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Worldchanging, Revised and Updated Edition: A User's Guide for the 21st Century
Five years after the initial publication of Worldchanging , the landscape of environmentalism and sustainability has changed dramatically. The average reader is now well-versed--even inundated--with green lifestyle advice. In 2011, green is the starting point, not the destination. This second edition of the bestselling book is extensively revised to include the latest trends, technologies, and solutions in sustainable living. More than 160 new entries include up-to-the-minute information on the locavore movement, carbon-neutral homes, novel transportation solutions, the growing trend of ecotourism, the concept of food justice, and much more. Additional new sections focus on the role of cities as the catalyst for change in our society. With 50 percent new content, this overhauled edition incorporates the most recent studies and projects being implemented worldwide. The result is a guided tour through the most exciting new tools, models, and ideas for building a better future.
Praise for Worldchanging, Revised and Updated Edition :
"If you haven't yet had an opportunity to take a look at this ambitious and impressively comprehensive how-to guide on sustainable living, now is an excellent time . . . it doesn't matter what catches your eye in Worldchanging -whether it's finding an online magazine that will give you ideas on how to re-use your old doorknobs, or joining an alliance of 'bridge bloggers'-you can find the resources to get you started, and the inspiration to make your Earth Day resolutions bigger, better, and greener."
Ìý-NewsWatch, NationalGeographic.com
Praise for Worldchanging, Revised and Updated Edition :
"If you haven't yet had an opportunity to take a look at this ambitious and impressively comprehensive how-to guide on sustainable living, now is an excellent time . . . it doesn't matter what catches your eye in Worldchanging -whether it's finding an online magazine that will give you ideas on how to re-use your old doorknobs, or joining an alliance of 'bridge bloggers'-you can find the resources to get you started, and the inspiration to make your Earth Day resolutions bigger, better, and greener."
Ìý-NewsWatch, NationalGeographic.com
600 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
76 people are currently reading
1,281 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
February 2, 2010
as the back of the book says "we need a generation of everyday heroes . . . this book belongs in the library of every person who aspires to be part of that generation." It contains 536 pages of potential solutions for dealing with our world's problems. From consuming responsibly, buying better food, alternative fuel sources, nanotechnology, open source software, fighting poverty and government corruption, to getting rid of landmines, building a green home, etc . . . It touches on a huge variety of ways that we can work towards bettering the world . . . there are doubtless some suggestions that would appeal to everyone - a very cool read - it helps to focus your desires to help in effective ways and open you up to the huge number of like-minded people and organizations who are already out there with similar passion, brains, and desire for good - read the book, choose some ways to better our planet, and make yourself a cool cape to become a HERO!!
February 14, 2013
This book was written like a website, which makes sense because it IS a website. However, that does not make for very enjoyable reading, at least for me. It is not the sort of book you read cover to cover, which is why it took me FOREVER to read. Also, given the topic, it seems like a silly thing to turn into a book because environmental information, and pretty much anything else that belongs in "A User's Guide for the 21st Century" is constantly changing.
That being said, I do have some notes (of course I do):
p. 145 recommends a resource called "Green Remodeling: Changing the World One Room at a Time," which seems useful if you're trying to figure out how to go green in your remodel. I flagged it because at some point, I'd like to remodel my kitchen.
p. 159 lists an office chair that's supposed to be both ergonomic and passed the McDonough and Braungart Cradle to Cradle product certification, meaning it was created with it's entire life cycle in mind, which is pretty awesome.
p. 165-6 lists five things you can do to conserve energy (I love lists, and I love actionable items). I'm not going to tell you what the five things are, though, because you should at least check out this book, even if you don't read it cover to cover.
I noticed somewhere around the middle of the book that the authors started referring to the "Global North" and "Global South," but I don't recall a definition. Generally, as far as I can tell, the "Global North" is the northern hemisphere and the "Global South" is the southern hemisphere (obvious, right?), but then I think places like Australia fall into the "Global North" despite their geographical location. Anyway, I really dislike when terms are thrown around without first defining them.
p. 209 had an idea that I thought was great: compostable tent city. Basically current refugee camps are disgusting cesspools of disease and general grossness. But Rocky Mountain Institute has designed a refugee "tent" that is made of cardboard-based panels, and therefore intentionally wears out over time. But, the panels are infused with local seeds, so as the cardboard breaks down, plants grow, enabling refugees to start gardens (I'm not exactly sure where they'll be living at this point, but it still seems like a nicer idea than the images we currently see on the nightly news).
p. 228 discusses how density is efficient. The example given is New York City: "New York City is more populous than all but 11 states; if it were granted statehood, it would rank 51st in per-capita energy use." Another reason for us New York-centrics to continue to think the city rocks!
p. 257 talks about green facades, which is something I'd like to build on my home (I haven't told my husband this yet. We've got other projects to get through first).
p. 281 talks about how big cities actually benefit women, mostly by giving them more control over their lives through increased opportunities and freedoms.
p. 337 because I'm a super-dork, I LOVED that there was a reference to Mordor thrown in here: "on the information-technology front, the most pernicious culprit in robbing nations of self-determination is 'anticircumvention,' first seen in the 1996 treaties from the United Nations' World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a body with the same relationsihp to wcked copyright law as Mordor has to evil." (Yeah, I was totally confused, despite dorking out, until I read the next paragraph, which said, "anticircumvention laws make it a crime to tell people how to get around the locks placed on digital works, regardless of whether those locks protect anything guaranteed in law.")
p. 357 mentions obsteric fistula, which I was excited about because I had just read "Cutting for Stone," in which this condition plays an important role. It was totally one of those "no way! I was just thinking of you when you called me" sort of moments which are really just a series of statistical probabilities, but always seem serendipitous when they happen.
p. 367 suggests a book called The Practical Nomad: How to Travel around the World, which "offers tips, resources, and advice sure to benefit the intrepid travelers among us."
That being said, I do have some notes (of course I do):
p. 145 recommends a resource called "Green Remodeling: Changing the World One Room at a Time," which seems useful if you're trying to figure out how to go green in your remodel. I flagged it because at some point, I'd like to remodel my kitchen.
p. 159 lists an office chair that's supposed to be both ergonomic and passed the McDonough and Braungart Cradle to Cradle product certification, meaning it was created with it's entire life cycle in mind, which is pretty awesome.
p. 165-6 lists five things you can do to conserve energy (I love lists, and I love actionable items). I'm not going to tell you what the five things are, though, because you should at least check out this book, even if you don't read it cover to cover.
I noticed somewhere around the middle of the book that the authors started referring to the "Global North" and "Global South," but I don't recall a definition. Generally, as far as I can tell, the "Global North" is the northern hemisphere and the "Global South" is the southern hemisphere (obvious, right?), but then I think places like Australia fall into the "Global North" despite their geographical location. Anyway, I really dislike when terms are thrown around without first defining them.
p. 209 had an idea that I thought was great: compostable tent city. Basically current refugee camps are disgusting cesspools of disease and general grossness. But Rocky Mountain Institute has designed a refugee "tent" that is made of cardboard-based panels, and therefore intentionally wears out over time. But, the panels are infused with local seeds, so as the cardboard breaks down, plants grow, enabling refugees to start gardens (I'm not exactly sure where they'll be living at this point, but it still seems like a nicer idea than the images we currently see on the nightly news).
p. 228 discusses how density is efficient. The example given is New York City: "New York City is more populous than all but 11 states; if it were granted statehood, it would rank 51st in per-capita energy use." Another reason for us New York-centrics to continue to think the city rocks!
p. 257 talks about green facades, which is something I'd like to build on my home (I haven't told my husband this yet. We've got other projects to get through first).
p. 281 talks about how big cities actually benefit women, mostly by giving them more control over their lives through increased opportunities and freedoms.
p. 337 because I'm a super-dork, I LOVED that there was a reference to Mordor thrown in here: "on the information-technology front, the most pernicious culprit in robbing nations of self-determination is 'anticircumvention,' first seen in the 1996 treaties from the United Nations' World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a body with the same relationsihp to wcked copyright law as Mordor has to evil." (Yeah, I was totally confused, despite dorking out, until I read the next paragraph, which said, "anticircumvention laws make it a crime to tell people how to get around the locks placed on digital works, regardless of whether those locks protect anything guaranteed in law.")
p. 357 mentions obsteric fistula, which I was excited about because I had just read "Cutting for Stone," in which this condition plays an important role. It was totally one of those "no way! I was just thinking of you when you called me" sort of moments which are really just a series of statistical probabilities, but always seem serendipitous when they happen.
p. 367 suggests a book called The Practical Nomad: How to Travel around the World, which "offers tips, resources, and advice sure to benefit the intrepid travelers among us."
June 16, 2014
love the theme of the book, but needs more intellectual rigor; could use 1) more rigor in justifying a techno-optimistic (and consumerist) way out of unsustainability, and 2) some boring physicists, engineers, and lifecycle-accounting-types to better evaluate how much of an impact each innovation discussed in the book might have, likely costs, etc
June 23, 2010
Excellent, highly comprehensive overview of the main issues that will be at the front of the 21st century. Highly recommended- each topic is supplemented with a "resources" section which allows you to explore whatever sparks your interest in greater depth.
November 29, 2018
A catalog of inspiring initiatives transforming how we interact with our planet. A book to feel good about living in the 21st century and empowered to be part of the change.
May 10, 2008
This compendium of ideas presents many suggestions for changing and improving our planet. At over 600 pages there are many contributors to this volume. Divided into logical chapters to include Stuff, Shelter, Cities, Community, Business, Building, Politics, and Planet. I would have preferred that Food be a separate chapter since I am very interested in food sovereignty. As is the nature of this type of book, the various tones set by the authors alternate between preaching to the choir and just plain preachy. I think this book would be a perfect coffee table book for many American families.
The use of photographs enhance this book because they were taken specifically for the book rather than using stock photos as so many books are currently using. The author’s fresh words, ideas, and photos compel the reader to seek fresh, innovative visions for our collective future.
I particularly appreciated the collaborative approach in this book. The well integrated message was that we all have to imagine our vision of the best future and work toward that vision. Since the collective of authors each is passionate about a better future, the enthusiasm feels genuine and inclusive. This is in stark contrast to the paternalistic point of view from . In the introduction of WorldChanging, Al Gore explains it this way, “To build that future we need a generation of everyday heroes, people who- whatever their walks of life- have the courage to think in fresh ways and act to meet this planetary crisis head-on"
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The use of photographs enhance this book because they were taken specifically for the book rather than using stock photos as so many books are currently using. The author’s fresh words, ideas, and photos compel the reader to seek fresh, innovative visions for our collective future.
I particularly appreciated the collaborative approach in this book. The well integrated message was that we all have to imagine our vision of the best future and work toward that vision. Since the collective of authors each is passionate about a better future, the enthusiasm feels genuine and inclusive. This is in stark contrast to the paternalistic point of view from . In the introduction of WorldChanging, Al Gore explains it this way, “To build that future we need a generation of everyday heroes, people who- whatever their walks of life- have the courage to think in fresh ways and act to meet this planetary crisis head-on"
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October 21, 2007
This book is a huge tome with a zillion little articles grouped into seven main categories (stuff, shelter, cities, community, business, politics, planet). Most of the focus is the environment, but there is also a bit on human rights and social issues and things that have broad implications for the future of humanity. The tone is mostly informative: a description of lots of important issues and various clever ways people are making progress (both through technology as well as just community/people/process) on different fronts throughout the world. An interesting read for someone interested in 'green brainstorming', I think.
December 25, 2011
This is an amazing book! While it weighs about eight tons, it's full of useful information. It's topics range from how to identify a good-green product (beware - boca burgers are bad - Phillip-Morris!), where to buy them, how to better understand product design and it's impact on our planet, why Wal-Mart is so evil, why smart architecture and community planning is good, and the list goes on. The title says it all: it's anything you might want to know about how to live in the 21st century, and plenty of things you might not want to know, but need to. Not to mention, it's a slick, good looking book, that's well thought out and easy to read, although not really in the bath...
September 12, 2007
Hopeful and invigorating. A progressive book on social and environmental change. Instead of dragging the reader through a state of desolate fear and self-hatred, this environmental book takes a different approach. Every article is full of inspirational ideas, movements, and changes real people are making in their local and global communities.
I may be slighlty biased; my good friend Jer contributed to this book. Nonetheless, I was impressed.
For more articles that did not make it into the book, check out
I may be slighlty biased; my good friend Jer contributed to this book. Nonetheless, I was impressed.
For more articles that did not make it into the book, check out
June 11, 2008
I wanted to love this book and it just kind of fell flat for me. A lot of the information wasn't new or is already dated. Also, I found that there was just not enough detail to make each entry really instructive.
The book is a nice over-view of trends in the recent green movement but left me wanting a lot more. For someone unfamiliar with "going green" this is a good book to start with or would make a good gift since it is a beautiful book. However, for detailed information I'd go elsewhere.
The book is a nice over-view of trends in the recent green movement but left me wanting a lot more. For someone unfamiliar with "going green" this is a good book to start with or would make a good gift since it is a beautiful book. However, for detailed information I'd go elsewhere.
September 10, 2009
From browsing through, the book seems more focused on tech/engineering/economics than I personally would have liked. I wanted more balance; what little there is on arts and activism is more what I'm interested in...Still, it's a decent concept; the book as network & resource...but I'm glad I got it as a publisher's overstock for $8 instead of full cover price. Better for people interested in the green technology and sustainable economics fields. In other words, I'll be essentialist about it and say it seems kind of a gendered view on Worldchanging (i.e. male).
May 15, 2012
Great primer on a variety of topics. Short but good introduction to a host of topics - environmental issues, urban planning, alternative energies, transportation, agriculture, sustainable food, population pressures, conservation, refugees, disaster response, water, sustainable communities, socially responsible investment, biomimicry, micro-lending, disaster relief, etc., etc. - with some recommended books or websites to check out if you want to go more in depth. Big long list of books written down for me to check out at the library in the coming weeks and months.
August 4, 2008
Will definitely inspire your inner idealist. I bought the book thinking it would be like those "1 Million Simple Things You Can Do to Rock the World." Instead, this anthology recounts major projects and dreams going on to green our planet, to promote justice everywhere, and to build sustainable communities. So the scope is pretty large. A great resource for finding ordinary and extraordinary ways of helping our world.
June 19, 2009
Featuring practical ideas for sustainable use of our planet, each topic and personal story helps me feel a bit less helpless about our fate ... and prods me to do something about it.
I've used this with my Middle School students, and find that it's great to pick up and read a bit at a time to get your brain moving in a different direction and let yourself be inspired by the work of others.
I've used this with my Middle School students, and find that it's great to pick up and read a bit at a time to get your brain moving in a different direction and let yourself be inspired by the work of others.
December 27, 2010
I mostly agree with it's bright green urban politics. This book was already dated information the day it was printed. Follow the blog instead:
Also good is and
I also share what I like best from those blogs on my reader under the "eco" tag:
Also good is and
I also share what I like best from those blogs on my reader under the "eco" tag:
September 5, 2009
Although I'm just beginning to get through this book, I'm learning so much that I can apply directly to my lifestyle! I have somany convictions that I speak of to friends, but when they ask me why I don't always know how to explain... this book is giving me answers to use to help convice others to make important changed in their lives.
October 25, 2009
A great book on how to change our ways of living, eating, shopping to a more earth-friendly style.Each chapter also lists other books and websites for further learning. I have already put a few of these practices into work. A bargain as I was able to get it at my local Chapters store for only 9.99 in the cheapie section.Recommended to all who want to make our planet a better place to live.
May 27, 2007
I loved this book (actually still have a little ways to go through it), because it gives a lot of great ideas about how to approach many of our social and environmental problems today. Many of the approaches are less about technology and more about community building, which I really appreciate.
June 4, 2007
Totally biased reader of this one, but I think it is an important book and is gifted at making someone feel like if you care about urban planning you also care about nanotechnology or social entrepreneurship and architectural design for the poor. Really splendid.
September 17, 2007
This is an amazing catalog of practical ideas that just might change the world. While occasionally disorganized (thus 4 stars instead of 5), this book is very inspiring and guaranteed to spur your own ideas.
September 30, 2007
Encylopedia of ideas and information to enlighten as well as help innovate (i.e. get our creative juices flowing) the changes we need to make to live greener and not kill our earth to death. Extremely interesting and very motivating.
March 9, 2010
Admittedly, the fact that it was designed by Sagmeister appealed to me more than the subject matter, but it's a most interesting read nonetheless. And I suspect the more I read, the more I'm going to like it.
Currently reading
December 15, 2008advertised to be "a user's guide to the 21st century"
this book is packed full of neat ideas from Good Business start ups to Green ass kicking.
a very big book with lots of stuff i will probably be "currently reading" this for a while. recommend to everyone
this book is packed full of neat ideas from Good Business start ups to Green ass kicking.
a very big book with lots of stuff i will probably be "currently reading" this for a while. recommend to everyone
June 9, 2010
I know that this was only meant to give a very very topical treatment to a wide variety of topics, but I was still somewhat underwhelmed with the content of this book. I had hoped for more, honestly.
March 6, 2012
Among my favorites, the updated version contains substantial updates, although not as astonishing and original since I was already acclimated. I use it as a reference and also assign readings for a grad course in social change.
November 12, 2012
A really in-depth book about everything to do with sustainability in every form from tourism to non-violent riots. Very well organised with short profiles and links to current studies or projects in every chapter.
April 20, 2007
Great overview of all the amazing creative solutions to the problems our world currently faces.
November 3, 2013
an encyclopedia of articles about ideas that will help to guide us to some of the solutions for a sustainable society. thorough and inspiring. find out how you can help save the world, literally.
Want to read
May 21, 2007this is on my to-buy list. go (big) green!
July 1, 2007
Not alarmist, just really cool.
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