How to make reading books green

It’s been a while since I took part in Small Footprint’s “Change the World Wednesday” challenge, but I’m back in the saddle and raring to go!

This week it’s all about books and small footprints is collaborating with author SB Knight to promote the launch of his book “Born of Blood”.

It’s a little too gory for me I have to admit but luckily this week’s challenge is soothing and calming.

We’ve been asked “This week take at least one evening, turn off the computer and television … and read a book. This exercises the mind and imagination while saving electricity. Please share what you read and how you read it (book or eReader)“.

Well this is very interesting. I have to admit many evenings are spent with iPad in hand browsing the internet. Once my daily work is done I like to read blogs, catch up on forums or listen to talks on topics that interest me. It’s my way of switching off and unwinding.

Earth Hour

The other weekend when it was Earth Hour, we not only turned off the lights but we turned off the screens too. We don’t have a TV, but we do watch movies or catch up with some shows on the computer. Little Miss Green lives and breathes her iPod and to be honest I’m acutely aware that sometimes our ‘family evening’ is all about three digital worlds. We might be in the same room, but we’re in our separate virtual worlds.

So Earth Hour we lit a fire, cuddled, talked, stared into the flames and did little else.

It was bliss.

Stress relief

I’d been really stressed that week and I felt all my tensions drift away. So much so I declared that every evening at 8:30pm I’d switch off my computer and sit in the dark for an hour. I felt naturally ready for restful sleep after Earth Hour and felt pretty sure I’d found a cure for insomnia.[amazon-product align=”right” small=”1″]1848508565[/amazon-product]

Like many good intentions, I’ve not sat and stared into the fire flames since.

Greening books

So I’m using this week’s challenge as the perfect excuse. My book of choice is by Joe Dispenza and is called “Breaking the habit of being yourself: How to lose your mind and create a new one”. It’s a self help book which helps you ‘rewire’ your brain by letting go of negative beliefs and embracing the positive. I’ll be reading a hard copy bought second hand from Amazon.

Small Footprints shared a great post this week on the ‘greening’ of the publishing industry which provided some food for thought. Here are some ways to save some trees and green your reading routine:

Second hand

Buy second hand – charity shops is a great place to find second hand children’s books, recipe books and novels

Libraries

Use the library – our libraries are under threat and I shall be incredibly sad to see them go, so I’m making the most of them while they are there. Find your local library.

Swap!

Swap – my neighbour and I share books across the fence! If you don’t have literary neighbours try ReadItSwapIt for the virtual version

Bookcrossing

Set it free – Bookcrossing sees books travel across the world to new homes

What about you – what book(s) are you reading at the moment? Are you like me with three or four books on the go at once or do you focus on one at a time?