Every home should have a library. It doesn’t even have to be an entire room; just a special place to keep your books will do, or perhaps it’s simply 
a cozy spot to read your latest treasure from the public library. The point is to value the experience of reading good books.
A library is potentially the greenest part of any home. The knowledge contained in books can profoundly transform lives and many can help us learn to live in sustainable ways. The best books take us on a journey of discovery, presenting new ideas that excite and motivate in ways that other mediums simply cannot do. All that is required is an open mind and a bit of time.
Reading the right book at the right time can even save your life.
Here’s a suggestion for your reading list: “The China Study” by T. Colin Campbell, PhD and Thomas M. Campbell II. The subtitle of the book is “Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-Term Health.” Although Green Living is not the topic of the book nor are the words found in the index, it contains far-reaching implications that should not be ignored. This is one of the most valuable books I’ve ever read and it would be an excellent addition to anyone’s library.
The book outlines the findings of “the most comprehensive study of nutrition ever conducted.” You might wonder what that has to do with Green Living. From my perspective, everything is connected and all of our choices and actions have consequences. Having a green home is great, but that is just one part of the Green Living equation. Efficient energy and transportation systems play a huge role. But there is one choice we all make each and every day that can be the greenest of them all – what we decide to eat. Our dietary choices are the key to a solution that offers the greatest benefits at the least cost. It is Green Living for everyone.
In “The China Study,” the authors provide solid information based on long-term scientific observation of human dietary practices. Stemming from research of multiple, diverse societies that span the planet, the information is broad-based yet incredibly detailed. The study itself is amazing and the conclusions are as fascinating as they are valuable. Don’t be misled by the title, this book is all about us: average Americans. There are detailed explanations about the cause of many diseases that have become all too common in western society and, even more importantly, how they can be prevented or reversed.
I believe that of all the Green Living suggestions I’ve ever offered in years of columns, this is the one with the greatest potential to help people live healthier, happier, longer lives while also creating a major positive impact on our threatened environment.
The best thing about “The China Study” is that it offers real solutions that anyone can implement right away to improve their immediate and long-term health, save money, reduce waste and pollution, eliminate toxins, and heal our environment. The book effectively defines a serious problem affecting millions of people, explains in detail how it came to be and then provides a simple, effective and well-proven solution that is accessible to all.
I urge you to read “The China Study” and give it serious consideration, if not for yourself, then for your loved ones. I believe that of all the Green Living suggestions I’ve ever offered in years of columns, this is the one with the greatest potential to help people live healthier, happier, longer lives while also creating a major positive impact on our threatened environment. We must take an active role in educating ourselves while being open to change. The world is constantly changing and we must adapt or face increasingly dire consequences.
Whether you add it to your personal library or check it out at a local public branch, let “The China Study” be part of your Green Living path of discovery. This could be a fork in the road that changes your life and puts us all on a course for a better future.
Additional Resources:
- Read more about “The China Study.” (Why did it take me so long to find this book? “When the student is ready…” I suppose.)
- Read an online preview at Google Books.
- The story of John A. McDougall, M.D. is featured in “The China Study.” He is a physician and nutrition expert who teaches better health through vegetarian cuisine. Dr. McDougall has been studying, writing and “speaking out” about the effects of nutrition on disease for over 30 years.
- UN urges global move to meat and dairy-free diet
- Author T. Colin Campbell responds to questions raised about the book, “The China Study: Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-Term Health”
- I like Steve Pavlina’s blog post about “The China Study.”
- Check out John Robbins’ “The Food Revolution” for further reading. Highly recommended!
Don’t miss the new film “Forks Over Knives.”