5 comments about The Great Lakes Water Wars.

1. As a former resident of northeastern Ohio, growing up near the shores of Lake Erie, I expected to be captivated by Peter Annin's treatise on the water resources issues of the Great Lakes, and it did not disappoint. But I think there's plenty here for anyone interested in the expanding issue of water resource diversion, as it spreads from the notoriously thirsty southwest to the Great Lakes, which house 20% of the world's fresh surface waters.
   
   The five lakes in the Great Lakes surface water drainage basin seem inexhaustible and have, for centuries, been treated that way by neighboring states and provinces. Massive pollution identified in the 1960s raised the first indication of the Lakes' vulnerability. Annin tackles the issues of water resource allocation in three sections. The first sets the stage by talking about surface water resource challenges generally, from the difference between water rights assumptions in the eastern and western US, to the disastrous overuse of the Aral Sea in the former USSR, to the unknown problems that will result from global warming.
   
   The second section uses stories to articulate the political and economic challenges surrounding six specific water diversion cases in the Great Lakes basin. The third explains the attempts by the eight states and two provinces within the Great Lakes basin to agree on political and legal mechanisms for protecting and preserving this enormous resource. His book ends with a cliffhanger; in late 2005, an historic regional agreement was signed by all the states and provinces in the basin but it must be codified into law by each state and US Congress. His website tracks its progress: [..]



2. I started out to skim Peter Annin's book, determine what to say, and decide how to write a requested review. I had no trouble becoming completely engrossed at the start of the Author's Note and Prologue, and read the whole thing. Cover to cover. I do not need to abridge all its contents in great detail, nor could I begin to accomplish that task as eloquently, chronologically, and thoroughly as does the author anyway. What's more, the stories presented are fascinating and rapidly ensnare the reader. It will be of value to active professionals, students, politicians, NGO participants, and elected officials as well as to residents of the Great Lakes Basin, and to those who think they can tap into its abundant waters. What's more, it is informative and fun to read.



3. "Water Wars" is not only a fascinating study of the controversies over fresh water, but also a dissection of the political process. Not since I read "1776" have I been more amazed that this country succeeds in spite of itself. Peter Annin details in minute detail the efforts of the 8 Great Lakes States and 2 Canadian Provinces as they try to protect and yes, profit from, the huge repository of fresh water that they border. I am full of admiration for the people who have worked for decades to try to protect this natural resource, forging agreements only to see them scuttled at the last minute. The book represents a tremendous amount of meticulous research and I found it very informative.



4. Every day, twice a day, I travel along the shores of Lake Erie. When traffic permits, I can't help but look out over the waters of the lake. It is not more than a mile from my house, we vacation on an island in it, we get our tap water from it, and it moderates our weather. In short, while we rarely think about it, it is always there, involved in our life.
   
   I am now thinking more about Lake Erie, and the other Great Lakes, thanks to The Great Lakes Water Wars by Peter Annin.
   
   Contents:
   Author's Note
   Prologue
   Chapter 1: To Have and Have Not
   Chapter 2: The Aral Experiment
   Chapter 3: Rising Temperatures, Falling Water?
   Chapter 4: Aversion to Diversion
   Chapter 5: Reversing a River
   Chapter 6: Long Lac and Ogoki
   Chapter 7: Pleasing Pleasant Prairie
   Chapter 8: Sacrificing Lowell
   Chapter 9: Tapping Mud Creek
   Chapter 10: Akron Gets the Nod
   Chapter 11: The Nova Group and Annex 2001
   Chapter 12: Marching toward a Compact
   Chapter 13: Waukesha Worries
   Chapter 14: Who Will Win the War?
   Epilogue
   www.greatlakeswaterwars.com
   Notes
   Index
   
   Early in the book, Peter Annin looks at the Aral Sea, probably the worst ecological disaster man has wrought upon the environment. While the reader may be aware of it, Annin takes a much more detailed look at the reasons an ramifications behind that "experiment." Using Central Asia as a cautionary tale, he goes around the world to the Great Lakes Basin, an area that is home to 40 million people in two countries. Using a well researched and balanced approach to the issue of water use and policy, he brings to the forefront a war that is raging within the United States and Canada over the use of the Great Lakes. This is not a new war, but it is one that is taking on importance since the fastest growing areas of the United States are also the ones that are farthest from sources of freshwater. It is also an issue within sight of a Great Lake, as seen in the reversal of the flow of the Chicago River and in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Annin's approach to the issue makes it accessible to the general reader. While the idea of reading a book centered on water may seem "dry" (sorry about that), he does an excellent job of bringing the issues to life by incorporating maps, graphics, and recent water cases. Some, like Akron, OH, strike close to home. He delves into the policies that shape Great Lakes water use, made more difficult because the governing body includes all states and provinces that are on the shoreline of a Great Lake. The characters and personalities involved in the policy-making liven up the chapters. I was surprised to learn that Ohio's own Sam Speck, head of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, had a key role in the discussions. He not only reports on the governments and their policies, but also on the business and environmental viewpoints as well. While he leaves the discussion in late 2005, early 2006, his website, greatlakeswaterwars.com, will provide you with additional information and updates, making this a "living" book.
   
   I live within a watershed that contains 20% of all of the freshwater in the world. Four of the lakes rank in the top ten largest freshwater lakes by area. Three of the lakes rank in the top ten freshwater lakes in volume. I have known, for a while, that I live in a very unique area of the United States. While many of my parent's friends moved to warmer climes, I kept wondering where they expected to get their water. As more people move to places that shouldn't exist, like Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles, my source of freshwater will take on new and important meaning. This point was driven home when Annin reported on the issues facing Waukesha, WI. That is a place where people move with no regard to water. And they have a major issue. How many others move without asking about the natural resources available to them? What about you? Is the only time you think about water is when your city tells you not to water your lawn? This is an important book, not only for the people that live within the Great Lakes Basin, but as a glimpse into an issue that will shape the future of the United States, Canada, and other parts of the world. It is also a review of how the Great Lakes states and provinces view water use and conservation. While we may share the resource, we don't share the same viewpoint, and that was a real education.
   
   Annin provides a lot of facts and figures, but they don't bog down the reader. He tries to keep the book flowing (again, sorry) and does a very good job, especially when he brings the people into the discussion. Breaking up the work, by using some key graphics and pictures, keeps the material interesting and also allows the reader to gain further insight into the issues. Some of his notes further expand on the points he was making, and also provide additional reading material, if you want to know more about the Great Lakes Basin and key information in the chapters.
   
   Highly recommended.



5. As a hydrologist in the Great Lakes' basin, this book is a great read. It brings the science into lay terms, without making gross generalizations. Easy to read, and highly interesting. Even after studying Great Lakes water issues for 3 years, I learned a think or two. Change begins with awareness.

5 comments about When Corporations Rule the World.

1. How corporations developed and expanded their power and influence; how they operate today; and what the stakes are for individuals and states as a new form of governance and administration consolidates its power worldwide. Well-written and compelling. The political issue no politician (except for Ralph Nader) dares to acknowledge, much less confront.



2. Great to read through. Some good brain food. But the solutions he espouses are reminiscent of some 1970's feel good scenario.



3. I can't say enough about When Corporations Rule the World. Everyone in the US especially should read this book. The mega corporation has changed living in this world to the detriment of all mankind. When there exists an entity, whose sole purpose is to make money to perpetuate itself, and it is put in charge of such delicate matters as healthcare (private insurance- among other sectors), it is a no-brainer that human beings lose time and time again. People in the US and around the world don't realize how deep a hold corporations have over their daily existence. They also do not realize the power that we as a people have to break this hold if we act in concert for the good of humans and the environment on which we depend for our livelihoods and health. That we have GIVEN power away to coporations and the people that run them, is a sad commentary on the human state of being. We MUST ACT now to fight against corporations. START NOW BY READING THIS BOOK!



4. "When Corporations Rule the World" is thoroughly documented and very accurate.
   David Korten describes the many tentacles of global corporations. He examines the details surrounding the case of Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad as the beginning of corporations receiving the same rights as individual citizens.
   
   He covers the rise of corporate power in the 1880's and 1890's. President Rutherford B. Hayes observed- "This is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people no more. It is a government of corporations, by corporations, and for corporations."
   
   The author assesses the "free" market and "free" trade as instruments that allow global corporations to plan and organize world economic affairs to enrich themselves without any consequences regarding the environment or workers.
   Mr. Korten explains why capitalism favors the limited liability corporation. It provides unlimited, concentrated power with very limited accountability or legal liability.
   He favors corporate charters because there is accountability. Charters are a priviledge rather than a right.
   
   Mr. Korten examines the flawed projections that served as propaganda for NAFTA's passage. He emphasizes that while government shares some of the blame, the "giant corporations that owe no allegiance to place, people, or human interest" are the benficiaries.
   From page 133- "The game of global competition is rigged. It pits companies against people in a contest that the people almost always lose."
   Another accurate view on page 207 states- "The argument that globalization increases competition is simply false. To the contrary, it strengthens tendencies toward global-scale monopoly."
   
   The author explains why GATT and the WTO are bad for the general public, great for global corporations. I disagree with his idea of keeping either the U.N. family of organizations or the Bretton Woods group. Why not get rid of them all?
   
   His take on the China trade agreement was on point. The day after Bill Clinton signed the China trade agreement the Wall Street Journal "noted the real reason the corporate establishment put it's full lobbying weight behind the China Trade Bill: to guarantee that U.S. companies could safely move more production to China with assured access to U.S. markets." Does anyone else remember the Chinese campaign contributions to Clinton?
   
   The author has some intriguing solutions in the book. His idea of eliminating income tax on the lower income levels is one positive step. However I don't agree with some of his ideas. Guaranteed income is one of them.
   
   
   "When Corporations Rule the World" is a sobering assessment of corporate greed that respects no borders. While it is somewhat dated, I recommend it.



5. You know, sometimes the synchronicities of my life amaze even myself. Here I started reading this book "When Corporations Rule The World" by David Korten, and all of a sudden, the US economy tanks and all sorts of corporations and banks start going under faster than Congress' credibility. And sure, we all had been watching it happening for awhile, being built up inside yet another unsustainable bubble and driven by mass speculation and corruption as it was, but the really big piles of fecal matter hit the air circulation devices in late September/early October . . . right as I was reading this book. (A few years ago I had written another review for the book "The New Pearl Harbor" by David Ray Griffin, about 9/11 and the Bush administration . . . right as the so-called "terrorist" attacks in Britain occurred.)
   
   Why is this synchronicity important? Well, Mr. Korten has revealed some really pertinent information in this book that, quite frankly, has a lot to do with said situation. He wrote the first edition back in 1995, and it is now considered a classic. The whole book might as well be a Cliff Notes reader for the economic "disaster" and "bailout" happening at this very moment. In fact, check out this quote from page 188: "Speculation is another form of extractive investment. The financial speculator is engaged in little more than a sophisticated form of gambling - betting on the rise and fall of selected prices. When a speculator wins, he or she is simply capturing claims to wealth created by others. When a large speculator funded with borrowed money loses, the survival of major financial institutions may be placed at risk, resulting in demands for a public bailout to save the financial system from collapse. In either instance, the public loses. Rarely does a speculator's activity contribute to the wealth or well-being of society." Seeing as how Congress and the Bush administration have simply put the proverbial band-aid over the crack in the dam, and yet again sold their souls to corporate rule rather than fixing the system that actually FED the troubles (pardon the pun), methinks David Korten is presently shaking his head and saying "I told you so."
   
   I highly recommend this book. Part V ("Reclaiming Our Power") and Part VI ("From Corporate Rule To Civil Society") offer fantastic, practical and empowering ideas on how the people can take back the power that was stolen from them by the corporations. As an example, he suggests we start by stripping the corporations of their "personhood" that was essentially given to them with the 1886 Supreme Court decision of Santa Clara County vs. Southern Pacific Railroad. This is the reason we have lost so much of our political power - the fact that corporations have the same citizens' rights as do the citizens (and of course, we all know they actually have MORE rights since they have more money.) He is not shy in saying that the source of troubles in the world (economic, political, and environmental) stem from the unrestrained clout and muscle held by corporations and "predatory capitalism." He also emphasizes the importance of the anti-WTO protests in Seattle in 1999 and even suggests massive decentralization of governmental powers.
   
   This is a most timely review. More importantly, it is a most timely book, one that is sure to enlighten the reader with necessary, alternative views of the current economic situation.

4 comments about Don't Throw It Out: Recycle, Renew and Reuse to Make Things Last.

1. Landfills in the US are full to bursting, and the economy is heading into a recession. How can one person make a difference? Lori Baird and the editors of Yankee Magazine have the answers in Don't Throw It Out: Recycle, Renew, and Reuse to Make Things Last.
   
   This comprehensive book addresses the items in every room in the house, plus outdoors. Want to make your appliances last longer? Tips and tricks help you keep them running in top shape for as long as possible. Has something reached the end of its useful life? Then re-purpose it. With a little creativity, you can find many more ways it can be used.
   
   Proper wood cleaning techniques and solutions are explained, designed to keep your furniture in great condition. And if your wood furniture has already suffered neglect, don't despair. It can be given new life with some nifty cosmetic touch-ups.
   
   There are times when an item is simply beyond repair, or has become too expensive to operate. "Fix-it or Forget-it" tips show you when it's time to simply let go. And fun quizzes test your domestic know-how.
   
   Don't Throw It Out has changed the way I look at my home. It's so easy to implement the suggestions, and it feels great to know I'm conserving energy and creating less waste. One person really can make a difference. Pick up a copy and you can, too. The planet will thank you.
   
   Reviewer: Alice Berger



2. Lori Baird and the editors of Yankee Magazine have compiled a helpful and informative guide for 'planet friendly' use of common household items. I remember reading a similar earlier publication by the company and appreciated this updated book. I did, however, find a few of the 'Domestic Challenge' sections, included at the end of each chapter, annoying and confusing. Having to consider a few fictitious ideas interspersed among many worthwhile ones doesn't work at all for me. Originally, I had almost decided not to read the book any further, having, by chance, come across one of these sections when I first opened the book. But Baird's inclusion of so many unique, interesting, and tried and true ideas kept me reading to the end, after I started at the beginning. The book is nicely formatted and contains a wealth of suggestions and directives, an appendix with many resources, and an easy-to-use index.



3. Don't Throw It Out: Recycle, Renew and Reuse to Make Things Last, by Lori Baird, is terrific! I imagine anyone who is environmentally aware knows of the three R's--reduce, reuse, recycle--this book adds renew for a twist.
   
   The book covers virtually everything inside and outside the home. For example, the kitchen, chapter one, addresses everything from how to get the most efficient life out of your appliances to elongating the life of food. That's the practical side of the book.
   
   Then there are the creative aspects--the renewing. Have an old wood table that is beyond fixing the marred surface? No problem--make a tile top!
   
   Baird recommends purchasing only well made furniture, because good quality furniture will last forever, thus keeping it out of landfill. There are great tips on the signs to look for in quality furniture. For example,"5 signs a chair will wear well."
   
   In the lawn and garden accessories, "15 Ways to Reuse an Old Garden Hose" is a winner! who knew? (Next time, buy a quality hose, is the sage advice.)
   
   This book is just loaded with practical and creative tips, projects and advice. For those new to the environmentally-friendly lifestyle, this book could change your life. For those seasoned tree-huggers, Don't Throw it Out will still provide tons of new and useful information.
   
   A winner!
   
   By the author of the award winning book, Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify and Energize Your Life, Your Home and Your Planet.



4. This book is certainly idea-packed! Some of them I like, like making critter toys from old toothbrushes (although I'll leave the bristles on) and making fitted sheets out of flat ones (an idea I'd considered before, although I hadn't worked out all the details). Some, however, I wouldn't do, like seriously skimping on laundry soap; my grandma did that, believing that soap fades clothes, and her laundry reeked. I wonder, though, why there was no mention of Freecycle as a means for getting rid of unwanted stuff? I couldn't believe it wasn't in there and even looked in the index, but no. I find Freecycle to be invaluable for both giving and receiving old stuff.
   
   Interesting "encyclopedia" for dealing with "junk" that probably has something for everybody!!

5 comments about The Real Wealth of Nations: Creating a Caring Economics (BK Currents (Hardcover)).

1. This book was my first interaction with the work of Dr. Eisler and I was deeply moved by the concept of partnership and the need to place a higher value on caring and traditionally 'feminine' values.
   
   The finance major in me was left very impressed at times, and rather disappointed at other times throughout the book. Dr. Eisler makes use of some great examples of companies that increase productivity, decrease turnover and breed hierarchies of actualization, specifically naming a software company that had daycare on site. She also discusses some great examples of how Scandanavian countries include fathers in the child-raising process, citing an example that requires couples having children take a combined 16 weeks off to care for the child and at least 6 of those weeks must be the working parent.
   
   I was a little disappointed that she used life expectancy and GDP as measures of how well women were treated in different countries. Her point is well taken, but statistics betray her. She discusses France and Kuwait having similar GDPs, but France having significantly more gender equality thus yielding longer lives, etc. This specific example is true enough, but women are treated much more as equals in Scandanavian countries than they are in Japan, and yet they live longer in Japan.
   
   She is rightfully very critical of executive compensation, short-term thinking, materialism and the ongoing dispute about what resources should be in public hands and which should be in private hands that plague globalization. She correctly points out that many resources and services can be most efficiently provided locally. As I turned the pages, I was hoping she would address some of the benefits of globalization, which in fact have gone a long way establish peace. Certainly the U.S. government worked hard to establish good relations with Pakistan and India, begging them to get along instead of prolonging the bloodshed over Kashmir. However, some of the greatest forces for good in that situation were none other than large, globalized communications firms with infrastructure and employees in both countries. Relative peace was brought about by these companies who provide employment and stability in these regions who had senior leaders sit down with government leaders and explain that their nervousness over their continued fighting would compel many investors to withdraw. Had Dr. Eisler mentioned this example (or countless others) I think she would have been able to more precisely point out improvements in globalization, rather than simply deducing that globalization isn't always the best solution.
   
   Dr. Eisler's diagrams of the missing pieces in measuring economics was most insightful and useful, as were the statistics she provided that showed spending more education now equals spending less on prisons later.
   
   Dr. Eisler risks alienating people who would be predisposed to be some of her most avid supporters when she takes excerpts out of religious texts and adlibs her opinions as if they were facts represented in the religious text. There is certainly no doubt that atrocities have been committed by those claiming religious titles, rights and missions, but even most of the examples she sites as the paragons of domination (the Taliban, the Ayatollah in Iran, Hitler and Stalin) are primarily secular in nature (the Ayatollah being the only religious figure). As a Christian, I will tell you that I want to vomit when I hear Falwell attribute 9/11 to feminism or Robertson attribute Katrina to tolerance of homosexuality. I will also tell you that 'love your neighbor as thyself' is very much a cornerstone of partnership (and there are many more examples of these).
   
   Dr. Eisler is also rightfully critical of the Bush Administration and their unilateral foreign policy, preemptive warfare doctrine, fiscal irresponsibility and environmental 'blinders.' I agree with most of her criticisms, usually for different reasons than the those she mentions. Having read an interview she gave after 9/11 where she surprises the interviewer by indicating that war against terrorism is necessary, I have to wonder what her opinion is of how western countries should address Iran. It's certainly valid to criticize preemptive warfare, but what if one of the premier dominators in the world is pursuing a nuke? Do we wait until he gains equal military power? Do we allow him to disconnect his society from the rest of the world where women continue to be subject to circumcision and mistreatment if they are not sufficiently subordinate?
   
   In this review I went to some lengths to justify my critiques, whereas I think my praise of Dr. Eisler's work speaks for itself. It may appear that I spent much more time discussing my critiques, and that is the reason why.
   
   This book is by far one of the best I've ever read and I hope someday to see it included as required reading in grade school curriculums (3rd grade or so).



2. Along with "The chalice and the Blade" and "Sacred Pleasure" this is the most profound, important and amazing book i have ever read - it changed my life! this should be a compulsory course at all self-respecting universities. Everyone in the world should either read or be aware of what these three books are talking about, then we'll not only have hope but a blueprint for a better world. i have half the mind to post it to our prime minister right now :)
   
   thank you Dr Eisler, from me and all the people and future generations that will benefit from your determination, knowledge and work!!!



3. I missed Riane Eisler's recent talk at the PARC Forum, but the abstract was so inspiring, I bought the book. As with many (all?) the other reviewers thus far, I support the basic notion of "caring economics": elevating the valuation of traditionally feminine activities such as caring and caregiving. I support partnership over domination (though don't know what to make of "hierarchies of actualization"), and the establishment of rules, tools and schools that offer a more comprehensive accounting - and accountability - within economics, that will incorporate the social and environmental dimensions more effectively, and eliminate "externalities" - costs that corporations can pass on to "external" stakeholders (as opposed to stockholders).
   
   The other reviewers have done a great job at highlighting many of the positive aspects of this book. I wanted to offer a slightly dissenting opinion, based on three issues that bothered me. One is that I believe the book is about twice as long as it needs to be. There is considerable redundancy, and by the last few chapters, I found myself growing increasingly annoyed as she repeatedly repeated ideas and themes covered [well] in other chapters. As with some other books I've read, it strikes me as a potentially fabulous journal-length article that was stretched too far. A brief perusal of her paper on "Work, Values, Caring" available on her PartnershipWay web site suggests that this paper may cover much of the content in the book, in a much shorter space.
   
   A second shortcoming I see in the book is a lack of reference to either Milton Mayeroff's classic work ON CARING or to Yochai Benkler's more recent paradigm-shifting book, THE WEALTH OF NETWORKS: HOW SOCIAL PRODUCTION TRANSFORMS MARKETS AND FREEDOM. The book is replete with many useful references, and every author must be selective about the references she or he includes, but I would think that either of the two aforementioned books would be required reading for anyone interested in caring economics.
   
   The third shortcoming I see in this book is its rather pre-emptory dismissal of "selfish genes". I recently [finally] read THE SELFISH GENE, by Richard Dawkins, and although I like to believe in (and practice) altruism, I had to admit that Dawkins makes a compelling case for how and why our genes are selfish operators ... and thus why altruism doesn't make sense at the genetic level. Now, we are not our genes, and I like to believe we are more than simply containers for them to propagate themselves, and as our actions - and inactions - have increasingly far-reaching impacts on others throughout our increasingly interconnected planet, there may be good reasons why caring for others (who do not carry our genes) is worthwhile, and why we might want to give up domination for partnership. However, Eisler's quick dismissal of "selfish genes" in several passages leads me to wonder whether she's read Dawkins' book, or simply the other references she invokes that take a contrarian view. She seems to be attached to making "evolutionary" claims with respect to caring economics. I think the impact can be just as strong without invoking evolution ... and invoking evolution while summarily dismissing what I view as its most compelling modern articulation only weakens the impact.
   
   I hope we will be willing and able to redefine economics to take into account the social and environmental costs and benefits that are currently ignored. I believe that THE REAL WEALTH OF NETWORKS offers some compelling arguments for how and why we can do this. I do not recommend that people not read this book because of the shortcomings I cited - I am still glad I read the book. I just wanted to offer a perspective that may be of some value to others who are considering the book, or at least to help set expectations (for anyone who shares my prejudices).



4. I found the book to be well worth reading. It should be particularly helpful for those who have not been exposed to new economic visions.
   
   However, I feel that we must move beyond the think tank musings and into an action stage. Some of the hopeful stories that the author tells -- the working conditions at a North Carolina software company for example -- represent a form of working that will not even exist in a Peak Everything world.
   
   We have to re-invent the way that we live our daily lives and in doing so we should integrate the partnership concepts that the author espouses. We cannot do this with letters to our political representatives or with one more conference. These actions have proven to have little or no impact on our direction. We must physically build a new infrastructure. I would like to see the author take a leadership role -- she has the credibility -- in this next step towards a more caring economy.



5. In The Real Wealth of Nations, Dr. Riane Eisler has created a powerful piece of critical literature for the 21st century. By peeling away layers of social unconsciousness and tradition, Eisler reveals what is fundamentally wrong with today's global economic measurements and explains what is required for humankind to create a sustainable economy and peaceful future for the world.
   
   Changing the world requires more than changing the way we act; it requires changing the way we think. In easy-to-read language, Eisler helps readers do this by challenging traditional systems of thought and urges us to consciously reflect on our personal as well as societal actions. She shows how quality of life is an infinitely more important measure of happiness than monetary prosperity and that partnership rather than domination is the social structure that will allow humanity not only to survive, but to thrive.
   
   I highly recommend this thought-provoking book to anyone who wants to help create a more peaceful and fulfilling life for themselves, their children, and their grandchildren.
   
   --Ken Beller, lead author of Great Peacemakers and The Consistent Consumer

5 comments about Peak Oil Survival: Preparation for Life After Gridcrash.

1. This is a concise, little book of basic techniques and mechanics for individually recreating many of the suburban comforts we have come to depend on, i.e. lights, potable water, heat, food, contact with the outside world, etc. It is pretty basic stuff for anyone who has developed skills in these areas already. However, if you are a relatively clueless urban or suburbanite who can't do without the necessities of the 21st century, American lifestyle and don't know how to produce them, you definitely need this book.



2. If you have never read anything about peak oil or survival perhaps this book will get you thinking. If you have any knowledge of these topics you will find this book very high level and not informative. If Mr. McBay has an understanding of survival, or in a more relevant vein self-reliance, it does not make it to these pages.
   
   Two quick examples: The book is a very light at under 100 pages and he spends 33 of those pages talking about cooling and cooking food. In his post crash world there is a big issue with cooling or cooking food but apparently after grid crash there is no problem actually getting the food. If there is, he does not address the issue. Personally I have become accustomed to eating.
   
   Second, he spends less than 2 pages addressing heat (in the winter). If you live in the North one would hope Mr. McBay would address the topic as a lack of fuel would definitely have an effect. His suggestions are pitiful. Light a fire (great if you live on the third floor of an apartment with no fireplace) and put on more clothes. Brilliant! I need someone to remind me to get dressed. How about a simple suggestion to prepare yourself by getting a high quality sleeping bag that can keep you alive when the temperature goes sub zero. No such common sense suggestions are to be found.
   
   If you want a book on survival then buy one on that specific topic. May I suggest "SAS Survival Handbook". If you want a book on Self-Reliance then buy one on that specific topic. I would suggest starting with "Storey's Basic Country Skills" or "The Self-sufficient Life and How to live It" or "The Big Book of Self-Reliant Living". All these books are tomes of knowledge that may actually help you if hard times come to pass.



3. It's not about cultural change or foraging, it's about building stuff to be more independent.



4. Usually the reviews help me decide if the book is of any value. Not this time. I know there are more helpful books out there to help in this coming economic collapse.



5. I received this book last week and finished it last night. It is an invaluable resource for finding water, purifying it for drinking, and more. However, I was hoping for more information on how to prepare for this event and more importantly from my perspective...how to prepare to stay warm in the winter. I think another reader had a very good point in that it doesn't seem that this book really covers the topic of how to find food in an emergency adequately. I was most appreciative of how the author laid out the beginning of the book and how through the water sections were.

1 comments about Sustainability by Design: A Subversive Strategy for Transforming Our Consumer Culture.

1. Mr. Ehrenfeld offers a broadly appealing and immediately accessible definition of sustainability: "sustainability is the possibility that humans and other life will flourish on the Earth forever."
   
   Now isn't that what we really want? And to address this higher view of things, don't you necessarily need to think more deeply about the issue than simply neutralizing a negative situation--which is what virtually every other book in this genre attempts to do?
   
   That's what I like about this book, that Ehrenfeld takes a systems look at a systemic issue. He looks at mindset -- the subtitle is "A Subversive Strategy for transforming Our Consumer Culture" -- and that's what is so attractive.
   
   Ehrenfeld, formerly of MIT (a noted breeding ground for systems thinkers), is executive director of the International Society for Industrial Ecology and senior research scholar at Yale's School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, and you can tell he's been thinking about this for a long tim. It shows in how he approaches the challenge of sustainability. For example, he uses words and phrases that resonate will resonate with anyone who is interested in a more mindful approach to a complex issue. "Reflection" is the first threshold to cross, he says. And he talks about "structures," which appeals to my sense of the importance in properly framing problems. And he talks about "nurturing possibility."
   
   You see, we too often incorrectly ask the question "What are the alternatives" before we ask "What is possible?"
   
   If you're a fan of Peter Senge (who writes the Foreword) and The Fifth Discipline like I am, you'll enjoy the author's foray into single and double loop thinking. From there, he looks at root cause, that being an addiction to resources (a phrase I often use!) linked to the cultures of consumption in the modern, industrialized world. And then he offers his definition of sustainability, and the whole construct hangs together quite nicely.
   
   Woven throughout the book is a subtext of respect, of simply caring about others and the world we live in enough to wrap our designs around that thought in a very purposeful way. If only we could hold that core value tightly enough, hold on to the tension created between where we are and where we need to be, our designs -- our innovation processes and innovative outcomes -- would go far in moving the planet toward a sustainable vision of the future.
   
   And that future, the author says, does not have "a revolution waiting in the wings," because he does not believe "that such a revolution would necessarily be the best change mechanism."

2 comments about Fostering Sustainable Behavior: An Introduction to Community-Based Social Marketing (Education for Sustainability Series).

1. I don't know if McKenzie-Mohr coined the buzz-terms used in Community-based Social Marketing, but he covers them (at the introductory level) completely in this book. Case studies and personal experiences offer practical examples to the lingo commonly used in CBSM, plus plenty of articles are referenced for further reading. If you've heard about "Prompts" and "Norms" associated with CBSM and need to know what everyone's talking about, this is a great place to start.



2. Doug is a great writer and really knows the subject matter.
   
   If you are interested in CBSM this is the bible.

5 comments about Ecological Economics: Principles And Applications.

1. Here at last is a book that sees ecological economics not as a branch of economics or a school of economics but as a broader and deeper system of ideas that includes the sound elements of conventional economics. Herman Daly, the Grand Old Man of the steady state economy, and Joshua Farley, his able younger follower, have produced a comprehensive and very readable synthesis. Traditional economists see natural resources as a subsystem of the world economy. This book presents the economy as a subsystem of the global ecosystem. The effect is like that of climbing a tall tower and seeing that a familiar city was all along part of an island whose fields and forests are in danger of disappearing under the advancing suburbs. The authors have not shied away from including controversial ideas, and there are some that I do not agree with, but that just adds to the stimulation. Not only have I adopted this as the textbook for a course in ecological economics, but I would like to see it read by all economists. This is not a specialist branch of economics; it is the only kind of economics appropriate to the new century.



2. Bring ecological economics to every day life will be the greatest defy of this century. The autor writes brillantly how we can, now, change our economic view and achieve sustainable development. Every student must read this book...



3. And I'm not just saying that because I like ecological economics. Before this I used to hate even the idea of textbooks...mostly the fault of high school I guess, but also many college courses. In fact that is the reason why I hesitated to buy this book, but I'm glad I did. This is the only textbook I have been able to read straight through (though slowly and critically) and maintain my focus, interest, and energy. It's very well written and organized, and it's honest and upfront, highlighting debates and differences in opinions, as well as their implications. It is even entertaining on a fairly regular basis.
   
   No prior knowledge of economics or natural sciences is necessary, though of course having some helps to make it an easier read. The 2nd edition should take care of some of the minor typos and other editing mistakes. I have seen no serious flaws in the book.
   
   If you
   1) Have an open mind
   2) Respect solid, provocative arguments that challenge the status-quo
   3) Are interested in the nature of the relationship between humans and our environment, economics, ecology, sustainability, social justice, or democracy
   4) Have tried a standard econ. course and was frustrated by the hordes of inane and offensive or otherwise false assumptions, contradictions and overall lack of scholarly rigor
   You will probably enjoy this book.
   
   I also suggest getting the companion workbook, especially if you are
   1) A student (of any age, shape or form)
   2) Interested particularly in the fields of environmental policy/management, economics, or ecological economics or
   3) Interested in the education system and education reform.
   
   It has valuable supplemental information as well as suggestions on how to advance your knowledge and possibly put you into a career path. The pedagogical philosophy espoused in the book is great from my perspective--a student frustrated with the hypocrisies and contradictions of academia and our current education system. Farley makes it clear that fundamental education reform is necessary in order to advance democracy and for us to continue to develop into our greatest human potentials.



4. Book recomendations, index, glossary, macroeconomics, microeconomics, a very didactic book made for anyone interested in the subject or people already familiar with economics. The first day I read 100 pages non-stop. Different from some other books on the theme, this is not a book to build anyones consciousness(and definitely not eco-economics for dummies)but a realistic transdisciplinary outlook on the subject.



5. The authors of this book demonstrate a deep understanding of the negative role and impact on econmic growth that results from speculation in national and international currencies,stocks,and other financial assets.This book is especially strong in chapters 13 and 14 where they discuss macroeconomics and the effects of worldwide speculative activity.The Nobel Prize winning chemist,Fredrick Soddy,whose 1930's book " Wealth,Virtual Wealth,and Debt ", demonstrated an excellent understanding of the dangers of speculative finance,is given his due along with Keynes(pp.256-257),who had always understood the severe negative impacts speculative finance can have on both economic growth and income distribution.
   
   The intellectual rigor of the authors suffers on pp.224-225 when they discuss Adam Smith's Invisible Hand .It is simply not the case that Smith took the view(micro economic decision making in the aggregate always leads to an optimal macro economic outcome )foisted on him.Smith himself was well aware of the great dangers of speculation(see Smith's extensive discussions on pp.290-340 of the Wealth of Nations[1776,Modern Library(Cannan)edition] and the need to prevent it from occurring in the first place ,as well as the negative consequences of the Invisible Hand process that could only be overcome by government action(see pp.734-741 on the necessity for the government to provide universal education supplied for free for those unable to pay).

5 comments about Gaviotas: A Village to Reinvent the World--10th Anniversary Edition.

1. The vision described in the book is inspiring and very hopeful. The idea is to use our ingenuity in ways directly adapted to our environment so that small towns can be self-sufficient. Along the way, very clever uses of wind and water are discovered and described. If the reader is looking for great general ideas or approaches, this book would be hard to beat. On the other hand, if you are a garage-tinkerer and would delight in building the clever devices described, this book is close but no cigar. The drawings offered in the book purposely omit the most important details required to fabricate the devices in a proper working form. If you are a tinkerer and want to build these "goodies," you have three options. In the U.S., you can e-mail with the "Sustainable Village" web site and get the plans (eventually---they are not quick in responding). You can contact the Gaviotas offices in Bogota, Colombia. You can, of course, also take the basic idea and think through the details for yourself. That could take longer and be a little more expensive---perhaps. If you primarily want the ideas and the inspiration, then buy the book, by all means. If you primarily want to tinker and build, go straight for the plans.



2. This book shows people solving ecological problems as a community. Weisman engages the reader by showing the people involved, not only the ones with training in certain disciplines, but also natives with practical solutions for living in a Columbian village. Even the children got involved in problem solving in Gaviotos.
   
   They have learned to live in a place where there are many dangers due to drug wars, yet their survival skills are exceptional.
   
   I highly recommend this eye-opening book
   
   Barbara Spring



3. This is an amazing story about an amazing REAL place... It is an obligated reading for all of those who care about sustainability and renewable energy and wonder whether there is an alternative for our society.
   Read this and you will be full of hope and energy for action.



4. Wonderful book, highly recommended, inspiring. A real look at sustainable development in a highly unlikely place in the world. MUST READ!!



5. This is one of my favorite books. I recommend it to anyone who will listen. I just love it. I've read it twice and I'll probably read it again sometime. I want to live in Gaviotas!

3 comments about National Geographic Atlas of the Middle East, Second Edition (National Geographic Atlas of the Middle East).

1. There is a two page spread for each country with a map and basic stats for the country. Additional regional maps show info about climate, land use, population, religions, languages, oil, water, food, historical sites and various conflicts. There is a multi-page history timeline. The maps are similar to those in their big world atlas 8th edition but they are a little more colorful. This is a handy size to keep near your TV news watching chair. As with most Nat Geo atlas they print right up into the binding but with the larger atlas it lays open flat and this is a feature but with this smaller book you loose some data in the crease. There is a place map inside the front cover to easily locate each country's map.



2. An excellent Atlas that has lots of good pictures and atlas type information on middle eastern countries. I believe National Geographic has a map that is far more detailed, for free, in one of their subscription magazines sent monthly. I don't know what Google maps has on the Middle East? I watch the evening news with this book nearby. Helps some.



3. Concise but very useful. Good choices by the editors of what to include. Very good value for the price.