The FLEMINGTON, NJ, April 10 --. A nerdy gang of six cartoon characters known for their starring roles in a series of popular computer software tip books have teamed to save the Earth.
And they’ve done so in the nick of time, judging by the information in the handy new title from New Jersey publisher Nerdy Books.
Just the Tips, Man for Protecting the Environment ($14.95, April 2006) is a pocket-sized guide bulging with startling statistics and practical suggestions—an illustrated, how-to manual for people of all ages and backgrounds who want to rescue the planet.
Or at least make a positive difference.
Like the successful software series, this informative, entertaining book about the environment is deliberately designed to be, well, down to earth. Every earth-saving tip—there are 365 in all, one for every day of the year—is supported by succinct facts, pertinent figures, and relevant Nerdy Gang commentary. The statistics were thoroughly researched and sourced by author Wendy Richardson.
The tips apply to every part of life. Anyone who buys coffee to go, for example, can add sugar and cream before pouring, thereby avoiding the need for a throw-away stirrer. For soft drinks, simply do without the lid or straw whenever possible. As the character Shagg will tell you, each year, Americans throw away 138 billion straws and stirrers, 110 billion cups and 58 billion plastic utensils every single year. All told, Americans toss out enough paper and plastic cups, forks and spoons annually to circle the equator 300 times.
This book features an environmentalist-in-training on every page: the crunchy hippy Shagg, kid Kenneth, tomboy teen Shelli (modeled after author Wendy Richardson), dapper Guy Martini, Mr. Nester the impatient business man and supersmart Professor Lester.
Writing and researching the book was a labor of love for Richardson, who says she wanted it to be more than a compendium of commonly known eco-friendly suggestions, such as turning off the water while brushing your teeth or buying a hybrid car.
“I wrote a book that I wanted to read and share with my two young children,” she says, “a book that didn’t exist but should, with cut-to-the-chase information for parents, kids, educators—anyone who is concerned about the environment and wants to help improve it.”
Richardson also wrote the book to dispel common myths about paper and plastic recycling (good things), car engine idling (not good), and other activities affecting the environment for better or worse.
Published just in time for Earth Day (April 22) and World Environment Day (June 5), and ahead of America Recycles Day (November 15), Just the Tips, Man for Protecting the Environment is available as
an e-book on Amazon.com and through Nerdy Book's web site (www.nerdybooks.com). Print copies will be available April 22, 2006.
Electronic and print editions of the book, as well as poster and calendar versions (e.g. for educational use), are also available for licensing to corporations and nonprofit organizations.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Information and product images are available at:
www.nerdybooks.com/press/environment
About Nerdy Books and the Just the Tips, Man series:
Founded in 1999, Nerdy Books publishes the Just the Tips, Man series of innovative, reader-friendly books and e-books. The series includes 11 software titles for Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Windows, in addition to the book on the environment. More than 100 corporations and academic institutions in 22 countries have purchased Nerdy Books’ products, and 15,000 users subscribe to their software tip-of-day.
