"Green Like God" by Jonathan Merritt

208 pages

I'm very much into being environmentally conscious, but I think a lot of what's being written about it is overly simplistic and repetitive. Then there is the feeling that a lot of the people who are "going green" are only doing so because it's trendy. What happens when it's not cool anymore? So I was skeptical when I picked up this book. I thought it was refreshing to see a Christian book focused on the environment, but part of me wondered if it was just trying to be different and prove that Christians are as cool as everybody else. However, I was pleasantly surprised. Merritt provides strong evidence from the Bible to support everything he writes. It's clear that he's motivated by what God says, not by what society is into at the moment. His first argument is that God made the Earth, said it was good, and gave us responsibility over it, so we should treat it with respect. I've heard this before from other Christian environmentalists, but Merritt explains it better than I've heard before. He also says that we hurt other people when we hurt the environment, which is something that I hadn't considered at all before. Climate change causes famines and food shortages, and pollution poisons lungs. In order to truly take care of our neighbors and our future descendants, we should take care of the environment. Merritt offers a few suggestions for green living, but for the most part he sticks to the theology and leaves the tips for other books, which I think was a good move because there are plenty of those books out there. I liked this book just as it is. It made me care more about the enivronment--for the right reasons.

"Be Thrifty, Not Cheap: How to Live Better with Less" by Pia Catton and Califia Suntree

368 pages

This book has sections for all kinds of areas of life: food, entertainment, transportation, recreation, raising children, and more. Each section has tips for getting the most from your money as well as anecdotes from people about how they've made the most of what they had. There are step-by-step instructions for repairing things and performing maintenance around the house so items can last longer and you don't have to pay a professional to do things--everything from changing the oil in a car to sewing projects to trimming hair. It's realistic, though, and advises on situations that are better left to professionals. I like the simplicity of the directions and the pictures that accompany them--I felt inspired to try things that might have intimidated me before (I sewed on my first button--sad, I know, for someone who is 25). On the other hand, I'd heard most of the shopping tips and general advice before. This book was definitely worth reading, though, for all of the handy instructions and ideas for recycling things. I don't buy many books, but this is one that would be useful to have around the house!

"869 New Uses For Old Things" by the editors of Real Simple

192 pages

This is a compilation of the New Uses for Old Things section that appears every month in the popular magazine Real Simple. There are ideas for everything from an accordion file to a zipper, arranged alphabetically for convenience. Most of the new uses are very simple but I never would have thought of them myself. I am always looking for ways to be more thrifty and more environmentally-conscious, so I love that this book shows me how to recycle things that I would have otherwise gotten rid of and get the most out of the things that I have by using them in creative ways. With the economy like it is these days and the increase in awareness of environmental issues, this book should have wide appeal.

Craft challenge : Dozens of ways to repurpose a tea towel

by Nathalie Mornu, 132 p., 2010.

Hi. My name is Chelsea. And I'm a crafter.

Basically, this is great. Great diagrams. Great ideas. Plus, its super easy to translate the patterns to regular bolts of cloth. (Oh no! She's using craft-speak!) Best of all, there is a pattern for bike panniers that is wonderful! I can't wait to use this book!

Craftcycle : 100+ Eco-Friendly Projects and Ideas for Everyday Living

by Heidi Boyd, 143 p., 2009.

This book is awesome. I love crafting, and I'm super adamant about recycling, so its really great whenever I can find a book that merges my worlds. I love that the projects are actually usable and realistic. Plus, its not limiting: while reading the book, I kept envisioning ways I could use Heidi Boyd's techniques and ideas to create something totally different. My favorite project? Fusing plastic sacks to create a sturdy and durable material for book bags. I can't get enough!