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Our Changing Planet: An Introduction to Earth System Science and Global Environmental Change (3rd Edition)
Fred T. Mackenzie
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
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ASIN: 0130651729 |
Book Description
This book offers a general, interdisciplinary discussion of global environmental change oriented toward the non-specialist in science. The unifying theme of the book is consideration of aspects of both natural and human-induced global environmental change. The two part organization according to this distinction allows for easy reading on specific topics. This book is useful for anyone interested in learning more about Earth's systems.
Product Description
Is Earth merely an insignificant speck in a vast and meaningless universe? On the contrary: The Privileged Planet shows that this cherished assumption of materialism is dead wrong. In this provocative book, Guillermo Gonzalez and Jay W. Richards present a staggering array of evidence that exposes the hollowness of this modern dogma. They demonstrate that our planet is exquisitely fit not only to support life, but also to give us the best view of the universe, as if Earth were designed both for life and for scientific discovery. Readers are taken on a scientific odyssey from a history of tectonic plates, to the wonders of water and solar eclipses, to our location in the Milky Way, to the laws that govern the universe, and to the beginning of cosmic time. The Privileged Planet contains astounding findings that should lead any individual to reevaluate and even to reconsider our very purpose on what so many have dismissed as nothing more than an accident of cosmic evolution.
Customer Reviews:
A Better Reference Than A Reader.......2007-08-14
I really appreciated the work & thought that went into this book. I was already a proponent of intelligent design & actually got boored by the extensive examples of cosmological features that suggest design. Someone new to the subject & open-minded might find it far more interesting. The issue itself has eternal consequences & is therefore inherently interesting.
I was impressed that these fellows are capable philosophers of science & did well in their presentation of their argument as well as responding to criticisms. My main challenge for the intelligent design camp is to focus it's excellent critical examination skills upon the assumptions that undergird mainstream dating methods for the earth & cosmos. This is a weak link for them, which has been pricked by authos such as Kenneth R. Miller in Finding Darwin's God.
Have they read the book?.......2007-08-12
I do find it interesting to note, from the one star reviews, just how many of these "reviewers" take on the concepts of the book rather than engaging in personal insults and name calling. Seems like this book, and others, strikes a nerve that the secular humanist has a hard time dealing with?
Overall, this is a fabulous book. Written at an appropriate level of technical detail for general readers but chock full of the references to the hard science underlying the ideas. Like the distance from the earth to the moon, the diameter of the earth and the diameter of the moon. This interesting "coincidence" that these few facts present allow us to enjoy a total solar eclipse. The eclipse, in large part, allows us to understand what the sun is all about. We can then generalize to other stars in the universe. My what an interesting group of coincidences. These facts sounds like "Christian Science" to me?
Just as Michael Behe and Michael Denton and scores of others are rightfully bringing up questions about "just so" stories in biology relative to how we got here Guillermo Gonzalez and Mr Richards are bringing up many questions relative to just exactly where our earth happens to find itself in the universe.
God in a cheap suit.......2007-08-01
This is not a book about science, this is a book about a myth, written by people who do not understand science.
Worthwhile to look through to see what an "intelligent design" believer will claim.
Sure this book sucks, buuut..........2007-07-30
Sure this book sucks, but it's great for scientists and philosophers to use as a teaching guide for what is not science. There are so many fallacies, straw men and just plain false "facts" that it makes someone who is a scientist sick to his stomach. This kind of propagandistic filth is what holds back science and our youths from advancing. Thanks Gonzalez!
First-rate scholarship.......2007-05-15
On many occasions, I have loaned the DVD summary version of the book, "The Privileged Planet" to my college students to challenge their thinking in the field of Intelligent Design. The results have almost always been favorable. What is especially engaging about both the book and the DVD, is the "non-preaching" format: the research is purely scientific and presented in a manner that a wide range of readership should both understand and appreciate. My only "critical" comment would be this: the authors systematically build a scientific foundation of contingency. Since Jay Richards has a strong background in philosophy, I would have enjoyed an approach to the subject based upon Aristotle and his development of the argument of contingency. But this is a moot point. If you have high school students, read the book together with them and discuss.
Book Description
You live on Earth, so you already know a lot about it. But do you know about its place in out solar system? For instance, it's not the largest planet. If Jupiter were a hallow ball, 1,000 Earths would fit inside it. And did you know our planet Earth takes 365 days to go around the sun, while the planet Pluto takes 248 years?
This simple text by Franklyn M. Branely introduces the nine planets in our solar system and is complemented by Kevin O'Malley's full-color illustrations, which incorporate some of the newest space photographs available. How hot is it on Venus? Which planet takes longest to orbit the sun? Find out the answers in this updated version of this popular text. Kevin O'Malleys often humorous illustrations depict a group of children and an astronomer as they learn all about our solar system. Included are some of the newest space photographs available, as well as many hands-on activities.
Customer Reviews:
Pretty Good.......2007-05-21
My son is obsessed with planets. This text is good and the artwork is nice. But a new edition needs to come out to explain that Pluto is no longer considered a planet. We have to read the book and then explain that to him afterwards.
Great Book!.......2007-05-07
I put this book in my 4 year old sons Easter Basket, and it was his favorite part of the basket. He loves it and has learned SO much from reading it. Not only is it a great book for this age, it teaches so much in a really easy format that is easy to retain. We love it.
good for kids just learning about the solar system.......2007-04-10
I have a 5 yr old that loves anything to do with space. I got older (adult) books from the library about the solar system and he learned tons of info. When we got this book he was excited but he didn't end up learning anything new. The book mostly talks about the relationship of the planets to the sun, their order, if they're hot or cold. They grouped the planets together stating which ones were hot or cold but didn't individually talk the planets other than saying you can see Mars early in the evening and Earth is the life planet.
Excellent Introduction for Younger Kids.......2007-03-14
This is an excellent overview of our solar system. It has great engaging illustrations with enough little "gems" to find on every page (Shrodinger's Cat for instance). This book introduces young children to a more detaialed look at our Solar System and with specific facts about each planet.
As other reviewers have noted, the book is thematic. The illustrations included allow the parent/ teacher to point out "real world" uses of scientific knowledge (math, physics, etc.). There is one page that includes "footnotes" for the captions on the oppostie page. This is useful in teaching younger children such concepts for later reading.
As a home educator to my 4 year old son, I found the craft ideas especially beneficial in that it provides you with specific details on how to enhance the learning of these concepts with a couple of simple hands-on projects using materials easily found around your house. This material is easily adapted for older kids, although it may not include enough specific details for the older end of the age spectrum.
3.5 yo loves it.......2007-02-11
my 3.5 yo daughter loves this book and has memorized almost every fact in the book!
Book Description
We are thirteen indigenous grandmothers. . . . We are deeply concerned with the unprecedented destruction of our Mother Earth, the atrocities of war, the global scourge of poverty, the prevailing culture of materialism, the epidemics that threaten the health of the Earth’s peoples, and with the destruction of indigenous ways of life.
We, the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers, believe that our ancestral ways of prayer, peacemaking, and healing are vitally needed today. . . . We believe that the teachings of our ancestors will light our way through an uncertain future.
In some Native American societies, tribal leaders consulted a council of grandmothers before making any major decisions that would affect the whole community. What if we consulted our wise women elders about the problems facing our global community today? This book presents the insights and guidance of thirteen indigenous grandmothers from five continents, many of whom are living legends among their own peoples. The Grandmothers offer wisdom on such timely issues as nurturing our families; cultivating physical and mental health; and confronting violence, war, and poverty. Also included are the reflections of Western women elders, including Alice Walker, Gloria Steinem, Helena Norberg-Hodge, and Carol Moseley Brown.
Customer Reviews:
Wisdom long overdo.......2007-09-17
I loved this book. We are in such need of these teachings at this critical time. In our culture many of us no longer live in community and we have been separated from our family elders and deprived of their wisdom.
These women have important information to share. Please listen and learn.
Indigenous Grandmothers carry hope for humanity.......2007-09-01
This is a quick read due to the intriguing spiritual connections and prophecy found in the various corners of the world through the stories of the Grandmothers. Their wisdom is so grounded and exhibits Universal Truths. They have deep understandings of what is needed to evolve and mature humankind. They also speak forthrightly of what changes are required IF we are to survive our own mishaps. The book highlights the importance of awakening and acknowledging the Oneness of All. It is a call to step forward with courage and endeavor to bring healing to our world.
A Must Read Book!.......2007-08-23
I am purchasing this book as a gift for all my friends. If you care about the planet, please read this book and then pass it onto others. I had the priviledge of meeting the Grandmothers and their message must be heard by everyone!
So much wisdom.......2007-07-30
Beautiful book filled with traditional guides for human beings living together in peace. Contains thought provoking wisdom for the reader looking for personal growth, traditional parenting or a better community.
This is a book worth reading again and again, but more importantly sharing with others.
Wonderful, inspiring, and IMPORTANT!.......2007-05-25
This is a lovely book, with in depth looks at some very formidable and interesting ladies! I had the pleasure (blessing, really) of meeting Agnes Baker-Pilgrim and Flordemayo this month, and they are truly awe inspiring. I can only imagine all 13 of them together! The book is well written, inspiring (especially to women), and carries an important message. The traditional ways are slipping away from the majority of the people on Mother Earth, and materialism is taking hold. People who hold spirituality and a connection to Mother Earth sacred are becoming rare jewels. The Grandmothers encourage each of us to stop and listen to the world, to open our eyes and SEE rather than just look. Don't just speak... walk your talk, as Grandmother Agnes would say!
Average customer rating:
- Visually Stunning & Cool Facts
- What sets this book apart is that it is nicely organized and well written.
- A great book for my 8 y/o nephew
- Excellent overview for children
- Our Solar System
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Our Solar System
Seymour Simon
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
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ASIN: 0688099920 |
Book Description
Our Solar System was born almost 5 billion years ago at the edge of the Milky Way galaxy. In over fifty dramatic, full-color photographs and an easy-to-read text, award-winning author Seymour Simon takes you on a fascinating tour of the nine planets, dozens of moons, and thousands of asteroids, meteoroids, and comets that travel around our sun.
First, Simon explores the star at the center of our Solar System -- from the constant nuclear explosions at its core to the giant storms on its surface as geysers of flaming gas over a hundred thousand miles long rise and fall in just a few hours.
You will also learn about the four rocky inner planets, from airless Mercury to fiery Venus, her sister planet, Earth, and mysterious Mars. Then join the thrilling Voyager missions to explore the four gaseous outer planets: gigantic Jupiter, ringed Saturn, tilted Uranus -- the planet "lying on its side" -- and windy Neptune. You will finish your journey at distant Pluto, then visit the asteroid belt and examine comets, the "dirty snowballs" in space.
A companion volume to Simon's landmark series of individual books about each of the planets, the sun, stars, and other space sights, Our Solar System will introduce you to some of the most amazing mysteries in the universe.
Customer Reviews:
Visually Stunning & Cool Facts.......2007-08-23
Every schoolchild should have a good book about the solar system. After all, it's where we live!
In the Smithsonian updated edition of OUR SOLAR SYSTEM, Seymour Simon brings together new information, stunning images--some new, some older but still remarkable--of Earth and her neighbors.
Did you know that the Sun is so big that 1.3 millions Earths could fit inside? And that Jupiter has one ring, whereas Saturn has over 1000? Mercury is now considered the smallest planet (because Pluto got demoted to "dwarf planet") but is smaller than some moons.
Interesting facts are presented in a readable fashion that kids will enjoy. Amazing photos from the Hubble Telescope, lunar missions, the Voyager missions, and other sources are featured throughout.
This is a good choice to pull in children to something so amazing that it's hard to imagine. Just think, their kids may see even more!
Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer
on 08/22/2007
What sets this book apart is that it is nicely organized and well written........2007-04-14
There are a lot of solar system books that are pretty, but the writing is what sets this one apart. Good sized text that is easy to read, simple yet concise, and fun. The author also does a good job of conveying his excitement to the reader. He isn't just throwing out facts for memorizing.
A great book for my 8 y/o nephew.......2007-01-18
He absolutely loved the pictures and the description of the Solar Systems! He loves it..great choice for an 8 year-old!
Excellent overview for children.......2003-10-15
I bought this book for my seven year old son, in the hope that he would work his way into it over time (recommended age is from 9). He is able to read quite a lot of the text at this stage, with a bit of help. This is great for his reading practice.
Most importantly it is a book he wants to read. The photographs are excellent, and there is more than enough information for him at this stage in development. It is a perfect "Show and Tell" item to bring into the class, with the added bonus that it has a hard binding.
His five year old sister is also very taken with the drawings of the solar system and the planets and moons. It is a book guaranteed to attract the interest of any child.
Our Solar System.......2003-02-16
I have never written a review for a book, but this book has inspired me to do so.
The photographs in the book are large and stunning. They are spectacular. Children are drawn to the book because it is so beautiful.
We bought this book for our 2 1/2 year old for Christmas, along with a set of plastic planets. Within weeks, she could name every planet. Further, she could tell us which planets are bigger than earth, which planets are smaller than earth, which planets have rings (and how many rings each of those planets has), how many moons each planet has (and which planets have no moons), why Mercury's surface has so many craters, which planets are hot, which planets are cold, etc., etc.
In short, this book is beautiful and informative. It is very well done! It is a fantastic introduction to our solar system. We are looking forward to reading more books by Seymour Simon!!!!!!!
Book Description
In a time of darkening environmental prospects, frightening religious fundamentalism, and moribund liberalism, the remarkable and historically unprecedented rise of religious environmentalism is a profound source of hope. Theologians are recovering nature-honoring elements of traditional religions and forging bold new theologies connecting devotion to God and spiritual truth with love for God's creation and care for the Earth. And religious people throughout the world are transforming the meaning of their faiths in the face of the environmental crisis. The successes and significance of religious environmentalism are manifest in statements by leaders of virtually all the world's religions, in new and "green" prayers and rituals, and in sophisticated criticisms of modern society's economy, politics, and culture. From the Evangelical Environmental Network to the Buddhist prime minister of Mongolia, the National Council of Churches to tree-planting campaigns in Zimbabwe, religious environmentalism has become a powerful component of the world environmental movement. In A Greener Faith, Roger S. Gottlieb chronicles the promises of this critically important movement, illuminating its principal ideas, leading personalities, and ways of connecting care for the earth with justice for human beings. He also shows how religious environmentalism breaks the customary boundaries of "religious issues" in political life. Asserting that environmental degradation is sacrilegious, sinful, and an offense against God catapults religions directly into questions of social policy, economic and moral priorities, and the overall direction of secular society. Gottlieb contends that a spiritual perspective applied to the Earth provides the environmental movement with a uniquely appropriate way to voice its dream of a sustainable and just world. Equally important, it helps develop a world-making political agenda that far exceeds interest group politics applied to forests and toxic incinerators. Rather, religious environmentalism offers an all-inclusive vision of what human beings are and how we should treat each other and the rest of life. Gottlieb deftly analyzes the growing synthesis of the movement's religious, social, and political aspects, as well as the challenges it faces in consumerism, fundamentalism, and globalization. Highly engaging and passionately argued, this book is an indispensable resource for people of faith, environmentalists, scholars, and anyone who is concerned about our planet's future.
Customer Reviews:
Kicked it off my wish list.......2007-03-28
I had this book on my wish list because I'm very interested in the topic, as an active Episcopalian and as a river conservationist. But I learned that Gottlieb made a big deal in the book about the famous "every part of the Earth is sacred to my people" speech attributed to Chief Seattle from 1854. That "speech" was actually from a work of fiction written in 1970, incorporated into the narration in an environmental documentary film called _Home_. The producers of the film (ironically enough, it was the media wing of the Southern Baptist Convention) decided to suppress the fictional status of the text and promote it as Chief Seattle's actual words. The hoax-status of the speech means that any well-meaning environmentalists or creation-care advocates who cite it instantly expose themselves and their cause to scorn and embarrassment from conservative critics who seek to discredit sustainable conservation and smart growth. Gottlieb should have known better. He makes the rest of us look like flakes in the process. We don't really need Chief Seattle's buy-in anyway.
Brilliant....Inspiring.......2006-07-06
I just had no idea about the scope of religious environmentalism and what a hopeful sign it is. Gottlieb does a great job of describing the movement's ideas, and what is being done by people around the world. Unlilke most books by academics, this one is written to be understood by a normally intelligent person, not a scholar.
At times the book is really inspiring. Gottlieb puts forth a visionary account of how linking nature to God and spirituality can lead to fundamental social changes; and to changes in how we think about ourelves. I also very much enjoyed the chapter on new 'green' rituals and his description of how much spirituality there is and has always been in the the 'secular' environmental movement.
Great book for environmentalists and for people who think religion has something to do with caring for life.
Average customer rating:
- Amazing!!
- More L Word Please
- A Great Read
- L is for Loaded with Good Stuff
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The L Word: Welcome to Our Planet
Kera Bolonik
Manufacturer: Fireside
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Reading The L Word: Outing Contemporary Television (Reading Contemporary Television)
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ASIN: 0743291336 |
Book Description
The popular Showtime series about a group of lesbians living in LA has become a genuine cultural phenomenon since its debut in 2004. The San Francisco Chronicle declared it "a superb television series. . . The cast is wonderful, the writing impressive, and it has a lure that is undeniable," while People magazine raved, "The L Word is HOT."
Now, here is the official guide to this groundbreaking show, featuring more than 250 behind-the-scenes photos and all-new interviews with the show's cast, crew, and creators. With sections focusing on the main characters, the episodes, the styles, and loaded with fun sidebars that decode the show's trademark teaser openers and rank the hottest sex scenes, The L Word: Welcome to Our Planet is a no-holds-barred look at the show and the world behind it.
The book's exclusive, insider access will reveal:
- What it's like for a straight actress to film a lesbian sex scene
- The favorite moments of the show's stars and creators
- How an episode is written
- The actresses' favorite clothing designers
- Which of the show's stars spend their off-camera hours riding horses on a ranch, collecting mid-century modern furniture, or doing Janet Jackson dance routines
. . . and much, much more.
A VIP pass into the world of the show, The L Word: Welcome to Our Planet is an absolute must-have for fans everywhere.
Customer Reviews:
Amazing!!.......2007-09-09
This is the best idea I have ever had: the book is really fantastic and tells you all you want (and need) to know about the wonderful Showtime's serie.
More L Word Please.......2006-12-25
As a big fan of the show it was great to have a book released to show behind the scenes and go into more depth with the shows characters and the actresses that portay them.
A Great Read.......2006-07-12
This book is a must have for any fan of "The L Word." I finished the book within a couple of days. It was that good. The info on the cast is great and it is good to go back and read summaries on the first two seasons. The pictures are awesome. All in all, definitely a good read.
L is for Loaded with Good Stuff.......2006-03-03
This book is unputdownable. The character profiles are keenly observed, and reading the episode guide is as breathless and fun as discussing the episode with your friends, except that this author has the inside track. And then we get inside dirt from the actors and the cast themselves!! The book is a total blast. Can't wait 'til they add season three.
Customer Reviews:
Thank You For This Book.......2007-07-23
My daughter and I were diagnosed with Asperger's a few months ago.
I have been digging painfully through the literature, trying to find a book that "fit" her (our) symptoms enough to help her (us) out.
I am a scared father with Asperger's trying to understand what having Asperger's means to a young woman. I know what it meant to me when I was younger and I don't want any of that junk to happen to her.
Jean Miller and her contributors know and (thank goodness) they share what they know.
You cannot imagine how relieved finding this book made me.
A variety of approaches to self-realization.......2007-04-12
Disclosure - I received my copy of this book as a gift from one of the contributors, who has been a personal friend of mine for years.
As a woman on the spectrum, I am used to our views being constantly ignored. The female experience of autism is qualitatively different from that of the male. If we don't talk, we are "shy". If we don't socialize with others, or need to watch what they are doing before we can attempt to join in, we're "not socially adept". If we don't join in the backstabbing and constant talk about makeup, sexuality, and clothing starting in junior high and high school, we're downright weird.
It is both easier and harder to be a woman autistic. People who think we are just shy frequently try to find ways to encourage us to "join in". And a lot of behavior that people find threatening from males on the spectrum, while not precisely acceptable in us, is less socially inappropriate. If one of us likes someone and doesn't know how to approach them, but constantly hangs around that person, someone might find a way to introduce us, if the person doesn't notice us by him or herself. In a male autistic, this same behavior could lead to stalking charges and restraining orders.
The fact that so many different women contributed to this book is a big factor in its success - at least one voice in there is likely to speak to someone.
And as for being self-diagnosed and "trivializing" autism... it is very hard to get diagnosed as an adult. Most of us, even those who have documentation of our severel language delay, are either "too successful" to be diagnosed (i.e., we have a relationship, employment, or advanced degrees and doctors dismiss our concerns about ourself), or are just diagnosed "Asperger's".
Personally, I spent much of my childhood echolalic and couldn't speak in sentences until I was almost 8. I still flap, rock, and enjoy watching spinning objects, and am extremely auditorily hyper-sensitive. I can still heard dog whistles. Bright colors disturb me, and I still can't drink out of cups that are colors other than clear, white, or blue without throwing up.
My childhood "diagnosis" was elective mutism (now called selective mutism) with autistic features, because I could read and answer yes/no or multiple choice questions. At the time, to be called autistic, you had to be mentally retarded. Learning disabilities (such as my inability to do even the simplest mathematical calculations) do not count. As an adult, I am labelled Asperger's, even though I STILL meet the DSM-IV-TR criteria for autism, since I have Semantic-Pragmatic Language Disorder, and the speech of people with Asperger's is supposed to be intact.
I work with children on the spectrum. I love most of them very much, and hope that they can become at least as high-functioning as I am. But I cannot understand their parents (other than a few who are actually on the spectrum or close to it [ADHD, etc]) to save my life. I have a very succesful history of being able to connect to autistic children, including ones who "don't like strangers" who were climbing all over me within moments of being introduced, and even occasional words or eye contact from children who otherwise live in their own worlds. People on the spectrum recognize each other, and these children seem to mostly realize that I am like them on some level. At least one of the other women whose writing can be found on this book shares this kind of relationship with these children, and works in the caring professions.
Open your mind, and at least read what some of us think. For people who are supposed incapable of thinking about ourselves or others, or of empathization, I find that most of us actually do better at these things than at least some neurotypicals (people who aren't on the spectrum).
An eye-opening, powerful work.......2006-08-03
So often we stereotype autistics as being very limited in their ability to do basic functions of daily life. While this is true of some autistics, this book reveals that autism is not a single,universal condition, but a spectrum with a wide range of abilities as well as disabilities (the book's editor, who is autistic, is a college instructor). This book opens both the mind and the heart, enlightening readers about the variety of people who fall under the umbrella "autistic".
this book made me angry.......2006-06-29
I really disliked this book. It is unclear if these woman are even on the spectrum. It trivialized what having autism means. I felt it was a bunch of self diagnosed women writing an artsy fartsy ridiculous look on the world of autism. I have a child with autism, and this book just pissed me off.
wisdom from sisters i didn't know i had!.......2006-03-10
I loved the multiple-writers approach of this book. Many of the stories were similar to my own experiences as an Autistic woman, some were different. it helps me to understand the variations within our variation. Jane Meyerding's "Growing up Genderless" essay summed up for me a lot of the insidious problems faced by autistic women: as females we're supposed to be the socially adept gender: smoothing the way and facilitating the school dance, the weddings, children, family, school, church, husbands' career, etc.. When (because of autism) we don't act or look like "real girls" we are subjected to extreme ridicule and abuse and a feeling of not belonging anywhere.
These stories from women outside the box are and important part of Autistic culture; both to serve as solidarity literature for other mature AS women and hopefully give today's AS girls some more accurate pictures of how we really are and how we navigate the world.
the essay format is easy to read in chunks and the variety of voices make it a broader overview than any single-author book. I recommend this to Autistic women of all ages, especially if you've just learned that your "weirdness" is really called "autism". You're not alone, let these sisters share their stories.
Book Description
"By far the most helpful, entertaining, up-to-date and accessible treatment of the energy-economy-environment problematique available." --John P. Holdren, Scientific American
A fiercely independent and irresistibly entertaining look at the economic, political and technological forces that are reshaping the world's management of energy resources, Power to the People has been hailed as "as good a manifesto for the new energy world as you will find." (Fred Pearce, New Scientist). The Economist's Environment and Energy correspondent, Vijay V. Vaitheeswaran sees great opportunity in the energy realm today, and he documents an energy revolution already under way.
From the corporate boardroom of a Texas oil titan who denies the reality of global warming, to a think tank nestled in the Rocky Mountains where a visionary named Amory Lovins is developing hydrogen fuel-cell technology that could make the internal combustion engine obsolete, Vaitheeswaran gamely pursues the people who hold the keys to our future. Avoiding the traditional divide that pits free markets against the wisdom of conservation and the need for clean energy, Power to the People debunks myths without debunking hope.
Customer Reviews:
Wrong about Electric cars, half right about fuel cells, interesting about micropower plants. Free Energy will be the next boom........2007-06-17
The next big boom will be free energy. Vijay, people want free energy and not cheap energy. Tesla proposed free wireless energy for the world which never happen. Micropower offers cheap distributed energy, not free energy. The motionless Electromagnetic Generator is a technology makes possible distributed free energy in massive quantities. Alternatives like ethanol, solar, wind, and fuel cell are expensive and produce insignificant amounts of energy. Why offer a marginal increase in available energy? People want free energy. The usage of this energy would be limited to their creativity, boundaries of logic, and available capital. Image a world where the consumer uses a 1,000 fold more energy and higher quality energy producing higher quality standards of life. People want more control of the energy generation and consumption behaviors. Technology stagnation can no longer be an adequate reason for high energy prices. Nuclear power will provide more energy. Utility companies had wait for regulatory permission to build the plant, factor in costs to finance monies, billions of dollars borrowed that raised the rates. Between 1969 and 1984 the rates rose 60 percent.
"Small is profitable", by Amory Lovins, is quoted, "Thus the grid linking central stations to remote customers had become the main driver of thoses customer's power costs and power-quality problems-which became more acute as digital equipment required extremely reliable electricity. The cheapest, most reliable power, therefore, was that which was produced at or near the customers..." Fuels cells have niched in reliable electricity near the customer, small power plants located near the customer. Fuel cell technology has been used to provide megawatt power for companies, provide backup power for computers, and small electronic devices. Fuel cell technology for automobiles, buses, and trucks remain cost prohibitive until the cost per kilowatt drops below 30 cents a kilowatt, it will be infeasible. Fuel cell technology for transportation does not make sense. "Progress has come only in fits and starts, but the trend is clear: the era of monopolization, centralization, and overregulation has started to give way to market forces in electricity." Micropower has been given a chance to blossom, prices are determined by markets not monopolies, and energy is serve the needs of ordinary people. "Forward -looking firms are already developing microgrids that can electronically link together dozens of micropower units, be they fuel cells or wind turbines." For example, Hydrogren uses 400 kilowatt, air-cooled phosphoric acide fuel cells to generate multi-megawatt systems, 6 - 30 megawatts.
However, centralized power production failed in providing free energy. Decentralized power produce is the solution either in the form of local community energy production using power micro generators or off the grid power generation, such as, home generators or home power plants.
Providing internet to poor nations does not remove poverty. Free energy removes poverty but providing increased mechanical work and logic to grow food, manufacture products, and entertain. Over a half a billion people have no access to electricity. Micropower is an attractive option, in such places. "One significant advantage of micropower is that is call allow generator owners to become producers as well as consumers- selling surplus electricity back to the grid when they do not need it."
Electric vehicles make the car an appliance. "Who killed the electric car" is a compelling story about how GM distorted customer demand statistics to scrap the EV1. Consumers wanted the EV1. The EV1 used Ovonic advanced battery technology to provide cruising speeds for adequate distances. EV hybrids could combine hydrogen reforming, battery, and an combustible engine. Even more significant are cars that run on water or air. EV1 cost 60 cents a mile to operate.
Vijay's book suggests that modern cars emit less population; gas will be the preferred choice of fuel for the next fifty years; energy is the biggest market in the world; fuel cells are doomed; electric vehicles failed to create customer demand; environmental green house crisis emphasis will emerge in politics and in the media; and micropower will not mean the end of giant power plants, instead, it will mean cheap power to areas without power. Vijay sees super Enron, "As energy markets liberalize, on-line energy-trading markets develop, and individual consumers win the right to select their energy suppliers, some people even see the emergence of virtual utilities. Microgrids would allow such firms to combine the individual efficiency of the micropower plants with the market power that is gained by bundling together their collective generating capacity."
Excellent writing from one point of view.......2006-09-25
Power to the People does present a particular point of view. Many people do not like to read books on very political topics like this unless it matches their view. I guess I'm that way as much as anyone, maybe more than most.
But while I do not agree with all that Vijay Vaitheeswaran says, I did enjoy this book. It's thoughtful, but entertaining. Cleverly written, but perceptive. Some of the comments that stick in my mind may not be the most important points in the book. (Vaitheeswaran's account of when he met Cindy Crawford and she said "the three words men most want to hear" was pretty funny.) But the thoughts in the book as a whole all hang together. They persuade, if not necessarily convince.
Contrast this with Internal Combustion, by Edwin Black, a book that I also read recently. His book draws on a wealth of research. And I agree with many of the principles he builds up from the facts. But Black's book ultimately does not hang together. Black draws basic conclusions from the facts that the facts do not support. The book's faults pull it down.
All in all, while I agree with much of what others see as faults in Power to the People, my opinion of the book as a whole could not be higher. It's a gem.
Has no solutions.......2005-04-05
I expected something completely different when I read this book. I was expecting that this book would tell about different ways that the future would get energy to the people.
This book is nothing like that the first two thirds of this book is a diatribe on how everybody is using energy the wrong way. It tells that innovation and micro power is the wave of the future and condemns all government subsidies for energy. He does not explain why we will be going to micro power but says that's the way it is going to be.
I have to say I started reading this book and put it down for a while for the racist remarks throughout the book. It is told from an Indian viewpoint where he makes snide remarks about the British saying that the British East Indian Company was the ultimate in evil. He makes condescending remarks about the Americans not being smart enough to have back-up generator in Silicon Valley whereas in Bangalore India they have them.
He is obviously against nuclear power by making outrageous remarks about nuclear wastes not being safe for 100,000 years. I read nuclear renewal and the waste from the newer breeder reactors is a couple of 100 years and they will reduce that as time goes on.
He is all for the fuel cell and the book is very well written. He doesn't say how we are going to get the hydrogen that we will need and talks endlessly about the Kyoto Protocol like it was the only peace of legislation that mattered on global warming.
I thought there would be new ideas and processes for the future like biomass or solar chimneys. There is nothing new or insightful this book seems more like a list of grievances.
Something to look forward to.......2005-02-26
I almost didn't read this because of the title. In this day and age with many seemingly on the edge of reason I thought it was somewhat of an incendiary title.
I'm glad I did check it out - I loved it. This man is a seriously talented writer. The material is dense. Very dense. Lots of dates, places, people, times and tragic, infuriating, maddening events. It is rendered readable with Mr. Vaitheeswarans method of inserting ironic humor into the text just when your eyes start crossing.
I enjoyed the way he presented all of the sides that he perceives and the pros and cons for each one. Talking about the environment is a very emotional issue for some and I thought that he covered all of the bases well without making it sound like one particular answer is written in stone.
We have, at our fingertips such wonderful scientific advances. The trick will be to put them to use to solve the problems, not create more down the line from here. I think he pointed that out very well.
Wets Your Appetite, But Leaves You Wanting More.......2004-10-27
This book is as excellent an introduction to the topic of the future of energy as any book on the market. This statement, however, is more a reflection of the lack of alternatives to Power to the People as it is of the book's own strengths. To be certain, it is a well-written and smartly researched book. One would expect nothing less from a writer from The Economist. It's strongest point is to so thoroughly make the case for why the energy sector must change in the next decades. The pollution and inefficiency that the modern subsidization of the carbon-based energy economy creates harms global welfare. However, its greatest weakness is to skimp on the details as to how the energy sector should transform itself. This book does not go into how solar energy works, or what government policies concerning wind energy should be. In fact in doesn't even survey the prospects for renewable energy, by say, arguing that solar cells are the future. Rather it puts forth a well reasoned case that the days of carbon-based fuels must end, and that governments must stop the carbon subsidy and research alternatives. End of story. In fact its most interesting chapters don't concern energy at all but have to do with reconciling the philosophies of capitalism with those of environmentalism, as task that the author does quite well. A good starting point for those interested in the future of energy, but if you're looking for more specific forecast of how global energy production will or should be composed in the future, look elsewhere.
Product Description
Foremost Fortean investigator John Keel presents a book filled with evidence of the strange and stories of the unusual. He reveals theories about "ultraterrestrials," Men In Black, glass mountains, ancient maps, and advanced civilizations predating the caveman. Are we being manipulated for someone's amusement? For the connoisseur of Fortean phenomena as well as newcomer.
Customer Reviews:
Keel the psychic critic.......2007-08-09
I wouldn't put a dollar of my free cash in John Keel's pocket for this potboiler, particularly after reading his ignorant comments on a "contactee" of the 1960s whom he "reviewed" and brushed off without so much as a postcard of correspondence with his target. If this is how he "researches", I wouldn't trust him to get today's date right.
Good but Not Keel's Best.......2007-06-11
I love John A. Keel's stuff. I've read The Mothman and Operation: Trojan Horse. I'd say to anyone who wants to have a look into the weirder side of existence, UFO's, ghost, lore, etc... these two books are must reads. Our Haunted Planet is good...I especially thought the part where Keel alludes to evidence of a pre-flood or pre-catastrophe civilization that existed on the earth before man was especially interesting. After that, Keel kinds of get philosophical about us possibly being part of a cosmic consciousness, not that he professes that as fact, but he alludes to as a big what if, and that kind of turned me off a little. I think maybe it was just the time (early 70ies) that the book was originally written maybe overwhelmed Keel a bit. This book is a good read, but read Mothman and then Trojan Horse first.
Fascinating Read.......2006-07-21
This is my second John Keel book and I must say I'm still impressed. Noone writes about the anomalies of this world quite like he does. It's fast paced reading at it's best. I would recommend this book to anybody who loves to read about the paranormal. I don't always agree with some of his theories but I do always enjoy reading what he has to say.
Deep Book.......2006-03-20
This astonishing book takes a close look into the history of humankind's interaction with "ultraterrestrial" or "UT's". From their mysterious worldwide penchant for gold (a virtually useless metal practically speaking), to their aerial-vehicles and gloomy end of the world prophesies. All of recorded history, from every culture of across the globe, reports of mysterious entities bent on manipulating human affairs have come down to us.
John Keel is an agnostic so naturalists may have a hard time coping with his suggestions. Mainly because he believes UT's are likely to be involved in the creation of the human race. He goes so far as to suggest the planet earth maybe one giant ranching project...Are we a race of cattle? Or maybe bread for gold mining? Haunted planet explores these ideas.
John Keel has a casual way of presenting the most shocking information. Contrary to what some die hard materialist skeptic reviewers have said, his books are painstakingly researched and by no means "debunked". I have double-checked his references on many occasions in particular the numerous articles. He presents the bizarre facts, along side of first hand experiences and proves the saying "the truth is stranger than fiction"
Don't forget..........2005-09-10
...that Keel is a popularizer of unsubstantiated data, stories lifted out of context, outright hoaxes, and misinformation. He is a master at promulgating pseudoscience with egregrious leaps of logic in his conclusions. Typically, he starts with an untrue premise (such as modern science can't figure out how the Egyptians built the Pyramids [when, of course, we know exactly how thy did it]), therefore they must have had help from space beings in UFO's. This is--tobe kind--absurd. I have not found a single datum in any of Keel's books which has not been explained by rational, unbiased investigation--his entire opus falls apart like a wet paper towel.
That being said, Keel is a very entertaining writer. As long as you understand that he's writing fiction, have fun reading him!
Books:
- Our Changing Planet: An Introduction to Earth System Science and Global Environmental Change (3rd Edition)
- Our Changing Planet: An Introduction to Earth System Science and Global Environmental Change (3rd Edition)
- Our World Today, People Places, and Issues, Student Edition
- Perils of a Restless Planet: Scientific Perspectives on Natural Disasters
- Petrochemicals in Nontechnical Language
- Planet Earth: As You've Never Seen It Before
- Planet Earth: As You've Never Seen It Before
- Planetary Herbology
- Portal Through Time (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
- Principles of Sequence Stratigraphy (Developments in Sedimentology)
Books Index
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