2 comments about A Question of Balance: Weighing the Options on Global Warming Policies.

1. The author accepts global warming as a given and a very serious problem. He considers what we can do about it at what cost. His approach is to create a computer model in which he hopes to capture the salient economic, energy and climate factors while being simple enough that it can be understood and run repeatedly with different scenarios. I am not an economist and and the equations and their import were often beyond my understanding. I relied on Professor Nordehaus's academic standing (Stirling Professor of Economics at Yale and coauthor of a standard economics text with Paul Samuelson) and took him to be fair in his assessments. I thought he was thorough is his descriptions of the limitations of this approach and his model which I would describe as an economic and cost benefit analysis over time of various strategies for ameliorating global warming.
   
   To understand his model you must understand how future losses from climate change are "discounted" by economists. Freeman Dyson explains this as follows "the value of one dollar invested at an average interest rate of 4 percent for a period of one hundred years would be fifty-four dollars ... therefore, for every dollar spent now on a particular strategy to fight global warming, the investment must reduce the damage caused by warming by an amount that exceeds fifty-four dollars in one hundred years' time to accrue a positive economic benefit to society."
   
   Nordhaus runs his model under eight varying assumptions and or goals so that they can be compared 100 and 200 years out.
   1) captures the cost of doing nothing to which the others can be compared.
   2) is an optimal policy economically without constraints of eventual temperature or CO2 increase. It only spends on abatement when in costs less than doing nothing.
   3) constrains allowable CO2 to 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 times the pre-industrial level in separate runs.
   4) constrains the eventual temperature increase to 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 degrees C. in separate runs.
   5) runs several variants of the Kyoto agreement, with and without the US and with an improved treaty.
   6) evaluates the Stern review proposal (early major carbon reduction).
   7) evaluates the Gore proposal (early stringent carbon reduction).
   8) evaluates the result of finding a cheap non-carbon energy source for all energy needs.
   
   For the results let me quote Nordhaus: "The net present-value global benefit of the optimal policy is $3 trillion relative to no controls. This total involves $2 trillion of abatement costs and $5 trillion of reduction climate damages. Note that even after the optimal policy has been taken, there will still be substantial residual damages from climate change, which we estimate to be $17 trillion More of the climate damages are not eliminated because the additional abatement would cost more than the additional reduction in damages."
   
   Note that less than 25% of the economic damage is prevented because it is not cost effective in the "optimal" policy to prevent the rest and thus global temperature increases 2.7 C. (about 5 F.) by 2100. There is also large scale damage for which a dollar amount cannot be assigned and is thus omitted from the model. This includes loss of species, discomfort of higher temperatures, displacement of human, animal and plant populations, shifting weather patterns etc.
   
   Limiting atmospheric CO2 to two times pre-industrial levels or limiting the temperature increase to 2.5 C. produce very similar results to the "optimal" policy. Limiting CO2 to 1.5 times pre-industrial or temperature to 1.5 C. has a net loss of $14 trillion (damages plus abatement costs) over doing nothing. The Gore proposal produces similar results but costs $21 trillion. The Kyoto proposal results where almost identical to doing nothing!
   
   The model also computes an optimal carbon tax for each strategy which because of the discounting needs to increase gradually over time. For the "optimal" strategy the carbon tax would be $27 per ton initially, $90 per ton in 2050 and $200 per ton in 2100. Note that because CO2 is 3.2 times as heavy as carbon if you tax CO2 the rate would be 3.2 times lower or just over $8 initially. Nordhaus also discusses the advantages of a carbon tax over a cap and trade approach.
   
   These results surprised me. I had assumed that the Kyoto Agreement approach, although flawed, could be good if modified and joined by the US and that the Gore approach would be even better. I was annoyed by those who proposed putting the major carbon restrictions off to the future which seemed to push the problem onto our children. I though a cap and trade approach would be superior to a carbon tax since if guaranteed specific reductions. What makes this such an important book from my point of view is that I found myself to be so frequently wrong. The approaches I had favored turned out to be either relatively ineffective, much more expensive or both. This is not a book for those who do not want their current conceptions challenged.
   
   Findings I found important include: 1) A moderate carbon tax with gradual increase is much more cost effective in achieving the SAME GOAL as a stiff initial tax. This was by far the most surprising to me. 2) total participation is much much more efficient that partial whether it is nations or industries. 3) A carbon tax has several important advantages over a cap and trade system. 4) The cost of the various approaches varies dramatically in ways I would not have predicted. 5) There is a huge gain in finding alternative energy sources early in the game making research a top priority deserving large public investment.
   
   This is a book about economic tradeoffs - a question of balance. The author is clear that these models do not capture esthetic, moral, species extinction, stewardship and other concerns which policy makers must address. For instance, the "optimal" economic approach leaves our great grandchildren in a world 5 degrees warmer, with many fewer species, and major environmental shifts. I myself would probably opt for a less economically "optimal" approach that preserved more of the world as I know it and takes fewer risks about possible positive feedback loops leading to an escalating and uncontrollable heat gain. We can make these political decisions more rationally when we can estimate the costs of alternatives. Other things being equal, we would like to arrive at a chosen result at the least cost. I believe that professor Nordhaus's continuing work is a major advance toward helping us achieve that goal.
   
   It is important to remember that this is a simplified model for which the inputs are often best guesses and that some crucial unknown features may turn out to have been omitted. I expect the model will improve over time as more data is accumulated.
   
   If you do not wish to buy the book I think most of the material can be found and the author's website (Google: William Nordhaus). Again I think this is a very important book and I consider it a must for those setting global warming amelioration policy.



2. William Nordhaus, Sterling Professor of Economics at Yale University, urges a global carbon tax to cut carbon emissions.
   
   He admits, "on the side of climate damages, our knowledge is very meagre." Yet he then writes that his `best guess' is that climate damage will cost 2.5% of world output per year by 2100, if emissions are not cut. But the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says that with the forecast 3oC increase, "Globally, the potential for food production is projected to increase." What could be more important than increasing food production?
   
   Nordhaus rightly attacks three recent proposals: the Stern Review's proposal, backed by the Brown government, of an 85% global cut in emissions by 2050, Al Gore's proposed 90% cut in US emissions by 2050, and the German government's proposal to cut global emissions to 50% of 1990's levels by 2050. Nordhaus points out that all three proposals would cause great damage, because they would all cost huge amounts in the short term, about $17-22 trillion each.
   
   Nordhaus also attacks the Kyoto Protocol as too dear. Its adherents hurt themselves by adding to their production costs. He admits that a stronger Kyoto "would involve strenuous efforts virtually without precedent among international agreements."
   
   But so would the global carbon tax that he proposes. If every nation imposed the tax, it would cost $2 trillion. He says that this tax should be $27 per ton of carbon at first. In the USA, this would add 9 cents to the price of a gallon of petrol and 10% to the price of coal-generated electricity. The total US tax take would be $50 billion a year. He wants the tax to rise to $90 per ton by 2050 and to $200 by 2100.
   
   But any country fool enough to impose this tax would force its energy-using industries abroad to some country that didn't impose the tax. So the tax wouldn't cut global emissions, but it would cut living standards in countries that imposed it.

5 comments about Lights Out: The Electricity Crisis, the Global Economy, and What It Means To You.

1. Electricity provides the fundamental power that drives our economy. The complex quilt of regulation, special interest groups, ownership, and consumer behavior make it a very difficult industry to comprehend and manage. This eclectic set of interests obfuscates the issues that we must address to keep our economy strong and our environment clean. Too often zealots high jack the debate putting our future at risk.
   
   "Lights Out" sorts through these interests and presence a coherent way to insure our countries electricity supply while protecting the environment. The author has accomplished the rare feat of writing a very readable book on a complex technical topic. Many parts of the book read as a novel. I just about finished it in one reading. The book accomplishes its goals of: describing the electric generation and distribution industry, providing a roadmap for the future, and call each of us to action. It looks at the challenge from several dimensions and ends with a call to personal action. I found myself in agreement with virtually all of the recommendations with the exception of placing some constraints on the financial aspects of private equity entering the market. I understand the author's concerns for open and transparent operations. If these are insured I believe that open financial markets will enhance the solution not hinder it.
   
   My favorite part of the book was the call to personal accountability. As Pogo said, "we've met the enemy and he is us." Each of us can play a role in the solution by: simply conserving electricity through changing our light bulbs, turning off equipment, insulating our houses, and running appliances more intelligently. We can also play a role by reading about the industry; abandoning our prejudices, opening our mind, and writing our elected officials and holding them accountable.
   
   The point of the books is that the future of our electric supply system merits national attention. If we get involved, we can make this happen.



2. As someone who's got a couple years under my belt in the industy, I thought this was a great story for someone with no knowledge or someone that has been in the business 30+ years.
   
   There's no preaching about renewable solutions that won't happen or the concept of a hydrogen economy... Just down and dirty dealing with the state of the industry, and what needs to happen on the generation, transmission and consumer side of the equation.
   
   The book is very up-to-date, provides a little bit of history and a solid solution for what needs to happen for the United States to succeed in upcoming challenges.



3. I had high hopes for this book, but it's a very disappointing book. And I'm amazed at the reviews by others of the book. Makansi knows a lot, but he does a poor job of communicating precisely the problems he perceives with our electricity grid. The book is lively and eccentric, but very poorly edited.
   
   I think it's a waste of time.
   
   I happen to know Jason Makansi (from the long-ago past) and believe him to be a very capable person, but he could write a much better book if forced to show some discipline in the writing process.



4. As a person fairly new to the Utility Sector this is the most definitive book I've read on the Industry and I have made it a `must read' for my entire staff.
   
   I have recommended this book to industry savvy vets and the general public alike, and all have stated the book is an easy and very informative read. Makansi brings unbiased insight with a `matter of fact' manner in his description of North Americans current energy infrastructure and the pitfalls we face.
   
   What's refreshing is the lack of a personal agenda. With all of the polarized debate on energy and our environment, he simply spells out all aspects of our current global energy situation and lets the reader make his/her own conclusions.
   
   This book should be required reading for our politicians and Utility Industry employees.



5. Lights Out: The Electricity Crisis, the Global Economy, and What It Means To You

5 comments about The River Runs Black: The Environmental Challenge To China's Future (Council on Foreign Relations Book).

1. Not an easy read, but one that many Americans probably should...it demonstrates well how our life styles here in the US increases demand for cheap consumer goods, resulting in corporations poisoning other parts of the planet to supply them quickly and without major expense to us.
   
   Incredibly sickening injury to the planet is well documented and presented in a professional way, and the book is very readable.
   
   Recommended for all of those who need a greater repetoire of evidence that we are rather quickly destroying the planet, and as a means of strengthening arguments against "globalization" and consumerism.



2. "The River Runs Black" by Elizabeth C. Economy is an intelligent analysis of contemporary China and its burgeoning environmental crisis. This engaging book helps us understand how globalization is reshaping China and issues an urgent plea for international cooperation to help monitor and rectify an increasingly worrysome situation.
   
   Ms. Economy tells us how China's environment has been steadily deteriorating over the past centuries due to wars, political power struggles and overpopulation. However, today's problems
   are attributable to specific policy decisions by China's government that has favored rapid economic development through engagement with the international business community. Unfortunately, the particular kinds of economic development favored by China's rulers has led to myriad environmental problems including deforestation, desertification, and air and water pollution. The collusion of local government and business interests has made it difficult to obtain reliable data or to implement solutions where it is feared that plant shutdowns might
   result in mass unemployment and social unrest, making difficult problems seem untractable.
   
   Environmental consciousness in China has increased as the problems have become more visible and as the country has engaged with the world economy. Ms. Economy profiles some of the courageous and inspirational individuals who have struggled for conservation, urban renewal and grass-roots democracy such as Tang Xiyang, He Bochuan, Dai Qing and others. While environmentalists have achieved some successes (such as protecting endangered species of monkeys and antelopes), the author believes that the government's championing of highly destructive projects such as the Three Gorges Dam proves that much more needs to be done.
   
   Ms. Economy recounts the experiences of the former Communist nations of Eastern Europe to gain insight into how China might resolve its environmental problems. The Chernobyl disaster catalyzed local environmental groups into pushing for political reforms that brought down the Communists in the USSR and elsewhere. Recognizing that China's Communist Party is a "patronage machine committed to rapid economic development" and devoid of any ideological purpose other than self-perpetuation, Ms. Economy believes that increasing democratization in China could easily undermine the country's single Party system. Of course, China's leaders are keenly aware of this threat and consequently have tightly circumscribed the activities of environmental organizations, but the author is hopeful that the contradictions between increasing environmental degradation and the lack of a meaningful democracy will eventually force China's political system to change.
   
   In the last section, Ms. Economy speculates about the manner in which China may develop in the future. The author envisions three possible scenarios: China goes green; inertia sets in; and environmental meltdown. Ms. Economy thinks that the U.S. should take the lead in encouraging China to develop its regulatory system and implement green technologies so that the country can embark on an environmentally sustainable path. Indeed, the unpredictable consequences of a Chinese environmental meltdown should give the international community pause to consider how it might help China -- and by extension all of us -- to avoid a worse case scenario.
   
   I highly recommend this superbly written book to everyone.



3. Previous reviewers have said good things about this book, and I can only agree. It is notably superior to other recent books about the Chinese environment, which (though often scholarly) are long on polemics and short on comprehensive vision.
   Dr. Economy focuses on politics and policies. These have been notoriously awful under Communism, but there is now a realization of the damage being done, and thus some hope. Dr. Economy is as optimistic as one could reasonably be. Incidentally, interested readers should also look up her very fine chapter in Kristen Day's worthy edited volume CHINA'S ENVIRONMENT AND THE CHALLENGE OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.
   I am not so optimistic. One reason is that my training is more in biology, and I am aware that the devastating damage China has done to its environment will not be clear for 50 to 100 years. It takes that long for pollution and environmental degradation to show themselves fully.
   As Dr. Economy says, China wanted to be "first rich, then clean" (that's the literal Chinese; she actually phrases it more academically). They thought that the west had done this. No, the west started conservation and scientific management long ago. The United States' golden age of conservation was under Theodore Roosevelt, when the US was still poor and rural. The US and western Europe never allowed anything close to what China has done. There was much degradation, but reaction always came eventually. China, like all Communist-led countries, missed this lesson. Marx had spoken: production is all, and top-down control is the way to do it. This has led, everywhere, to dismal environmental records, though much good has come from distributing food, health care, housing, etc., more evenly (this may no longer be the case). It is now too late. The white-flag dolphin, once common and resilient, is extinct, the Three Gorges are dammed, and much else has gone beyond possibility of repair.
   Dr. Economy does not draw as sharp a contrast as I would between traditional management and Communist excess. Traditional China had major Malthusian problems, but they were caused more by imperial policy than by environmental mismanagement at the riceroots level. The peasants and workers created a system based on harmony and balance. The system was full of problems, and never got as harmonious as we would now wish, but it worked; it kept hundreds of millions of people alive in spite of a premodern technology, and it managed the key resources--topsoil, water, forests, and so on--sustainably enough that there was quite a bit left by 1950. Recent books trashing the old system have titles significantly featuring elephants and tigers instead of people. Even if you prefer the charismatic megafauna, note that China had some elephants and a lot of tigers in 1950.
   So a flawed, antiquated, underproductive, but still well-designed and eminently functional system was sacrificed, and the result has been a royal mess. Yields of food are way up, thanks to modern technology (some of it developed in China by the Communists--to their credit), but the future is cloudy indeed.
   If you want the best account of what can be done and what is being done, look no further than this book.



4. Excellent book, it's helping me a lot with my Thesis at School.... I love it



5. incredibly depressing and negative, leaves one with a sick feeling in the stomach. but its happening in China every day.
   
   This is an astounding book, but very difficult to read. I still shake my head in disbelief.

5 comments about A Contract with the Earth.

1. I have great respect for the intellect of Newt Gingrich - his take on "global warming" is interesting if for no other reason it suggests that a public/private partnership will really be the only way the issue will ever be effectively addressed.
   
   This book does drone on and on about what government is NOT doing. I mean ON and ON. Fine - I get it. What is the solution?
   
   All in all, it is a good book - but I wish I had borrowed it from the library and not paid good money for it.



2. The basic theme of conservation and recycling is valid. But the presumption that man made Carbon Loading a primary cause of Global climate change is a concern. A concern because of the potental harm to the human condition if we are to take radical actions to midigate this UNPROVEN theory. Radical actions as promoted by the Left wing radicals - including Al Gore - would cause a major decline in world economy, putting more people into poverty.
   The promotion of reforestation and managed forest land is good. But where to Human civilization meets nature, the answer cannot always be that nature trumps Human activity. Again that would cause a decline in the human condition. I agree there needs to be a balance and technology will certainly be our salvation.



3. A lot of rehash of old ideas and trite science. I was disappointed, especially since i have been a big fan of Newt's philosophies and politics.



4. 
   This is an interesting look at merging American conservative values with environmentalism. Using the concept of the Contract with America that ironically failed to have any of it points survive, but helped bring the conservatives to power making it a successful manifesto; Newt Gingrich and Terry L. Maple provide ten points to save the environment, but not at the cost of the economy. The key unlike the 1994 tenet is reconciliation with all sides moving past rhetoric into doing the right thing politically while encouraging "compatible partnerships" between business and environmentalists. However some of the hug the other side tone is lost when the authors condemn the "Inconvenient Truth" crowd as being the drivel of activist scientists (taken from the mantra of activist judges as if society would accept as professionals, inactive judges or inactive scientists). Well written and interesting as the writers make a concerned case for saving the planet without destroying business interests, CONTRACT WITH EARTH is an engaging treatise at how the economy and the environment can coexist in harmony, but the book lacks deep fecundity as Newt Gingrich and Terry L. Maple never drill past the surface mantle.
   
   Harriet Klausner



5. This was a refreshing and insightful book from a political figure with a bipartisan message for us all to appreciate. I got on to this book when listening to an interview of Gingrich on NPR. I am curious if it were not for the timing in fall of 2007, with rise to a high visibility political season, would the interview had taken place. In that interview Gingrich was asked if he is running for President. He said he was not, for the same reason Al Gore is not running. He feels he can accomplish more for the world with regard to the environment as a citizen than he could as President, being encumbered with politics.
   
   What is Gingrich's message? First is unity in the cause. Not just across national party lines but across international lines as well. Second is recognition that we do not have all the facts, in terms of the full balance of the ecosystems of our planet earth. Third is the facts should not be proprietary but rather universally shared. Fourth, is government at all levels and business need to come together with effective participation and policy, in a cooperative posture. Fifth is education of our youth and remedial education of our elders on the individual contributions through consumerism, philanthropy, voting, and life style changes that can lead to a cleaner environment. All this says a collective conscience with one unified goal is essential. The key yet silent word through out the book is balance.
   
   I was somewhat intrigued at a couple byproducts brought about with a collective conscience on the environment... to see the complete review do a keyword search on cigarroomofbooks

5 comments about Coal River.

1. This book is very well written and is an easy read. I was surprised that other than the cover photo, there are no photographs in the book documenting the horrific rape of the environment. The EPA, gutted by Bush, the state governors, senators and congressmen of WV and Tenn, and the Corps of Engineers should all be ashamed of their complicity in allowing this to happen. This is capitalism at its worst.



2. The pace of this book is as fast and compulsive as a wicked thriller, but the story happens to be completely true. Shnayerson is a natural spinner and he totally delivers the goods with this tale of good versus evil. The bad guy is the morally autistic coal baron, Don Blankenship, recently selected by Old Trout magazine as the "seventh scariest person in America." He even looks like a villain -- black mustache, lifeless stare -- and spouts social Darwinist cliches while turning tens of thousands of acres of West Virginia's beautiful mountain into a moonscape. Enabling this sociopath are his lawyers, the spineless bureaucrats in various state agencies and the Army Corps of Engineers, some of the most venal judges in America, and the craven policies of the Bush Administration.
   
   On the other side of the moral ledger are some amazing people. Injured miners who took huge risks in fighting back. Blankenship's abused maid, who dared to stand up to him. A tenacious, underpaid lawyer named Joe Lovett. Gutsy activists like Judy Bonds, Vivian Stockman, and Ed Wiley.
   
   If you think modern life lacks drama, check out this book. There's a real war going on in the mountains of Appalachia -- and, of course, the climate implications of that war will affect the world our grandchildren inhabit. Way to go, Shnayerson, for going to West Virginia and bringing us back this story.



3. I just finished reading Michael Schnayerson's Coal River. Wow! What an exposé! This work of nonfiction reads almost like a novel. The cast of characters is headed by the hulking, somewhat reclusive, brilliant, but sadistically insane Don Blankenship, CEO of Massey Energy. Blankenship's egotistic darkness is opposed by an army of soldiers of the light, whose efforts to offset the workings of the unholy prince have not always been very effective. These soldiers would include lawyer Joe Lovett, the environmental group "Coal River Mountain Watch," environmental activists Julia "Judy" Bonds, Bo Webb, Sarah and Vernon Haltom, Patty Sebok, Freda Williams, Janice Nease, Hilary Hosta, Ed Wiley, Larry Gibson, and many others.
   
   Blankenship is aided in his drive to extract all of the Coal River area's coal wealth by a corrupt cast of characters and government organizations. Among these are Bill Raney, President of the West Virginia Coal Association, the Mining Health and Safety Administration (MSHA), the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Brent Benjamin--Massey's newly-purchased Supreme-Court Justice of the state of West Virginia, and many other doers of evil works.
   
   Blankenship's "A.T. Massey Coal Company," known these days as Massey Energy is responsible for an almost unprecedented destruction of environment and of people in their quest to extract the last dollar's worth of coal. They have destroyed mountains, poisoned water and dried it up, fouled the air, and alienated a large portion of the population of the Coal River area.
   
   Even the workers employed by Massey are not exempt from the draconian policies of big coal's prince of darkness. Schnayerson details the life-shattering experiences of several workers, who Massey Energy regards as just tools. In the view of Massey Energy, if a tool breaks or is marginally useful, get rid of it and get a new tool. One of the ways Massey Energy saves money is by getting rid of workers before they get to the age at which they can retire from the company. In that way, no money gets wasted on retirement benefits.
   
   I recommend Coal River to anyone who has ever suspected there was collusion between big business and government to maximize profits, no matter what the cost to the environment or to the people. Coal River gives a revealing look into an area and a people subjected to the unashamed, unbridled exploitation of the area along Route 3 of Raleigh County of West Virginia.



4. As a committed conservationist, I really, really want to give Coal River a positive review. No can do. I tend to simplify (oversimplify?) the issues in a case. In that vein, I have carefully distilled the teaching of Coal River.:
   
   1 - Mountaintop removal/valley fill mining (in the industry, MTM/VF) is raping Mother West Virginia. God is angry. (By the book's third sentence, we see such mining as "cancerous growths.")
   
   2 - Our collective stunningly glutinous appetite for cheap energy has nothing to do with that.
   
   3 - It's all "notorious," "the most hated man in the state" (Massey Coal CEO) Don Blankenship's fault, and his mother's fault, too.
   
   Well, you gotta give Shnayerson credit, he does have remarkable clarity of vision, if you are into philippics. Perhaps, though, reason could support abolition or restriction of MTM/VF. From Shaynerson, we'll never know. Coal River contains some solid scientific information which can be useful in determining environmental and energy policy, in determining the trade-offs society seems to be willing to make (which Shnayerson detests) to provide cheap energy. That information is buried so deeply in lofty prose that it's lost. He includes passages on some basic (but largely unexplained) concepts of West Virginia's remarkable diversity of flora species, basic (but largely unexplained) processes & structures of streams, ponds and watersheds, (largely unexplained, speculative and anecdotal) health effects of coal production, and (largely unexplained) factors which make the coal available for MTM/VF mining chemically desirable and economically attractive.
   
   Shnayerson refers to the "war against coal" (p. 291) and agrees with the view that "the world would have to stop burning coal, period." (P. 292). The author savages part of the West Virginia Supreme Court (particularly Justices Maynard and Benjamin and, to a slightly lesser extent, Justice Davis), the entire corrupt West Virginia political system, faux-plaintiff lawyers who can be "bought off," Don Blankenship's "attempted putsch" in the 2006 election, teachers, the "rotundness" of a judge, the Corps of Engineers, the DEP, coal company "security goons," the Governor, and everyone else who doesn't agree with his shrillness. He plays right into the Right's "activist judge" tirades by lamenting that a Court did not consider "the question of whether mountaintop coal mining is useful, desirable, or wise," a question which a Court is constitutionally not permitted to answer. He expresses chagrin at the preference for physical markers in metes & bounds descriptions, a concept as old as surveys.
   
   This kind of discussion adds very little to intelligent discourse about jobs, the massive energy and heat that we produce, or the environmental prices that we are knowingly paying and unknowingly foisting upon our heirs. Strip mines are ugly as hell. Make that Hell. So are chemical plants, interstate highways, strip malls and (this is a minority view) Glade Springs. For that matter, in the 17th Century, Manhattan was a bucolic wooded island with streams and wonderful biodiversity. Look what we have now.
   
   Consider the book itself. Fossil fuels cut the pulpwood, transported it to a mill, made the paper, powered the computer which wrote the book, cultivated and processed the cotton fibers in the paper and binding, provided feedstock for the plastics in the binding, delivered the book, and even powered my reading lamp. The national electric grid is connected. Half of all electricity is produced by burning coal. Around half of coal production comes from surface mines, including MTM/VF mining. Neither Shnayerson (nor anyone cited by him) will admit that WE are the ones who have created the demand for coal and, indeed, created and empowered Don Blankenship. By the way, I'm not kidding, Shnayerson blames Don Blankenship's mother:
   
   [Blankenship's mother] had a work ethic that wouldn't slow down. . . . From her, Don learned that he would have to work for everything he wanted and work very, very hard. There was a dark side to this lesson, however. Don's mother would point out the town drunk to her children or criticize a customer's sloppy dress after he left the store. Anyone who didn't meet [her] high moral standards deserved to be scorned. Anyone who didn't work as hard as she did deserved to fail. Sympathy appeared to play no part in her reckonings. People got the lot they deserved and that was that."
   
   Hey, I've never met Don Blankenship. For all I know, he's the Energy Grendel. Or maybe he's a Boy Scout among industrialists, I don't know. But picking on his MOTHER? You gotta be kidding me.
   
   Captain Reality says that we aren't abandoning coal anytime soon. How can we improve it, and live with it? Coal River has no clue.



5. Amazing book. It's very heartening to see that the work of a few concerned people in Appalacia made a difference. This book really illustrated the battle between the people and Massey Energy. Really opened my eyes to the disgusting corporate greed displayed by this company. With coal and oil companies making billions in profit, is it worth destroying land, sickening children, polluting air, and allowing mine workers to work obscene shifts and in dangerous conditions for the company to get a few more dollars?
   
   Some say this book is biased. I say it's hard not to be biased when looking at what these companies are doing. Destroying the environment, destroying unions, and destroying lives is simply unacceptable, and it's good to see a story about the little guys winning at least one small battle against this nasty corporate giant.

1 comments about Carbon-Free And Nuclear-Free: A Roadmap for U.S. Energy Policy.

1. Arjun Makhijani has a way for this country to truly become energy independent. In 37 years Arjun has never had any of his work questioned; he is the top in his field. This book is quite technical in places but almost everyone will be able to understand and comprehend where he is taking this. We must do something and we must do it now - waiting 10 years for new nuclear power plants (even if all the problems of cost, waste, health and safety were to be solved) makes no sense whatsoever. Read this book then share it with your congresspeople, local people involved in energy policy, anyone that can implement this great roadmap that needs to be followed.

5 comments about The Design of Everyday Things.

1. very nice delivery very fast response. One of the best sellers at amazon.
   will do business any time with them.



2. Having heard that this was the seminal work in usabiliy, my expectations were probably too high.
   
   Some of the principles laid out are indeed excellent and well illustrated.
   
   The structure of the book is - ironically - not crystal clear. As I am reading the book I find myself looking back at the table of contents to understand the structure.
   
   The writing style is slightly entertaining at first and you sympathize with the author hanging out himself as a clumsy and spacey academic. However, after the first 30 pages the rambling style and the somewhat unstructured content makes the book really boring. I had to push myself to finish it.
   
   What strikes me is the lack of other books in this topic. Despite my criticism I'd be curious to read Norman's new book.



3. So often "design" books seem to go on about looks and "feel" yet only brush over the physiology of design. This book shows you how to think like a user, explorer like a user, error like a user and design for helping the user love your product.
   
   Anyone reading this book will instantly appreciate truly good design over the average mud we currently live in.



4. This book is a classic in the sense that it was once groundbreaking, in that it pointed out obvious flaws in industrial and software design. However, a lack of any updates outside of a new introduction leaves the book stale and dated. Complaints about the design of 1980s DOS software and VCRs is now of only historical interest.



5. As a human being we think we know other people and how they see and use products. This book tells many amusing anecdotes about products that were not successful because the designer made the things is a way he would have liked and not in the way real users use it. The book is written full of humor and with real passion for the subject.

5 comments about The Complete Guide to Environmental Careers in the 21st Century.

1. This book is a superb guide to what is often a confusing jumble of environmental career paths. From forestry to hazardous waste management to environmental education, the authors at the Environmental Careers Organization give detailed information about 11 major fields of work. In each field, they discuss major trends, career niches, salary ranges, appropriate educational background, and mini case studies. Introductory chapters have excellent advice on the job search. The annotated listings of professional assocations and other resources at the end of each chapter are by themselves worth the price of the book. Anyone considering a career in environment should have this book.



2. This is THE book to buy on careers in the environment. It details almost any profession you can think of, from science to social work. There are clear decsriptions off all the various careers, case studies (ie" a day in the life of John Doe, Botanist")and tons of contact foe everyone from the high school student to a PHD. I bought three books on the subject, and this one coveres all the information that was in the other two, plus it gives hints on how to go about preparing for and engaging in the job search. I am now well on my way to finding a job, and I have a clear sense of direction thanks to this book. BUY THIS BOOK AND READ IT- YOU DON'T NEED ANY OTHERS!



3. I suppose this is what you get when you order online. Every once in a while you don't get what you expect and I think it has a lot to do with not having the book right there in your hands before purchase. I just got this book in the mail yesterday and although I haven't got through a lot of it (50 pages or so) I can easily tell it was before Lil' Bush Jr. stepped into office and started rewriting environmental law in favor of big business favor. The book also talks (obviously) about predictions and trends in the field that may or may not still be true. I find myself reading saying "oh thats interesting, i wonder if its still true.

   I know much of it has to do with me not noticing the pub. date but when you have a book with 21st century in the title I guess I kind of took it for granted.




4. Starting a career the day after you graduate from college is one thing. Selecting a career track before you start college is another. This book, The Complete Guide to Environmental Careers in the 21st Century, is a helpful step in crystalizing your thinking.
   
   With the explosive growth of the worldwide web, there are many, many resources available to help in this major selection process. However, this book focuses on the natural resource careers, and is fairly unique in that regard. I read the chapters dealing with my area of expertise (wildlife), and I thought the coverage was adequate, but a bit too generic. Picky, picky. I still found myself agreeing with what I was reading. I also liked the introductory chapters, and appreciated the focus on getting experience through internships and volunteering. I'd like students to do some exploring in their selection of courses, and "cross-train," or become multidisiplinary. Most students change their major at least once in their college careers, and many change their major several times. Be well grounded, and flexible in the courses you take.
   
   Don't forget, however, that experitse is critical for success. It is not the degree that will propel you along your career track. It is what you know, how well you know it, and how you apply this information that will shape your success.
   
   Most importantly, if you DON'T like the careers discussed in this book, switch majors now!



5. This book came very quickly from the seller and is in decent condition. The price was absolutely terrific, and I am very happy. This is a good book for people exploring the idea of embarking upon an environmental career, or people looking to change or expand their career to something environmentally related. Thanks!

1 comments about The Shadows of Consumption: Consequences for the Global Environment.

1. Consumer culture and environmentalism make strange bedfellows -- is it oxymoronic to simultaneously love shopping and love the planet? Must The West end its love affair with consumer culture -SUVs, KFC, and "I want my MTV"? Can `greening' corporations really help prevent environmental collapse? These were some of the many questions I had on my mind when I read Peter Dauvergne's "The Shadows Of Consumption: Consequences for the Global Environment."
   
   General readers, political economists, and anyone looking for a fresh take on environmentalism will find Dauvergne's work clearly articulated, provocative, and non-preachy. He does an excellent job of providing investigative analysis linking consumption with the ensuing, and often unseen, global repercussions. This information was of great help to me. I often wonder how to make sense of international trade patterns, global warming, biodiversity and other complex environmental factors when faced with mundane decisions at the grocery store. The consequences of our purchases often seem foggy, distant, and difficult to grasp. In succinct chapters, Dauvergne makes these complex relationships concrete by bringing to light such factors as governance structures, political economy, geography, and corporate power. The author roots his argument about the hidden costs of consumption using five clear examples: cars, gasoline, refrigerators, beef, and seals.
   
   The author succeeds in linking these five disparate cases in support of his overarching argument about the global shadows of consumption. I learned that rising consumption patterns are increasing everywhere, at the same time, the distance between producers and consumers is lengthening so that it's more difficult to comprehend negative spillover effects (Often to the detriment of the environment, poorer countries, and indigenous communities which end up bearing the costs.) This "shadow" concept allows the reader to move beyond individualized solutions to environmental problems to examine the roles of multinational corporations, trade, finance, globalization, and governing bodies.
   
   Sweeping reforms will be needed to create balance. Understanding why ecological shadows form, how they drift, and occasionally, why they fade away will be key in crafting effective environmental strategies on a global context. I enjoyed the way the author seamlessly weaves together these multiple dimensions of trade, governance, health, and corporate power. This book made me think twice about the broader consequences of my purchasing power. The stomach-turning details about "advanced meat recovery systems" combined with the statistics about the rise of meat consumption, rapid loss of rainforests, and broader ecological effects made me vow to "vote with my fork" and cut beef out of my diet entirely. The other chapters are equally hard hitting.
   
   Thanks to Dauvergne, I have a new appreciation for the urgency of drastic structural reforms on a global level including greener technologies, tougher environmental standards, and ways for products to reflect their true environmental costs. At the same time, I have a more realistic understanding of consequences. I understand environmental spillover and link my individualized consumption practices to collective shadows forming in distant communities. While I'm committed to curtailing consumption as a whole, and think others should do so too, I strongly recommend purchasing this book.

1 comments about Green Building Products, 3rd Edition: The GreenSpec Guide to Residential Building Materials-3rd Edition.

1. Interest in green, sustainable building practices is great and the prior editions of GREEN BUILDING PRODUCTS have helped builders choose among the latest offerings, so any library strong in homeowner construction or builder guides needs the revised edition, which provides descriptions and manufacturer contact details for over 1,600 environmentally preferable products and materials. A 'must' for any collection regularly catering to builders and owner-builders.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch