Saving the Planet Without

Costing the Earth - 500 Simple Steps to a Greener Lifestyle by

Donnachadh McCarthy. (Vision Paperbacks, £11.99)

ARE you concerned about the environment and long to do something to hold back the rapid demise of our natural resources, but don't quite know where to start?

Well, read on, because Donnachadh McCarthy has hundreds of handy tips to help you on a greener path.

And the only investment you need make is in a copy of this book, naturally printed on 100 per cent recycled paper, and succinctly stuffed with household-sized ways of staunching the flow of environmental lifeblood.

McCarthy provides an easy-to-read introduction touching on the main worries facing our planet and elaborates with a step-by-step guide on how we can each take stock of what resources we are using and we can easily lessen our individual impact on using up these precious commodities.

This book is not about making you feel guilty or asking you to join some sort of campaigning organisation to change the world, but is a no-nonsense look at ordinary everyday things we all do that, with a little tweaking, can be turned into planet-saving actions.

For example, next time you buy a camera, make sure it's digital.

For, as McCarthy tells us: "as well as avoiding the toxic chemicals involved in film processing, you also save the cost of more than two glasses of wine for each film you used to purchase and develop".

And how appealing is that as an incentive to change?

The book is divided into sections to do with house, garden, food, work, water and fuel.

The 10 chapters are full of facts without being dull and dry, and I'm sure will inspire you to take a new look at your life, and make the effort to begin the long process of change. Jackie Harris