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Liked It “Inspiring and optimistic, this books supports and succinctly describes my environmental beliefs. As a life-long resident of NH and long-time consumer of Stonyfield products, I was happy to learn more about the company and its sustainable practices. The only thing it didn't mention is that if you...” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“Inspiring and optimistic, this books supports and succinctly describes my environmental beliefs. As a life-long resident of NH and long-time consumer of Stonyfield products, I was happy to learn more about the company and its sustainable practices. The only thing it didn't mention is that if you are lucky enough to live near Manchester, NH you can return any (clean) Stonyfield yogurt cup to its retail location near the airport.”
Jennifer S wrote this review Thursday, August 13 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Good business book, especially for those just starting out to "green" their business. Lots of good stories and examples, some very inspiring. Book really makes the point that "greening" is really hard to do, especially the right way!”
Nick Woodall wrote this review Tuesday, April 28 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Easy read and inspirational to read about how business + people are making change happen. Great real life examples of how doing good is a money making proposition - really embodies the who "SRI is the profitable wave of the future" investment argument.”
Jennifer L wrote this review Wednesday, December 3 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Making a Stir: A Book with a Truly Hopeful Message Roughly six and a half years ago, the leader of the last existing “superpower” pleaded with the American public to combat an impending recession by going out and spending money (I almost included a link to the speech, but even searching for it made me begin to hyperventilate, so I desisted—he is making the same argument these days, anyway). In spite of the fact that I came of age during the terror of Reaganomics, Bush’s assertion that only conspicuous consumption could save the U.S. economy devastated me. With that introduction, it will come as no surprise that I have been accused of being both a whack ass liberal and a cynical doomsayer, but there are some writers out there who are making me feel a lot less marginalized, and I sense that a shift in the thinking of the average American may be deep enough to effect real change. One writer of change, Barack Obama, has rejuvenated my belief in a system that has regularly betrayed me, even though some have suggested that my current hope is founded on shifting sand. I will hold my ground and sound a resounding yawp, “If you haven’t read The Audacity of Hope, get out and do it…before you vote.” Yet another writer, and the focus of this review, is Gary Hirshberg, the CE-Yo of Stonyfield Farm (and yes, he is a punner, and yes, I love him for it). Even though I was in the midst of the Donna Tartt’s most recent release (see a future review, for she is truly incredible), I put it aside and devoured Stirring It Up: How to Make Money and Save the World, published by Hyperion. Hirshberg also facilitates consumption by providing coupons for his delicious yogurt and other eco-friendly products in his totally eco-produced and marketed book. An ecologist who was converted to capitalism by the Kraft display at Epcot and Reagan’s abandonment of environmental funding, Hirshberg and his team at Stonyfield Farms have turned the seemingly tried and true business model of buying low and selling high on its ear and demonstrate that business and environmental responsibility do not have to be mutually exclusive. Absolutely embracing the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Review mantra, Hirshberg’s incredibly funny and poignant book makes the argument that functioning organically is a business savvy endeavor that benefits the producer and consumer not only in the long run, but also from one profit and loss statement to the next and from one meal to the next. While Hirshberg encourages personal responsibility, he also addresses the crux of the problem which is that “While reducing our individual use of energy is crucial, no matter how many days you leave your car at home and walk or take the bus to work, or how many cans and bottles you recycle, or how many lights you switch off, you still won’t completely erase your carbon footprint. What’s more, the carbon emitted by businesses dwarfs that of individuals many times over” (60). This conundrum has bothered me for years. My carbon impact is low 1.05 versus the national average of 7.5 tons per year and I plant trees to offset my impact http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/carboncalculator/—the polar bears and penguins have not noticed. Although Hirshberg clearly articulates the current effects of business on the environment, he eschews the mindless, liberal practice of bashing the Man and grants kudos when they are due, detailing the positive impacts of such entities as Dow Chemicals and Walmart, particularly when these entities are spurred by ecocentric competitors. And like the most positive aspect of Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth http://www.climatecrisis.net/, Hirshberg focuses on what we can do right—where we can buy right—highlighting those very successful businesses that are fortifying the earth while producing those goods that we cannot seem to live without. Hirshberg, in both an ironic and a very literal way, poses in religious terms the salvation of the world we inhabit. His sincerity and humor can appeal to the fundamentalist and the agnostic alike…maybe even, gasp, the vegan. Citing offsets and incentives, as well as original marketing techniques and innovations, Hirshberg makes ecocentric business a piece of cake, or rather a corn husk cup of yogurt. The strength of Hirshberg’s polemic rests upon describing those businesses that have made money from being or turning green and, though his futuristic ending is smarmy, it still has the power to evoke that most disgraceful of emotions…hope. ”
arachnefile wrote this review Wednesday, January 30 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
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