Consumer & Lifestyle
We dedicate this section of the website to the memory of Liz Knights, our
editor for many years - and later publisher - at Gollancz. On several of our
books, Liz was almost a third author.
1999
The New Foods Guide: What's
Here, What's Coming, What It Means For Us
John Elkington and Julia Hailes, Victor Gollancz, London,
paperback.
As food-related issues ran off the scale in Europe, The New Foods Guide
explored the fascinating, complex worlds of genetically modified (GM) foods,
functional foods (designed to have some health or medical effect) and organic
foods.
1992
Holidays That Don't Cost
the Earth: The Guide to Greener Holidays
John Elkington and Julia Hailes, Victor Gollancz, London,
paperback
At a time when people were enjoying greater freedom to travel than ever before,
the questions focused on such areas as: the best ways to travel; how to choose
accommodation; how holiday activities affect the environment; the good, bad
and ugly of world destinations; and what leading airlines, hotel chains and
tour operators were doing to stop the rot. Based on extensive survey work,
Holidays That Don't Cost the Earth set out to provide answers. We launched
the book with a 'Holiday Extravaganza' featuring the likes of sci-fi author
Douglas Adams.
1990
The Young Green Consumer Guide
John Elkington, Julia Hailes and Douglas Hill, with illustrations by Tony
Ross, Victor Gollancz, London, paperback (plus foreign editions).
This book was originally Liz Knights' idea. Douglas Hill tailored it for children
and Tony Hill provided the wonderful illustrations. We launched the book with
a competition, sponsored by Varta, the German battery company which had pioneered
in taking mercury out of its products: The UK Greenest School Competition.
As the various editions of the book rolled around the world, we were suddenly
in touch with children and teachers in places as far apart as Finland, Alaska
and New Zealand.
1989
The Green Consumer's Supermarket Shopping Guide
John Elkington and Julia Hailes, Victor Gollancz, London, paperback (plus
foreign editions).
Analysing hundreds of products for their environmental friendliness, and giving
at-a-glance recommendations, this book went much deeper into the issues and
the potential solutions. Based on the results of what at the time was the
biggest-ever environmental survey of UK supermarkets, the book focused in
on both retailers and manufacturers. Our 99-page questionnaire to supermarkets
help trigger a range of initiatives in the sector.
1998
Manual 2000: Life Choice
for the Future You Want
John Elkington and Julia Hailes, Hodder & Stoughton,
London, paperback.
Among the life choices explored in John and Julia's seventh book together
were: What new risks are there in 'gene foods'? Are pesticides poisoning us
- and, if so, should we go organic? Should we allow employers - and insurers
- to see our genetic records? Should we be turning animals into machines?
Are ethical investments and pensions worth the money? Will we be forced out
of our cars? Will we lose our jobs to computers? How can we rebuild a sense
of community? Do children need protecting from the modern world?
1988
The Green Consumer Guide: From Shampoo to Champagne
- High-street shopping for a better environment
John Elkington and Julia Hailes, Victor Gollancz, London, paperback (plus
foreign editions).
A publishing phenomenon. In its various editions, The Green Consumer
Guide sold something like a million copies around the world. The first paragraph
ran as follows: "Every day, whether we are shopping for simple necessities
or for luxury items, for fish fingers or fur coats, we are making choices
that affect the environmental quality of the world we live in." As Anita
Roddick put it in her foreword: "The new type of consumer can be found
everywhere, in pin-striped suits, white coats or boiler-suits. And this trend
is still in its infancy. Even so, one of the most exciting things about The
Green Consumer Guide is the way it pulls together so many different areas
in which real progress is now being made." One innovation in the book
was the way that, instead of focusing on issues, it walked the reader down
the high street or main street: hardware and DIY store, garden centre, garage,
electrical shop, supermarket, chemist/pharmacy, travel agent and gift shop.