Skinny Bitch

September 19, 2011
Barnouin, half of the Skinny Bitch duo who has also written on her own (Skinny Bitch: Ultimate Everyday Cookbook), extends her authority into the world of personal and home goods. Chapter by chapter, she calls out nasty and/or cruel ingredients in furnishings, makeup, and clothing, offering planet- and human-friendly alternatives. There’s a vegan agenda, sure, but fans already know that. Ideology won’t hit the reader over the head, but the tone will. The research backing up her contentions is not deep (lots of Wikipedia citations), but could prompt the curious to look further. Everybody who buys environmentally friendly food and goods knows they don’t come cheap, but Barnouin offers plenty of do-it-yourself formulas for cleaners, and growing your own veggies is cheaper than buying organic ones. While everyone could use a wake-up call to care for the planet, this one will speak loudest to 20-and 30-something women amused by the profane girlfriend tone.

October 15, 2011
Barnouin (Skinny Bitch: Ultimate Everyday Cookbook, 2010, etc.) gives home, beauty and style some loving in this sassy new guide. Using the same formula that made vegan opus Skinny Bitch a whirlwind success (along with the subsequent sequels), the author trains her focus on the eco-friendly household. True to her brand's form, Barnouin's latest dispenses disturbing information about the toxicity and overall evilness of standard household items. She warns of benzene in paint and furniture (a known carcinogen), BPA in plastics (which imitates estrogen in the body and causes myriad health problems), phthalates in nail polish (linked to cancer in lab animals) and many more. Part of the series' appeal emerges from the author's ability make hippie philosophies seem glamorous, and this installment is no different. She explores each topic with girly banter and a good dose of verbal lashing. Some of Barnouin's mantras will be too hardcore for average readers, such as avoiding bleach as a cleaning product. And her advice to abandon wardrobe purchases consisting of polyester, non-organic cotton, leather, down, fur or fabric dyes will leave fashionistas with little to wear. Those wondering if any of their possessions are safe may find solace in the decidedly more mellow segments on gardening, recycling, essential oils and DIY facials. Ladies seeking an irreverent guide to an eco-friendly home will enjoy this fun primer.

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September 15, 2011

Since 2005, Barnouin has spread the "Skinny Bitch" series message with coauthor Rory Freedman. In Barnouin's second solo book, after Skinny Bitch: Ultimate Everyday Cookbook, she expands the discussion of cruelty-free, environmentally friendly living beyond the kitchen. She explains how toxins from household items such as paint and upholstery affect our bodies and the environment. Clothing and personal beauty items are similarly scrutinized with the sass and attitude (e.g., the subsection "Toxins in Our Hoo-Has") found in Barnouin's previous books. In sections like "The Shit List: The Worst Ingredients in Your Medicine Cabinet," her casual approach and clear language help consumers decipher labels full of chemical compounds. She also advocates sustainable-living practices as ways to avoid unhealthy products and overconsumption in general. Ample endnotes (primarily citing websites) allow readers to find more information, and the author provides specific product recommendations. VERDICT By now the target demographic knows what to expect from a "Skinny Bitch" title, and they will not be disappointed by Barnouin's latest book.--Meagan Storey, Virginia Beach

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