One of my favorite summer reads is Corey T. Zurbuch's The Five-Fifty-Seven. I love this novel not just because its an explosive legal thriller, but also it's only being offered in the eco-friendly Amazon Kindle version.
The "green machine" otherwise known as the Kindle, is a wireless reading device. You can store an entire library on one Kindle. What's even better is that Amazon offers FREE Kindle software, so take advantage of the Kindle applications for your Windows PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, and Android here.
If you're a fan of John Grisham novels, you will love the legal intrigue of The Five-Fifty-Seven. According to a press release, the book tells the story of Dan Sullivan, a class action defense attorney struggling with the moral and emotional dilemmas created by his complex law practice. The plaintiffs are most often dead or dying. The clients he represents, accused corporations, face enormous potential liability. The main character Dan practices law in Charleston, West Virginia which the story describes as one of the worst judicial "hell holes" in America due to perceived anti-business judges and plaintiff friendly laws.
As a reader, you will feel the emotional struggles during Dan's mid-life that include divorce, greed, and corruption. The early presentation of a mysterious letter will have you hooked.
Corey T. Zurbuch currently practices law in Aspen, Colorado, but previously practiced in Charleston, West Virginia as a mass tort and class action attorney. The reader can trust that Zurbuch has the background to provide an accurate lens to create the compelling storyline. This is his first published novel and I hope to see more!
E-reading is promising because it has the potential to decrease the environmental impact of the publishing industry. The publishing industry has been described as one of the most polluting sectors in the world. More than 30 Million trees are cut down annually for virgin paper used for the production of books sold in the U.S. In 2008, the U.S. book and newspaper industries resulted in the harvesting of 125 million trees, according to a report by the Clean Tech Group LLC.
There are significant up-front environmental costs of a Kindle including manufacturing, production, and distribution. The conclusion changes, however, when you look at the entire course of the Kindle's lifecycle. The carbon emitted in the lifecycle of a Kindle is fully offset after the first year of use, according to the Clean Tech Group LLC report. In addition, a single Kindle displaces the purchase of 22.5 books each year, resulting in an estimated carbon savings of 168 kg of CO2.
I recommend Corey T. Zurbuch's The Five-Fifty-Seven for two reasons. First, it is a fabulous summer read. Its perfect poolside, on the beach, or while traveling. The novel will lure you into a fast-paced litigation world and provide a highly enjoyable escape. Second, reading it on a Kindle or Kindle app allows you to enjoy a truly green read.
If you are reluctant to try a Kindle, you may change your mind. I love a paperback book and there are creative ways to reduce the environmental impact. For example, you can trade paperback books online at swaptree or get the non-profit Eco-Libris to plant a tree for every book you read, but the easiest way to reduce your impact is to start e-reading.
Save a tree. Enjoy my favorite green read The Five-Fifty-Seven by Corey T. Zurbuch on an ebook.
Photo Credit: The Green Car Company