This book was disappointing.

For starters, I don’t think it was aimed at the right audience: I picked up this book because it’s title promised a “how-to” for removing plastic from your daily life, not because I was unfamiliar with what single-use plastics are. I wanted to learn how I could go further and gain new insights about how to remove plastic waste from my lifestyle, instead of reading the same advice I’ve heard for YEARS (such as getting a reusable water bottle and coffee cup).

Second, while this book is accessible to most reading levels, there was not much substance and few resources that didn’t require the reader to do their own additional research. I also felt the author frequently came across as pretentious. The author didn’t mention how he speaks from a place of privilege (and assumes the reader also shares that same level of privilege) until most of the way through the book, and even then it was a brief comment. Most of the advice given just seems wasteful, such as going through your house and mailing all your single-use products that you are currently using (such as shampoo bottles, lotion containers, etc.) directly back to the manufacturer. Wouldn’t it be better for the environment to finish using a product you’ve already purchased and then search for a better alternative when it’s time to replace it? Never mind the expense of mailing things back (I certainly don’t have that extra money), I sincerely doubt manufactures will sustainably dispose of partially used products that get mailed back to them - wouldn’t those just end up in a landfill and contribute to the problem this book is trying to address? Instead, I think it would be more effective to send a letter (or a message on social media) describing why that company has lost your business, then responsibly reuse and/or dispose of the plastic items on your own.

In the book’s defense, however, there is a brief interview with Jamie Szymokowiak of the organization One in Five about accessibility issues with things such as a blanket straw ban. I would have appreciated more time spent on this subject, since it is an issue that frequently gets overlooked and one we will need to address if we want to make more environmentally-friendly and sustainable changes. There was also a short interview with Amy and Ella Meek of Kids Against Plastic who talk about being “plastic clever” or minimizing the plastic in your lifestyle to the best of your ability and being conscientious in the future about when and where you use plastic.

In all, I think there are (or must be) much more effective books out there.