My Books Are Coming!

It’s been a long time since I’ve bought books. I constantly have at least a dozen books checked out from the library, and I never truly have enough time to read them, but I glean pearls of wisdom that I can, betwixt nursings, calls for “the next homeschool assignment,” bumps and bruises, kisses and lately raucous baby laughter.

When I realized that I’m a bit late this time starting baby signs (I told you I don’t remember anything from my first son!) I decided that not only would I order the book on Amazon (who knows where my old copy went), but I also deserved an actual order of books that I could make my very own. Of course I went a little overboard! Hopefully these will provide lots of fodder for future posts!

From Amazon

Once I started selling my own used books on Amazon it really opened me up to the fact of how easy it is to get quality, discounted titles simply by clicking on that “used and new available” link. I was able to get all but three of the following books used at less than the Amazon price, including shipping.

So excited about these titles! (aff)

General green choices:

• The Consumer’s Guide to Effective Environmental Choices: Practical Advice from the Union of Concerned Scientists

Healthy, safety, and consumer toxin exposures:

• Poisoned Profits: The Toxic Assault on Our Children

• A Consumer’s Dictionary of Household, Yard and Office Chemicals: Complete Information About Harmful and Desirable Chemicals Found in Everyday Home Products, Yard Poisons, and Office Polluters

• What’s In This Stuff?: The Hidden Toxins in Everyday Products - and What You Can Do About Them

• Toxics A to Z: A Guide to Everyday Pollution Hazards

• Doubt is Their Product: How Industry’s Assault on Science Threatens Your Health

Nutrition:

• Boost Your Child’s Immune System: A Program and Recipes for Raising Strong, Healthy Kids

For Baby Del:

• Baby Signs Complete Starter Kit: Everything You Need to Get Started Signing With Your Baby

For Stae:

• Raising Kids Who Will Make a Difference: Helping Your Family Live With Integrity, Value Simplicity, and Care for Others

From Paperback Swap

I am so loving paperback swap. It feels so great to mail off some of my dusty books that haven’t been touched in years to someone who actually wants them! And then to turnaround and use those credits to get books that I’m truly enthusiastic about digging into. It’s a great twist on recycling and reducing consumption.

Paperback Swap isn’t just for paperbacks. You can list and receive hard covers too (thought they might cost a few cents more to mail). The service is completely free, your only cost is in shipping the books via Media Mail, USPS, which is about $2.50. So you’re getting books you truly want for only $2.50 each and playing Good Samaritan by sending away your old books to others that will be excited to receive them. Plus it’s just too much fun! If you decide to give Paperback Swap a try you’ll get free credits just for listing 10 books. Tell them hopealso sent you!

Here comes my paperback swap stash! (aff)

Simple Living:

• Simple Living in a Complex World: A Guide to Balancing Life’s Achievements

• Enough: Staying Human in an Engineered Age

For Stae’s homeschool (and for me!):

• The Web of Life: A New Scientific Understanding of Living Systems

• Why Is There Something Rather Than Nothing?: 23 Questions from Great Philosophers

Eco-friendly, natural skincare:

• Skin Deep: Natural Recipes for Healthy Skin and Hair

I love the fact that most of these books are used, as I’m trying more and more to limit my consumption of the Earth’s resources by buying used.

Truth be told, there will be energy expenditures by having these things shipped, which is why I also tried my best on Amazon to choose sellers that were in neighboring states — every bit counts! Once baby is a little older, perhaps I’ll get a good routine going to visit the local used bookstore and thrifts more regularly, since those are truly our best outlets for nearly zero consumption footprint with our shopping. Doing my best while trying not to guilt myself!

Can you tell? Books are my personal weakness!

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