Deborah Burnes

It's taken me quite awhile to review this book -- partially because on an initial flip through, it isn't at all what I thought it was. It's more along the lines of Paula Begoun's books -- IE -- reviewing products already on the market. For what it is, I suppose it's adequate.

I share some of the concerns that other readers have documented. Her research doesn't seem backed up by evidence. The information also isn't presented in a particularly reader friendly, or even research friendly method.… (mehr)

Look Great, Live Green by Deborah Burnes is an excellent beginner to intermediate eco-green-conscious bodycare products user guide. It contains a lot of the common-heard lessons and “no-no’s” in “healthy” living, but there’s much information, lists, ratings, recipes, suggestions that even the highly researched “Green Living” person could integrate into their lifestyle.

A smooth read, I recommend you read it now before some of the lists become outdated, however there will always be sections of this book that you’ll want to refer to if you choose to embark on the path to living a greener, more chemical-free life. Read the book, and even the skeptics could be converted.… (mehr)

This book took me a while to do more than flip through - I made a mistake. I thought I was well-informed and product savvy, but am grateful now to have replaced that arrogance with the wealth of information here. Now that I've read it, I have pulled it out to reference multiple times.
I did find the celebrity input unnecessary, and the presentation of information might have been organized in a better way. All in all, this book has changed the way I purchase products and is a valuable resource.… (mehr)

While the book is full of relevant information, I found the presentation of ideas poorly organized. It's more of a narrative of what author Deborah Burns has discovered in her pursuit of Looking Great and Living Green. I wanted more graphics, easy to access lists (though they are in here, they're just not well placed or organized) and a better streamlined presentation of the ideas.
My other criticism comes from the use of the word "research" within the text. I am always wary of references to "research" without documentation of what research, from whom and when did it take place and get published. I was frustrated that there was often a, "Research shows that exposure to this toxin could cause cancer..." without any specific idenitification where the research came from. It's almost as bad as its opposite "this product is 'natural.'" I would have liked to see a more extensive bibliography or footnote section. I know people can get intimidated by the presence of things like that, but at the same time, if, within what you're writing, you're telling your readers to be cautious about claims on products, read labels and seek proof of proclamations, you should model that good behavior (as they say in education).
I'm happy this book exists and I am looking forward to more books like them. However, I want to see a more cohesive, organized and fully documented presentation of ideas.… (mehr)