Leo Hickman

I found reading this book (and many of the subsequent reviews of it on the web) a bit of an eye opener. Whether it was the Guardian picking their most clueless journalist, or the author playing it up for dramatic effect, or Hicks really is so clueless, but how is it possible that someone of his socio-economic grouping living in this day and age was so clueless about what effect his life was having on others and the environment? Situations and suggestions given in the book, which are surely show more just common sense, are written of as though they are amazing revelations. Is the modern Western world really filled with people like this?

I also wonder about the author’s wife and how she is portrayed– she comes across as a terribly selfish, self-centred cow. I lost all sympathy for her when there was a whinge about not being willing to give up air travel for holidays because she did not want to deprive their baby daughter of the opportunity to grow up visiting far-flung places. And this is someone who has Europe on their door-step, only a train trip away! This is but one example of many of her being presented as a rather me-me-me character who doesn't care to live ethically at all - no concern for others or the planet. My suspicion is that this was 'played up' for the sake of tension in the book.

The final thing that pushed me from thinking this book was a valid attempt at a lifestyle change to regarding it as nothing more than a book-concept trying to get in on the ‘green/ethical living’ trend was the fact that the author couldn’t bring himself to consider even trying to go vegetarian (or even vegan, heaven forbid). In this day and age, how can anyone claim to be trying to live ethically and yet dismiss vegetarianism out of hand? Even if your idea of ethics doesn’t concern other living beings, there is now a multitude of facts to explain how lifestock production is a major contributor to environmental damage. Even if you beef is over-priced, ‘ethically raised’ and organic produce.

This could have been a good, if not excellent, book. Rather it is a lukewarm attempt that might make some readers feel warm and fuzzy, but left this reader feeling rather cold. show less

A book that could probably dump you into a deep depression if it weren't for the cheerful honesty of Leo Hickman's writing. An excellent, easy introduction to the challenges of living sustainably. Deserves more stars but could benefit from a summary of action tips at the end.

A very readable book, not too heavy or preachy, looking at the ways an individual or rather family unit can live more ethically. The author writes engagingly and offers a window into his world as he struggles to balance practicality, convenience and affordability with a less damaging lifestyle.

Much of the advice you probably are already aware of, if interested in the subject at all already, but it's got useful pointers and perhaps things that you wouldn't usually think of are flagged up as show more well, depending on how informed you are.

I was a bit hmmm about the auditors apparent preference for alternative therapies, since big health food companies and complementary therapies are just as big business as "Big Pharma". And homeopathy is a nonsense. Hickman's vague belief that there probably is something in it was a bit of a fail for me. Clearly relying on the authority of the auditors for some of what is ethical and what is not entirely would be problematic. Some of the assumptions are worth questioning when it comes to which ethics are the "right" ones. But that's something you have to work out for yourself. show less

Bought 12 Jan 2010 from a local charity shop.

I want to keep this but I'm going to send it on a bookring first, as I know quite a few people will be interested.

Hickman and his wife (well, Hickman, really, as we shall see) decide to try to live their lives more "ethically", whatever that means. They invite three environmentalists to do an audit of their lives and home, and the comments of the auditors are interspersed throughout the book, in the sections that discuss food, cars, gardening etc, show more which is useful. Hickman finds that getting his wife on board is harder than he thought, and eventually that they end up with different parts of life that they are happy to change.

An interesting book as they are very much a "normal" family with a terraced house and not quite enough money to always buy organic or have replacement sash windows and photovoltaic panels put in. I did feel a bit guilty reading some of it but, then again, like the Hickmans, we score major environmental brownie points by not having a car (thanks again to the people who give us lifts when we need them!!) show less