Just a Dream

Book Description

Young Walter litters and refuses to sort trash for recycling, until he dreams of an overcrowded and polluted future which terrifies him into taking care of the earth.

Customer Reviews:

Trieu, Steven and Jang Yi's review.......2007-05-18

Just a Dream is a wonderful book because it teaches a lesson and the lesson is to take care of the earth by recycling your trash. You should read this book to learn why it's important to protect the environment. Even one person can make a difference. If I could pick from any book that I already read, I would pick this book as the best one. The author had an awesome idea for writing. He taught a lesson but put it in words that made me want to keep reading. It has colorful pictures that really stand out. I would recommend this book to anyone.

Just a Dream.......2007-02-09

I read Just A Dream I would recommend this book because it has detailed pictures. In the book I saw the different sized boats with great reflections in the water.This helped convince me that it was a good book.

I love Chris VanAllsburg.......2006-08-20

This book has a great message, but it seems a little more forced than some of his other titles. All of his books are great for teaching children to infer meaning from text!

An educational, magical children's book.......2006-02-22

When I read this book a tear came to my eye. I knew Chris Van Allsburg was right about recycling and keeping the earth clean. If there are parents that have kids that actually like to keep the earth clean, I suggest they read it to their kids!

Not consitent with the morals I want to pass to my children..........2006-01-16

This book is a pretty extreme children's story that follows the new religion of environmentalism. Very anti-technology and anti- progress... no lawn mowers, no electric dryers? We received this as a gift and I will not be keeping it. I wouldn't read this book to my children.

Geography of Nowhere: The Rise and Decline of America's Man-Made Landscape

Average customer rating:

luddite indictment of a car
A Worthy Rant
Kunstler's Gift of Entertaining While Informing
highway to hell
The Rise and Decline of Humanity

Geography of Nowhere: The Rise and Decline of America's Man-Made Landscape
James Howard Kunstler
Manufacturer: Free Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0671888250

Book Description

The Geography of Nowhere traces America's evolution from a nation of Main Streets and coherent communities to a land where every place is like no place in particular, where the cities are dead zones and the countryside is a wasteland of cartoon architecture and parking lots.

In elegant and often hilarious prose, Kunstler depicts our nation's evolution from the Pilgrim settlements to the modern auto suburb in all its ghastliness. The Geography of Nowhere tallies up the huge economic, social, and spiritual costs that America is paying for its car-crazed lifestyle. It is also a wake-up call for citizens to reinvent the places where we live and work, to build communities that are once again worthy of our affection. Kunstler proposes that by reviving civic art and civic life, we will rediscover public virtue and a new vision of the common good. "The future will require us to build better places," Kunstler says, "or the future will belong to other people in other societies."

Customer Reviews:

luddite indictment of a car .......2007-05-22

The book is well written and provides a lot of facts, though many of these may be known anyhow. However, the author's pet idea - that the car is THE reason for aberrations in suburban development - begins to be more and more irritating as we read on; there is one large chapter devoted to the car and road planning, but if this were not enough the point gets reiterated every few paragraphs. Perhaps indeed the car is the ultimate evil of modern civilization; if only we didn't have to reread this again and again.
As a form of compensation, we get very limited look at the social, economic and demographic causes of all landscape changes during past century. Yes, there is a mention of some historical events, such as WWII, but it disappears under the weight of all those cars blamed for commercial strips, parking lots and suburban housing. Somehow, the population growth, which the strips, suburbs, parking lots and cars try to accomodate, gets overlooked. But then, we get also a healthy dose of nostagia after the goode olde times, when towns were small, kids could play in the streets without a risk of traffic accident, and farms were the base of economy. I could not escape the impression that the author's leading motive was to lament the lifestyles gone.

A Worthy Rant.......2007-02-08

This is book is largely a rant--well-researched and eloquent--but a rant nonetheless. Overwrought with cynicism, it is hard to distinguish Kunstler's reasonable concerns from his own sense of nostalgia. He draws some erroneous parallels (e.g. holding Disney World to the standard of anything but an amusement park) but does make an effective point regarding how U.S. citizens were ill-prepared for the after effects of the heyday of the automobile.

Fundamentally, Kunstler's cynicism aside, he's an advocate for renewed interest in civic planning, decreased dependency on fossil fuels, and models of sustainability. He presents Portland, OR as the best model for a city and the community of Seaside, FL as the model for a smaller town. He sees urban planning as the opportunity to develop while respecting the present landscape and enriching sense of community and public space.

The weakness of the book lies in the author's bitterness, which disguises his very real passion for the topic. The saving grace is that given most of his likely readership, he is preaching to the choir who understands his anger. This choir will understand that Kunstler embeds important lessons in his bleak diatribe--lessons worth embracing.

Kunstler's Gift of Entertaining While Informing.......2006-11-29

I have little more to add to the many thorough reviews already posted, so I'll just note what grabbed me: it was the rare book that was fun to read, even while dealing with serious societal problems in a thoughtful manner. A great introduction to community development issues.

highway to hell.......2006-02-01

Last night in his State of the Union speech, G. W. Bush pointed out the obvious fact that America depends far too heavily on oil to support its lifestyle. Whoever programmed him to say that must have been reacting to the mounting unrest over the crises associated with big oil: war, pollution, corruption, and extreme flabbiness.

Most of the problems associated with oil are problems associated with cars, and cars are the focus of J. H. Kunstler's book. Published in the early 90s, The Geography of Nowhere describes the impact of automobiles on the development of the U.S. Apparently, things started to go south during the Depression, when people were driven out of cities by poverty and the diminishing quality of life in the tenements. Fueling the flight to the suburbs were New Deal programs to build roads and cheap houses. In the ensuing decades the American landscape was built to serve cars rather than people, and that is what Kunstler is angry about. His main criticisms are:

1) A lot of the architecture, both residential and commerical, is very ugly. Buildings are constructed quickly and cheaply, and without regard to their surroundings. After all, what's the point of worrying about your surroundings if people are just going to drive directly to their destination? On this point, Kunstler is angry and sarcastic, though often funny. However, his tone is unfortunate, because ugliness is ultimately a matter of opinion, and I would bet that most people would say they are quite happy living in their suburban boxes. Kunstler argues that people are happy this way because they don't know any better, and he's probably right, but as far as I know there is no good way to force people to appreciate beauty.

2) When you step back from the individual buildings, and look at the organization of towns and cities, things start to look really grim. Here Kunstler's got a good point. Throughout most of America, the landscape is zoned into residential and commercial districts, which are separated by long stretches of four-lane roads. The residential zones are further divided by income (and to a lesser extent, by race and ethnicity), impeding the development of anything like a genuine community. The result is a weird mix of intolerance and paranoia that pervades the culture of what has historically been a relatively progressive nation.

3) At an even larger scale, the impact of cars on the nation and on the world seems absolutely dire. The Geography of Nowhere was written before car companies had figured out how to trick yuppies into buying pick-up trucks, and by now there is a broad scientific consensus that the Earth's climate is getting warmer as a result of human activities. Yet people continue to buy bigger and bigger SUVs, and to drive them longer distances to get to work or to buy their microwaveable burritos. It's like a hideous inversion of the idea of public transportation, in which every individual drives his or her own bus to work. Here it's not merely a matter of personal preference -- it's only possible for an individual to drive an SUV if other people subsidize the cost of cheap oil and environmental degradation. In all likelihood these other people haven't been born yet.

Ultimately, someone has to make decisions about the development of towns and cities, and there's no reason in a democratic society why these decisions have to be based on short-term economic interests. Although most suburbanites are probably not miserable in their surroundings, I doubt if anyone would consider their dependence on cars to be ideal. The Geography of Nowhere is a good way to start thinking about kicking the habit.

The Rise and Decline of Humanity.......2006-01-01

I believe that many of the ways we view our lives and live it is directly related to the relation of space, especially where our homes are and what we do daily.

Kunstler points out very cunningly and sometimes with anger how horrible America has set up its cities - cities of which I usually refer to as 'Suburbia World' and America, for a large part, really has turned into a world of suburbia, of endless homes stacked next to each other in a large sea, of which all its inhabitants commute to a Office park some 30 miles away.

Anyway, although Kunstler does not cover as in-depth as I believe he should, he points out many architectural and planning elements that even I, as an architecture student in Los Angeles, have never truly observed. He so well argues against suburban development that I am, even more than before, inspired to work on architectural projects that have nothing to do with suburban qualities (although this shall be very difficult).

If you are looking for a book to explain how horrible our cities really are (especially in the suburban world) and have never had the vocabulary to express that please read this book, it is something I wish everyone could understand and react to.

Average customer rating:

Engineering skill, policy blunders:
Elegant writing on man's ignorance about nature
People's Efforts, People's Errors
Read this one for pleasure
Nature Bats Last

The Control of Nature
John McPhee
Manufacturer: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0374522596

Amazon.com

Master how-it-works writer John McPhee has instructed his readers in the arcana of how oranges are commercially graded, how mountains form, how canoes are built and oceans crossed. In The Control of Nature he turns his attention once more to geology and the human struggle against nature. In one sketch, he explores the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' unrealized plan to divert the flow of the Mississippi River into a tributary, the Atchafalaya, for flood control; in another, he looks at the ingenious ways in which an Icelandic engineer saved a southern harbor on that island from being destroyed by a lava flow; in a third, he examines a complex scheme to protect Los Angeles from boulders ejected from mountains by compression and tectonic movement. As always, McPhee combines a deep knowledge of his subject with a narrative approach that is wholly accessible; you may not have thought you were interested in earthquakes and flood control, but he gently leads you to take a passionate concern in such matters.

Book Description

The Control of Nature is John McPhee's bestselling account of places where people are locked in combat with nature. Taking us deep into these contested territories, McPhee details the strageties and tactics through which people attempt to control nature. Most striking is his depiction of the main contestants: nature in complex and awesome guises, and those attempting to wrest control from her - stubborn, sometimes foolhardy, more often ingenious, and always arresting characters.

Customer Reviews:

Engineering skill, policy blunders:.......2007-01-10

Mc Phee presents three well written, beautifully researched case studies, short term marvels of engineering skill and determination, doomed from the outset by humanity's ignorance and disregard of natural processes. This book examines an unstable river system in Southern Louisiana, unpredictable massive lava flows in Iceland, and episodic debris flows in Los Angeles mountain foothills. Each case presents the heroic bad judgement of short-lived humans in conflict with gradual natural processes, catastrophic at long intervals, by human measure, and ultimately inxorable, indifferent long-term to our futile efforts at intervention. He wastes few judgemental words on the human folly his stories chronicle, but lets them speak for themselves. He fills the shoes of both writer and teacher.

Elegant writing on man's ignorance about nature.......2006-11-27

As always, McPhee is a pleasure to read and a pleasure to review. In these chronicles, based both on narrative and on interviews, McPhee's big theme is ambition (a good thing), hubris (no problem, simple answer), and willful ignorance.
McPhee talks about three major `wars' against nature - the effort to keep the Mississippi River running through New Orleans, the semi-successful effort in Iceland to keep a volcano from filling in a critical harbor, and the ludicrous attempt to prevent fire and flooding from destroying the east side of Los Angeles. In each of these, the threats are portrayed as utterly real and frightening, the science is lucid without being boring or full of jargon, and the people speak for themselves.
If you ever wanted to change the inevitable force of geology by piling up sandbags, stop a lava flow by spraying water on it, or keep your house from being filled with boulders and sand (debris flow) - this book will be a lesson on fighting rear guard actions against enemies that will, eventually, win.

People's Efforts, People's Errors.......2006-06-18

McPhee examines three recent attempts by man to alter natural changes on the surface of the planet. The first is the Corps of Engineers attempt to control of the flow and course of the Mississippi as it heads, with ever increasing power, toward New Orleans, or Texas if it had its way. And if you think that there was not some early warning of eventual problems in New Orleans, note that this book was written in 1989. The second is the partially successful effort by the Icelanders to use water from fire hoses to halt the flow of lava from a very destructive volcano. Finally, the third is the battle between Los Angeles and one of natures weapons of mass destruction, the debris flows coming down from the San Gabriel mountains that, with the Pacific, frame the city. McPhee has also written intriguing books about the geologic histories of Nevada (Basin and Range), Wyoming (Rising from the Plains), California (Assembling California) and about tectonic plates, ice and oil (In Suspect Terrain). In the process he has portrayed the important English pioneers in the discipline such as Hutton and Lyell, in addition to Agassiz and his fascination with glaciers.

The flow of the Mississippi with its enormous drainage extending from Western New York to Montana has been increasing with every newly paved Wal-Mart or football stadium parking lot in the Midwest. In the process it has carved out the sediment that forms the fan that extended the coast line of Louisiana over fifty miles into the Gulf in the last century. Historically its mouth has wandered for nearly two hundred miles along the Gulf coast between Mississippi and Texas, creating most of Louisiana. Its flow of sixty-five kilotons (two million cubic feet of water) per second in high years is now channeled by the levies, which are not without defects as demonstrated by recent hurricanes. But that doesn't mean upstream threats can be ignored. The Atchafalaya, with a much steeper drop and connected to the Mississippi by the Old River in Northern Louisiana, is constantly bidding for the Ohio and Missouri mud that gives the Mississippi its color. The saga of the construction efforts by the Corps to keep it as a safety valve to prevent the flooding of New Orleans, and not have it turn the lower Mississippi river basin (the "American Ruhr" as the locals call it) into a pasture or salt water lake, is McPhee's first war story. It has been a "close run thing" with a near disaster in 1973 when the Old River Control, an enormous weir, nearly failed. The proliferation of commissions, competing commercial interests and colorful characters overshadow the geology, but the movement of sediment is still the enemy and the story keeps it under "close surveillance".

The attempt by the Icelanders to control the flow of lava erupting from a volcano on one of their offshore islands is magisterial. This effort is a saga of human endurance, persistence and geological knowledge. He describes Iceland as one of the two most productive geologic hot spots on the planet (the other being Hawaii). However, while the Hawaiian Islands are moving with the Pacific plate, Iceland is being torn apart by the Mid-Atlantic ridge which runs directly beneath it. The 2000 degree (F.) magma under it came up, in 1973, to punch through the sixty mile thick plate of Vestmannaeyjar island "like a sewing machine needle punches through cloth." The offshore island has one of Iceland's main fishing harbors. Indeed, it is one of the most active in the North Atlantic and hence worth saving.

The lava spread in all directions from the volcano, covering most of the island and threatening its harbor. The government decided that it would try to save the harbor by cooling the lava and holding it back with fire and other large water hoses. An Icelandic physicist calculated that one cubic meter of water would change seven-tenths of a cubic meter of lava from red hot flow to hard rock. The water hoses were brought from Reykjavik, the capital, and the American air base nearby at Keflavik. They were trained on the ever encroaching lava day and night at the direction of the fire chief from the base who became known, not unaffectionately or undeservedly, as "Patton".

They succeeded, but not until three million cubic yards of tephra fell on the island's town (compared to only 500,000 cubic yards, which fell on Pompeii), and three hundred feet of basalt rose next to it. Nature gave in and the eruption stopped after five and a half months. It had increased the size of the island by twenty percent, and perhaps will press its case against the harbor at a later time. While the topography, characters and customs of The Big Easy and Tinseltown may be familiar to us, Iceland is not. Tidbits about the oldest democratic parliament, the Icelandic prohibition against selling beer in favor of "Norwegian Cough Drops" (shots of Johnny Walkersson and Jack Danielsson), the local learning on how to avoid volcanic bombs, etc., add the color. Pages turn.

His final example of man's attempts is the effort of the City of Los Angeles to keep the San Gabriel Mountains (three thousand feet higher than the Rockies from bottom to top) from sending debris into the foothills of the city and washing away houses in the process. Los Angeles has built more than 120 catch basins to arrest the debris. McPhee describes the effect of fire upon the chaparral in the mountains (it provides an impermeable cover which sends the water runoff in a large storm cascading down the valley) is impressive as one of those ideas that seemed good at the time. However, other than the effect of the angle of repose, this section is a bit of a filler in an otherwise very interesting book.

Read this one for pleasure.......2006-05-17

There are books that should be read for the value of the information they contain. There are books that should be read for the beauty and power of their language. There are few that achieve both. This intensively researched page turner never fails to combine clarity and eloquence. Mr. McPhee clearly loves the people and places he describes, and treats them in a witty, friendly way that left me laughing and wanting more.

Nature Bats Last.......2006-02-25

This is among my favorite McPhee books. Not only does he bring his superb skills at description, characterization and narrative flow to these three linked stories; he manages to set out a subtle subtext without ever being explicit.

In a lot of ways, humanity's history on this planet is a struggle against nature. McPhee focuses here on three instances of modern struggles against geologic forces. River flooding, and in particular the channel of the lower Mississippi River; volcanism, and in particular lava flows in Iceland and Hawaii; and erosion, and in particular mass-wasting in the San Gabriel Mountains in Los Angeles.

The message in each case is that mankind can triumph - or at least cope - in the short term, but in the long term, the natural forces will prevail. The Mississippi River will change its channel, despite the sometimes arrogant, sometimes defensive efforts of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Lava flows will eventually overwhelm Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland. The naive and credulous Angelenos who build their homes in the steep valleys of the San Gabriels, despite the mudflow management efforts of the County, are eventually doomed. Nature bats last. The rabbit runs for his life; the coyote runs for his supper. The Corps has to succeed each time; the Mississippi only has to succeed once.

McPhee is far too good a writer to ever come out and say this. Instead, he reports what he has seen and what he has been told and lets his narrative convey his points. That reporting is simply brilliant. As I have argued in other reviews, McPhee is America's greatest living expository writer. This is one of his best books.

Highly recommended.

Cannibals and Kings: Origins of Cultures

Average customer rating:

A classic!
I Liked It!
Why Read Fiction?
A contribution to cultural anthropology...
Cannibals and Kings: A Disorganized View of Culture

Cannibals and Kings: Origins of Cultures
Marvin Harris
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 067972849X
Release Date: 1991-06-04

Book Description

In this brilliant and profound study the distinguished American anthropologist Marvin Harris shows how the endless varieties of cultural behavior -- often so puzzling at first glance -- can be explained as adaptations to particular ecological conditions. His aim is to account for the evolution of cultural forms as Darwin accounted for the evolution of biological forms: to show how cultures adopt their characteristic forms in response to changing ecological modes.

"[A] magisterial interpretation of the rise and fall of human cultures and societies."

-- Robert Lekachman, Washington Post Book World

"Its persuasive arguments asserting the primacy of cultural rather than genetic or psychological factors in human life deserve the widest possible audience."

-- Gloria Levitas The New Leader

"[An] original and...urgent theory about the nature of man and at the reason that human cultures take so many diverse shapes."

-- The New Yorker

"Lively and controversial."

-- I. Bernard Cohen, front page, The New York Times Book Review

Customer Reviews:

A classic!.......2007-03-01

Great work in the realm of cultural materialism.

A very good toss into Dr. Harris.

I Liked It!.......2006-11-10

I had to read this book for a class and I was plesently surprised. The author brings up some interesting topics that really make you think.

Why Read Fiction?.......2006-08-26

Marvin Harris' "Cannibals and Kings" is one of those classic anthropological, historical studies that makes reading non fiction fun. The phenomenon of solving riddles of humanity with a smile on your face, constantly nodding and saying stuff like "yeah that makes sense" and "damn this guys good" begs the question: Why care about Harry Potter? While Harris is more theatrical and less scientific in nature than predecessor's like Jared Diamond, the sheer wit of his arguments will move you. Furthermore unlike reading most fiction, during "Cannibals and Kings" you really are growing sager with each turn of the page. So if you're looking for a practical understanding of human evolution that's more entertaining than fiction then buy this book.

A contribution to cultural anthropology..........2005-05-08

I had to read this book for my introduction to cultural anthropology class last semester. Though I found parts of it to be dry, the work as a whole was eye opening. It does a good job of identifying patterns and evaluating the evolution of civilizations from hunting to aggrerian to imperialist societies, and onward.

However, I felt that Harris took a very naturalistic approach and underestimated the power of free will. He described everything as being systematic and, although he mentions free will in his conclusion, makes the evolution of civilization seem controlled solely by circumstance and necessity.

Nevertheless, he provides a plausible explanation for why civilizations evolve the way they do and why some advance faster or in different ways than others. I recommend this book for those interested in a possible explanation of cultural evolution. For those looking for a more introductory book to cultural anthropology that covers more ground (but is more brief), I recommend "Culture as Given, Culture as Choice" by Van Der Elst.

Cannibals and Kings: A Disorganized View of Culture.......2001-01-22

This book focused on several of the components of culture. It was disorganized because there is little continuity between topics and the general theme is that resources produce cultures. Complicated at times, the book was not difficult to read, but tedious. Another problem with Cannibals and Kings is its focus on female infanticide. It never clearly described why exactly females were killed insted of males. It answers the title by describing why there are/were cannibals in the world and later talk about kings and how kingdoms evolved. This book does give the reader a better understanding of how civilizations formed. The conclusion was inconclusive at best. The Epilogue explains that unless technology improves, the living standard will inevitably fall. Although this may be true, it does not account whether this will be true for the western world only or for the third world or both. This book is worth reading to get a better understanding of the connection between supply and demand and why cultures evolved.

The End of Nature: Tenth Anniversary Edition

Average customer rating:

To Be Honored But Not Necessarily To Be Read
Classic
Rave for 'The End of Nature'
Wonderful Book, A Little Outdated
Prophetic and life changing.

The End of Nature: Tenth Anniversary Edition
Bill Mckibben
Manufacturer: Anchor
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0385416040
Release Date: 1997-08-05

Book Description

Reissued on the tenth anniversary of its publication, this classic work on our environmental crisis features a new introduction by the author, reviewing both the progress and ground lost in the fight to save the earth.

This impassioned plea for radical and life-renewing change is today still considered a groundbreaking work in environmental studies. McKibben's argument that the survival of the globe is dependent on a fundamental, philosophical shift in the way we relate to nature is more relevant than ever. McKibben writes of our earth's environmental cataclysm, addressing such core issues as the greenhouse effect, acid rain, and the depletion of the ozone layer. His new introduction addresses some of the latest environmental issues that have risen during the 1990s. The book also includes an invaluable new appendix of facts and figures that surveys the progress of the environmental movement.

More than simply a handbook for survival or a doomsday catalog of scientific prediction, this classic, soulful lament on Nature is required reading for nature enthusiasts, activists, and concerned citizens alike.

Customer Reviews:

To Be Honored But Not Necessarily To Be Read.......2007-07-26

The good news: "The End of Nature" was a truly prophetic book when it was published in 1989. Eloquent and well-intentioned, it was one of the first books aimed at a general audience to discuss global warming and deep ecology. It may even have influenced public opinion, if not public policy.

The bad news: "The End of Nature" is meandering, journalistic, and full of 20-year old science. Even worse, it's main Big Idea doesn't seem true. McKibben believed that man's ability to change the climate would eventually make it impossible for anyone to see nature as quasi-sacred and independent of human meddling. In reality, man's respect for nature will surely increase, not diminish, as the earth warms up. Coastlines will disappear, hurricanes slam into cities, and summers sizzle. Whatever else global warming will do, it will humble mankind.

The bottomline: "The End of Nature" has earned a place in the canon of environmental literature alongside classics like "Silent Spring." Every environmental library should have a copy of it. However, there's no compelling reason why general readers in 2007 should devote much time to it.

Classic.......2007-06-19

As relavent today as it was in 1989 and when combined with Deep Economy gives you something to ponder.

Rave for 'The End of Nature'.......2007-05-13

Bill McKibben's beautifully written and cogently reasoned analysis of how humans are damaging the world we share with all other life is must-reading. He shares with readers a respect for Nature---truly wild, untouched Nature---that is personal, emotional, reverential, and spiritual. That respect is contagious. We need to hear voices like his. His book strengthens our will to take the difficult but essential steps to slow global warming. He urges us to be good stewards of the earth.

Wonderful Book, A Little Outdated.......2004-11-09

This would've been a five-star review if this book were about 10-12 years newer than it is. In some ways, McKibben's extended essay on global warming has aged very well. His central thesis that nature is ended (not destroyed but removed of majesty or even neutered) by the overwhelming pressures of human industrial society and human overpopulation is as relevant now as it ever was, the truth of this argument more evident every day. And global warming, the central thread of his argument, is even more pressing today, even though we in the United States are doing even less about it. Though some of his worst fears have yet to come true, the reality of global climate change is bad enough, as underscored by the recent report on rapid climate change in arctic regions.

In other ways, though, the book seems dated. A lot of what McKibben writes about is uncertain. "It could be that in 50-100 years..." or "our models are very uncertain but..." and so on. The last 15 years have seen a lot of research in this area and a a great deal of refinement of our climate models, such that we know have a much more certain picture of the realities of climate change. This is real. It is happening, and it's happening quickly. Unfortunately, the greater uncertainty in our understanding of this at the time McKibben was writing undercuts his message somewhat, that we must learn to curb our desires and live more humbly if we wish to avoid the worst consequences of global warming. Were his argument bolstered by more modern research, I think he would have a much easier time outlining some real steps we as a society could take to deal with global warming.

Still, the issues McKibben raises and the ideas he presents for how we can deal with them are as pressing now as they were in 1989, perhaps even more so. Anyone who is at all concerned about global warming, the environment, or even just living beyond the next 30 years or so would do well to read this book.

Prophetic and life changing........2004-02-23

In the ten years between the time THE END OF NATURE was first published in 1989 and reissued in 1999, we experienced seven of the ten warmest years in recorded history (p. xiv), which establishes Bill McKibben as a global warming prophet. And the thing is--we're still not getting it. "We live in the oddest moment since our species first stood upright," McKibben writes in the new Introduction to his environmental classic, "the moment when we are finally grown so big in numbers and in appetite we alter everything around us" (pp. xv-xvi). The United States alone dumps 15 percent more CO2 into the atmosphere than it did ten years ago (p. xvi). Arctic glaciers continue to retreat, ice grows thinner, and the sea level steadily rises (p. xviii). In short, "this buzzing, blooming, mysterious, cruel, lovely globe of mountain, sea, city, forest, of fish and wolf and bug and man; of carbon and hydrogen and nitrogen--it has come unbalanced in our short moment on it" (p. xxv).

McKibben's basic argument is that our relationship with the concept of "nature" as something separate and wild has changed, and in our pursuit for "a better life," we have totally wrecked the environment (p. 48). By changing the weather, for instance, we have altered every spot on earth, depriving nature of its independence, leaving "nothing but us" (p. 58). Stated differently, we have ended nature's separation from human society (p. 64).

Because nature provides us with a sense of comfort, reading THE END OF NATURE is not a happy experience. McKibben has issued a wake-up call, and his book should be required reading for any global-warming skeptic, or for anyone who drives a SUV. As Thoreau said, we are living lives of quiet desparation--we enjoy the consumptive, easy life. However, as McKibben's compelling argument demonstrates, such a lifestyle is incompatible with the well being of our planet. He encourages us not only to change the way we act, but also to change the way we think by adopting the radical notion that we learn to respect nature "for its own sake," as a "realm beyond the human," and give it "room to recover" from the damage we have done (pp. 174-77). This book was a life changer that prompted me, in part, to move from the concrete, urban sprawl of Phoenix, Arizona to Boulder, where there is a respect for open space, and where it is still possible to have a humble relationship with nature.

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Is the building and controlling of space a feminist issue? Consider the Washington Monument, a prominent feature of our nation's capital--a tall, pointed shaft of a building. Or consider the assembly line layout of a maternity ward--women shunted from labor to delivery to recovery--and how it dehumanizes that most female of roles, giving birth. Leslie Kanes Weisman, former dean of architecture, offers this critique of space management. It is complemented by practical advice on creating more inclusive architecture and community.

How to See: A Guide to Reading Our Man-Made Environment

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The founding father of American Modern Design

How to See: A Guide to Reading Our Man-Made Environment
George Nelson
Manufacturer: Design Within Reach
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0974491802

Product Description

How to See was originally published in 1977. This reedition is updated and in color. More than a guide to visual appreciation, this is a book about how to recognize, evaluate, and understand the objects and landscape of the man-made world. The pursuit of design is not about the way things appear, but rather about the way things give meaning and relevance to the human experience.

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The founding father of American Modern Design.......2006-01-15

George Nelson was not only a creative artistic talent, he was also a commercial genius (just like Picasso was). These two talents provided his secret for success that would reward him throughout his life. This book is an actual reprint from the original edition. It documents in detail how George Nelson thought and designed. The attention is clearly on his biography, this is not a coffee table book filled with an overdose of pictures. A wonderful biography about a designer that was the founding father of American Modern Design. I also suggest to visit the wonderful online archive about George Nelson at WWW.GEORGENELSON.ORG.

Tax Shift: How to Help the Economy, Improve the Environment, and Get the Tax Man Off Our Backs (New Report, No. 7)

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Possibly the simplest, most powerful way to save the earth

Tax Shift: How to Help the Economy, Improve the Environment, and Get the Tax Man Off Our Backs (New Report, No. 7)
Alan Thein Durning , Yoram Bauman , Rachel Gussett , and Northwest Environment Watch (Organization)
Manufacturer: Northwest Environment Watch
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1886093075

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Possibly the simplest, most powerful way to save the earth.......2000-03-17

If you have always thought jobs and the environment were at odds with one another, read this book and see that there are very sensible ways to help the environment AND the economy at the same time. See how current tax policies penalize exactly the things we want more of (employment, environmental protection), and subsidize exactly the things we want less of (pollution, pillaging). The authors make their points powerfully and convincingly, yet with a surprisingly light, readable touch. Normally I would never read a book with "tax" in the title, but this is not a typical book. Any thinking citizen should take a look, and anyone interested in government, politics, or activism should read it as soon as possible. It will give you new perspective on how we run our society, and on how we should.

Book Description

The manatees are facing extinction in Florida waters. The book is compiled of facts, not fantasy. Faulkner believes the text is too important a document about manatees overwhelmed by pesticides, people, pollution and power boats not to publish it as a book in itself. Manatees are living beings and need our help sooner than later

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Faulkner does it again!.......2001-04-01

It it obvious from reading Douglas Falkner's book on Manatees and how their lives are impacted by over a million boats in Florida's waters every year, and by Florida's 15 million residents and 60 million tourist every year, why these gentle creatures are on the endangered spieces list.

Faulkner's running text, though it is only 101 pages long gives one little opportunity to put the book down, nor does his lively writing style give one little incentive.

Power boats are not the only enemies of the Manatees. Man made pollution, habitat destruction, pesticides and herbicides as well are killing the Manatees and the beauty that once was Florida.

Book Description

For every woman who works with men-an immediately empowering guide to rising above gender politics and succeeding in the workplace

Knowledge is a powerful tool. The Male Mind at Work answers troublesome and intriguing questions about how men behave on the job. This thought-provoking book shatters myths about what really goes on in the male mind while confirming for women the realities about gender differences that have always existed. It offers clear strategies for women who feel frustrated and confused because male colleagues speak a different language or play by different rules, and contains valuable truths about the male psyche so that woman can more effectively operate in the workplace.

By looking through this gender lens, a woman will gain a better understanding of the male perspective in order to network with men, manage a difficult male colleague, boss, or subordinate, and compete with confidence. The Male Mind at Work arms women with the power to use this knowledge effectively-without sacrificing their own identities and personal strengths.

Customer Reviews:

some interesting if not earth-shattering observations.......2001-08-13

Though I didn't feel that there was any shocking bit of new information, I did enjoy reading the candid comments of many CEO's regarding their perceptions of women. No surprise that many are intimidated by the very smart women that have risen to their level. I did feel that at times the differences between men and women were exaggerated somewhat, but the author does provide helpful pointers at the end of each chapter that are meant to help the reader put theory into practice. Most interesting is the idea that many top CEOs cite graciousness at the top quality they think makes them a strong leader -- I think men have learned something from women here as women are more likely than men to share the credit. Humility and graciousness go a long way, both in the business world and out. A good read with some useful information.

Gender-Specific and Yet...........2001-01-06

Throughout eight chapters, Swiss suggests how women can "add swagger to their step, put on a game face, balance feminine and masculine traits, maneuver adversity and adversaries, cope with mixed signals and the great gender divide." She also offers reasons men why like working with women, secrets of strong leaders, and concludes with suggestions as to how to open "the gender lens. "Here is a woman's guide to working with men. (It could also serve as a man's guide to working with other men as well as with women.) Based on extensive interviews, Swiss offers some insightful comments and practical suggestions which, in this male's opinion, will help women to improve (or at least clarify) their relationships with men. Of course, not all men think and act alike; nor do all women. We all know abrasive and aggressive women as well as gentle and acquiescent men. Each possesses a unique combination of what are perceived to be masculine and feminine traits. Men and women often approach quite differently a broad range of career issues such as hiring and firing, conveying confidence, facing competition, participating on a team, building business alliances, saying "no" and setting limits, dealing with difficult people and difficult situations, managing and motivating others. Sound familiar? I agree with Swiss that there are certain "valuable truths about the male psyche" which, properly understood, can reduce (if not eliminate) problems many women have with that psyche in action. (Many males do not as yet understand, much less appreciate these "valuable truths.") This book will be valuable for anyone who seeks a better understanding of the male mentality, not only at work but everywhere else.

I really loved this book........2000-10-03

This book is incisive and helpful. As a woman in a male dominated field, I can attest that Swiss' advice is entirely on target. In addition to offering effective ways to succeed, it's also a good read. Very entertaining. If you are a women who wants to work more effectively with male colleagues--read this book.

A wonderful reference for corporate women!.......2000-08-22

This book is a wonderful reference for women who work with men, especially those in the corporate world. I work in corporate finance for a large, international corporation and there are very few women in my world. Reading this book gave me a great deal of insight on how men see work situations differently than women, and, by putting this knowledge to work, I've already improved several relationships. (By the way, I first read this book in a bookstore - spent the afternoon sipping lattes and reading - and am now buying my copy from Amazon.)

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