Go Green, Live Rich: 50 Simple Ways to Save the Earth and Get Rich Trying

I thought this audio was good, but I felt like they tried to rush so many ideas or tips that it sounded like the people speaking on the audio had the tape on fast forward.

As I see a reviewer's job, it isn't to judge a book only by whether you agree with the author or not. For example, many of the assumptions behind this book seem pretty stretched to me, however, I still think the book does a pretty good job at what it sets out to do. So, I give it four stars. I often get questions from people who violently disagree with a book I review and see that I also disagree with the author, and wonder why I don't pan it. So, I thought I would explain why. My rating does not imply agreement, but rather my judgment on how well the authors set out to do what they were after, and if its audience can get from it what they are after. Oh, sure, there are times I do go after a book that gets on my last nerve, but I try not to indulge in that very often. If I did, this would be one of those books.

However, when you have a book whose co-author worked on Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth", you know where you are going. Plus, I don't mind people making choices to green up their life if that is how they want to spend their resources. My main objection to these kinds of policies is when they are forced on people by government. But if you choose to live this way and think it improves your way of life and standard of living, who am I to tell you it doesn't?

This little book goes through 49 tips and a couple of political pleas in 11 chapters and provides all kinds of ways the authors think you should change you life to accommodate their vision of the world. The chapters help you think about your "carbon footprint", transporting yourself in more nature friendly ways, lowering your home's energy use, water use, and buying nature friendly houses and housing add ons such as siding. They also provide shopping tips they say will actually lower your costs such as eating less but eating organic without meat, bringing your own bags, and buying in bulk. Their grow your own food is a great idea, but their claim it will save you money is silly.

They then move into changing your personal values and raising your kids with eco-friendly values, going green at work (and inspiring your co-workers to do the same), and thinking about ideas that you might turn into a green business. This last is the only way I can see making money on what is discussed in this book. I am not saying don't do any of it, but I am saying that the documentation they provide in the back is pretty fuzzy and mixes a lot of things together in ways that are more like alchemy than science. Hey, but do what you want to do.

The last chapter talks about making donations to socially aware causes, investing in green companies (be warned, this can be VERY expensive), and working for environmental causes.

Not a bad book and if you share its values, you will likely enjoy it. However, you will probably already know the tips it provides. For me, most of their claims rang hollow.

Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI

Go Green Live Rich is a wonderful "how to" go green using 50 tips provided by author David Bach. It is VERY user-friendly and filled with excellent websites to help with one's "greening process." It has helped me to become more aware of helping to save our beautiful planet Earth.

You must pick out from this applicable advice and tips for your personal use. Much doesn't apply to main stream American given their age or location.

I loved the book. There are great, easy to follow ideas in the book that are easy to adopt. He really does show you how to be environmentally friendly without breaking the bank. If you are looking for a way to reduce your footprint on the earth, you should read the book.