Jeffrey Hollander penned this book over 17 years ago when he was the CEO of Seventh Generation, a mail-order supply house of environmentally-friendly consumer goods. When I first read this book in 1989, it came across as a bad case of advertising hype. But in hindsight I think the book's shortcomings are due to a combination of the overambitious mission of the book and the author's inexperience as a writer, because his writing since then has improved over time.
Hollander supplies "over 100 quick-and-easy actions" that one can take to "effect postive social change" (I counted 120 actions). The issues that these actions address are far-reaching in scope, from hunger and homelessness to apartheid, global violence and ozone depletion to business, banking, and investments. He encourages a vegetarian diet (it's healthier), organic clothing (it's also healthier), low-income housing (but doesn't say "how" by eliminating zoning laws that prevent their construction), freeing prisoners of conscience (such as Jehovah's Witnesses locked up today in a special section of the prison in Strasbourg, France), and encouraging world peace (since then, the Bushes have invaded the Middle East twice and haven't left yet).
What I like most about Hollender's book is his sincere desire to be a green businessman by catering to green consumers, and he's looking to do that by behaving like a libertarian and respecting other people's rights. There are also some pleasant surprises along with some occasional humor. And although this book would not be useful to a really green consumer like, say, an Amishman or Old Order Mennonite, it is helpful for those of us whose green consciences are uneasy about what's happening but do not have a lot of spare time to do much reading. Hollender's quick fixes are short and to the point, thereby making action simple to initiate. |
