Living Like Ed

January 15, 2008
Actor Begley is best known for his television and movie roles ("St. Elsewhere; A Mighty Wind"), but if you have seen his cable show, "Living with Ed", on HGTV, you know that his true passion is environmentalism. This companion book serves as a cheat sheet to all things green. In six chapters, plus a workbook, Begley covers nearly everything a human could do to lessen one's impact on the environment. His tips are organized by three levels of effort"Little Changes" (cost: free to $50), "Not-So-Big Changes" ($50-$500), and "Big Changes" (over $500)which makes them financially realistic to the reader. The author's wife, Rachelle Carson-Begley, comments throughout the text as the voice of the masses, offering less ugly alternatives to "big and orange" rain barrels and joking criticism of Begley's obsessive thermostat programming. Although the book lacks an index, and the organization of the topics is erratic within the chapters, it is a witty and easy-to-use manual to environmentally friendly living. Recommended for all public libraries and for school libraries looking for great Earth Day activities.Jaime Hammond, Naugatuck Valley Community Coll., Waterbury, CT

Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2007
Begley spins off his newfound HGTV publicity to write an enormously helpful book on the subject of green living. In short sections divided around ?Easy,? ?Not-So-Big,? and ?Big? changes, the actor and activist shows how readers can specifically change their lives to both lower their living costs and help the environment. He covers everything from changing filters in the air conditioner to pursuing solar energy and driving an electric car in a straightforward and easily understood manner. The book?s only stumble is the interaction between the author and his wife, who is included as a kind of foil for the author?s determination. The intention behind her interjections is good?she offers ideas that are more attractive then the standard eco-fare, and she is supposed to be the voice of those who are resistant to big change?but all too often her concerns come across as silly, and the husband and wife engage in exchanges in which one sounds strident, the other inane. But the book, appealing, well-organized, and relevant, serves its message well.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)