What I'm enjoying so far: I like that it's been broken down into sections - of life and of the home. It makes it easier to flip through and find what's of interest at any particular moment. The recipes and lists for shopping and a Zero Waste wardrobe are useful. I'm also really enjoying the personal anecdotes and her story of how she got to this point - and that it's not all about recycling.
What I hope to see more of: Resources and content that reflects the life of those who might not live in a mild climate like certain parts of California. Rain boots, snow shoes, umbrellas and mittens were not listed. Those who work in the business world, in certain types of professional settings or in corporate jobs might not be able to only buy clothing that is washable, for instance. I'm hoping that this book isn't only for those who work at home and live financially comfortable lives.
My overall thoughts on the book: I like the fact that Bea Johnson doesn't say that everyone should do this exactly her way, or become Zero Waste immediately. She doesn't catastrophize and the book is not preachy. It's definitely made me consider how much waste I produce in my own home - the amount of recycling I take out each week, how many plastic containers I have, what I'm buying from the store that has plastic or some kind of packaging, and what I can do to minimize that. While grinding up kohl to make my own eyeliner is not my style, and I'm way too much of a scaredy-cat to bring my own glass container to be filled at a meat/fish counter, I think it's cool that she put that information in there. It's made me think more about my own lifestyle.
**On a side note, this is also not a scientific book - there are very few statistics and studies shown. I don't think Bea Johnson is trying to prove whether or not global warming is real or whether or not certain types of plastic leach chemicals, for instance. If you're looking for that kind of a read, I'd say go elsewhere.
For more information on the book and the movement she's discussing, here are some neat resources:
Zero Waste Home
My Plastic-Free Life
My Zero Waste
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