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The Carbon Footprint of Everything by Mike…
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The Carbon Footprint of Everything (edition 2022)

by Mike Berners-Lee (Author)

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2913809,248 (3.92)1
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
I hated this book and loved it at the same time. It is oftentimes exhausting as there is so much work to do, but exposing it is one of the first steps. Mike Berners-Lee kept me reading every page (I admittingly thought I would be bored by this one). This is a must have in any library of someone who needs a quick reference for the importance of changing one's Carbon footprint. Furthermore, Berners-Lee also gave steps on changing one's Carbon footprint. ( )
  jamesgwld | Aug 26, 2022 |
Showing 13 of 13
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
The Carbon Footprint of Everything is a book that directly addresses our individual ability to reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment. In it, Mike Berners-Lee considers the carbon cost of items, including the energy to produce and transport them. This allows us to consider alternatives and choose the less environmentally destructive option.

By the way, bananas are pretty good options since they come in their own naturally-formed packaging. Ironically, I read his section on bananas the same day I saw a viral photo of bananas being sold in plastic packaging after being sorted by ripeness. I hope it is a hoax, but people seem to like the idea. If I worked at a desk, I would pound my head on it.

I like that this book gives you guidance so you can compare two or more options. After reading it, you will want to keep it as a handbook to look things up when you need to comparison shop.

I like this book quite a bit. I thought it likely that a book emphasizing individual choices to combat climate change might be unrealistic and judgmental. Instead, it is merely unrealistic. I mean, we have experienced extraordinary extreme weather, fires, hurricanes, floods, and heat domes. But look, we can buy bananas sorted by ripeness in convenient plastic packaging.

While we, as individuals, can have a small impact on climate change, our greatest impact is who we vote for. Individual morality is not the answer. Strong government action and regulation of industry will do far more. Nonetheless, until governments start taking this as seriously as is needed, we, as individuals need to do what we can.

A lot of things can be sold and used without packaging. There are shampoo and dish soap in bar form so no plastic bottle is needed. There is laundry detergent pressed into sheets of ‘paper’ that dissolve in water so no plastic. Glass bottles can be washed again and again and they don’t wear out. You can was plastic food bags and reuse them. So we can do what we can, but no matter how much we do, if industry and government do not take action, the most righteous environmentalist keeping well below the goal of 5 tons per year will only have minimal effect.

I received an ARC of The Carbon Footprint of Everything from the publisher through LibraryThing.

The Carbon Footprint of Everything at Profile Books
Mike Berners Lee on Twitter

https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpress.com/2023/01/20/the-carbon-footprint-of-e... ( )
  Tonstant.Weader | Jan 20, 2023 |
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
This wad amazing! It really makes you think about things you wouldn't typically pay much mind to, which is always refreshing. I highly recommend this. ( )
  JanaBrooke1987 | Sep 22, 2022 |
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
A surprising delight! When I first received this book, I quickly paged through it and saw that it's mostly a list of items and their corresponding carbon footprints. As reference books are infrequently read, I dreaded getting started. However, Mr. Berners-Lee uses his wit to bring this reference book alive. Without coming across as a condescending guilt-trip, he manages to bring awareness to the large (or sometimes small) environmental impact of the activity of our lives. Even those who may not agree with climate change would find the book informational and fair-minded as the author is fully transparent in his calculations including stating when he is using a best estimate. There were many surprises for me in the book including the relative impact of things like commercial air flights. It's easier to reduce, reuse and recycle fairly frequently but give up travel for climate change? That can be a bit harder! Overall, this is likely one of the most useful and entertaining books on climate change you'll find on the shelves. * I received this book for free in exchange for a review.
  mahelmus | Sep 20, 2022 |
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
I hated this book and loved it at the same time. It is oftentimes exhausting as there is so much work to do, but exposing it is one of the first steps. Mike Berners-Lee kept me reading every page (I admittingly thought I would be bored by this one). This is a must have in any library of someone who needs a quick reference for the importance of changing one's Carbon footprint. Furthermore, Berners-Lee also gave steps on changing one's Carbon footprint. ( )
  jamesgwld | Aug 26, 2022 |
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
I enjoyed learning the numbers about the carbon footprint of a wide range of items. The author keeps it interesting so you are not bored. He also makes you care about making changes to how much you put out as an individual. Sadly, it made me realize that everything we buy and do has a significant impact. Will my attempt to reduce really make a difference if the rest of the billions of the human population don’t do the same? I don’t think so. The evidence in the book suggests huge participation is needed to truly make a difference. I liked how random things that we might not realize have a carbon footprint were included such as spam and text messages. Also, paper bags give off more carbon than plastic bags. This was a huge surprise for me and a glimpse of some of the interesting facts you will learn from this book. ( )
  Bookaddict45 | Aug 21, 2022 |
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
This is not a book to read straight through -- it's a book to thumb through. But it's possibly the most worthwhile book to thumb through that I've ever engaged.

Rather than provide a narrative, the book is structured by 1-2 page vignettes about activities and objects that carry carbon load, grouped into orders of magnitude. A few themes come through loud and clear: Take fewer flights. Drive less. Reorient to cleaner and renewable energy. Avoid meat, and avoid vegetables from cold storage, hothouses, or airplanes. Avoid buying almost anything new. An idea that surprised me though it wasn't reinforced was a strong endorsement of electric bikes -- obvious, in retrospect.

There's certainly enough here for me to inform & re-evaluate my choices, which is the actionability I was seeking. (It seems to always be the case, though, that preaching the gospel is repetitious and doesn't lend itself to long-form nuance.) ( )
  pammab | Aug 6, 2022 |
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
Mike Berners-Lee has written an accessible reference and guide to make decisions about reducing one's carbon footprint. It is well-researched and cites many sources. The book could have done more to discuss the limits of the carbon footprint approach. While there are a few paragraphs in the conclusion about voting and political action, they are spare. How might all of us lighten our carbon footprint if particular policies were enacted? How can we organize as citizens to get this to happen? While in-depth answers to these questions may be beyond the scope of the book, they deserve more attention than what's here.
  zhejw | Aug 4, 2022 |
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
This is the book on climate change that I’ve been waiting for! I’ve read my share of treatises that describe the current crisis, make prediction both gloomy and optimistic, assign blame. But carbon footprint expert Mike Berners-Lee has set out to write a guide that answers the question, “What can I do??” With this handy book, readers can readily calculate the carbon costs of your own choices: should I fly or take the train or drive? What difference will it make if I pay local produce? Paper or plastic—does it really matter? Furthermore, recognizing that it will take a huge concerted effort to save the planet, many of us want to be able to persuade friends and family to take steps to reduce their footprints. Berners-Lee engages us in dialogue designed to make it easier for us all to have conversations together, rather than simply arguing. A thorough appendix lists the carbon footprint of various foods and goods. Written with humor and deep knowledge, offering common sense and concrete solutions, this is a must-read for anyone wanting to live more lightly on the earth.

I received a free copy from the publisher without any requirement for a positive review. ( )
1 vote AnaraGuard | Jul 15, 2022 |
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
I requested this book to see what my carbon footprint was and how it compares to others. It's a book that gives examples of what we do that creates less than 10 grams of carbon footprint clear up to what creates billions of tons. It has cross-references, charts and graphs, and formulas to help calculate your carbon footprint. In the end it sums it up with the chapter "What can we do?" and gives examples of how to reduce your footprint. Very informative and easy to read and see what changes you can make in your lifestyle to help the planet going forward.
  morningwalker | Jul 13, 2022 |
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
Learning about your carbon footprint made interesting! This book is set up to tell you about how much carbon some of the most common human activities create. The author is upfront about how he is reaching his numbers and what processes are and are not included. Very informational and a good read.
  lilibrarian | Jul 6, 2022 |
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
As I read the book, more and more things make sense to me. Too bad everyone isn't educated on their own carbon footprint. Education makes more sense than pricing everyone out of gasoline. Electric cars still have a high footprint.

Seems like it should be a scientific calculation to figure up the carbon footprint of everything.

I did like how using an electric hand-dryer makes a much larger carbon footprint, than using paper towels. People have been pushing the electric version on the public, for decades!

Graystone Books provided a complimentary copy. I wasn't required to provide a positive review. ( )
  JopLee1 | Jun 24, 2022 |
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
A handy book with info on all the things you wonder about carbon footprints. Easily searchable, and you can just skim and get the main info, or dig into why each item/activity has such an impact. A paperback update of an older book, well written and edited. Not dry, and not just academic- you can use it to make decisions about your lifestyle. ( )
1 vote markknapp | Jun 19, 2022 |
I mainly requested this book in the hope that I could keep it out of the hands of a useful idiot. While I in no way subscribe to the idea that the climate does not change, I do not accept that human activity has anywhere near the impact that natural phenomenon does. ( )
  Slipdigit | Jul 3, 2022 |
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