Product Description

Embracing an eco-friendly lifestyle can be a daunting prospect for the average urban dweller. Synthetic surroundings are miles away from inspiring pastoral scenes, and the temptation to indulge in a spot of mindless consumerism lurks around every corner. To exacerbate matters, urban dwellers are generally pressed for space, probably cash and definitely time. This handbook aims to address these issues head on, dispel the myths and provide some viable solutions. Chapters including "absolute beginners", "go wild with food", "the world's smallest vegetable patch" and "green scene" provide green and organic options for a dynamic urban existence. They explore everything from severing the cord to your local supermarket and looking at some other more exciting shopping options, to thinking creatively about recycling and transport, to enjoying a green night out. The "city focus" sections hone in on some successful projects in UK cities from Cardiff to Leeds. And, in the spirit of learning from someone else's trials and errors, excerpts from the author's diary show the reality behind altering your lifestyle. The end results show that even the most outrageous townie can discover their green roots with the minimum of disruption.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #605136 in Books
• Published on: 2001-01-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

From the Back Cover
Embracing an eco-friendly lifestyle can be a daunting prospect for your average urban dweller. After all, our synthetic surroundings are miles away from inspiring pastoral scenes, and the temptation to indulge in a spot of mindless consumerism lurks around every corner. To exacerbate matters, we are generally pressed for space, probably cash and definitely time. But the good news is that this handbook is here to address these issues head on, dispel the myths and provide some viable solutions.

Chapters including Absolute Beginners, Go Wild with Food, Eco-Chic Comes to Town and Green Scene provide green and organic options for a dynamic urban existence. They explore everything from severing the cord to your local supermarket, looking at some other more exciting shopping options, thinking creatively about recycling and transport, to enjoying a green night out. The City Focus sections keep motivation high by honing in on some successful projects in UK cities, from Cardiff to Leeds. And, in the spirit of learning by someone else's trials and errors, excerpts from the author's diary reveal the real thrills and spills of altering your lifestyle. The end results show that even the most outrageous townie can discover their green roots with the minimum of disruption. Better still is the news that old habits don't always die hard, especially when replaced with the benefits of new and improved green ones!

About the Author
Lucy Siegle has a new-found mission to make a green lifestyle accessible to all urbanites, banish stereotypes that scare people off, and to promote a newly energized way of green thinking. When she's not investigating cool eco-possibilities, Lucy works on Life Magazine for The Observer.

Excerpted from Green Living in the Urban Jungle by Lucy Siegle. Copyright © 2001. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
This is a handbook for urbanites everywhere who have lost touch with their green roots, and want to reclaim them with the minimum of fuss and maximum of benefits. Whether you live in a small town, suburban area or fully-fledged metropolis, it isn't easy to escape from a synthetic lifestyle where nature becomes increasingly redundant. Away from inspiring pastoral scenes, reminders of Mother Nature are few and far between.

Some of us seem naturally predisposed to the metropolitan way of life. We enjoy the fast pace, the convenience and stimulation of having everything from clubs to art galleries on our doorstep. Then of course there are the people who were born and bred in an urban environment and have never felt the need to leave. But just because we have chosen these aspects of urban life, why should we have to compromise our health, environment and principles? And if this seems like we want to have our organic cake and eat it, well why not? Just because we choose to live in the big smoke, it shouldn't necessarily follow that we should also have to choke on it.

Customer Reviews

Not a manual for change, but an excellent motivational work
An entertaining and engaging book which addresses the problem of urban life from the perspective of those of us who want to pursue a greener future. Lucy Siegle reminds us that, on average, every urban household requires the productive efforts of 18 acres of land in order to stay fed, clothed and entertained. This, our ecological footprint, is huge, and unsustainable. We have to reduce the size of that footprint - and have to find a way of making ourselves productive, repaying the investment we are draining from the earth.

Siegle comes up with a collage of interesting, and largely practical, ideas for change. What she is not offering, however, is a blueprint, nor even a route map to a greener lifestyle. She identifies the major landmarks on the horizon, the places of interest we need to visit on the way, but leaves it to you to determine the route and discover your own paths. It's a book best used in conjunction with something like "Go MAD - Go Make a Difference 2", which will give you a wealth of practical advice and information which is missing in places in Lucy Siegle's book.

Not that she sets out to produce a manual for change. The value, the validity, and the real enduring strength of Siegle's work is her capacity to motivate and enthuse. She has an endearing supportive quality in her writing. This is sound motivational stuff: she considers the problem of the urban dweller, the degree of dissatisfaction you experience throwing away rubbish, being dependent on supermarkets, constantly surrounded by cars, etc. - and she throws enthusiasm in your direction. Yes, it is possible to slim down that ecological footprint, yes it is possible to feel better about life, yes it is possible to do something. You will still have to make the effort, but Siegle's book is a good morale booster and well worth considering by anyone looking to change and make more harmonious their lifestyle.

Marvellous 'Green' book.
I am relatively new to 'green' issues and wanted to find out more about them. I chanced upon this book and I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say it has changed the way I live. The author doesn't preach, she doesn't take the moral high ground - all she does is point out ways that you can live a healthier, more ethical life style, in a humorous and intelligent fashion. I would recommend this book to anybody who cares about their health and the environment.

Green Living in an Urban Jungle.
First question why is this book not in the right section of Amazon. This is most definitely a Lifestyle book! I enjoyed this book as it doesn't preach and make you feel guilty for leaving a light on! It is an upbeat and realistic book with practical advice for the typical working city dweller. A witty and enjoyable read with sensible and achievable advice towards living a greener life.