Top 5 Essential Eco Books Online

I am a total bookworm. There’s always a stack of books next to my bed, and usually one in my bag, too. I keep trying to love the Kindle, but there’s something about pages—and the awesome library up the street—that I prefer. With that in mind, here are five eco books online that I’ll keep on my shelf forever.

With info for new parents, tweenagers, the allergy-focused and sustainably minded, here are five eco books online that I’ll keep on my shelf forever. Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things
by William McDonough and Michael Braungart

This book really kicked things off for me. It was the first time that I had looked at the big picture of manufacturing, and I’ve never looked back. The book established the “cradle to cradle” philosophy, which challenges manufacturers to make products in a way that they can perpetually be reused or repurposed, therefore creating new “cradles” each time we find a new use. Genius.

Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home
by Christopher Gavigan; foreword by Meryl Streep

I worked with Healthy Child Healthy World leading up to the release of this book, and it was an honor. This book really takes you through the A to Z of eco parenting, with celebrity essays—including one by Christopher’s Honest Company co-founder Jessica Alba—full of real responses to common questions about everything from painting the nursery to choosing better diapers.

The Unhealthy Truth: How Our Food Is Making Us Sick – And What We Can Do About It
by Robyn O’Brien

This book was such a wake up call for me. I knew a bit about the connection between chemicals in food and allergies, but Robyn’s story really drove it home: After her daughter had a violent allergic reaction to eggs and nearly died, her research led to the realization of how much manipulation goes into our food—and our food system. Robyn is one of my heroes, and this book is such an eye-opener.

Green Beauty Recipes: Easy Homemade Recipes to Make Your Own Natural and Organic Skincare, Hair Care, and Body Care Products
by Julie Gabriel

I have always loved DIY beauty recipes—dating back to grade school when a friend showed me how to whip up an egg white to shrink my pores. This book goes into definitions of “natural” beauty, as well as how to spot toxic chemicals in your products, and includes awesome recipes that make you want to cook up a spa in your kitchen.

Girls Gone Green
By Lynn Hirshfield

When it came out a few years back, I gave this book to all the teens and tweens I knew; I recently gave it to my daughter. Brought to you by Participant Media, the media company behind “An Inconvenient Truth,” the book is like a really fat issue of Teen Vogue but focused completely on people, places and things that are promoting a more sustainable lifestyle—from makeup and fashion to recycling and conservation. So not TMI.