Book Review: The Sweetness of a Simple Life

The Sweetness of a Simple Life: Tips for Healthier, Happier and Kinder Living Gleaned From the Wisdom and Science of Nature

By Diana Beresford-Kroeger, Random House Canada, 2013

I smile when I hold this book. It is all at once inspiring, informative and touching. Diana Beresford-Kroeger, author of The Global Forest and A Garden for Life, has convincingly woven her professional knowledge in the fields of medicine, biochemistry, and botany into more than 50 short chapters of practical, simple tips for greener living. Each chapter is personal, insightful, and titled with intriguing names like Avoidance Therapy, Kitchen Aid, and Lemon Love. Beresford-Kroeger shares both personal stories and modern research on topics as varied as maintaining a root cellar, quitting smoking, and eating foods to fend off all sorts of ailments, and inspires readers to learn from the wisdom that is all around us. As promised in the title, Kroeger has created a lovely, how-to guide for “healthier, happier and kinder living”. And don’t we all need a little more of that?