5 comments about The American West at Risk: Science, Myths, and Politics of Land Abuse and Recovery.

1. 'The American West at Risk' never made it onto my bookshelf. It is still on my desk, months after buying it, and I expect it will remain there for some time as my frequently referenced, easy-to-understand guide to the environmental problems facing the American West. What's truly valuable about this book is that the information that the authors distilled into it is so pertinent and relevant yet usually impossible to find in one place with such clarity and detail. The average person usually has to grapple with lengthy, convoluted and sometimes misleading environmental assessments and impact statements regarding the extent of damage that projects of the DoD, DoE and other federal agencies have caused or may cause the land and health of peoples in the West. Wilshire, Nielson and Hazlett have distilled the thousands of pages that the beginner or amateur researcher - whether farmer, rancher, downwinder, transplant or even politician - would normally have to page through to get a handle on a controversial Western land-use issue. The authors, deeply concerned about land abuse in the West, have taken the time and effort to put together this themed-reference guide that no one else has done. They did a 5-star job at it.



2. The authors bring science into the political discussion of our consumptive use of the arid West and spare no sacred cows. We are carelessly and systematically using up and destroying the natural resources that make the West the unique and wonderful place we love; replacing wildlife with domestic animals and off-road vehicles; making sacred places into dumps and mining the water that provides life to both the desert and ourselves.
   This is a must-have book for conservationists, teachers and anyone who cares about understanding our impact on these rugged but fragile lands.



3. This book is an ideal source book for environmental studies programs at the university level. It provides objective, largely dispassionate discussions of a broad range of human activities that have fundamentally shaped and degraded the natural landscape of the American West. These activities include: logging, mining, minerals exploration, oil and gas production, road building, military training, chemical and nuclear weapons manufacture and testing, waste disposal, water diversion, grazing, and motorized recreation.
   
   The authors provide comprehensive discussions of the more significant environmental impacts of each of these activities; general scientific background for understanding the nature and interrelations of these impacts; and historical/political insights for understanding how these adverse environmental situations have developed through time. Each discussion attempts to provide an even-handed treatment of these complex and often controversial issues. Moreover, the book is very well documented. It includes a 23-page glossary of terms, a 25-page index, 45 pages of factual appendices, and 150 pages of clearly referenced footnotes.
   
   In summary, The American West at Risk is an excellent guide and text for the serious study of environmental issues in the western United States.



4. With great good fortune and apparent wisdom the United State became a magnificent country from sea to shining sea. How tragic that our enormous, fertile and bounteous western lands should be so ill-used that, indeed, in many cases, they are crumbling and disintegrating before our very eyes. We have not been good stewards of our land and its resources; this book tells the story. Backed by years of experience at the U.S. Geological Survey, the authors make a meticulous, reasoned, well-documented and comprehensive argument. If we don't pay attention we are in danger of squandering our natural bounty to greed, mismanagement and indifference. Every federal, state and county policy maker, every earth science professor, every geologist and ecologist, every library, indeed every citizen who has the barest inkling of what's at stake should have this book. Halting and reversing years of land, water, waste, mineral and air mismanagement will not be easy, but must and can be done. This reasoned and thoughtful book proves that we are on a collision course with a tragic destiny if we don't begin to care and care properly for our land. This cry and program for better land stewardship gives us the technical know-how and the hope that it can be done.



5. This may be one of the most important books ever written. The title and cover photo don't do justice to the alarming thesis that our entire civilization is at risk, with a multitude of problems coming to a head this century. My children, ages 7 & 4, may face such gigantic problems by middle age as to make one despair. But never despair; these problems have been created by humans and we can grapple with them and solve many. But planning is critical, lest we once again be like naked people in a dark room with a hot stove in the middle--bumping into the stove and then each other, reacting only to the moment. Many of us do live for the moment and that could be our downfall as a species. We need to shift gears to a new mode of thinking that abandons continuous growth in all areas--easier said than done!

5 comments about Closing the Food Gap: Resetting the Table in the Land of Plenty.

1. Having read almost every book out there on food policy (and having written my own), I can safely say that Closing the Food Gap has something unique and important to offer. The author has been in the trenches and speaks from first-hand experience, which is rare to find among writers on this topic. Even though I am familiar with the many of book's issues, I thoroughly enjoyed the personal, accessible style and poignant story-telling. If you are looking for an introduction to food justice issues in the U.S., then this is the perfect doorway in. Winne takes us into a world where there are no easy solutions. But by the end, we are convinced that we must find a way to fix the deep injustices in our food system. What makes this book a critical contribution is its elegant argument for access to affordable and sustainable food for everyone. Even if you think you've read other books like it, you really haven't. Read this book and then pass it on.
   
   Michele Simon, author, Appetite for Profit: How the food industry undermines our health and how to fight back



2. Mark Winne's book is a must read for those concerned about the growing poverty, hunger, and income inequality in America today. The personalized account of his journey from a comfortable, middle-class upbringing in New Jersey to community organizing in the gritty, underserved neighborhoods of Hartford, Connecticut is witty and informative, demonstrating why he has become a leader in this nation's food security movement.
   
   Winne's claim that our current "food system is racist, classist, and sexist" is supported by his well-documented experience in Hartford. He doesn't let any of the powers that be off the hook, from "the mean-spirited ideologues" who have, at times, dammed the federal assistance pipeline to corporate junk food purveyors who he says should be tried and sentenced "to eat nothing but their own food for twenty-five years to life" and even to food bankers who "will do virtually anything to appease [their corporate] donors." His clarion call for bolstering sane, systemic changes in local food structures - like farmers' markets, community gardens, and community supported agriculture - rings true.



3. The other two reviewers who give Mr. Winne a five star rating are telling the truth. He has written a truly readable and practical book that is accessible, and yet is is not a simpleton's introduction to the world of hunger and food insecurity in America. We are presented the challenge of preventing hunger from existing in this rich nation and Mark Winne, from years of experience in the field, shows us some of the steps we need to take.
   
   Read this book.



4. Winne has authored a brilliant treatise on the real issues surrounding food insecurity in The US. With tremendous real world experience, Winne puts a human face on the problems of poverty and the serious costs all of us pay for merely throwing money and food at the problem OR worse yet - ignoring the poor. I read this book, got angry and more importantly got inspired to make a difference in Northern Illinois. READ this book, talk to your friends about it and take home how interconnected poverty, food insecurity, diet-related disease, and escalating healthcare costs really are. THANKS Mark Winne



5. I've had the privilege of attending a food policy workshop at which Mr. Winne was the guest speaker. The man has a lot of experience in a wide range of food policy issues. As another "overeducated white guy" (his words), he's dedicated much of his life to improving the food security of those who need help most. Through much of the book, he reiterates time and again how meaningful change must come from within - it can't be forced on a community from an outside source. He honestly shares his successes and failures in a variety of efforts - bringing grocery stores back into underserved neighborhoods, establishing farmer's markets and community gardens, growing CSAs, working with food pantries, even changing bus routes so people from underserved areas can reach the serves they need (food and other services as well). I found his narrative informative and engaging. Best of all, it was real - "We did this, it worked. We did that, it didn't." This was not a "in theory only" book.
   
   What really bothered me, and why I am only giving this book three stars, is how at the end of the book he turned his back on every lesson he's learned and called for top-down, big money, legislative efforts to enforce change. The blew me out of the water. I know Mr. Winne has a very socialist viewpoint, but, dang, from his own experience he should know that simple handouts never solve anything except for in the short term, and federal bureaucracy is very slow to respond to the needs of the people and inevitably does do at higher costs than local programs. He says this himself earlier in the book. I was really disappointed.
   
   Read the book, learn from his successes and failures - there is a lot of good material here - just be aware that it ends in contradictions.

3 comments about The Natural Step for Communities: How Cities and Towns can Change to Sustainable Practices.

1. In the 1980s, Lahti's hometown of Overtornea, Sweden was dying. The worldwide recession left the village in an inhospitable climate with no major industry and a declining population. Lahti organized community residents and developed a plan to revitalize Overtornea using principles of environmental, economic, and social sustainability. Thus was born the sustainability revolution in Sweden that is taking hold in Europe and spreading to other parts of the world. This is not a story, but a how-to manual. The king of Sweden has endorsed Lahti's methods and seen a resurgence of vital business throughout the country while reducing waste and fossil fuel consumption.



2. My participation in a local "sustainable cities" study circle included reading and studying this book. The book is a study of the renewal that has taken place in Sweden. Faced with a collapsing economy, cities, with collective cooperation from businesses, the government and their citizens brought prosperity back to Sweden. What we mean by "sustainable cities" is a community that is self-supportive--an equilibrium. And this brings about a cleaner, more efficient way of life.
   
   Sweden can be an example for us to follow, especially their developments and the sense of community. The U.S. is not Sweden, nor do we want it to be. Sweden is a socialistic country. That means the government controls more than it should. That's why it needs to start at the bottom, with each individual--a new mindset or outlook. There are things cities can do to bring themselves closer to sustainability without damaging their economy. In fact, with incentives, there may be new growth never before seen.
   
   The book has many positives and negatives. Planning starts with the local municipalities, not the federal or state government. We need to be careful when we try and solve one environmental problem only to create a whole new problem. The book is rife with socialistic thinking. The authors would have been better off leaving "global warming" and politics out.
   
   America is prosperous, it took Sweden a meltdown to come to grips with its future as a nation. In a democracy, with God as its foundation, we will stay strong. There are amazing things that Sweden has done, we should take a look at them.
   
   Wish you well
   Scott



3. Currently, my city is undergoing a move from an average municipality to becoming an eco-municipality. This change would have never been possible without this inspirational book. Our city is working at creating a system approach to change rather than doing one little thing at a time just like The Natural Step advises.
   
   It has helped other cities in Wisconsin to become more sustainable and it truly has a lot of ideas in it. It uses a lot of referesnces to Sweden, but still leaves room to discuss how North America is pushing for change as well. This is a MUST read for anybody who works in municipal government or is an active community leader.

5 comments about Apollo's Fire: Igniting America's Clean Energy Economy.

1. I love Jay Inslee and I think he is a great politician, BUT, solving the global warming climate crises ISN'T Rocket Science! It is within our grasp today. American waste twice as much energy as Europeans to achieve the same lifestyle and per-capita GDP. That's just stupid. Fixing much of this is trivial: I bought CFLs, turn off the lights when not in the room, saved 50% on my electrical bill, and applied 10% of that savings to sign up for my electrical utilities "100% green" option to make sure my electricity is coming only from solar and windmills. And I saved myself money. That ISN'T Rocket Science. Rather it is common sense -- something that has been conspicuously absent from American Politics for the last 30 years! And for God's Sake Buy A Prius!



2. The thing I like about this book is that it was a great crossover book for both my boyfriend and I. I don't follow energy issues nearly as closely as he does. I need a book that isn't too dry and keeps my interest, but provides the information I need to come up to speed on solutions to global warming and energy independence. This book accomplishes that by relaying that information through personal stories of individuals throughout the country, and contrasting their efforts with national policy. At the same time, judging from my partner's perspective, he was very happy with the book providing him with the latest on this fast moving subject and offering insights into the best investment opportunities in the clean energy space. The book also had some interesting anecdotes about interactions with politicians like Bill Clinton.
   
   The only thing that I think can be considered a down side for the book is that it could have given the status of its policy proposals in Congress. However, I do recognize that doing this could make the whole book outdated when new laws are finally passed.
   
   I think I speak for my partner and I when I say that it was inspiring. Finally, a proposed solution (or plan at least) to this problem!



3. On page 188, Rep. Inslee states: "A wind turbine's output rises exponentially with the length of its blades." Actually, the relationship is not exponential; it is polynomial. If the relationship were exponential, it would be possible to connect several sequential wind turbines to create a perpetual motion machine.
   
   Rep. Inslee's home state of Washington has a math requirement for graduating high school students. This standard clearly states that high school graduates should understand the difference between exponential and polynomial relationships. Perhaps Rep. Inslee should repeat high school math before he expounds on "solutions" for the nations energy crisis.



4. Congressman Jay Inslee puts forth his view toward a solution to fuel prices and climate change. The field is rather crowded right now for books on this topic. Inslee approaches the angle of the economy and jobs more fully than his competitors. He remains more neutral on hydrogen, nuclear, and clean coal, while encouraging wind, solar, and tidal energy.
   
   Inslee puts forth Ten Energy Enlightenments.
   
   1. Opportunity Is Best Found in Crisis
   2. Boldness Is Required - Tinkering at the Edges Didn't Put a Man on the Moon
   3. We Must Reject the Tyranny of the Present
   4. There Are No Silver Bullets
   5. Everybody Needs to Get on the Bus
   6. If Government Sets the Road Signs, the Market Will Drive
   7. Failure Is an Option
   8. Prejudices Are Best Left at the Door
   9. Clean Energy Will Be Powered by New Politics
   10. No More Free Lunches
   
   "Failure Is an Option" is one that has been forgotten. As a nation it seems that fear of risk in the short-term is setting America up for absolute failure in the long-term. Like Apollo 13, failure is a necessary part of exploration.
   
   Inslee sizes up energy situation and climate change well, and does thorough descriptions of energy alternatives - solar, wind, biofuels, clean coal, nuclear, tidal. His description of the "Four Horsemen of the Energy Apocalypse" is memorable.
   
   1. Inertia - ideas can represent change in investments, policies and behavior. Inertia wears down efforts to change the status quo.
   
   2. Special interests
   
   3. Miasma of ideology - issues are viewed through an ideological prism rather than a scientific, pragmatic one.
   
   4. Fear - we cannot adopt policies that can succeed.
   
   I would add one more. Fashion. Once ideas sit for too long the media will migrate back to other things, such as Britney, Paris or Lindsay.



5. Clean, fairly priced, non monopolized energy sources and distribution are so important for the present and future. Lots of great ideas but why name the book after a pagan deity that with a simple wikipedia search reveals more than I wanted to know about Apollo as a demonic entity and his works. If you really wanted to get the message out, pull the title and rename it with out religious conitations (unless intentional). Please stop shooting yourself, and every one else who believes strongly in this issue, in the foot and lets get on with the task at hand.

5 comments about Voluntary Carbon Markets: An International Business Guide to What They Are and How They Work (Environmental Markets Insight Series).

1. The most prominent thing about this book is of course the foreword by Al Gore. But whatever you might think of Gore's political views, the bulk of the text is a sober look at what it means to have a voluntary carbon market. As opposed to having government mandates.
   
   Much of the book is uncertain. Not really about global warming per se. The book does not discuss significantly or really debate whether global warming is real. It is more or less taken as a given. Rather, the book's uncertainly revolves about what types of voluntary trading markets might arise. Voluntary because the US government has not made up its mind about federal requirements. Hence the biggest question is why should a US based company engage in such trading?
   
   Candidly, and this will peeve some readers, it is mostly for public relations at this point in time. The book gives several reasons why it might be beneficial to trade. Like anticipating an eventual government edict about minimising pollution through such trades. So a far sighted multinational might venture a small gamble by engaging in some trades, and loudly touting its green credentials. The book does not come right out and say this. But a careful parsing suggests this view.



2. Excellent primer on the evolving international and US carbon markets, and a vital read for those considering entry.



3. This book is dense and technical, yet worth the time of any reader with a serious interest in climate policy. Ricardo Bayon, Amanda Hawn and Katherine Hamilton do a good job of explaining how the carbon markets work and how they relate to other important markets, such as that for renewable energy certificates (RECs) in the U.S. They offer a sampling of expert opinions on the role and the future of these markets. The authors openly express their view that climate change is a reality and that the markets can help solve it. Yet, at the same time, they are dispassionate, reasonably objective and fair in their presentation of dissenting views. We recommend this book to corporate leaders who wish to become more socially responsible and to anyone interested in sustainable practices.



4. This book comes across as perfunctory and haphazard in its presentation and in the issues it chooses to highlight (quality issues, regulatory concerns, overlap with other emissions markets). Most of the essays are from start-up firms and independent consultants, who all have their own agendas and opinions, which end up giving the book an air of corporate bias. Most essays are rarely longer than two or three pages and feature little to no historical perspective or comparisons to other, established environmental markets. The book itself has only 120 pages worth of raw material; the rest is filler consisting of company descriptions and pithy emissions-reduction project descriptions which one can find anywhere.
   
   Indeed, most of the information in this book can be gleaned from an hour or two surfing the internet at major carbon and "green" sites, as well as company webpages that specialize in carbon emission reductions.
   
   The essays contain a significant amount of overlap and repetition, and none of them are in-depth enough (qualitatively or quantitatively) to offer true insight; none of the articles have raw numbers or charts about pricing and reductions taking place. To make matters worse, much of the material is already out of date, owing to the fast-growing nature of the voluntary carbon market.
   
   Mark Trexler's two essays (about interactions with the renewable energy credit market and about quality control of voluntary credits) are among the best in the book, but why read them here when they are available for free on the internet?
   
   The slapdash nature of the book and the superficial analysis make this book non-critical. I give this book two stars because it at least serves as some type of introduction to the field, though true experts will find nothing of value in the book.
   
   As a final note, the foreword by Al Gore is short, fluffy and only tangentially refers to voluntary carbon markets at the very end. One would be better off reading his Nobel Prize acceptance speech, which is far more substantial.



5. Good book to read on Voluntary Carbon.
   Tells you the market drivers and competing issues in the voluntary carbon market.
   Compiles views and opinions from various stakeholders in the last chapter.

5 comments about Hell and High Water: Global Warming--the Solution and the Politics--and What We Should Do.

1. It's time to wake up to what's going on with our world and what we're doing to it. As a long time participant in the petroleum and related industries worldwide it has long been evident that we are exhausting the world's resources at an unsustainable rate detrimental to life as we know it and to a livable environment. Damon A. Peteron



2. As an environmental policy grad student, I thought I had a pretty good idea of what we're in for with climate change. But after reading this book I've realized that, oh no, it's worse than I thought. The book starts out by describing the nasty potential futures facing us if we fail to take sufficient action, and soon. This bit comes across as somewhat sensational, but Romm quickly moves in a very well done review of the scientific literature backing up the scary part. The account of the unified effort to deny the validity of climate change and delay action is also well executed.
   
   Highly recommended for anyone who needs a little motivation to start caring about climate change!



3. There are literally dozens of excellent books on global warming and climate change, but this one is the best. It's part science, part social commentary, and all of it is fascinating. The author does a terrific job of giving us the basic facts, then moves us right into the troubled waters of policy, societal inertia, and consequences if we do not do something. Especially eye-opening was chapter 6 "The Technology Trap and the American Way of Life", in which he presents a compelling case that technology could theoretically be used to solve global warming problems, but the reality is that it is used as a promised "Deus ex machina" technological fix to get us out of trouble - the problem of course, is that this solution is always in the future (such as the availability of hydrogen power always being 10-15 years away, beginning in the early 1970s).
   
   One of his insightful sections titled "Voluntary Warming" indicates the direct, no-nonsense approach taken in this book: "It is hard to imagine that people will use low-carbon technologies on the vast scale needed until they see a financial return for cutting carbon, and that will not happen until spewing out carbon has a significant financial cost. But for carbon to have a cost, the government must either tax carbon dioxide emissions or create a market that establishes a price for emitting carbon dioxide".
   
   If you read just one book on the subject, I recommend this one, for reasons that are numerous, and have been well-elaborated in the other 5-star reviews.



4. I hope journalists discover this book and take a harder/firmer stance on global warming.
   
   Very well done, Mr. Romm!!!



5. Having just read Joseph Romm's book and, earlier, other global warming and climate change alarmist books, I've been assured by Romm and others that the case has already been decided. In case you missed it, as I had, the debate has been held, and there is no need for further discussion. Anyone who disagrees is a denier (as in denying the Holocaust) and should be subjected to Nuremberg-style trials. Consensus. (You're a meteorologist and you don't believe in man-made global warming? You should be fired!) Slam dunk for climate change and global warming, right? No! In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. There is no such thing as consensus in science and there never will be. Scientific method precludes consensus. Like the Medieval Warm Period and the Little Ice Age that followed, the current very mild warming period is cyclical--always has been, always will be and it has nothing to do with man-made global warming. Nothing! The global warming alarmist/Kyoto scam scare is nothing less than a brazen attempt by the UN and--especially--pathologically jealous European globalists/interventionists to bring America down to the primitive energy level of the rest of the world. Which is exactly where we will be, and deserve to be, if we fall for such snake oil scams. If you want the real unvarnished truth about global warming/climate change/the Kyoto scam, read The Politically Incorrect Guide to Global Warming and Environmentalism by Christopher C. Horner. The truth about global warming is only one book away...and it shall set you free.

5 comments about Hubbert's Peak: The Impending World Oil Shortage (New Edition).

1. This is obviously a well-researched book and perhaps even well-written, but it is a tough read indeed!
   
   I bought this book in order to better understand "Hubbert's Peak" and the issue of oil and the impending oil shortage predicted by so many analyst.
   
   The author does a very good job of explaining Hubbert's peak - in the first chapter of the book no less. But after that it was rough sailing and I found my interesting waning as Deffeyes discussed oil traps, drilling methods, and rate plots.
   
   So I ended up skimming those chapters and jumping to the portion of the book dealing with the future of fossil fuels, alternative energy sources and a new outlook. Unfortunately, the pickings were a bit slim, with the author devoting only 16 of the books 189 pages to these topics.
   
   There are probably better books out there for the layman interested in learning about the world's impending oil crisis.



2. I have read a few other books about the oil industry, which brought this book my way. The book provides a lot of interesting insight into why/where oil fields exist, the exploration, drilling, etc. Hubbert's Peak provides a substantial education and not just trivial facts about the size and flow rates of the biggest Saudi fields. This is a great book if you ever wondered why oil is abundant in some places, but non-existent in others.



3. Taking a trip? Need a gift for that engineer or alternative-energy-green friend? Then get this book! For the professional AND the layman, Kenneth Deffeyes spans various disciplines with a good sense for explanation and storytelling. Quite a feat.
   
   He starts with the origins of the oil business and knows what he is talking about. He makes statistics colorful AND engaging. His graphs are primo and easy to understand when he wishes to hammer home a point.
   
   Deffeyes recounts Marion King Hubbert's sage predicition from the 1950s that oil supply and production has limits. And we had better learn about these limits, fast. No easy answers. Helluva history lesson in readable form. Makes one wants to read other book on the oil industry.
   
   As a country and a culture, we've been riding the riches produced by the bounty of past eons. Our oil epoch will be just a blip on the long history of the earth and humanity. Read it and weep, or feel joyful. Your call.
   Deffeyes lays out a coherent argument: the road ahead will not be all high speed and straight. We are in for some rough times and it is best that we engage in a realisitic national debate NOW.
   
   He saves his best for last: meticulous explanations as to alternative energy sources. About time! Some have merit, most have gaping holes that will never payback their true energy investment. His section on "tar sands" is sobering and convincing.
   
   Anyone who drives a car or lives in America oughta read this book.



4. So you went to the pump today and you'd like to complain about the price of gasoline? In Massachusetts it was $4.03/gal (82 euro cents/L). [In Belgium they're laughing at our complaints since they paid $9.18/gal!] We're running out of oil and need new forms of energy. In fact, we've known about it for 30 years. I know we haven't done anything about it because we've been to involved with things of vital national interest (Whitewater, American Idol, blaming high unemployment on women in the workforce, finding ways so that the ultra-rich can leave all of their money to their no account kids, making ketchup a vegetable in poor kids' lunches, defending states' rights - unless it involves same sex marriage, Survivor, making sure today's immigrants don't get the same chances your great-grandparents did, defending South Carolina and Mississippi's right to continue flying symbols of rebellion against the United States, how to ignore black people stranded in a hurricane, how to prevent soldiers from getting adequate health care or a college education, instant replay, flag burning, sex in the Oval Office and, finally, how best to undermine national security: "by outing CIA agents or by ignoring memos stating that the US will be attacked? Oh, we'll just do both").
   
   Now real American politicians realize these are the things most Americans want; but among the things that don't affect their lives, gas prices is near the top of that second tier. Gas prices - like all other prices - are ruled by the law of supply and demand. Demand has increased in recent years as nations like China grow and need more energy. Further, Americans - forgetting the mileage on their Chevy Caprice during the Oil Embargo - are insistent on driving gas-guzzling SUVs that get 13 mpg (18.1L/100km).
   
   Supply, meanwhile, is decreasing. US reserves are being used faster than new discovery (and, have been since the early 70s). There was a decrease in supply after Hurricane Katrina when gas refineries were damaged. Further, in the nation with the second largest oil reserves, the Coalition of the Willing decided to expand the American Empire. While that war was officially declared over in May 2003, for some reason supplies from Iraq are still slow to recover.
   
   But, the largest constraint on supply is its very finiteness. There are only 2.1 trillion or so barrels of oil in the world and we've used about half of them. In the 1970s, geologists and economists determined that the world oil production would peak in the early 2000s. In this work, Deffeyes argues that it will be in 2004 (the book was written in 2001). After that the production will decrease and price increase - thank the gods that didn't happen.
   
   Despite its probable correctness, this book is awful! Deffeyes spends most of the book showing how oil goes from undiscovered to discovered to drilled to recovered. Then he writes a brief chapter in which he determines by his own math when peak oil will happen. Most of it is academic arguments over exact dates between 2004 and 2009 and whether to use a normal bell curve or a logistic bell curve. He then stymies alternative fuels as too far into the future and says we'll just have to live with high-energy prices for ten years. If you really want to know about Hubbert's peak and oil production read the wikipedia article "Peak Oil"; its way more informative!



5. Quick and efficient service, book arrived in very good conditions (new book) and earlier than expected (based on requested shipping) - thank you!

5 comments about High Noon 20 Global Problems, 20 Years to Solve Them.

1. J.F. Rischard does a fabulous job of compiling his knowledge into a great introduction of twenty global issues that the world is currently facing. As the subtitle indicates, these issues are steadily becoming problems that we, as a global community, must reckon with. Rischard says that they must be solved in the coming twenty years.

   Most of the twenty problems are not surprises, but some are. The author spends time mentioning that his list is not all-inclusive, and that certainly other issues could have been added (or taken off). But his list is all-encompassing and includes the following classifications and then the actual problems:

   Sharing our planet: Issues involving the global commons
   1. Global warming
   2. Biodiversity and ecosystem losses
   3. Fisheries depletion
   4. Deforestation
   5. Water deficits
   6. Maritime safety and pollution

   Sharing our humanity: Issues requiring a global commitment
   7. Massive step-up in the fight against poverty
   8. Peacekeeping, conflict prevention, combating terrorism
   9. Education for all
   10. Global infectious diseases
   11. Digital Divide
   12. Natural disaster prevention and mitigation

   Sharing our rulebook: Issues needing a global regulatory approach
   13. Reinventing taxation for the 21st century
   14. Biotechnology rules
   15. Global financial architecture
   16. Illegal drugs
   17. Trade, investment, and competition rules
   18. Intellectual property rights
   19. E-commerce rules
   20. International labor and migration rules

   Yes, this list is QUITE long and extensive! But Rischard does a wonderful job of giving a brief (3-5 pages) introduction on each issue. If you are looking for a more in depth study of these issues, then you should look elsewhere. But note that the footnotes are great places to look for sources on these issues!

   In the end, the purpose of the book is to present a brief summary of these problems, then propose a method for world leaders to use in solving the issues. The author's method is a good one, and he does a nice job explaining it simple terms with "pretty" pictures, charts, and graphs. My only complaint is that -- although the method is somewhat sound -- the book left me wondering what I could do (an average American citizen) to help solve these problems. I would have liked a chapter on what types of careers -- or even small daily tasks -- can be pursued to help fight these issues on a grander scale.

   This book is recommended to any individual interested in economics, finance, environment, health, etc. on the global scale.




2. Edit of 21 Dec 07 to aadd comment and links.
   
   Comment: This is still the best strategic overview and a book I would recommend all. See the others below.
   
   Having read perhaps 20 of the best books on global issues and environmental sustainability, water scarcity, ocean problems, etc, over the past few years (most reviewed here on Amazon) I was prepared for a superficial summary, political posturing, and unrealistic claims. Not this book--this book is one of the finest, most intelligent, most easily understood programs for action I have ever seen. The book as a whole, and the 20 problem statements specifically, are concise, illustrated, and sensible.
   
   The author breaks the 20 issues into 3 groups. Group one (sharing our planet) includes global warming; biodiversity and ecosystem losses, fisheries depletion, deforestation, water deficits, and maritime safety and pollution. Group two (sharing our humanity) includes massive step-up in the fight against poverty, peacekeeping-conflict prevention-combatting terrorism, education for all, global infectuous diseases, digital divide, and natural disaster prevention and mitigation. Group three (sharing our rule book) includes reinventing taxation for the 21st century, biotechnology rules, global financial architecture, illegal drugs, trade-investment-competition rules, intellectual property rights, e-commerce rules, and international labor and migration rules.
   
   The author's core concept for dealing with these complex issues intelligently, while recognizing that "world government" is not an option, lies with his appreciation of the Internet and how global issues networks could be created that would be a vertical complement to the existing horizontal elements of each national government.
   
   The footnotes and index are professional, but vastly more important, the author's vision is combined with practicality. This is a "doable-do" and this book is therefore my number one reading recommendation for any citizen buying just one book of the 360+ that I have recommended within Amazon. Superb.
   
   See also, with reviews:
   The Future of Life
   Blessed Unrest: How the Largest Movement in the World Came into Being and Why No One Saw It Coming
   Society's Breakthrough!: Releasing Essential Wisdom and Virtue in All the People
   Green Chemistry and the Ten Commandments of Sustainability, 2nd ed
   Ecological Economics: Principles And Applications
   Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution



3. This book is a very solid, creative and refreshing proposal for new ways to look at Global problems. He modestly proposes real solutions and processes. These ideas seem equally applicable at the regional and local level where institutional change can be slow but problems need a response without years of debates and institutional resistance.



4. I bought this book as a requirement for a conference and I expected it to be another boring political/economical book that was going to make me yawn, but truly, after finishing the first chapter I was hooked onto it. The writer's style makes this book very interesting and I enjoyed it very much.



5. Exceptional insights from the former vice-president of the World Bank. It presents a succinct and thoughtful perspective on the challenges we are facing...and...how we can solve them. ..and along the way highlights the need for different thinking and a different education for our young people if they are to solve these problems of the 21st century.

2 comments about Friction: An Ethnography of Global Connection.

1. I was surprised to see no review of this book, so I had to write one. It has many interesting facets, but at its core is a vivid and sometimes heart-breaking portrayal of the true face of "globalization" - not the shining abstraction of Thomas Friedman's dreams but a capricious force that scrapes over landscapes, natural environments, and the societies that live in them and often leaves them devastated in the name of progress.
   
   I rarely use the word beautiful to describe an ethnography, but this is one such case.I really think this book deserves a wider public outside anthropology; Tsing's insightful observations on the sad fate of Kalimantan should be a lesson to all those who think unfettered free markets and the global economy are the route to salvation.



2. This is quite an astonishing book, absorbing, original. Although isolated from the literatures of predatory capitalism, moral natural green economics, and collective intelligence and social network wealth creation, I fix that with some links at the end of this review.
   
   This is a very original and valuable work that merits a full reading and massive replication across millions of localities.
   
   Here are my most important fly-leaf notes.
   
   + An original view at the conflicts and collaborations between predatory business practices (often combining bribery to obtain local armed force) and indigenous rights and natural resource claims.
   
   + Proposes a new form of global respect for cultural diversity and ethnic indigenous rights and innovative possibilities. Clearly appreciates E. O. Wilson's 1996 declaration of the importance of diversity as an engine and catalyst for human progress and prosperity.
   
   + Charming and stimulating discussion of how the forest is a social network above a natural network.
   
   + Author describes the ethnographic method as one that seeks out the odd couplings, the odd connections instead of seeking to create global generalizations.
   
   + Culturally-rooted odd connections are a source of cultural production.
   
   + Cultural and political delimitation is more successful and more sustainable than global camapaigns that demand generalizations applied to all localities, and fail to reflect nuances and differentiation (e.g. good coal emissions versus bad coal emissions).
   
   + Trenchant discussion and definitions of prosperity (disparities between fortunes for the few and scarcity for the many); knowledge (unequally distributed); and freedom (more for the few and less for the many).
   
   + Excellent discussion of the blurring of the lines between public, private, and criminal.
   
   + Fascinating discussion, centered on the fake gold mine in Indonesia, about how countries "stage" performances and fabricate opportunities in order to attract foreign investment.
   
   + Tart illustration and discussion of how frontier cultures (including soldiers who will kill indigeneous peoples whose wealth is being stolen and rights trampled); franchise cronyism; and finance capital that plays Russian roulette with other people's money.
   
   + Great discussion of the gaps between:
   
   - Cultivated and wild
   
   - Subsistence and market economies
   
   - Farm and forest
   
   - Settlements and hinterlands
   
   + Strong section on the value of differences in mobilizing indigenous interest and capabilities, and innovation.
   
   + In passing, this book makes me realize that our labor unions are dormant but can be mobilized.
   
   My highest complement for any book: I learned important things I did not know, and see the world in a different light as a result. I also see my own life's work, and the Earth Intelligence Network of which I am one of 24 co-founders, in a different light.
   
   This is a righteous book, a very valuable book, and in the context of all the other books I have read, this book is quite extraordinary, unique, and a MAJOR contribution to human knowledge.
   
   Here are some other books that I recommend that bear out and complement the author's insightful and intelligent blending of
   
   + Green/diversity
   
   + Moral/natural capitalism
   
   + Collective intelligence/wealth of networks
   
   + Populism & deliberative democracy
   
   + Ethics, ecology, & evolution
   
   Blessed Unrest: How the Largest Movement in the World Came into Being and Why No One Saw It Coming
   Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution
   The Battle for the Soul of Capitalism: How the Financial System Underminded Social Ideals, Damaged Trust in the Markets, Robbed Investors of Trillions - and What to Do About It [audio book TITLE is better, buy the book instead]
   One from Many: VISA and the Rise of Chaordic Organization
   Collective Intelligence: Mankind's Emerging World in Cyberspace
   Group Genius: The Creative Power of Collaboration
   The Wealth of Networks: How Social Production Transforms Markets and Freedom
   The Tao of Democracy: Using Co-Intelligence to Create a World That Works for All
   High Noon 20 Global Problems, 20 Years to Solve Them

2 comments about The ECO Guide to Careers that Make a Difference: Environmental Work For A Sustainable World (The Environmental Careers Organization).

1. In a global world struggling with ecological health issues, how can a budding businessperson select a career which will make a difference? By starting with The ECO Guide to Careers that Make a Difference: Environmental Work For A Sustainable World, which provides a starting point for identifying such positions. Professionals working in different industries provide insights, cover issues, and describe positive solutions being pursued. With its review of both major issues and major career opportunities, The ECO Guide To Careers That Make A Difference is not to be missed.



2. This book starts out with an overview of hiring and job trends for environmental careers divided by sector- private vs. public, and then broken down into subgroups. Then it provides descriptions of 19 different environmental career fields such as air quality, environmental justice, and conservation biology. Each of these chapters describe the major issues in the field and what professionals do to work on those issues. Each chapter also includes spotlights on specific careers- land use planner, lobbyist, environmental economist, etc. These spotlights give detailed descriptions of the job duties and qualifications, as well as salary range, job demand, and employment figures.
   
   Except for the career spotlights, of which there were about 2 per chapter, the majority of this book was very basic and appropriate only for people with no experience in any sort of ecological or environmental career. It reads like an introductory undergraduate textbook, and as such, it's really only appropriate for undergrads or people in a completely different career who wish to learn more about environmental careers. There is very little here for people who hold degrees in any environmental or ecological field, are in grad school in this area and are considering career paths, or for people who are working in this field already and who want to make a lateral move to another environmental area. This is a good beginner's guide to environmental careers, but it won't help anyone who has a little experience under their belt.