Signed "Things I would like to do with You," by Waylon H. Lewis. Eco Forest Green Edition.

This copy is signed by the author. 

"Love is about finding one's match, which means we shall touch our minds and hearts together at once, and never condescend or aim for any goal between us but the truth." 

ABOUT THE BOOK:

"Things I would like to do with You" is about love. A love for a new generation—a love that includes room for independence, change, humor...even loneliness. Poetically searching through four seasons, Things is a sweet book to curl up with.  

Includes original illustrations and calligraphy by the author.

Note: Want to get one and gift one? Buy two and the second book is half-price. See the 2 Books! Things Gift Set listing (signed or unsigned).

NEW FOREST, FOURTH EDITION.

Even more eco-responsible! Instead of toxic glue, this is Smyth-sewn, making it heirloom-able (it'll last generations, it's a work of craft). What little glue is needed is non-toxic. It's processed chlorine-free, with 100% recycled, Forest Stewardship Council paper via Neenah Conservation. The ink is "green" (don't worry, it's black) and is low-VOC & veggie-based. The lovely Forest Green Kennett cloth cover is 100% cotton fabric (compostable!) with starch (not plastic—every other book in the United States now is plastic-coated, making it mildly toxic and uncompostable/recyclable, like, ever!) coating. 

It's printed locally, saving tons of carbon emissions (many books are printed overseas, now, or far from their distribution). D&K, our local, family-owned printer, is certified for Waste Diversion by PACE, recycling all scrap metals, chemicals, papers & cardboard. Printing locally saves tons of carbon & supports local jobs.

Every book purchased is karmically-offset by PrintReleaf. Since our paper is 100% PCW, our tree usage is zero—so our participation in PrintReleaf plants 36 extra trees!  

We don't use faceless, sketchy shipping offices where workers' rights can be...questionable. All Elephant orders are packed and shipped by hand and with love by our shop manager, Elizabeth, who draws a heart on every package. The packaging it comes in is recycled, unbleached. The tape is paper, not plastic.

May it be of benefit!

"Love is no thing, and nothing is a gift, space is a playground, and time and distance are merely cold peaks and green valleys in the topography of genuine love. Love does not require a map: it makes its way across the miles. Love does not heed the time; it does not care for one or two moons. Love is not bothered by obstacles—they form the high sides to the left and right of this rocky path. This path does not depend upon external signs: love will find its own way. And my love will wait, a tiger in the tall grass, and my love will relax and curl up then stretch out and nap and sigh. I am here."


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Waylon Lewis likes to think he snowshoes hut-to-hut and builds nail-less tiny houses in trees while drinking wild-crafted teas from herbs he has gathered in the woods beside his faithful half-hound, Redford. In reality, he founded Elephant Journal, is a mediocre climber and a lazy yogi, loves vegan food and bikes on the daily.

 

FROM THE BOOK: ABOUT THE BOOKINESS OF THIS BOOK. 

We all love books. We all love independent bookstores. But the physical creation of a book, these days, is horrible. Most books are printed overseas, plastic-coated, with toxic glues and toxic inks. Clear-cutting and monoculture tree farms abound. Vegetable inks are better, but still iffy. Paper is chlorine-ful (which kills biodiversity in our watersheds). Books are carbon-heavy to ship, especially if printed far-away, and book stores (those surviving the leach that is Amazon) return most (unsold) books to most publishers (those surviving the leaching presence of Amazon). Finally, recycling plastic and toxic books is energy-intensive and toxic.

The book you hold in your hands is about the healing power of Nature and true love. I therefore could not print with a Big Publisher or feed this book to Amazon. So we went our own way. Our hard-won achievements include: printing in the USA (and, locally!—46 blocks from my home); keeping the cover plastic-free; using 100% recycled, 100% chlorine-free paper that’s sewn, not toxic glued; printing with the best inks available; and offsetting every book and its shipping with a donation to...plant trees. Finally, Amazon is a book bully: bad for publishers, authors and readers (search “New Yorker: ’Cheap Words’”). I am therefore distributing this book independently, giving up national distribution. If so inspired, invite a local bookstore to carry Things, or a friend to get a copy: elephantjournal.com/shop.

 

"I do not want my idea of you. That is too easy, and it is not real. I want you, faults and all. And I want you to want me, faults and all, not any ideas you have about love."

  

A THANK YOU FROM THE AUTHOR.

This fourth edition is the eco-est book yet, that we know of. It’s far “greener” than the first, second, or third editions, which were already far more eco-responsible than most books out there. Why? We all must care about our Planet, and raise the bar for other authors, publishers, and printers. And, if you know of someone doing anything better than us, please let us know—we’re all about improving and sharing what we’ve learned. Let’s create an eco book movement.

This book is now (I’m told by the owner) the best-selling book, ever, at our local independent Boulder Book Store. That’s a big
bookstore, and a big honor. That’s all thanks to you.

This book was rejected for distribution by Ingram, the monopoly of book distribution, and we’ve never pushed it on Amazon, though it’s generally available there. This book is about creating something healthy, not toxic. Thanks to our Kickstarter fans and benefactors, our first edition of 2,000 books sold out fast. Thanks to our Elephant readers and Instagram fans, the next 20,000 sold steadily. And now, thanks to you, we continue to improve upon what has become, it seems, a timeless, yet timely classic.