A large part of the book seems to be ads for Seventh Generation – I like their stuff too, but I didn’t need a book to tell me so. I find I’m spending a lot at the natural foods store on cleaning products, and my attempts to concoct my own from vinegar and lemon juice often come out scary. I really just wanted some advice on cleaning the old-fashioned way, but the author clearly favors buying expensive, pre-made products from suppliers who probably sponsor her.
The book spans a wide range of topics – including beauty products, cleaning products, linens and mattresses, and home improvement. If you are going to make any large-scale eco-friendly investments (on-demand water heater, organic mattress, hybrid car, solar panels) you’re going to need to do much more research than what is in this book. If you’re just looking for a primer covering a lot of topics and don’t mind it when it states the obvious (bring your own bags to the store, recycle your trash) or hawks products, then you might find this book useful.
Easy Green Living is informative
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I recommend this book if you’re looking for organic product ideas. I brought it with me to Whole Foods market and it was a good resource because there are so many products to choose from. Also, there’s a good recipe for a floor cleaner. It includes lavendar oil. I used it to clean my tile floor and it smelled great.
IrishGrandma
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
My interest in green living started as a child. I was raised with many of the green ways before we knew they were green. I checked this book out from our local library and liked it so much I decided to buy it as a reference book. I especially like the listings of products on the market that are eco-friendly, although I do make many myself with the green basics. I’ve even got one of my son-in-law’s interested. This is an incredibly good book for people moving to a greener lifestyle. Everyone should own it.