No Impact Man: The Adventures of a Guilty Liberal Who Attempts to Save the Planet, and the Discoveries He Makes About Himself and Our Way of Life in the Process,   ISBN:9780374222888

Customer Rating: 

As a "skimmer" of No Impact Man, I have issues about the fundamental fundamental muscular/skeletal structure of the entire book itself. I am greatly concerned about the lack of mentioning of the "ultimate source" of environmental problems: too many humans. Having kids. Population. It is the HUMAN MIND that generates the notion of "problems" in the first place, and the fewer humans, the less problems in the world. I am surprised that family planning agencies have not associated their campaigns with environmental problems. For the birth of every child in this world equates to the death of thousands of millions of plants and animals, the excavations of how many tons of rocks and minerals... the sculpting of so many parcels of landscapes... all occurring in a very indirect manner to the life of that child.

The fundamental human-environmental paradox assumes this: as long as you exist, occupy space and time, consume resources, excrete wastes, and especially replicate yourself, you by default as a human, a living organism, are impacting the environment (I invented this paradox on my Biologically Incorrect Blog). The concept of "zero impact" is a farse. The question is how can this level of impact be minimized, or at most be "perceivably beneficial" at an individual and collective scale, such that the individual does not sacrifice his/her own health and survival (aka become an "environmental Jesus Christ") and the collective network of human society won't fall apart all together?

I don't see this book being addressed at a more systematic level with a fundamentally strong premise such as the statement above. It seems to be more at a "trendy" level--such as alternative transportation and going to farmers' markets and using recycled grocery bags. At least it's a start.

As for my own personal values, I choose to not have an Isabella (having kids is sooo cliche) and will take the right to using toilet paper. And if there's no more TP, I've used sticks and leaves before, and they seem to work fine. I also choose to catch my own fish and tend to my own garden. No problem.

I don't think birth control and family planning should be the invisible 800-pound gorilla in the room anymore.

Customer Rating: 

If you are purchasing this book to save the world, don't bother, however, if you are looking for a non strident, thought provoking read then you are on target.

The author relates his experience of trying to reduce his green footprint in very readable prose while slipping in facts that help you perceive your own green impact. These facts ultimately make you observe your own life style and ask, what can I do to improve. Perhaps the most effective answer will be everyone doing something and then the book will have made an important impact.

Customer Rating: 

Bevan is bright, resourceful, even likable, and I love his accounts of matrimonial decision making. However, neither the style nor the substance of this book makes for a very compelling read. What finally made me give up on p.114, however, is the prominence of Bevan's Yuppie values. "It's not , sadly for me, that I never want to be rich or have a big house.....But the question still plagues me: What will it all count for when I'm gone." I did like the idea that city living can be more sustainable than a more spread out population pattern.

Customer Rating: 

A punch on the face of those like me, and the author, who complain too much about "how few is done" to protect the enviroment, but don't usually ask themselves "how much can I do". A field guide, if you have courage, or at least something to meditate about.

Customer Rating: 

I got this book after reading "Sleeping Naked is Green..." - the author of that book mentioned No Impact Man. I really wanted to like No Impact Man - but I didn't. I still like the premise, but his writing was all over the place. I actually didn't get all the way to the end which isn't normal for me.

Sleeping Naked is Green was much better. I don't know that she went as far as No Impact Man, but following her story was much more enjoyable. And if by reading these quests I'm meant to be inspired to change my living habits then I need to at least be inspired to get to the end of the book.