A Swindon scientist has completed his 31st book after uncovering ‘ecological lies’.

Brian Clegg, of Upper Wanborough, published Ecologic last Friday, after spending a year on the project.

He retiring in 2004 to focus solely on writing and says the book unmasks companies which claim to be green but which act as ‘eco-bogeymen’ taking advantage of people’s inclinations to go green.

It also attempts to assist people concerned with environmental issues, to act logically rather than falling for what he calls ‘greenwash’.

“What the book is really trying to say is that we have a natural tendency to get emotional about the environment,” said the Cambridge Physics graduate.

“The trouble with that is that we often fall for things that don’t represent reality.

“For example the big oil companies giving the impression they are green without actually being so.

An example is people talking about the benefits of organic food because they are scared about pesticides.

“A lot of natural things are more dangerous than chemicals – the problem is that when humans hear the word ‘natural’ we get a warm and fuzzy feeling but it doesn’t always mean that it is good because it’s natural.”

He goes on to argue that another example is the Toyota Prius, which actually emits more carbon dioxide than a BMW 3 series car if it is driven mostly on motorways and country roads rather than on city roads.

Ecologic is largely made up from Brian’s own environmental research, and features a wide range of interviews with people and experts, including Helen Browning, an organic farmer from Bishopstone, and a former chairman of the soil association.

Brian has sold more than 100,000 books and has written on a wide variety of subject including business to non-fiction.

A BBC book review said: “Every paragraph pits your heart against your head.

“It’s a cracking read for anyone who cares about both their environmental footprint and their sanity in a world being flooded with greenwash and gobbledegook.”

The £9.99 book is available in most major bookstores including Swindon’s Waterstones and Borders.

Further information at www.brianclegg.net.