Discover 7 books to help you move towards a more eco-friendly lifestyle and question your habits without feeling guilty. To mark International Book Day, the Meanwhile Boutique team presents a selection of reads to help you change your habits. Beautiful stories, practical guides, tips, or creative projects... there is something for everyone, and at affordable prices.
Books on ecology: a selection of inspiring stories by the team
Manon, Alexandra, and Célia from the Meanwhile Boutique team present 3 books on ecology that have made an impression on them. These 3 stories trace the journeys of their authors and allow you to question, inform yourself, and entertain yourself while drawing inspiration from their experiences. Enough to make us want to take action too!
Being an Oak, Under the Bark of Quercus: Living the Life of a Tree with Laurent Tillon
Trees have a story too. And they tell it to everyone who can perceive the thousand little signs etched into their bark, in the shape of a branch, or in the friendship forged with their neighbors.
Since his teens, Laurent Tillon has patiently listened to Quercus, a large sessile oak in the prime of its life, two hundred and forty years old. In this book, he reveals a story full of adventures that began before the French Revolution.
As the plot twists unfold, as diverse as they are tumultuous, it is the story of all the little people of the forest that comes to light, intertwined with that of Quercus.
This text, enriched with science, poetry, and philosophy, confides some of the great secrets of the forest and points out the paths to explore to admire it for a long time to come.
Towards an Eco-Friendly Lifestyle for One Year: The Inspiring Story of Colin Beavan
In 2006, Colin Beavan makes a decision that will completely change his life and that of his family. He sets himself the challenge of reducing his environmental footprint as much as possible for one year. Many have done it before, so why not him?
But after convincing his wife, he realizes that nothing is won yet. How can you reduce your footprint on the planet when you live in a nine-story building in New York and have just had a child? Between transportation, diapers, takeout, tissues, coffee, or the elevator, will Colin succeed in saving the planet without driving his family crazy? This novel published in 2010 traces the changes they made in their lives over an entire year. Between obstacles, solutions, revelations, and failures, Colin shares it all with us.
Because implementing such a radical change is no easy feat, especially when surrounded by temptations. Not to mention those good old habits that are so hard to break. To break them, you often need to educate yourself on many subjects. No Impact Man helps you with a wealth of information shared in the bibliography.
It is also a very pleasant and, above all, reassuring read, which makes you realize how difficult, but not impossible, every change is. Many models are symbols of perfection, but we often forget that the path of change is far from linear. What could be better than sharing an unusual experience to take action without judging yourself too harshly?
Taking Control of Your Diet: Barbara and Her Family's Lifestyle Change
Questioning your diet is not always easy. Some decide to change radically and share their experience with us, as in A Garden in the Appalachians by Barbara Kingsolver.
We follow Barbara, Lily, Camille, and Steeve, an American family that decides to move to the Appalachians. The goal? To get closer to rural life and nature, eating only what they grow or what is produced locally and in season. Through this radical change of more than 3,000 km between Arizona and the Appalachians, they seek to move away from industrial food and its excesses, out of ecological conviction.
Barbara's account is co-written with her family members, including her husband, a professor of environmental science. This makes it rich in perspectives, but also in statistics and facts that help advance our thinking about the current agri-food system.
Even though there are figures, don't panic: the tone is halfway between investigative journalism, an initiatory tale, a philosophy of life, and an ecological manifesto. This makes it very pleasant to read, as Barbara knows how to transport us with poetry throughout their experience.
In particular, thanks to the book's structure: it unfolds over the course of the seasons, punctuated by recipes, preparation tips, and information on the benefits of food. You will also find a lot of practical information about growing plants and farming. An ideal book to encourage us to think with poetry and educational insight, while remaining very practical!
The Best-Known: Zero Waste by Béa Johnson
You have probably already heard of this book, which truly went viral when it was published in 2013. Béa Johnson is a French expatriate in the United States. She and her family adopted a zero-waste lifestyle, and it truly changed their lives.
After thoroughly sorting through their home and making many long-term efforts, they eventually managed to produce only 1 liter of non-recyclable waste per year, down from 250 liters per week. In addition to this result, they also made significant savings while maintaining their standard of living.
This book, which reads a bit like a manual, explains how they got there. In great detail, room by room, Béa shares her tips for eliminating single-use items. Rest assured, although their achievement may seem insurmountable to a beginner, you should not take all her advice literally.
In fact, she sometimes mocks her own extremism and does not forget to mention her failures and the things she was unable to change, such as flying, for example. The idea when reading this book is to find inspiration and see everything that is possible to do.
The Guide to Eco-Friendly Fashion by Alice Lehoux and Natacha Ruiz
Do you want to buy your clothes more responsibly? What could be better than a guide to help you!
With this book, you will understand:
- the social and environmental issues behind the manufacturing of our clothes
- the impact on our health
- how to choose and consume better
- more respectful alternatives for living beings and the planet
Without judgment and with an educational approach, the two authors teach you how clothes are made to help you deconstruct your way of consuming. Thanks to this guide, you will know how to identify the materials that make up your favorite t-shirt while also knowing how to recognize the labels and materials to favor.
The big pluses:
- Beautiful illustrations and diagrams to understand at a glance
- a rich bibliography to go further
- an address book to take action directly
- An edition in renewable fibers, FSC certified (a label guaranteeing that the forests from which the paper comes are sustainably managed)
Recipe Book for Quick Natural Skincare by Emilie Hébert
Banana, cucumber, almond, vanilla, coffee, did you know that you already have all the ingredients to take care of yourself? With this book, discover very simple recipes for cosmetic products using the ingredients you usually buy during your shopping.
Whether you have had enough of industrial products, want to save money, or are looking for a fun activity to do alone or with others: there is no bad reason to get started.
For the face, body, and hair, each recipe tells you the ingredients, the equipment, and practical tips. There are even tips tailored to your skin or hair type, allnicely laid out and illustrated, to make reading easier.
The top 3 most original recipes but always very simple:
- the rice flour hydrating mask
- the natural papaya scrub
- the lemon foot scrub
The paper of the book is PEFCC certified, a label guaranteeing that the fibers of the book come from sustainably managed forests and that they are renewable.
Do It Nature: My Zero-Waste Packaging by Amélie Moreau
Another book where you can express your creativity, very simply. This time, it is about zero waste. Whether you have the soul of a tailor or you are looking for a manual and ecological activity, the principle is the same: to show you that you can do many things with your hands, without racking your brain (or your wallet).
Discover how to make a washable coffee filter, a reusable package and its vegan alternative, or even a soap dispenser… Theidea is to use what you already have in an upcycling approach and to only buy what you are missing. From the kitchen to the bathroom, illustrations accompany you throughout the creation of your object or accessory. We even give you the time required for manufacturing.
The big pluses:
- 17 projects achievable from A to Z
- A very affordable price
- Creations accessible to beginners
- A book on FSC certified paper (from sustainably managed forests)
And you, what are your favorite books on ecology or those that have made the biggest impression on you? Your shares are welcome in the comments.
