Change The World ~ Book Review

Change The World ~ Book Review

Change The World For 10 Bucks was first published Great Britain (2004) by Shorts Books Ltd as Change the World For a Fiver, and was recently adapted for a Canadian audience through New Society Publishers in 2006. New Society Publishers is renowned and

highly respected in the industry as a company that focuses on books that teach sustainability, improve lifestyle and forward environmental causes.

When I received the (2007) Winter Issue of Canadian Teacher Magazine - which featured a book that I co-wrote with my husband, Trash Talk, and this book, Change the World - I was so excited to send a request for a review copy of this book. The back cover text contains a similar message to what we used for in the first paragraph of Trash Talk?s back cover text and this called me like a magnet. The more information like this that we can provide individuals will certainly reverse negative feelings about our lives and the impact we have on the environment.

Unfortunately, I was less impressed when I actually received Change the World and began the review process and actually wondered if the reviewers on the back cover were paid for their services.

For one thing, I just could not figure out the age group or

the audience the authors are aiming to reach. The promotions for the book claim it is a book for everyone, yet the pages are designed for an audience of young children; the illustrations are certainly appropriate for children no older than perhaps 5 years. Large cartoon-like drawings and occasional images and text flow over both full-color pages, so that the book can be held up to a group while reading. Some of the ideas are simple and appropriate for young readers ? such as ?smile? or ?make someone laugh?. Yet other options would suit children aged 7 and older, such as taking a bus, shopping locally and choosing to use cloth bags as an alternative to plastic shopping bags. Interspersed between these ideas are things only mature adults with disposable income can consider doing ? such as investing wisely with the environment in mind.

I found the ?environmental? theme is often contradicted, such as the idea of mowing someone?s lawn as a favor? with a gas mower. A more environmentally friendly approach to lawn maintenance are modern push mowers, which are very light, easy to maintain and can be hung on a wall, and therefore take less storage space.

Another aspect that seems to contradict the environmental theme for the book are that the pages typically have fewer than a hundred words, which is appropriate for a younger audience, however several pages have no other illustration or information at all ? which wastes paper and color ink for no reason at all.

There was only one action, # 17, that I felt was inappropriate. While I agree many people tend to watch too much TV, I do question that wearing gold, staying up all night, shaving something off or streaking could be considered as appropriate alternatives.

I could not help but see Action # 35, ?write to someone who inspired you?, as a terrible waste of paper ? two full color pages (orange/no illustrations) with only 20 words and a postcard that peals away? this blatant attempt at self-promotion uses the postcard to advertise the book. Likewise with the tear-away cards for getting to know our neighbors - people don?t need a card to go and meet their neighbor, and once again, the card is also a form of advertising for the book. The self-promotion does not end there, Action 47 actually recommends purchasing Change the World For Ten Bucks as a gift for others.

However, the book?s basic overall aim is to show people that they really can make a difference in their communities with simple, everyday actions. I like the slogan the book uses ? ?We are what we do? ? which is similar to the slogan we use for Trash Talk ? ?We can force changes by making changes?. One of the best aspects of Change the World For Ten Bucks is Action 49 ? ?Learn more, do more?, which lists nearly 100 websites for further learning and ideas for applying the actions listed in the book.

The book itself is printed on paper 100% derived from post consumer waste materials, processed without chlorine and is free of ancient growth forest. Their efforts with this book have reached a global scale. Individuals and organizations from the UK, Australia, Deutschland, and Canada contributed to the creation of Change the World For Ten Bucks.

ISBN 10: 9781550923001
ISBN 13: 1550923005
Publisher: Rock On Publishing
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

~ Lillian Brummet: co-author of the books Trash Talk and Purple Snowflake Marketing, author of Towards Understanding (www.sunshinecable.com/~drumit)

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