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christinalepre's review
4.0
Though it could've been about 100 pages shorter, I really enjoyed this book and found it to be extremely informative.
canadianbookworm's review
4.0
I loved this book. I have been following the environmental issue and politicians' responses to it for a few years, but Friedman really brings it together here. He doesn't shy away from the realities of what we have done and what we need to do, but he does make it seem possible. I found the chapter on China and what it is doing particularly interesting. We in the west need to get our politicians away from using the environmental agenda against each other and work together so we strengthen our own countries and face this world issue with leadership. It made me think about what I was doing (the "easy" things like changing light bulbs and installing a more efficient furnace and windows), to what I could do. I discovered there is a solar initiative in my own neighbourhood and am going to their next meeting. This is a book that everyone should read. I found it energizing me to take action.
dannewton's review
4.0
It took me a long time to read this book. A damn long time. But it was worth slogging through. Friedman outlines why we are in trouble which to many, including myself seems quite obvious. However, Friedman does an excellent job outlining how the problem can be fixed and money can be made by doing so. Making money is the only thing that matters in corporate America and it is/should be the prime motivator for the changes we need.
Unlike many other environmental books HF&C doesn't preach that you, an individual is going to be able to save the world through living the "green" life. Though doing so will help. Friedman focuses his energy on large scale changes that can make large scale changes and tells us that it isn't going to be an easy thing to do. There is still hope, but only if we act swiftly and forcefully.
Unlike many other environmental books HF&C doesn't preach that you, an individual is going to be able to save the world through living the "green" life. Though doing so will help. Friedman focuses his energy on large scale changes that can make large scale changes and tells us that it isn't going to be an easy thing to do. There is still hope, but only if we act swiftly and forcefully.
scottkirkwood's review
4.0
I'm still reading this book, but I'm disappointed with his section on 'crowded'.
Friedman mentions (correctly) that there will be 9.6 billion people on the planet in 2053. What he fails to mention is that 9.6 is probably going to be the maximum population and that from then on will slowly decline to less than 9.6.
Not mentioning this makes it appear that the population will continue to grow for ever larger for those who aren't up on their demographics.
The book is also preaching to Americans, which I'm not - so the whole book comes off a little whiny to me.
Friedman mentions (correctly) that there will be 9.6 billion people on the planet in 2053. What he fails to mention is that 9.6 is probably going to be the maximum population and that from then on will slowly decline to less than 9.6.
Not mentioning this makes it appear that the population will continue to grow for ever larger for those who aren't up on their demographics.
The book is also preaching to Americans, which I'm not - so the whole book comes off a little whiny to me.
vlad's review
4.0
Excellent writing (clear, vivid, entertaining) full of anecdotes and data. Better written than most books that cover these issues. And that's its flaw. Many books cover these same topics, and though none of the rest are as well written as this one, this book doesn't advance more effective proposals, nor does it necessarily arrive at any unique insight about how to deal with the problem of our failure as a species to address climate change or its impacts. I don't expect a miracle fix, but I'm still hoping for someone that can preach beyond the ranks of the already converted. We don't have that voice yet.
tedtschopp's review
3.0
The book is a decent read, but problematic in several parts. It seems that today the idea of editing books over time is starting to make authors lazy. I suspect that future versions of this might be a bit better.
jayme's review
1.0
Amazingly boring. That was 17 brutally long chapters, that just went on and on, without making much in the way of an original contribution. Here are three of the things that drove me nuts about this book:
1. More concerned with coining a new word or phrase than writing an interesting book. eg. "Hot, Flat, and Crowded", "Energy-climate Era", and "Out-greening". That last one he was trying to popularize for a friend...
2. Writing style. It was much more obvious in the audio book I bet, but the writing style was so formulaic. His sentences more often than not were simply lists of words and then an explanation. eg. "If America can't quit being green, purple, and blue, then it's never going to be red."
3. Very few original thoughts. I didn't learn enough reading this book. If I'm going to spend my time reading an envornmental work, I want it to make me think about the issues under a new light.
Bottom line, there are other books that are better written and more thought provoking than this one, on environmental issues. Definitely wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
1. More concerned with coining a new word or phrase than writing an interesting book. eg. "Hot, Flat, and Crowded", "Energy-climate Era", and "Out-greening". That last one he was trying to popularize for a friend...
2. Writing style. It was much more obvious in the audio book I bet, but the writing style was so formulaic. His sentences more often than not were simply lists of words and then an explanation. eg. "If America can't quit being green, purple, and blue, then it's never going to be red."
3. Very few original thoughts. I didn't learn enough reading this book. If I'm going to spend my time reading an envornmental work, I want it to make me think about the issues under a new light.
Bottom line, there are other books that are better written and more thought provoking than this one, on environmental issues. Definitely wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
diegolau's review
4.0
“A place where birds don’t fly is a place where people don’t mix, ideas don’t ged sparked, friendships don’t get forged, stereotypes don’t get broken, collaboration doesn’t happen, trust doesn’t get built, and freedom doesn’t ring. That is not the kind of place we want America to be. That is not the kind of place we can afford America to be.”
ifoundtheme's review
5.0
Concise, compelling, and holistic, this systems-level view is a standout for its treatment of environmental issues in a geopolitical context.