The Surprising Science of What Actually Helps the Planet
Coming April 2027 from University of California Press
Hardcover, paperback, and ebook
About the book
Should you give up meat, buy an electric car, or stop using single-use products? Advice about living sustainably is everywhere, and much of it conflicts. The Truth About Going Green is a science-based guide to cutting your environmental impact, separating the actions that actually help the planet from the ones that only feel helpful.
Drawing on life cycle assessment, the book looks past the usual focus on trash, plastic, and recycling to the outcomes that matter most: a stable climate, clean air, safe water, and healthier communities. A flexible “Good, Better, Best” framework helps readers choose the changes that fit their lives, with straightforward answers to common questions about food, transportation, housing, and the things we buy.
What’s inside
- The Basics: how to think about environmental impact, and why the small stuff matters less than you might think
- Big Fish: the choices with the biggest payoff, in food, transportation, housing, and consumer goods
- Small(er) Fish: unintended consequences, plastic, packaging, landfills, and recycling
- Conclusion: how to amplify your impact beyond your own choices
Praise for The Truth About Going Green
“Offers an optimistic vision for how individuals can take action to fight climate change—with the science to back it up.”
Jonathan Foley, environmental scientist and executive director of Project Drawdown
“Straightforward, sensible, and eminently useful!”
Bill McKibben, author of Here Comes the Sun
“This book fills a real gap: science-based, consumer-accessible prioritization for personal environmental action.”
Leidy Klotz, author of In a Good Place
Order the book
- University of California Press
- Bookshop.org (supports independent bookstores)
- Barnes & Noble
- Amazon
Instructors can request an exam or desk copy from Ingram Academic.
ISBN 9780520426177 | 306 pages