Active Lifestyle

I believe that personal organization has a lot to do with making green lifestyle changes.  And yet the world of GTD (“getting things done”), rarely meets the world of green.  Some of the questions I’d like to explore in the coming months are:  What are the best “to do list” programs so I can go sticky note-free?  How can I organize my office to be the most efficient and eco-friendly?  What is the eco-factor between reading hardcopy books versus a Kindle (or Nook or iPad)?

The question today is: do I really need to read a book at all? Why can’t I listen to it? And on a device I already own? Well, you can at Audible.com, with audiobooks that are easily downloaded and transferred to your smart phone or MP3 player.   No new device.  No physical books.  And no plastic tapes or DVDs like traditional audiobooks.  Save money.  Save time.  Save resources.*

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Ok, I just sounded like a cheesy saleswoman, but honestly I can’t say enough good things about using Audible.  I rarely have the time to sit down and read a book, but by using Audible I am able to “read” about a book a month while driving, exercising, taking public transportation and even doing errands or mindless tasks.  So far I’ve stuck to novels, but it’s good to know it also offers magazines, radio shows, podcasts, stand-up comedy and even speeches.  The website is pretty user-friendly; I especially like the “Wishlist” feature.  And finally, the price is right.  For example, if a hardcover costs $27.99 and the corresponding audio CD costs $39.98, the Audible member price is just $7.49 (for the first 3 months, $14.95/month thereafter), which gives you credit for one book a month.

If you want to give audiobooks a try, check out the library at Audible.com.

Some of the eco-books on my list are:

Getting Green Done: Hard Truths From the Frontlines of Sustainability Revolution (Auden Schendler)

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Ecological Intelligence: How Knowing the Hidden Impacts of What We Buy Can Change Everything (Daniel Goleman)

Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World (Bill Clinton)

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What do you think?

•    Can e-books and audiobooks replace the real deal?
•    *Does having to constantly charge an electronic device outweigh any paper-free environmental benefits?
•    *What about the issue of e-waste?
•    Is loaning a book from the library the best solution?
•    What about responsibly printed books like those from New Society Publishers?