With being green, sustainable, socially responsible and eco-friendly all the rage these days, it’s quite easy to feel overwhelmed by it all. Everyone and their mother is espousing to be the Next Green Know it All, with tips on how to Do Things Right. If you’re bookish, you just might want to cuddle up with “The Green Book, the Everyday Guide to Saving the Planet One Simple Step at a Time,” and feel empowered. Authors Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas M. Kostigen break it all down into 12 easily digestible chapters, culminating with tasty tidbits from Ellen DeGeneres, Robert Redford, Will Ferrell, Jennifer Aniston, Tyra Banks, Tiki Barber, Owen Wilson, Justin Timberlake and a handful of other celebs. The vitals covered include: home, entertainment, travel, communication/tech, school, work, shopping, health & beauty, sports, money & finance, building and going carbon neutral, and simple suggestions on how to be more eco-conscious, abound.

Call me cranky, but they fall short on the question of paper or plastic, when it comes to shopping bags. We all know the best answer is “neither” — bring your own. Yet, they advise, “paper.”

On the other hand, a green thumbs-up to Will Ferrell for: “There are two activities in my personal life that give me limitless amounts of joy. They are, quite simply, driving my electric car and making a trip to the hazardous waste facility.”

I so enjoyed the foreword, with thoughts from an unlikely pair, Cameron Diaz and William McDonough. Cameron Diaz (a personal friend of author, Elizabeth), shares childhood memories of grandma Diaz being a “cradle to cradle” lady before it was popular. “The guide” part of the book is reinforced by a substantial “reference” list at the back of the book. Much of the advice in the book seems like “common sense” but then again, there’s not an abundance of that around.

So if you or someone you know is in need of a primer, give it a go. A definite green light for those who are so busy, they haven’t taken the time to think about Mother Earth.

A portion of the proceeds from the sales of this brand new release “is being put toward the Green Book Foundation to support environmental causes and nonprofit organizations.” And it’s printed using 100 percent post-consumer recycled paper. more info @ readthegreenbook.com