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University of California Press

The Truth About Going Green

The Surprising Science of What Actually Helps the Planet

by Shelie Miller (Author)
Price: $19.95 / £16.99
Publication Date: Mar 2027
Edition: 1st Edition
Title Details:
Rights: World
Pages: 268
ISBN: 9780520426191
Trim Size: 5.5 x 8.5
Illustrations: 9 b/w illustrations

About the Book

A myth-busting, science-based guide to reducing your environmental impact.

With so much conflicting sustainability advice, how can we tell which choices actually help the planet—and which ones simply make us feel like they do? In The Truth About Going Green, sustainability scientist Shelie Miller debunks some of the most persistent environmental myths and reveals which personal actions make the greatest difference. Moving beyond the idea that greener living begins and ends with trash, plastic, and recycling, she focuses on the environmental outcomes we care about most: a stable climate, clean air, safe water, and healthier communities.

Grounded in the latest science, this practical and refreshingly realistic guide offers a flexible “Good, Better, Best” framework for reducing your environmental footprint in ways that fit your life and priorities. Along the way, Miller answers common questions about meat, electric vehicles, single-use products, recycling, and more—replacing guilt, confusion, and greenwashing with clear, actionable advice. The Truth About Going Green empowers readers to stop sweating the small stuff, focus on what works, and discover a more effective—and more hopeful—way to help the planet.

About the Author

Shelie Miller is the Jonathan W. Bulkley Collegiate Professor of Sustainable Systems at the School for Environment and Sustainability at the University of Michigan.

Table of Contents

Contents

Section 1. The Basics

Chapter 1. Feel a Tonne Better

Chapter 2. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

Chapter 3. Everything Has an Impact

Chapter 4. Less Is More

Chapter 5. Follow the Energy

Section 2. Big Fish

Chapter 6. One Meal at a Time: Food

Chapter 7. Roads Less Traveled: Transportation

Chapter 8. No place Like Home: Housing

Chapter 9. Buy Now Pay Later: Stuff

Section 3. Small(er) Fish

Chapter 10. Murky Shades of Green: Unintended Consequences

Chapter 11. Life in Plastic

Chapter 12. Think Inside the Box: Packaging

Chapter 13. What a Waste: Landfills and Recycling

Conclusion

Chapter 14. A Little Help from Our Friends: Amplifying Impact

Acknowledgments

Notes on Data

Acronyms and Abbreviations

Glossary

Notes

References

Index

Reviews

"Offers an optimistic vision for how individuals can take action to fight climate change—with the science to back it up.”—Jonathan Foley, environmental scientist and executive director of Project Drawdown

"Straightforward, sensible, and eminently useful! For so many Americans, ‘recycling’ is the main step they take toward a cleaner planet. This book will help you understand far more consequential actions that will simultaneously make your life richer."—Bill McKibben, author of Here Comes the Sun

“This book fills a real gap: science-based, consumer-accessible prioritization for personal environmental action. Down-to-earth and clearly expert, Shelie Miller is great company on the page.”—Leidy Klotz, author of In a Good Place