Some people might see the title and think this is yet another eco-book on eco-living or such. In reality, this book is about how far we have drifted from common sense health in the way we live and eat. People are clueless to what's in their food and where it comes from or even how their immune system works (public education victims). Now, if you eat better and live better, one of the results will be a better environment. I.E., if you stop using your cloest full of chemicals, your health gets better, and so does your water supply. Sandbeck may come off anti-corporate, and even though I am far from being that way, there's truth to what she says in many companies. We have fallen into the trap of letting stangers convince us into buying things we don't need and scare us into buying things that don't improve our lives. Sandbeck is concise and funny and touches on a wide variety of topics from food safety, health, corporate funny-business, child well-being and the many myths we believe. A great place to start your efforts to improve your well-being. There is a growing awareness about such things and this book is a valuable addition. For more on the topics in this book, see The Hundred-Year Lie: How to Protect Yourself from the Chemicals That Are Destroying Your Health, Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal, Eat This and Live!, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder, The Maker's Diet and Bottlemania: Big Business, Local Springs, and the Battle Over America's Drinking Water.
This book contains some practical information about how to counter our current germophobic culture and how to use less toxic products and practices in our homes and daily lives. However, there are some things that are disturbing about it that allow me to only rate it as a 2-star.
For one, much of this book is repetition from the author's Green Housekeeping book, which I'd already read. Why is the author repeating the exact same things in a different/new book? If there is to be a new book, there needs to be new ideas and new information, not merely rehashing the same old stuff.
Secondly, I noticed that the author presents somewhat of a contradiction in her own personal philosophy and practices. On the one hand, she's all about the "barbaric-we're too clean; let's eat dirt" mentality... on the other hand, she recounts her own almost phobic sanitization of her own food, kitchen, etc. It's a bit of a mixed message that made me wonder, well, which is it?
Finally, the biggest problem I have with this book is the way the author totally sneaks up on the reader, lulling them into thinking the book is about healthier living, housekeeping, etc., then, at the end of the book she is suddenly advocating circumcision of our baby boys. WHAT?!?!? And she does it in a way that is very condescending to those who don't agree with this practice, including potshots at the poor spelling of those who wrote about their disagreement on a website she found. Very lame and unprofessional.
To support her position, she includes a study done on very promiscuous African men truck drivers who are apparently having sex at every truck stop and getting Aids. My own conclusion of this study wasn't that every male should undergo genital mutilation in case they end up living this kind of high risk lifestyle and want to prevent getting Aids, but that these men might want to consider better lifestyle choices.
I could go on to counter several of the authors claims about how wonderful circumcision is, but will let the reader do their own research. There is a large body of information out there about circumcision and it is widely known that it is a totally unnecessary medical procedure, except in rare cases. My point is that to advocate unnecessary and unjustified genital mutilation as a way of "cleaner/greener" living is to me (and this is my review after all) preposterous, truly barbaric, and inappropriate. To me, it really discredits the book and the author.
Buy Green Barbarians: Live Bravely on Your Home Planet Now
Green Barbarians is another wonderful title by Ellen Sandbeck. In this book she takes a look at how the fear of various ailments and of bacteria and microbes in particular has led people (especially in western culture) to over-protect themselves into ill health.
Chapters delve into details about the body, food, kitchen, bathroom, laundry, health, pets and children.
If you have read Sandbeck's Green housekeeping you may recognize some of the info and suggestions in the chapters about food, kitchen and bathrooms, she does repeat a little of the information from that book, but overall it's not as in-depth and cleaning-centric as Green Housekeeping.
This book really gives you some insight into some of the ridiculous things that people do that are completely unnecessary and some of the long-forgotten practices that might still be of contemporary use. A lot of the books value come from the condensed results of various research articles and applications that point to surprising results. Especially in the chapter on health where she includes discussion on treating various human ailments with other organisms (biotherapy) like intestinal worms. The bibliography is impressive and the book seems to be very well researched. Also has an effective index for looking up choice statistics or wanting to gross out your roommate with a verbatim reading.
In addition to the informative aspects of this book I also found it highly entertaining. This book had me laughing out loud and reading choice bits to my fiance more than any other recent book. The wit that Sandbeck writes with is indispensable, and though it doesn't take away from the gravity of some of the statements made in this book, it does make them a little easier to face.
Highly recommended, amusing and informative, what more could you ask for?
Read Best Reviews of Green Barbarians: Live Bravely on Your Home Planet Here
Interesting ideas presented. Some (informatively) infuriatingie. food production and corporations, and plenty of useful tips/reminders/wake-up calls for life. A quick easy read, that may whet your appetite for meatier texts and ideas.
While I really wanted to like this book, and did agree with most of the ideas she presented I have a few criticism:
Though there does seem to be an extensive bibliography listing the multiple scientific studies referenced throughout the book, footnotes would have been incredibly helpful. It was difficult to tell at times what was scientifically based and what was just from her own advice formed from opinions and experiences.
I completely agree with the review below about the last section/lecture on male circumcision that comes completely out of nowhere. Stating several incomplete studies and not mentioning anything about safe sex education, she strongly advocates genital mutilation. Though she states at the end of the rant she just wants to help the reader make an informed decisionshe is obviously very pro-circumcision, with only one side presented. That section unfortunately completely overshadowed the earlier parts of the book and made me question the objectivity of some of her previous assertions.
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I picked this book up for a buck at a local bookstore blowout. It's a decent read, and covers many different topics. Some of this I have heard/read before, some was new. The book doesnt give us a "green way" of living, but more so is an attempt to have us question the choices we make in product selection. Much of the book discusses our fears of germs which the writer presents as unfounded. Overall, the book does lack some focus, as the topics vary widely with no disernable goal. While it may be worth a read, and possibly worth adding to your "eco bookshelf' I dont think i would have been happy if I paid full price. I would chalk this one up to a decent pic in the green theme, but far from the best out there.
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"Plaited Glory" should have been written a long time ago. I am a young woman from Jamaica who, despite peer pressure and social pressure, has always kept my hair natural. I was so happy to find this book as I was growing my hair once again. I found Ms. Bonner's advice on hair care products and general care of black NATURAL hair very practical and useful. I am now locking my hair and read the hairlocking chapter of Ms. Bonner's book everyday. It is my "hair bible." I go to it whenever I have doubts about how I should treat my hair and what I should be doing to improve its health. I have recommended this book to many black women with natural hairstyles. Thank you for filling this obvious gap. It should not be so hard to find out how to care for NATURAl black hair, but your book is the best resource I've found to date. Most other books or articles give only an account of the history behind natural hairstyles. (Ms. Bonner, too, includes colourful and humorous stories in her book that illustrate society's view of natural hairstyles.) They don't provide information on how to groom and manage those styles. There should be many more books like this available to black women.
