Zero Waste Home

The core of Johnson's approach is a simple order of steps: refuse what you do not need, reduce what you do need, reuse what you consume, recycle what you cannot refuse, reduce or reuse, and compost the rest. She explains each step and then applies it to every part of the home, including the kitchen, the bathroom, the wardrobe, cleaning, children's activities, gifts and holidays.

The book is full of practical tips, from shopping with your own jars and bags to making simple homemade cleaning products and toiletries. Johnson is honest about what worked and what did not for her family, and she emphasizes that the goal is a simpler, richer life rather than strict perfection. Some suggestions will seem extreme to many readers, but the book encourages people to adopt what suits them and to start small.

Practical, encouraging and thought-provoking, a book that has inspired many people to change their habits. Even readers who adopt only a few ideas are likely to save money and reduce clutter. It works well as a book to dip into one room or habit at a time. About 304 pages in the Scribner paperback.