Green Daily

If you know MySpace, you know Tom.

Tom's the friendly-looking 20-something dude who pops up as your first "friend" when you sign up for the social networking site.

Dude, Tom wrote a book.

Okay, so he didn't write it. Someone else did - he just wrote the forward. But he's inevitably reaping innumerable benefits from the sales. That said, this "complete how-to guide to saving the environment" is obviously aimed at the MySpace set. I assumed when I picked it up that it would essentially be one big ad for the site.

And guess what?...It pretty much is.

The book is peppered with reader comments about what they are doing to save the earth, complete with their profile url (ie: http://www.myspace.com/kerriluvskitties). And what would each chapter be without "MySpace Action," or how to carry out the book's ideas via the site? The ideas are pretty unimaginative and uninspiring - things like "change your profile wallpaper to tell people that you care about the earth" and "make a myspace blog about your week of eco-eating." Oh, and my personal favorite: "List environmental activists among your heros." Wait...how is this helping the earth, exactly? And should we really be telling teens who their heroes are? Shouldn't we let them decide that for themselves?

The chapters divide teen life into eight parts, including "On the road," "Health and Body," and "Your free time." Some chapters have decent, albeit obvious and overused suggestions, such as buying organic and turning off the lights when you leave the room. But most of the tips are either geared toward a different age group (teens usually can't purchase hybrids, which the book suggests to do, and if they do own a car, will typically accept whatever old gas-guzzler they can get), and the MySpace demographic, in general, can't vote yet (so out, too, are the urgings to "get out and vote!")

In addition, some of the suggestions are far-fetched (as eco-conscious as teens can be, is the average prom-goer really going to consider renting a hybrid instead of a limo? Not likely). And the teen set is also unlikely to pay attention to tips on grocery shopping or laundry, unless they are the ones doing those chores. If the authors had structured the tips in a more teen-friendly way (ie: bringing your lunch in a reusable bag, or recycling your cans and papers in the cafeteria), readers might be able to relate better.

Okay, enough MySpace-bashing. Here are a few positive features about the book:

• The eco-glossary and list of relevant URLs
  
• The "Eco-Activism" chapter actually acknowledges that kids are more than mindless, vapid MySpace addicts and encourages them to stand up for what they believe in and make a difference. Suggestions include educating yourself about local politics and what your state rep stands for, using purchasing power to effect change, and writing letters to the editor. Kids can also learn about recent eco-changes in history and law (good for now, but the facts would quickly become outdated and would need to be updated if the book were ever reprinted). If you pick up this book at all, flip right to this chapter.
  

Overall, the idea for the book was a good one - kind of a "50 Simple Things Kids Can Do To Save the Earth" for the new generation. Unfortunately, though, with too much emphasis on the website and not enough on teen-focused tips, this book falls short - you're better off getting your kids the former book - it may be an oldie, but it's still a goodie.