This is my honest review after receiving a free digital ARC from NetGalley.
The idea of this book is to break down the talking points related to the climate into digestible chunks to be read a chapter a day for 60 days. On every day you receive a nudge either to follow a link with more background via a YouTube video or article, or to think about how you can implement the ideas. This feels like a good idea. When it relates to simple practical things like recycling or composting, I could imagine it being inspiring, except she’s preaching to the converted. Will climate deniers and recycling refusers even be reading this book? Personally, I found the chapters where she suggests thinking about how I could influence other people more challenging. I’m happy to talk to family members, but how many of us want to actively campaign or become influencers for the things we care about? That’s the sort of chapter where I tended to skim over the call to action. I suppose people will take from it the things that they feel comfortable doing and all progress is good.

On the first two days, the author starts by reminding us that a good place to start is simply to go outside and think about the beauty of nature and the amazing planet we live on. That’s what we want to save when we take climate action. She goes on to talk about the epidemic of teenage anxiety, part of which is eco anxiety/climate anxiety. A quarter say they don’t want to bring children into the world (though I think this was the same in the 60s, 70s and 80s with anxiety about nuclear warfare, unemployment and acid rain). After all, Rachel Carson wrote Silent Spring in 1962.

However, though individual small actions may not solve the climate crisis in themselves, they can increase awareness that there is a problem. They can make a cultural change that by rights should eventually force manufacturers and politicians to find better ways of doing things.

For me, one of the best things is the glossary of environmental terms in the back of the book. As these things seem to go through regular changes in jargon, this is very useful as a reference for translating or writing blogposts.

An overview of the main points:
Appreciate what we have (national parks)
Reduce waste (food, single use plastics)
Advocate for cleaner energy, less plastic packaging)
Consider what you eat, preferably organic, local (within 100 miles?) and/or grow your own. Check ingredients lists. Eat more plants, less meat.
Travel less. Walk, cycle, use public transport, go hybrid or fully electric. Buy carbon offsets if you fly.
Share joyful experiences (Law of Amplification)
Advocate for climate justice
Use eco-friendly cleaning and personal care products
Act in the interests of future generations
Be prepared for an emergency (see the OneGreenThing ‘Go Kit’ for ideas of what to pack)
Realise there have been improvements in your lifetime (banning DDT, BPA, setting SDGs, reducing pesticides, developing green energy, household recycling and green waste collection)
Encourage regenerative farming
Vote and contact elected officials
Create lasting change by intergenerational dialogue
Discover your Superpower. Take the assessment on www.onegreenthing.org

Green your life a step at a time

60 steps to a greener life, written from an American perspective, but all of the ideas are valid wherever you live. The one a day approach makes it easier to try things and absorb the information provided in the book and many references.

I found this a positive book and gained some great insights on how I can live a greener life. They’re also ideas that I can share with family, friends and throw into conversation in general when an opportunity arises to spread the word. Well worth a read.

I was given this book from the author via netgalley only for the pleasure of reading and leaving an honest review should I choose to.

60 Days to a Greener Life offers small, daily ideas of how to incorporate greener practices into our daily lives. The book is informative and gives concrete steps that can be adopted one-by-one or all together. The author ensures that readers understand that there is hope and that these small steps can make a difference.
This book is an easy-to-read, informative, and hopeful addition to climate change literature. Highly recommended.