Product Description

The hilarious true-life tale of one man's journey from self-confessed planet-killing lad to eco-friendly, green-crusader Dad set against the backdrop of Cool Britannia, Blair's Britain and the rise of the green movement. Back in the nineties, Loaded journalist, Pete May was your normal twenty-something male: a football mad, beer guzzling, Dr Who watching lad's lad, quite happy surrounding himself with countless pizza boxes, beer cans and other environmentally unfriendly consumer items. Recycling to Pete was a debate about whether he should turn his socks inside out and reuse them. Then one day, out of nowhere, along came eco bunny Nicola -- a greener than green environmental activist. Could two people so different really fall for each other? Would Pete ever change his ways and sign up to the green lifestyle of composting loos, freezing cold houses, multiple jumper wearing, chicken rearing, recycling, cycling, energy saving and general self-sufficiency? This is the charming and funny true-life tale of one man's struggle to grapple with the good life, go green and get the girl.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #320037 in Books
• Published on: 2008-06-02
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Review
Time Out, 12th June "Funny and rather heart-warming."

Review
'Six months ago Pete May thought that 'Carbon Footprint' were a band who did a couple of Peel Sessions. That being said, the lad can write, and all on a pedal powered laptop...' - Phill Jupitus

Andrew Shields in Time Out June 2008
As a rabid West Ham fan and writer for Loaded (as well as former Time Out gossip columnist), May lived the planet-killing laddish lifestyle. Then he met eco-bunny Nicola, who wore a "peculiarly ethnic brown waistcoat covered in reindeers and snowdrop patterns". In telling the story of their relationship, May discovers the hell of compost loos and pokes good-natured fun at the earnest Greens he meets. Funny and rather heart-warming.

Customer Reviews

Hippo is brilliant
What a hoot this book turned out to be. It's a love story but polar opposite to Wife in the North (which I also loved). Here it's the bloke who tries to do what his partner wants - but with such a lot of humour. Who knew an eco rom com could exist? I'm recommending it to my book group & plan to give a few copies for xmas too.

It's not easy being green...
Meet Pete, a football-loving, lager-drinking `lad' who discovers the grass (and life in general) really can be greener on the other side of singledom.
A love story with added activism, There's A Hippo... pokes fun at the over-earnestness of the green movement without losing the message that we should all be trying to act more ethically.
This is a great read that offers inspiration for those of us who are still many shades of green lighter than Pete and Nicola.
And as for the (mis)adventures with a mini flock of hens - who says men can't write chick-lit?

There's a Hippo in My Cistern: One Man's Misadventures on the Eco-frontline

a good way to see through the eco haze
I loved this book and the way it introduces the difficulties of trying to be green in a modern life. the hero and heroine show also how real eccentrics think they are normal. Read it now and laugh out loud