Bill McKibben meets Bill Bryson in this seriously engaging look at one man's decision to put his money where his mouth is and go off the grid for one year--while still living in New York City--to see if it's possible to make no net impact on the environment. In other words, no trash, no toxins in the water, no elevators, no subway, no products in packaging, no air-conditioning, no television. After this mad endeavor, Beavan explains to the rest of us how we can realistically live a more "eco-effective" and by turns more content life in an age of inconvenient truths.

How a schlub like me gets mixed up in a stunt like this -- Day one and the whole thing is a big mistake -- What you think when you find your life in the trash -- If only pizza didn't come on paper plates -- How to reduce your carbon footprint and anger your mom at the same time -- The cabbage diet saves the world -- Conspicuous nonconsumption -- Click and the lights go out -- Trying to do enough good to outweigh the harm -- Epilogue : life after the year without toilet paper.