Wake Up and Smell the Planet, a highly totable volume, is a handy guide to making green decisions throughout your day. We don't mean decisions like whether to buy an organic hemp purse -- we mean normal decisions like what to eat, what to wear, which kind of diapers to buy, how to dispose of kitty litter, and what kind of sex toys to use.
Compact, kinda funny, and full of resources, Wake Up and Smell the Planet covers a full 24 hours of confusing and often contradictory options. Like a wise (and wisecracking) friend who isn't afraid to share secret tips, Wake Up and Smell the Planet will give you easy tips for simplifying your life and lessening your impact. From the moment you get up in the morning until you finally lay your head down at night, Wake Up and Smell the Planet will get you through the day with your sanity -- and values -- intact.
Grist doesn't have all the answers. But we do have some. And we want to help as many people as we can by offering our considered opinions on which eco-decisions are worth losing sleep over, and which are ... well, not a big deal. Our website already reaches a lot of people -- about 750,000 a month -- but we figured a book would spread the word even further. Besides, we've always wanted to venture from cyberspace into fiberspace!
We are very happy to be partnering with a local, Seattle-based publisher on this project. Skipstone, a brand-new imprint of Mountaineers Books, is launching this fall, and Wake Up and Smell the Planet is part of its first catalogue.
Brangien Davis, a Seattle-based writer and editor, did yeowoman's work culling content from the Grist site, weaving it into a narrative, and adding some fresh, new fun. Katharine Wroth, Grist's story editor, ensured that the sweet smell of Grist continued to permeate the text, which she reviewed and contributed to throughout the process.
Got any handy particulars like size and page count?
Do we ever! Due out in October, Wake Up and Smell the Planet is 176 pages of paperbound, illustrated fun, with a trim size of 6" x 6 3/4". It's a mere $14.95, and you can buy it through Amazon or directly from Mountaineers Books.
What's that you say? You want the ISBN? OK: 978-1-59485-039-4.
Is it published on recycled paper?
Does a dog howl at a full moon? Wake Up and Smell the Planet is not only published on recycled paper, it's published with soy inks.
What are the reviewers saying?
So glad you asked! Here's a sampling from the media ...
"A groovy green heap o' advice for working, working out, eating, shopping, commuting, raising kids, raising pets -- basically, for life." -- Seattle Times
"Forget the guilt; forget the panic; learn to live green. That seems to be the message of Grist's guide to grassroots sustainability ... A cheering answer to 'What can I do?'" -- Barnes & Noble
"Another book to add to the must read list! ... It takes a look at the daily choices we make and how to simply 'green' them. And of course Grist's quirky personality shines throughout the entire book as well." -- Treehugger.com
"Never has a book on going green made me laugh so hard! ... They cleverly use humor to captivate the audience, especially about a topic that is starting to feel a little backlash ... With the holidays looming nearby, I think this book would make a great gift for the eco-geeks all the way to the eco-phobes in your life." -- BellaOnline.com
"Got a penchant for puns and a drive to save the world? Then chances are you're already a regular reader of environmental humor website Grist.org. If not, you're in for a treat, in the form of this snappy little book." -- Shared-Vision.com, Editor's Pick
... and here's what a few readers have had to say:
"Being ecologically responsible can be fun! The authors certainly had a ball writing this book -- full of laughs on what is a very serious subject. Well worth a read." -- Catherine P. Bettoney, Clute, Texas
"The thing I love about this book (beyond being easy and fast to read) is that it doesn't make you feel like a loser. It gives the straight-up this-is-what-is-killing-our-planet, and also the don't-lose-sleep-over-this-stuff ... I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to make a difference, even if they just start out with baby steps." -- Kelly strong, Eagle River, Alaska
"I just finished your book Wake up and Smell the Planet. I love it! It's stupendous! The planet is in good hands with Grist." -- A thankful grandmother, Claudine Erlandson, Shoreline, Wash.
How can I order a review copy?
For a review copy or more information on the book, contact Luis Borella, Skipstone and Mountaineers Books (206-223-6303 ext. 137, ).
For information on Grist, green living, or the secret of life, contact Brendon Smyth, Marketing Manager, Grist.org (206-876-2020 ext. 214, ).
