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How Much Is Enough?: The Consumer Society and the Future of the Earth (Worldwatch Environmental Alert Series)
Alan Durning
W. W. Norton & Company, 1992
Brilliant and informative evaluation of the consumer society
Has it ever occurred to you that Americans go to shopping malls more often than they attend church or synagogue? Did you know that, directly or indirectly, we consume our own weight in basic resources EVERY DAY? Half a billion people--those who belong to the consumer society--use up almost all of ...
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Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed
Jared Diamond
Penguin (Non-Classics), 2005
Warms up after the first couple chapters
+ Critical topic, excellent scholarship, yet very accessible
Not quite as good as his best-known book, "Guns, Germs and Steel", mostly because the first 50 pages are about Montana. Who cares about Montana? I barely even know where it is. But after that it gets wicked awesome. Unfortunately you can't really skip the Montana parts - too many concepts are ...
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The Global Class War: How America's Bipartisan Elite Lost Our Future - and What It Will Take to Win It Back
Jeff Faux
Wiley, 2006
It's the book for the young to read and reread!!
+ Most important book of the 21st Century
+ One of the Best Analyses of Globalism I have read
+ Clubby "governing class" with its fingers in its ears
+ Neither the premise nor the conclusion is a surprise here
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The End of History and the Last Man
Francis Fukuyama
Free Press, 2006
Fascinating, thought--provoking, but out of date
+ Debourd on Hegel (and by extension Fukuyama)
+ The Contented Dog
+ To ignore the post-modern does not lead to history
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Water: The Fate of Our Most Precious Resource
Marq de Villiers
Mariner Books, 2001
A real eye opener
+ Outstanding Discussion Group Text
+ Good, but fails about Brazil
+ A Non-Fiction Page turner (!)
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Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die
Chip Heath, Dan Heath
Random House, 2007
In order to be memorable, you must use SUCCES
+ Best Read for Teachers
+ A superb book for teachers and school leaders
+ Gotta Stick with it
+ good book, not a fun read
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The Web of Life: A New Scientific Understanding of Living Systems
Fritjof Capra
Anchor, 1997
Excellent book!!!
+ Good introduction to systems theory and its implications to other spheres
I can't attest to the science, so this review is about "The Web of Life" as literature. The Web of Life is a highly articulate and worthy piece of literature. Even at it's most scientific, it reads like the friendly voice of a wise Indian Chief. It begins with a quote inspired by Chief Seattle, and ...
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The World Without Us
Alan Weisman
Thomas Dunne Books, 2007
The World Without Us
+ Give me a moment of pause
+ a clever book and a decent interesting read
Excellent book. Full of information on what we are doing to our environment and food for thought as to possible solutions. Definitely not a scare tactic treatise like many environmentalist-type books tend to be, but a honest look at where we've come from, and where we're going. Things look OK and ...
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Nemesis: The Last Days of the American Republic (American Empire Project)
Chalmers Johnson
Metropolitan Books, 2007
A Great American Patriot
+ Articulate, Provocative, and Interesting
+ Great Read
+ "Let our object be...nothing but our country"
+ The Imperial Presidency.
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A Power Governments Cannot Suppress
Howard Zinn
City Lights Publishers, 2006
Validates my choice to oppose Cheney & attack on Iran
+ Master Teacher Zinn
+ a powerful message
+ a fantastic "must" read!
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Earth Democracy: Justice, Sustainability, and Peace
Vandana Shiva
South End Press, 2005
perhaps the world's finest eco-warrior
+ Organic food is a human right!
+ A more peaceful and secure future
+ An excellent primer
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Winning the Oil Endgame: Innovation for Profits, Jobs and Security
Rocky Mountain Institute, 2004
Book available on Author's Website
+ We can beat Peak Oil! (review by Author of When Technology Fails)
+ Best book I have read on the topic!!
The book is available for download in pdf from the author's site without charge.
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In Defense of Globalization: With a New Afterword
Jagdish Bhagwati
Oxford University Press, USA, 2007
A masterpiece
+ Comprehensive
+ A very good book and an important one indeed
+ In Defnse of Globilization
+ Cheers for trade and foreign investment
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When the Rivers Run Dry: Water--The Defining Crisis of the Twenty-first Century
Fred Pearce
Beacon Press, 2007
Lots of Detail
+ Interesting and thought provoking
+ Enlightening and horrifying
+ Fine Environmental Journalism
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Soul of a Citizen: Living With Conviction in a Cynical Time
Paul Rogat Loeb
St. Martin's Griffin, 1999
A must read if you believe in service to others
+ Every citizen must read
Paul is an outstanding voice in our world. Fantastic book helping bring hope to a difficult time for those of us who aspire to service. It is a challenge to keep engaged in service and Paul does provide hope. I also appreciate his newsletter and recommend it to those who appreciate his work. Great ...
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