And the Discoveries He Makes About Himself and Our Way of Life in the Process

I was of the faction that wasnt really too concerned with global warming. At one time the world was covered with molten lava. I still believe that we are a species arent as important as we like to tell ourselves that we are. After reading this book my stance is altered. I believe that we should fulfill the promise to our children, i currently have none, to bring them into this world and give them a better life then we inherited. The facts and figures in this book are hard to deny. Even now i can hear the author in my head to tell me to not be wasteful with our precious resources. He says its not the government that needs to change, its the individuals. I wholeheartedly concur, we need to take more responsibility for our actions. I cannot promise i wont use tissue paper to blow my nose or wipe my backside but there are countless other ways to reduce our negative impact on the environment and enrich it as well. Outstanding read for any audience.

I have read many books on changes that would benefit the environment, but this book is one of the few that addresses the most important way to do this: Personally.

Most people, including the vast majority of tree-loving liberal environmentalists (and I resemble one), like to point to every other solution other than the one standing in their own shoes. They point to the President or Congress or environmental organizations for the answer. Or, they blame corporations or banks or Capitalism for all our ills. Yet, they never look at their own actions and ask the hardest, scariest question of all: How am I part of the problem and how can I be part of the solution?

I like this book because Colin Beavan does this in a very human and somewhat self-deprecating way. He takes the issue of global warming seriously while not taking himself too seriously. He is human with all the faults that go along with being human and does not try to hide that, to the benefit of the reader. It's easy to identify with him because we are all human and subject to the same vagaries and follies.

The important thing is that Colin and Michelle were game enough to try this and to open their lives up to the rest of the world as they went through their year-long experiment/trial. It took courage and gives the rest of us courage to do things that we know are long overdue.

I think this is one of the most inspiring accounts of "going green" I've ever read.

It's not so much that Beavan finds the Perfect Solution to global environmental issues, or actually changes the world with his actions. What he does is better: he *tries*, and he lets us know how hard it is for an urban wannabe environmentalist to pull it off. He doesn't just switch to 'eco' coffee or buy grass-fed beef (the kind of things that most people I know do - and they all really do care). He stops using all food that comes with paper or isn't grown locally. He stops using cars and even public transportation. His goal isn't to be "Lower Impact Man" but instead be "NO Impact Man". He gets very close.

One can argue (and I see that some reviews do) that his efforts are feeble. I disagree. Yes, living in a New York City apartment may not be the ideal platform to bring on an urban eco-paradise. But Beavan's project is even better: he starts WHERE HE IS. So many manifestos simply critique the current situation and describe an lovely impossible Utopia - educational but not *helpful*. Those works might articulate a *societal* road map but they are not very helpful as a *personal* road map.

I really appreciate that Beavan doesn't come across as The Expert. Certainly he's learned a LOT, but he clues us in with his self-doubt, his circular mind-chatter - all the kind of stuff that trips us up when we try to change things. To watch another person have the same experiences and challenges we all do - and still muddle through - is hugely liberating.

I became aware of the book via 'BUSINESS WEEK' of all places where Mr. Beavan's wife wrote an article. she ran thru 25$ worth of starbucks goods in a day and before ' the year of green' bought herself a 1000$ pair of shoes!!!
Well i dont know what a 1,000$ pair of shoes look like!

Its a bold experiment but one that makes me wonder many things. If they rode the elevator only when others were already using it IS THAT ZERO IMPACT?
No one has zero impact! nor can anyone ' save the earth'
still its worth a read!

Unlike the commenter above, I read the book. Colin states specifically several times that he intended to stumble his way through the project, as most people would having no background in sustainable living. Therefore, the entire journey was meant to be a learning curve, not that he had everything figured out from the beginning.

The book is full of great stories of how difficult our society makes sustainable living seem, when in all reality, if people would try it, they would see that it's easier and better for everyone. Colin discovered that, and I hope that more and more people can do the same.

However, I do agree that the book should have been offered as an e-book. Free, I'm not so sure about that, he does need to support his family. But the ultimate support of no-impact would have been to publish it online only, killing no trees & producing no waste: only using electricity (for a person to view it on their computer) that was already being used anyway. I probably would have paid a small charge to read the online e-book. Luckily, I didn't pay anything and checked it out at the library...where more and more people can continue to read the same copy.

No Impact Man starts out with the author, Colin Beavan, talking about how he and his wife, Michelle differ on certain things, such as her love of fur and his dislike of reality television. They make a deal that Michelle can watch reality television; as long as she didn't buy anything made of or trimmed with fur. He then talks briefly about global warming and the January day that inspired his decision to become "No Impact Man". After meeting with his book editor, he decides to embark on a life of no impact - no disposable products, no travel that caused carbon emissions, lowering the environmental impact of their food choices, consumer purchases, household operations, and water use/pollution.

He admits that this project has forced him to change himself and the way he looks at things. He is honest and admits that he isn't perfect. He knows that he can't solve the world's problems on his own, but he is going to give it the best possible shot he can. No Impact Man is his chronicle of that shot. It provides us with a snapshot of his life prior to the changes, during the changes, and after the changes. In chapter three, Mr. Beavan talks about his trash. He and his wife collected their trash over the course of three days to see how much they actually generated. The result was an appalling ninety gallons. That is a lot of trash for a family of three - imagine what larger families must generate (even in one day). Another startling statistic, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, is that food packaging makes up 20 percent of waste nationwide; that includes take out packages and grabbing frozen meals from the grocery store, which tends to be easiest in these busy times (Beavan, 39).

Chapter four covers his adventures in purchasing food for his family without using any disposable containers. It is both an exercise in frugality and ingenuity for Mr. Beavan and his family. He tries a variety of different modes of transportation for the food, before settling on organic muslin bags for transporting the bulk goods he purchases home. He also talks about the restraint he and his wife have to show - they can no longer cave to their every craving because it's not sustainable. For example, they must learn to go without their daily coffee fix if they forget the reusable cups at home. This chapter is also peppered with statistics about the amount of garbage in the ocean - statistics that are sickening, yet, given the disposability of our society are not that shocking. Although this has been an interesting read thus far, it is saddening to think about what we are doing to our planet. I think anyone reading this book would begin to question their habits; I know that I certainly have been (as I think about the plastic disposable cup I used from Starbucks a couple of weeks ago).

Chapter five covers travel and reducing your carbon footprint via using non-emission producing modes of transportation (biking, walking). Faced with quite a bit of travel over the course of the no impact project, Mr. Beavan decides he must cancel several trips home. In doing so, he gets a lesson in slowing down and enjoying life for what it is and learning to live in the moment. I think this is a lesson that we could all stand to learn from. He's not saying that people should quit traveling, but that they should simply take a step back and rethink how they are trying to get where they are going. Longer, less frequent trips are a viable option that could make all involved much happier than a bunch of short trips. And, the planet will thank you for forcing fewer emissions into the environment.

As we go through the remainder of the book, we learn about becoming sustainable consumers by not purchasing anything new. We also get a glimpse into life without electricity and living off the grid. I'm not so sure I could live off the grid, but I am definitely willing to make some changes toward living a greener, more sustainable life.

The final chapter talks about water use: over the next 15 years, one of two things will happen - we will either run out of water entirely or the water will be so polluted that we won't be able to drink it. Mr. Beavan also talks about giving back - to our community and to our world. He does this through volunteer work at a variety of non-profit organizations. Helping our community is one simple way that everyone can give back a little something to the world. Although the changes we need to make are bigger than that, it's a small step toward creating a better world for future generations.

No Impact Man also provides an appendix outlining how the average person can help make the world a little better. This section is broken down by chapter and provides a list of resources, books, and websites that people can visit to help them enact each phase of No Impact year on their own lives.

This book has really made me think about how I'm living my life environmentally. It makes me kind of glad I don't have a car and that I can find other ways to get around. That is not to say I don't do more than my fair share of riding in cars and I travel a lot, which means planes and trains, but there is something about having to walk everywhere that makes you slow down and really take in the world.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. I learned a lot about the environment that I didn't know. It has definitely spurred me find ways to waste less and use fewer resources. I would recommend it to anyone who has any interest in environmentalism and doing well for the world, both locally and globally. I really felt connected to Mr. Beavan and his family. He added a lot of personal touches and stories which make his story relatable to anyone who reads it.

This memior did much more than teach readers how to live an eco lifestyle. Beavan takes readers through the year of his own life where he personally learns a significant amount about society, human nature, and most importantly, our precious planet.

Beavan starts off by pointing out flaws in people themselves, mostly dealing with how we fail to anticipate what the future holds. This leads him into many discussions about the unlimited and unseen spectrum of solutions to our daily problems. Within all of this he manages to insert a multitude of not-so-widely-known facts about the destruction we are causing as a nation (USA), and a people in general to our planet.

All this being said, many readers still disagree with his specific eco friendly methods and/or don't feel as if he did a good enough job addressing every possible scenario. Unfortunately for those readers, that was not the point of the book. The point was this; it taught us all how to think.

Our ability to think is the only way we as a whole can get out of this mess. As mentioned in the book, technology is great when used for the right reason. With great thoughts come great solutions; this is Colin Beavan's message.

I delayed buying this book because I've been reading the NIM blog since the beginning and I figured..won't be anything new. Well, I was wrong! The book brings new themes, it is beautifully constructed and makes a nice read. The statistics and references are not cluttering the reading as is often the case, but are ordered according to theme at the end of the book. A great, and useful, read. Colin Beavan also comes across as not preachy and very human & funny. Highly recommended.

No Impact Man
By Colin Beavan
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Publishers
ISBN: 978-0-374-22288-8

I love to read environmental writing. There are so many good books available right now on the subject of the environment and global warming that a person can become overwhelmed. I believe this book is a must if you have to limit what you read in this category. (But please don't limit yourself!)

There are so many things to like about this book that I will try to do it justice in this review.

First of all I like the subject. I think that this timely subject must be written about if there is any possibility for changing the status quo. Mr. Beavan takes on the subject from an if not me then who perspective that shows his willingness to step outside of his safety zone and do his part to find some answers.

Secondly I like the fact that one of the main focuses of this book is how changing our way of life to one that does not impact the earth also has an equally positive impact on our personal relationships. I think that it is important that people start to realize the benefits that we all receive when our lifestyles are no longer focused on the act of consumption.

Third, I like his commitment throughout the whole project to do the best he could. Sometimes we are not perfect (thank heavens) but the act of trying is what makes the biggest impact. This commitment carried over to the production of the book itself. It was produced as low impact as possible and shows what can be done if the desire is there.

From a writing standpoint I feel that Mr. Beavan did a wonderful job of making the transitions from information that he has researched, His own personal feelings, and anecdotes on the affect this project had on his family. My interest was always kept happily looking forward to reading just a little more and for the most part I found the flow of the book to move well. Occasionally, I did find some sentences that I had to go over a time or two to make sure that my comprehension was correct. In general it was a very relaxing read. I also appreciate the fact that he included in the back of the book additional places to find information.

What this book does not have a great deal of is detailed information on how they accomplished going off of the grid. Mind you there was a lot of discussion of mason jars and bicycles and a specific change that had to find a solution in each chapter, but not very many more details on how to go off the grid. Near the end of the book, however, you will find a brief outline of a typical day in their household. For the most part the book seemed to be about how they went about researching the information that they needed to accomplish their goals given their specific situation. I think that if this idea is to work for us we all need to do a bit of our own research. I live in Los Angeles. What I have to do to have no impact, especially in the area of transportation is much different than it is in New York. So instead of being told exactly what to do, I found myself being inspired to find the way that works best for my family and my self.

"Tis a gift to be simple, tis a gift to be free"
Thank you for such an inspiring work.

What Mr. Beavan ultimately conveys is that anyone, anywhere can make a change for the better. His lifestyle change was extreme to say the least but it offers many ideas on how to green your own life. The book is entertaining and some parts are laugh out loud funny. There are superb references throughout the book which have helped me make some changes. I really enjoyed this book and have passed it on to others who also love it--even my conservative friends!

Really loved this book, he presents a very interesting, personal take which not only entertains but also educates without being preachy. I love that he and his family took personal action, and I love the message of the book in general, it is a positive one. I am already converted to what he's doing, but this is a book I think I could give to friends who are not involved in the environmental movement who would still enjoy reading it. It is very well written, and I learned a lot and I cannot recommend it enough. Also anyone reading this review, please disregard the reviewer who only gave it one star- he only gave it one star because it was not available on Kindle, but it is available on Kindle.

No Impact Man is a well-written, enjoyable read that largely preaches to the choir but should still find interest in a wider audience thanks to the ladies in Colin Beavan's life. I found the effect of his experiment on his marriage and family more interesting, frankly, than the green message (I'm already converted) and I eagerly await the forthcoming documentary. Why only 4 stars? It may be petty of me, but for a book about doing no environmental harm, that No Impact Man is not available in Kindle form seems a gross oversight.

UPDATE: Well, based on the comment to my original review, it would appear that Kindle support is on its way. Yay! Too bad the store doesn't allow one to edit their star rating once posted.

Really loved this book, he presents a very interesting, personal take which not only entertains but also educates without being preachy. I love that he and his family took personal action, and I love the message of the book in general, it is a positive one. I am already converted to what he's doing, but this is a book I think I could give to friends who are not involved in the environmental movement who would still enjoy reading it. It is very well written, and I learned a lot and I cannot recommend it enough. Also anyone reading this review, please disregard the reviewer who only gave it one star- he only gave it one star because it was not available on Kindle, but it is available on Kindle.

No Impact Man is really an enjoyable read. Anyone who has undertaken a big change in their life can relate to the author's experience of dialing his impact on the environment to zero. Told in an honest and genuine way, the book is about how the author radically changed his urban life to consume as little as possible. Some parts are laughable in their earnestness but very fun to read. He bought used clothes, locally grown food, no electricity. This is not a manual or a blueprint for eco living, its a big picture in a simple package. Environmental progress will only start by individual action. A terrific counterpoint to most eco or enviro messages that tell you what to buy to save the environment. Colin tells you to buy nothing, make do with less and enjoy what you already have.

This is more a correction than review. In the interests of full disclosure I should let it be known that NIM is my son, so it is not surprising that I would give it 5 stars !
But I think the correction I make is very pertinent. There remains even on this site a misunderstanding among people who say they have read the book, and even more among many professional media critics who rush to show what they think is the great putdown; namely "dead trees" and the assertion that the book publication did more environmental damage that the good done from the ascetism.
At the back of the book there is a "NOTE ON PRODUCTION" which details Colin's effort,"complicated,non-standard and hard", to have a sustainable production; as he rightly says what he achieved is "no easy feat" To cite the last two sentences :"....I am very proud to say that this book is made from 100 per cent postconsumer recycled paper and cardboard, processed without chlorine.Additionally,the paper was manufactured using energy from biogas.I like to think this means that we are one book closer to publishers manufacturing their books sustainably as a matter of common practice" I like to think so too.

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.

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.

Stupid. Reauired reading for daughter's environmental science class in high school. Typical brain-washing & indocrinating public school kids to be liberals & not to think on their own. Unfortunate & sad these kids will actually believe the author's statements as factual.

This is a fascinating book documenting one family's attempt to make no negative impact on the earth, and what that all entails -- and also brings up the question of what our values are and what they mean. Well worth reading.

As an incoming freshman at UNC Wilmington I was required to read No Impact Man over the summer. This book has changed the way that I view the environment and the carbon footprint that I leave on the planet. Colin Beavan is a brave individual for "going green" for a full year. This book follows him and his family as they abandon all of what are considered necessities to me. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an inspirational story that will hit close to home. Reading this book has encouraged me to think before I use up valuable resources that cannot be replenished. If more people read this book I think the planet would be better off.

While this book had its interesting point, I thought the writer was forcing meaning out of simple changes. It took him a full day to realize that the reusable replacement for a tissue was a handkercheif, and he spent entirely too much time soul-searching, at least for my taste.

The simple fact of the matter is that no one can have no impact, it's just not possible to live like that. But instead of finding the healthiest, easiest ways to be environmentally friendly, the author wastes pages on questioning the world's methods, people's sanity, and where our values have gone. The book felt preachy and slightly self-righteous. I also thought the author was unable to face all the facts of life, especially as he never addresses what he uses instead of toilet paper. An immature topic, but one that is necessary.

Overall the book was too long, too detailed in things I had no interest in, and not detailed enough in actual life-style changes. I also found it a little frustrating that by the end of the book the author feels guilty taking mass-transit and keeping more than one light on. I'm all in favor of reducing one's impact, but at a certain point it just seems silly to completely ignore modern technology, especially as that technology becomes more earth-friendly.

The idea that one can have "no impact" while living in the concrete jungle of New York City seemed a bit far fetched. Regardless of the behavioral changes & cutbacks Mr. Beavan made, he was not able to grow his own food, crops, trees, etc. They had to come from somewhere, and more than likely none of them came from New York City.

Hypothetically, if everyone suddenly followed Mr. Beavan's way of life, our economy would collapse, starvation would be widespread and perpetual war, suffering and violence would ensue. Our economy, our culture is based on ever increasing consumption. I would think it is impossible to live a no impact life while living in a major city. Mr. Beavan doesn't discuss the global non-environmental impacts of living a reduced impact life. Would you prefer the global temperature to rise 4°F in your lifetime, or have massive war and starvation? He doesn't even address the issue.

While Mr. Beavan's experiment is interesting and our way of life based on consumption does need to be examined & changed, this book isn't the catalyst. It's is similar to Michael Moore's work, a good read for liberals that need to feel good about themselves and their beliefs.

Mr. Beavan's inaccurate information about global warming will distance those that don't agree with the fringe doomsday scenarios. Quite frankly, Mr. Beavan's environmental analysis is frequently biased and wrong. It is based more in politics & emotion than scientific consensus and observation.

I feel there are many published books that explain how to live a reduced impact life, without the political bias and emotion. At the end of this read I was ready to put the book down for good. My guess is that this book is a fad, and 5 years from now we will be saying "No Impact Who?"

With Mr. Beavan now on tour across the country, leaving his no impact ways behind him, perhaps we could call him "Maximum Profit Man"?