Best of
Green

2006

Endgame, Vol. 1: The Problem of Civilization


Derrick Jensen - 2006
    Accepting the increasingly widespread belief that industrialized culture inevitably erodes the natural world, Endgame sets out to explore how this relationship impels us towards a revolutionary and as-yet undiscovered shift in strategy. Building on a series of simple but increasingly provocative premises, Jensen leaves us hoping for what may be inevitable: a return to agrarian communal life via the disintegration of civilization itself.

Raising Hell in the Nightside


Simon R. Green - 2006
    a wonderful omnibus of Simon Green's bestselling Nightside series! contains Hex and the City, Paths Not Taken and Sharper than a Serpent's Tooth

The Better World Shopping Guide: How Every Dollar Can Make a Difference


Ellis Jones - 2006
    It contains over 15 years comprehensive research distilled into a pocket-sized, shopping-friendly format, ranking every product on the shelf from A to F-turning your grocery list into a most powerful tool to change the world.

Heston Blumenthal: In Search of Perfection: Reinventing Kitchen Classics


Heston Blumenthal - 2006
    With this book, a tie-in to the BBC series of the same name, Michelin three-star winner Heston Blumenthal delivers the absolute last word in how to cook these timeless dishes. He looks at the origin of the dishes, how to find the best ingredients (in America as well as in the UK) and what to look for, and, of course, how to cook them to perfection. Along the way, readers are treated to priceless culinary lessons: everything from how to cut potatoes for flawless frying to where to find the choicest beef to the two secret ingredients in spaghetti Bolognese (nutmeg and cream!). Lavishly illustrated with gorgeous photos, and including "perfect" recipes for each dish, this unrivaled book deserves a place as a staple in every cook's home.

The Creation: An Appeal to Save Life on Earth


Edward O. Wilson - 2006
    First of all, we grew up in the same faith. Although I no longer belong to that faith, I am confident that if we met and spoke privately of our deepest beliefs, it would be in a spirit of mutual respect and goodwill. I write to you now for your counsel and help. Let us see if we can, and you are willing, to meet on the near side of metaphysics in order to deal with the real world we share. I suggest that we set aside our differences in order to save the Creation. The defense of living Nature is a universal value. It doesn't rise from nor does it promote any religious or ideological dogma. Rather, it serves without discrimination the interests of all humanity.Pastor, we need your help. The Creation—living Nature—is in deep trouble.The Creation is E. O. Wilson's most important work since the publications of Sociobiology and Biophilia. Like Rachel Carson's Silent Spring, it is a book about the fate of the earth and the survival of our planet. Yet while Carson was specifically concerned with insecticides and the ecological destruction of our natural resources, Wilson, the two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner, attempts his new social revolution by bridging the seemingly irreconcilable worlds of fundamentalism and science. Like Carson, Wilson passionately concerned about the state of the world, draws on his own personal experiences and expertise as an entomologist, and prophesies that half the species of plants and animals on Earth could either have gone or at least are fated for early extinction by the end of our present century.Astonishingly, The Creation is not a bitter, predictable rant against fundamentalist Christians or deniers of Darwin. Rather, Wilson, a leading "secular humanist," draws upon his own rich background as a boy in Alabama who "took the waters," and seeks not to condemn this new generations of Christians but to address them on their own terms. Conceiving the book as an extended letter to a southern Baptist minister, Wilson, in stirring language that can evoke Martin Luther King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail," tells this everyman minister how, in fact, the world really came to be. He pleads with these men of the cloth to understand the cataclysmic damage that is destroying our planet and asks for their help in preventing the destruction of our Earth before it is too late. Never a pessimist, Wilson avers that there are solutions that may yet save the planet, and believes that the vision that he presents in The Creation is one that both scientists and pastors can accept, and work on together in spite of their fundamental ideological differences.

Barefoot Soldier


Johnson Beharry - 2006
    At 13 Johnson Beharry quit school and worked as a decorator and labourer. In 1999 he scraped together the airfare for England and joined the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment. He served six months in Kosovo, three months in Northern Ireland and then went to Iraq. On 1 May 2004, Beharry helped assist a foot patrol caught in a series of ambushes. His vehicle was hit by multiple rocket propelled grenades but he drove through the ambush and extracted his wounded colleagues from the vehicle, all the time exposed to further enemy fire. He was cited on this occasion for 'valour of the highest order'. While back on duty on 11 June 2004, a rocket propelled grenade hit Beharry's vehicle incapacitating his commander and injuring several of the crew. Despite his very serious head injuries, Beharry took control of his vehicle and drove it out of the ambush area before losing consciousness. He required brain surgery for his head injuries, and he was still recovering when he was awarded the VC in March 2005.

The Planets: A Journey Through the Solar System


Giles Sparrow - 2006
    But only in the last 40 years have those wandering points of light in the night sky been revealed in all their glory, unmasked by a fleet of satellites and interplanetary probes. And the closer we look, the more wonderful they are. "The Planets" follows the tracks of robotic rovers over Mars, plunges through Titan's atmosphere on the back of the Hugyens probe, smashes into a comet with Deep Impact, and discovers the frozen planets that lurk at the edge of our solar system, beyond the orbit of Neptune

Worldchanging: A User's Guide for the 21st Century


Alex Steffen - 2006
    Each chapter will offer practical answers to important questions, such as: Why does buying locally produced food make sense? What steps can we take to influence our workplace toward sustainability? How do we volunteer and advocate more effectively? How can we travel, live, work and learn in world changing ways? How, in short, can every human being help build a better future locally and globally? Illustrated with photographs and designed by Stefan Sagmeister, one of the most influential graphic designers working today, Worldchanging will prove that a life that is sustainably prosperous, just and democratic, dynamic and peaceful, is not just possible, it's here.

A Lime, a Mime, a Pool of Slime: More about Nouns


Brian P. Cleary - 2006
    The cats are back with their comical examples to drive home to readers just what a noun is. Specific types of nouns--such as abstract nouns and proper nouns--are also introduced in this giggle-a-page expansion on the topic.

Strike/Slip


Don Mckay - 2006
    Behind these poems lies the urge to engage the tectonics of planetary dwelling with the rickety contraption of language, and to register the stress, sheer and strain — but also the astonishment — engendered by that necessary failure.

It's Not Easy Being Green: A Family's Journey Towards Eco-Friendly Living


Dick Strawbridge - 2006
    To accompany the BBC2 TV series, this book chronicles the Strawbridge family's journey from a perfectly normal life and house in the Midlands to a self-sufficient environmentally friendly dream home in the West Country. Written by the flamboyant, moustachioed, eccentric presenter, Dick the Colonel Strawbridge, this book is an inspiration to people thinking of becoming eco-friendly or even just a bit greener. Full of specially commissioned color photos and screen grabs, it is also full of practical advice, with essential addresses and contact details at the end.

The Black & Brown Faces In America's Wild Places: African Americans Making Nature And The Environment A Part Of Their Everyday Lives (Watchable Wildlife (Adventure Publications))


Dudley Edmondson - 2006
    He sought out 20 other African Americans with deep connections to nature and asked them about their personal experiences, how they came to value nature and why African Americans seem under-represented in our parks and conservation efforts. The result is a compelling look at the issues that are so important to the future of our public lands. These personal profiles are not only interesting but provide insight into the past, present and future practices for our environment.

The Organic Cook's Bible: How to Select and Cook the Best Ingredients on the Market


Jeff Cox - 2006
    They also begin with knowledge. If you want to learn about and enjoy the benefits of organic foods, this book is an essential resource that will make it easier to "go organic" by helping you "know organic."Covering fruit, vegetables, meat, eggs, milk, spices, and more, The Organic Cook's Bible expertly addresses the what, where, when, how, and why of choosing and using more than 150 types of organic foods. It includes:* Easy-to-find entries, organized alphabetically within categories* Information on selection, storage, nutrition, uses, and preparation* More than 150 color photos for easy identification* A special section listing 900 top varieties of organic produce* A useful list of organic food suppliers and organizations"This is an amazing book! Jeff brings together the essentials of gardening and cooking with delicious, approachable recipes and a discussion of what it means to eat in an ethical, sustainable, and healthy manner--and manages not to be preachy. It's a great read for those just beginning to explore good food as well as old pros."--John Ash, chef, food and wine educator, and author of the award-winning book John Ash Cooking One on One"The Organic Cook's Bible is a fantastic resource to guide both home and professional cooks through a greater understanding of what to consider when using organics."--Jesse Z. Cool, owner of jZcool Eatery and Catering Company and other restaurants and author of six cookbooks, including Your Organic Kitchen"The Organic Cook's Bible is a great book and an important tool to spread the good news of organics and inspire us all in the kitchen."--Ronnie Cummins, National Director, Organic Consumers Association

Today Is Monday In Louisiana


Johnette Downing - 2006
    . . prove to be a tasty medium . . . Youngsters may well be inspired to put together their own art projects celebrating their favorite dishes." --Publishers Weekly "A pleasing addition to Louisiana lore and a fun, light note for a unit on the state." --School Library Journal Red beans, po' boys, gumbo, jambalaya, catfish, crawfish, and beignets are foods most Louisianians have grown up eating, but for nonnatives and visitors, these new words and tastes are a discovery upon their arrival in New Orleans, Lafayette, Shreveport, or Baton Rouge. In Today Is Monday in Louisiana, singer/songwriter Johnette Downing adapts a longtime Louisiana song for everyone's enrichment. Now, kids all over the country can "come and eat it up " Told with delicious repetition, this chronological culinary journey takes readers through the days of the week, as one Louisiana dish after another is served up. Monday, it's red beans, Tuesday it's po boys, Wednesday it's gumbo, and on it goes through Sunday, when New Orleans' favorite breakfast treat, beignets, are enjoyed with a warm cup of cafe au lait. The glossary at the end of the book explains the origins and ingredients of the dishes and includes even more new words like "okra," "sassafras," and "lagniappe."A recipe for red beans and rice is included, encouraging readers to begin their week the Louisiana way

Upside-Down Zen: Finding the Marvelous in the Ordinary


Susan Murphy - 2006
    Recalling, in another vein, the warm, lyrical style of Lin Jensen’s Bad Dog!, author Susan Murphy offers a multifaceted take on the spiritual, grounded in the everyday. She uses her skills as storyteller, filmmaker, and poet to uncover the connections between Zen and Western cinema, as well as between Zen and traditions as diverse as Australian aboriginal beliefs and Jewish folktales. In the process, she finds spirituality where it has always belonged — wherever life is happening. Murphy helps readers make sense of Zen koans, the often oversimplified and misunderstood teaching stories of the tradition, and highlights their wisdom for any reader on the spiritual path. A strong new voice in Western Buddhism, Murphy speaks for the many “unrecorded” women of Zen while bringing a lively, literate approach to a sometimes daunting genre.

David Blume's Alcohol Can Be a Gas!: Fueling an Ethanol Revolution for the 21st Century


David Blume - 2006
    Oil companies have continuously suppressed data on Henry Ford's favorite auto fuel. For example, by the late 80s, over 90% of the cars in Brazil ran on straight alcohol; any gasoline vehicle and most diesel engines can be inexpensively converted to run on straight alcohol; millions of Flexible Fuel vehicles and even many cars can run on alcohol or gasoline unmodified-but most vehicle owners don't know it. Alcohol Can Be a Gas reveals this hidden history. The only comprehensive manual on alcohol fuel production ever written, it describes: The small-scale production of 40-cent per gallon alcohol fuel from a wide variety of energy crops or waste, producing profitable by-products for humans or animal feed How to form driver-owned cooperatives that get up to 61 cents per gallon tax credit for every gallon burned, and Community Supported Energy integrated farms Distillery and plant design, vehicle engine conversion, furnaces, and even how to cook with your own fuel. Detailing the numerous advantages of alcohol fuel-renewable, safe, terror-secure, ecologically-sound, cheap, triggers tax benefits, triples engine life, and reduces emissions up to 99 percent-this book aims to fuel a revolution. David Blume is President of the International Institute for Ecological Agriculture. Founder of the American Homegrown Fuel Co. Inc. during the late '70s, he produced and hosted a ten-part series for PBS television, through which he taught thousands of farmers and others how to make and use alcohol fuel.

Organic Housekeeping: In Which the Nontoxic Avenger Shows You How to Improve Your Health and That of Your Family, While You Save Time, Money, And, Perhaps, Your Sanity


Ellen Sandbeck - 2006
    You regularly handle the filthiest object in your home -- the kitchen sponge -- and put the same chemicals on your face that are used in brake fluid and antifreeze. The cleaning agents and personal care products commonly marketed to and used in American homes contain not only some very dangerous, toxic chemicals, but they also create an "overly clean," chemically bombed-out house that compromises immune systems. And with more than fifty million Americans suffering from allergies and other autoimmune diseases -- not to mention the developing and fragile immune systems of children and seniors -- large numbers of people are actually being made sicker and sicker by their homes.Learn to live a clean, healthy, more economical way with Ellen Sandbeck, the nontoxic avenger. In this must-have book for the twenty-first- century home, this passionate, witty advocate of all things organic will teach you how to maintain every part of the home -- from living room to septic tank, kitchen floor to bathroom sink -- using safe, simple cleansers and quick preventative measures as well as the most effective organic products on the market to get the job done.Learn time-saving, preventative housekeeping, such as taking thirty seconds to clean the shower while you shower. Take care of bathroom stains with baking soda and vinegar rather than commercial, toxic bathroom "bombs" peddled to you with such force by manufacturers. Need whiter whites? There is no bleaching power on earth stronger than the sun. Snow clean your fine rugs. Choose fruits and vegetables from the relatively pesticide residue-free list. Clean felt-tipped pen stains with vodka. Make furniture shine with olive oil and lemon. Your house will also smell as great as it looks.

Selecting and Drying Wood


Fine Woodworking Magazine - 2006
    Wood is the one thing that woodworkers have in common and there is endless fascination with the working properties of various species, how to select and season wood and how to store it. Wood has a way of behaving as if it's still alive, moving with seasonal changes in temperature and humidity. Learning to work with it rather than against wood movement is critical to successful woodworking.Table of ContentsSection 1: Buying and HarvestingSection 2: Selecting WoodSection 3: Drying WoodSection 4: Working with WoodSection 5: Transporting and Storing

The Biodynamic Sowing and Planting Calendar


Maria Thun - 2006
    Presented in colour with clear symbols and explanations, this useful guide shows the optimum days for sowing, pruning, and harvesting various plant-crops, as well as working with bees.

Crocodile: Evolution's Greatest Survivor


Lynne Kelly - 2006
    Addressing the true nature of this intriguing animal, this resource explores its evolutionary survival, the 23 living species in the world today, and the extinction they face due to habitat intrusion. Also explored are the myths and legends surrounding crocodiles and the vicious reputation they have amongst humans.

Alternative Energy Demystified


Stan Gibilisco - 2006
    Covering the environment, transportation, efficiency, and cost, this book is suitable for engineering and science students, teachers, consumers, and energy-related corporations.

Natural Remodeling for the Not-So-Green House: Bringing Your Home into Harmony with Nature


Carol Venolia - 2006
    With the help of Carol Venolia, an award-winning architect and bestselling author, and Kelly Lerner, a world-famous innovator in the field of sustainable development, even the least mechanically inclined person can make a difference in his or her dwelling…and to the planet. The two have produced a remarkable book—packed with information and photos, and the first ever in full color to cover the subject. It’s lush and exquisite to look at, filled with motivational case studies and informative graphics, and completely user-friendly.   “Some of us would like to become more Earth-Friendly, but we don’t have 10,00 acres in Montana or the passive solar ATM machine to get us the cash to buy the above. Breathe! Center! There is help. Groundbreaking architects, Kelly Lerner and Carol Venolia have just completed a book (to help you). There are plenty of checklists and resource guides to go with all the glossy photos.”  -- Kevin Taylor, The Pacific Northwest Inlander “You don't have to build a new home to have a green home. The book builds on the construction wisdom our forebears used to design homes that capitalized on nature's light, warmth, coolness and other benefits. Venolia and Lerner cover everything from simple changes to complex systems that make a home more ecologically sensitive, comfortable and livable. The book is dense with ideas and information for homeowners consideringrenovations.” --Akron Beacon Journal  Kelly Lerner is an innovative architect who spearheaded a project responsible for building more than 600 passive-solar-heated straw-bale houses in China. Her designs have been featured in Landscape Architecture Magazine, Metropolis Magazine, The Straw Bale House, and Green by Design. Carol Venolia specializes in the field of eco-healthy building. Her first book, Healing Environments, has enjoyed international success, and her home designs have been featured in The Natural House Catalog, Earth to Spirit, The Healthy House, and Environ magazine. Carol currently writes the "Design for Life" column for Natural Home & Garden magazine.

Balanced Plate: The Essential Elements of Whole Foods and Good Health


Renée Loux - 2006
    Now she takes a broader look at the benefits of a diet rich in natural, whole foods. Under the banner of "nutritional cross-training," Ren�e outlines the basic principles of such dietary plans as macrobiotics and Ayurveda, and dishes up flavorful whole foods recipes for optimal health--including Ratatouille Thin Crust Pizza, Roasted Spring Vegetable Salad, and Lemon Vanilla Ginger Snaps--with a nod to gluten-free living, blood sugar balance, and boosted immunity.You are what you eat, Ren�e explains, but you are also what you use to clean your house and your skin, and so sprinkled throughout the book readers will find ideas for introducing the whole-foods philosophy to their home and beauty routines, including tips for composting and choosing a healthy water filter.When Living Cuisine appeared, Alicia Silverstone applauded Ren�e's recipes, saying: "Incredibly rich and delicious and full of health and restorative energy, her food is medicine." Part eco-friendly cookbook and part organic lifestyle guide, this new book reflects that same spirit, while presenting the essential elements of living well through whole foods, and living responsibly for a sustainable future.

Beach Stones


Josie Iselin - 2006
    They come in many colours, shapes and patterns, are fun to collect and even have sensuous qualities. This book helps you understand the life of beach stones. It also brings us the stories of such stones.

Endangered: Wildlife on the Brink of Extinction


George C. McGavin - 2006
    They involved massive volcanic eruptions, disastrous meteor strikes and rapid climatic changes. The main point of Endangered is that the sixth great extinction will be the result of humankind's abuse of the environment.Featuring more than 400 photographs, this book details the plant and animal species that are either endangered or so severely threatened that they soon will be. The authors offer a thoughtful celebration of nature's diversity not scaremongering -- and a plea to rein in current behaviors that negatively affect the planet. Their proposals form a reasoned and hopeful guide to a future world that will be safe for all species. Creatures profiled include marsupials, monkeys, sea turtles, birds of prey, and butterflies and moths.The extraordinary imagery and the compelling and objectively presented information make Endangered essential reading for anyone interested in natural history.

How to Label a Goat: The Silly Rules and Regulations That Are Strangling Britain


Ross Clark - 2006
    Have you ever thrown your arms up in despair while trying to complete an official form and asked yourself "Just what is the point of this?" You're not alone. This book exposes some of the most petty and bizarre rules and regulations which are blighting the lives of Britons today. From the 45 pages of instructions on how to correctly label a goat (or sheep) to the impact that being a deep-sea diver might have on your tax return. If it wasn't so serious, it would be quite funny. Among his other discoveries are: - A rugby club in Ilfracombe was so burdened by health and safety rules that it was forced to abandon its real-life bonfire and instead celebrate Guy Fawkes' night with a 'virtual bonfire' projected onto a screen. - Employers must not hold important meetings on 31 October - it might discriminate against pagans, who, of course, celebrate the festival of Samhain on that day. - A woman from Kilbride was given an ASBO forbidding her from answering the

New Sustainable Homes: Designs for Healthy Living


James Grayson Trulove - 2006
    The result is a home that is less toxic to live in, is cheaper to operate, and often gives back to the environment rather than taking away. Also, and this is the most important consideration for many, it is a great looking, highly livable home that not only retains its value but has been shown to increase in value more quickly than more conventionally conceived houses because of cheaper operating expenses. These designers and their clients are not on the fringe.NEW SUSTAINABLE HOMES will show readers will learn about the many materials and techniques that make up today's sustainable house, including:1) the use of pervious concrete on driveways that allows water to seep through to the water table below.2) using bio–fiber panels in lieu of plywood for interior finishing3) using organic, green roofs that improve insulation, absorb sound and manage storm–water runoff4) solar water heating systems5) use of high thermal performance windows6) photovoltaic electrical systems

If You Were an Adjective


Michael Dahl - 2006
    Along with bright illustrations and colorful fonts, bestselling author Michael Dahl (If You Were a Verb and If You Were a Noun) delivers an imaginative read-aloud for your littlest grammarians.

The Green Studio Handbook: Environmental Strategies for Schematic Design


Alison G. Kwok - 2006
    It is a useful introduction to green design strategies and the associated green design process.

Growing Unusual Vegetables: Weird and Wonderful Vegetables and How to Grow Them


Simon Hickmott - 2006
    In this book they will find more than ninety unusual plants, all of them edible. The book is divided into sections on greens, roots, fruits, seeds, grains, and flavorings for easy reference. Each plant entry comes complete with comprehensive cultivation instructions, hardiness zones, and fascinating notes on the plant's origin, history, and uses.With this indispensable guide, you can turn your garden into a unique storehouse of useful and unusual edible plants, many of which are surprisingly easy to grow.

Ceanothus


David Fross - 2006
    Its species range from Canada south through southern Mexico and from coast to coast, and there are forms from ground-hugging mats through shrubs to trees. A complete horticultural and botanical treatment of the genus aimed at both gardeners and botanists, this book finally gives Ceanothus — with so many plants that tolerate sun and shade, thrive in arid conditions, and bear a profusion of beautiful, fragrant flowers — the recognition it deserves.

The Lifelong Activist: How to Change the World without Losing Your Way


Hillary Rettig - 2006
    It offers simple and clear instructions that help you figure out the form your authentic life should take, and live that life with a maximum of joy and productivity, and a minimum of fear, guilt and shame. The book's sections are: Managing Your Mission (figuring out your authentic mission) Managing Your Time (building a schedule that allows you to realize that mission) Managing Your Fears (beating perfectionism, procrastination and blocks to success, so you can follow your schedule) Managing Your Relationships (leveraging your strengths with those of others) The Lifelong Activist is for liberal activists, artists, campaign workers, labor organizers, volunteers, students, teachers, human services workers, and entrepreneurs, but anyone can use it and learn from it. It can act as a useful handbook for students and young people at the beginning of their careers; those contemplating a career or path change; and those at risk for burnout will find it particularly useful.