A journey. That’s what this book is – a journey to save the planet – one family at a time. Colin Beavan, author of No Impact Man takes you along on his, and his family’s journey, to evaluate and embrace a no impact lifestyle. Having listened from the sidelines to the growing debate over eco-friendly living, Colin decided to get a first-hand feel by running an experiment on his own family whilst living in their apartment in the middle of New York City.
Colin, 42, married to Michelle with a young daughter Isabella – 2 years old at the start of the experiment – and a dog called Frankie – “woke up” one day filled with despair about the planet’s outlook and wondering how he might change himself, rather than just preaching to others – which, as an aside, he realised he was actually quite good at.
“What really filled me with despair, though, was that I didn’t believe that the way of life that was steadily wrecking the planet even made us happy. …on average, the 6.5 billion people who share this globe are nowhere near as happy as they could be.”
What was needed was an environmental lifestyle redesign. But just how do you go “off the grid”? There’s no instruction manual and there are so many opinions and theories (from so many people telling others what to do). Instead, Colin decided to construct his own life experiment in incremental, “bite-sized” steps, and to really try living it by submerging himself in it for a full year. The result: a blog, notoriety, a book and even a movie. His story is not preachy though – it’s just his story – which you can choose to do with as you please. What the book does tell you is how he did what he did and most importantly, why.
Each step of his experiment is based on thorough research into various fundamental questions about eco-living, resulting in his particular solution and reasoning. He also shares his trials and tribulations, dead-ends and set backs. It’s first hand, funny, self-deprecating and absolutely insightful. And he found a lifestyle that made him and, to their surprise, his family far happier – without moving to a commune
“So many in the world’s go-fast consumer culture, were dissatisfied with the lives they had worked to get – the lives they were supposed to want.”
Finally, if you do want to explore it further Colin has included copious references and research notes in a mini-guide (appendix) called “You Can Make a Difference”.
Why read it?
This is an entirely enjoyable read and I promise you there’s no preaching! Maybe you’ll feel some guilt, but mostly, if you’re anything like me, you’ll feel inspired. Colin’s writing style is easy to read and inclusive. I could barely put the book down.
No Impact Man is published by Piatkis and is available now in good book stores.
“From their first baby steps (no takeout) to their giant leap (no toilet paper), the Beavans’ experiment in ecological responsibility was a daunting escapade in going green . . . So fervent as to make Al Gore look like a profligate wastrel, Beavan’s commitment to the cause is, nonetheless, infectiously inspiring and uproariously entertaining.”
—Booklist
“With thorough research, Beavan updates his blog (noimpactman.com) with convincing statistical evidence, while discovering new ways to reduce consumption and his family’s environmental footprint . . . An inspiring, persuasive argument that individuals are not helpless in the battle against environmental degradation and global warming.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“No Impact Man is a deeply honest and riveting account of the year in which Colin Beavan and his wife attempted to do what most of us would consider impossible. What might seem inconvenient to the point of absurdity instead teaches lessons that all of us need to learn. We as individuals can take action to address important social problems. One person can make a difference.”
—Marion Nestle, author of What to Eat
“Colin Beavan has the disarming and uniquely remedial ability to make you laugh while he's making you feel like a swine, and what's more, to make you not only want to, but to actually do something, about it.”
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