BOOKS
BOOKS
Adventures in ECO Land: My Humorous Take on Going Green
Adventures in ECO Land: My Humorous Take on Going Green applies a light touch to a heavy subject, the environment. But with catchy chapter titles such as “Meat Me Halfway,” “Bye, Bye Bathtub,” and “Dishing the Dirt on Dishwashers,” the book manages to address everyday topics in a way that entertains as well as enlightens. Adventures also features many photos of marvelous assemblages made from found objects. They just go to show that one man’s trash is another man’s (or woman’s) treasure.
REVIEWS FOR ADVENTURES IN ECO LAND
“I applaud Barbara for making sustainable living not only do-able but fun. In this book she takes on the big subjects, such as colonizing the moon, as well as the little subjects, such as swearing off plastic straws. Even if you’ve never recycled a paper bag in your life, Adventures in ECO Land will raise your awareness of environmental issues and do so in a most entertaining way.”
— Ed Begley, Jr., actor and environmentalist
“Barbara looks at the big environmental challenges we face and creates personal and funny stories that inspire us to make important changes in our own lives. She gently reminds us that we all have a part to play every day.”
— Dennis Thompson, FAIA, LEED AP, Citizens’ Climate Lobby
THIS OLD BODY: And 99 Other Reasons to Laugh at Life
Personal essays on the ridiculousness of aging
It’s clean, it’s clever, it’s anything but clichéd, This Old Body speaks to all of us who aren’t what we once were. With such witty titles as, “Where, Oh, Where Has My Little Waist Gone?” and “The World is Round but my Feet are Flat,” Barbara Greenleaf will get you laughing at the everyday humiliations and aggravations that befall people of a certain age. In addition, she treats you to quick takes by other funny people. In the book’s first section, “Aging: Why Didn’t Anybody Warn Me,” Barbara pokes fun at our physical decline. In the second section, “Married Since the First Crusade,” she kids around about her eons of marital bliss. And in the third section, “Muddling Through the Modern World,” she good-naturedly lampoons family occasions, airplane seatmates, oldies concerts, and dietary fads. When Barbara has read out loud from This Old Body, audience members raved: “I felt she was speaking just to me,” “Entertaining as hell,” “Made us feel we’re all in this aging thing together.” Wonderful birthday, host, and holiday book for all the Baby Boomer and above men and women in your life. One for them, one for you . . .
REVIEW FOR THIS OLD BODY
“You don't have to be middle-aged to laugh at Barbara's unique take on the ups and, especially, the downs of getting older. At our readings people of all ages responded to her hilarious and relatable personal essays and poems. Barbara speaks to the universal human condition in all its humor and absurdity.”
— Kelly Grogan, founder, Out Loud Literary Readings
PARENTS OF ADULT CHILDREN: You Are Not Alone
Advice from the real experts: parents just like you
There’s no end to the thorny issues facing adult families today and Parents of Adult Children: You Are Not Alone covers many of them. From the difficult-in-law to downsizing; from giving money to giving advice; from sibling rivalry to personal boundaries; from staying connected to twenty-somethings staying at home; from estate planning to leaving a legacy—this book has it all. Often, Barbara presents these issues in Dear Abbey-like scenarios followed by a panel’s advice. You can then ask yourself, how would you handle it? She also features interviews with family relationship experts and guest contributions. Finally, she includes select comments from parents who followed her blog. By the end, parents will understand their adult children better and they will have new tools for making their interactions as happy and rewarding as possible.
REVIEW FOR PARENTS OF ADULT CHILDREN
After following the blog, "Parents of Adult Children," many readers wrote in to say how much they benefited from it. Here's a typical message: "I so enjoy your posts. They fill a need that is often not met, specifically, to receive sound insights, approaches, and advice for our age segment, and, equally, to express one's stance on important family issues. I find most valuable the topics of money (in all its manifestations), grandchild rearing, and lifestyle." P.D.
GOOD-TO-GO CAFÉ: A Novel for Business-Minded Teens
Young entrepreneurs get a side dish of business how-to along with lots of hope
Barbara Greenleaf dishes up a winning recipe in Good-to-Go Café: Take one half-Hispanic/half-Jewish teenager, mix with useful tips on becoming a chef, throw in a pinch of cooking school, a cup of hilarious catering experiences (including a wayward 700-pound pig), and stir with gang pressure until, voilà! you’ve got the inspiring story of high school senior Enrique Sanchez. Enrique tries one food service venture after another with decidedly mixed results. At the same time, he is seeking a personal identity, looking out for a younger brother with Asperger’s syndrome, and falling for a very special girl. Enrique has a lot on his plate! As actress and youth mentor Rosie Perez says, “So many kids have so much to overcome, and Enrique’s story gives them hope that they, too, will be able to find their way despite the huge obstacles they face.” Good-to-Go Café shows that even if you’re not a genius in school, you can be a success in the real world. Includes questions for discussion.
REVIEW FOR GOOD-TO-GO CAFÉ
What a pleasure to read a book about a teenage Hispanic boy who is not a problem! On the contrary, Good-to-Go-Café's hero, Enrique Sanchez, is driven to succeed--but can he ever measure up to the sky-high expectations of his immigrant father? So many kids have so much to overcome, and Enrique's story gives them hope that they, too, will be able to make their way in the world despite the huge obstacles they face.
— Rosie Perez, Actress and Co-Founder of Urban Arts Partnership
ANIMAL KINGDOM: A Novel for Business-Minded Teens
A pet store becomes the catalyst for turning a loser into a winner
Anything can happen in a pet store and it does in Barbara Greenleaf’s uplifting, poignant—and often very funny—story of a girl in search of herself. It shows that when teens find something that they’re passionate about, the sky is the limit. Although Jennifer is bright, she drops out of school during a bout of depression. She works her way out of her malaise by taking a job in a neighborhood pet store, where she excels at catering to eccentric pet owners. When the opportunity to buy the business arises, Jennifer’s family rallies around to make her dream come true. But that dream is about to become a nightmare in ways that Jennifer could never have imagined. An easy-to-swallow primer on entrepreneurship, a relatable story of a girl growing up, and an even-handed exploration of the animal rights movement, Animal Kingdom is the ideal springboard for meaningful dialogue about many of the issues confronting teens today. Includes questions for discussion.
REVIEWS FOR ANIMAL KINGDOM
“The Junior Achievement mission to empower young people to enjoy future economic success is beautifully brought to life in Animal Kingdom. It is an entertaining and practical primer for exploring entrepreneurship.”
— Stephanie Bell, Director of Marketing & Media Relations, JA Worldwide®
“Barbara Greenleaf understands that finding what interests our teen entrepreneurs is the key to success for educators, parents, and teachers: We excel at what we’re interested in. She intertwines this theme with fascinating information about both business and animals.”
— Lee Knodel, Instructor, Virtual Enterprise Class, Santa Barbara High School
KEEP ‘EM ROLLING: A business-minded teens novel
A love for cars helps convert a passion into a profession
High school senior Sunny Chung takes a class in auto repair at her local community college, the first step in fulfilling her dream of going into the automotive industry. Her father, a first-generation Chinese immigrant, wants her to become a computer programmer like him and not what he looks down upon as a "grease monkey." In the course of the novel, which is partially set in the early days of COVID-19, Sunny overcomes her shyness, learns to stand up for herself, navigates a wholesome relationship with a boy, and takes newfound pride in her Chinese-American community. It’s intergenerational, inspiring—and often funny. As they become immersed in the story, readers will learn some smart business techniques, car care and lore, and a smattering of Chinese-American customs. Ages 14 – Adult.
REVIEWS FOR KEEP 'EM ROLLING
“At Virtual Enterprises International, we provide students with the unique experience of running a business from the ground up—empowering them to obtain the skills and knowledge they will need to solve complex problems and think like an entrepreneur. As they test drive future careers, they learn to work collaboratively and use technology as applied in business. Keep ’Em Rolling exemplifies our mission. For many years Barbara Greenleaf mentored VEI students at her local high school, and the result is this relatable and inspirational story of a girl who learns to stand up for herself to realize her dreams.”
— Iris Blanc, Founder, Virtual Enterprises International, Inc.
“As a first generation Chinese-American with an independent-minded daughter of my own, I applaud Barbara Greenleaf for depicting Sunny Chung, her family, and her community in a positive but realistic light.”
— Susette H.H.C. Naylor, A.I.A. Member Emerita
“I often encountered students who were determined and resourceful but lacked self-confidence. With encouragement and guidance, though, they found their way in the world. This novel will help others find their way, too.”
— Anna Kwong, M.B.A. Chair, Antioch University Santa Barbara
EARLIER BOOKS
Four of Barbara’s books are no longer in print, but they are often available used on Amazon:
HELP: A Handbook for Working Mothers with Louis Schaffer, M.D.
Children Through the Ages: A History of Childhood
America Fever: The Story of American Immigration
Forward March to Freedom: A Biography of A. Philip Randolph (juvenile)