Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution - and How It Can Renew America, Release 2.0

Tom Friedman's book is a journalistic tour de force. He has been everywhere, it seems, and interviewed everyone who matters in doing his research. With that engaging style we are used to from his columns, he confronts here the biggest issues facing our nation and the planet. The book is essentially in two parts; a diagnosis, and a proposed cure. The first section is one of the most succint summaries that I am aware of what has gone wrong in our civilization over the past fifty years. His equations of financial meltdown with global warming are clever...The second half of the book, however, is very different, though no less impressive in its way; a kind of well-informed optimistic wish list of steps to turn the crisis around. It does, however, as Friedman states himself several times, often sound a bit like science fiction. Everything he suggests, from a 'smart' utility grid, to universal green fiscal incentives, is possible, but you come away from the book feeling that their achievement, on the grand or global scale, is rather like trying to scale Mount Everest with a Segway. Friedman points out plenty of examples of individual pioneers, but that's an entirely different thing to remolding the national consciousness from the inside, which is what he proposes. The book is actually replete with example of the vast entrenched obstacles in the way of getting to where he wants to go. It seems a pity, but after reading this book I actually feel more pessimistic about the possibility of America regenerating itself in the twenty first century.

Friedman's work is always provocative with a cautionary tone followed by an optimistic outlook. Although this as well as his previous books are somewhat dated (this one doesn't take into account the recent natural gas boom created by fracking), the general message remains as true and pertinent today as when it was written (since our politicians don't have the courage to overcome the lobbyists of the wealthy and enact these long term policies). The book really could be about 2/3 the length as Friedman does have a tendency to continue to hammer well established concepts over and over to emphasize his points but you can see this coming and skip ahead fairly easy. If you don't want to commit to the whole book you should at least read the story about First Solar in the latter part of the book. That says a lot about the power of the elite pulling us in the wrong direction.

Friedman made some good points in his book regarding the difficulty of fundamentally changing the way we look at our growing world, but his political leanings (liberals versus Neanderthals) and his reference to my (and his) generation as the 'Grasshopper Generation' was a big turnoff. In addition, he strongly suggests that the US government should incentivize even more some of the alternative energy forms (a big solar and wind fan, as am I), but in the same breath lambasts ethanol as a complete failure. In the context of the present day (making Friedman's opinion about 3 years old), we now know that US government participation in solar has had its problems. Conversely, the US government successfully supported the growth of an entire new industry (ethanol/purified protein) over the last 30 years. As of last year, federal subsidies to corn ethanol have been ELIMINATED (with complete support and agreement from the ethanol industry groups) while oil subsidies and subsidies to many, many other industries continue. Mr. Friedman, I DO NOT SEE THE FAILURE HERE. Cripes, the government had given almost three times more money to Mubarak's Egypt over last 30 years than to ethanol subsidies (much of which was passed on to consumers, by the way, in the form of cheaper fuel).If your politics are left leaning, you'll love Friedman's book. If you are not, push yourself through this book anyway and harvest the few nuggets that are tucked away in his message.

Every politician running for president should read this book. Friedman gets it - politicos have no clue. Humans, especially those in charge, need to awaken to the fundamental issues facing our planet, not debate the issues we have all seen on TV. If we don't address fundamental issues of water, energy, population growth and climate change, immigration and Isis will be the least of our problems.It's too bad Friedman isn't a candidate, but it's unlikely he'd get elected; he's too knowledgeable and logical.

This book is a great book and has won 4 different awards. I personally got it for my English 104 class, but in the end, it still was a pretty good book to read on global warming.Throughout the book, Friedman explains how global warming, rapidly growing populations, and the expansion of the world’s middle class through globalization have produced a dangerously unstable planet that will eventually get consumed.I cannot say too much on this book, but don't judge a book on it's cover and just crack it open!

Good read. Thomas Friedman's book is a good read filled with good theory. I had to read this for a current issues class for my college. Long read and I think he goes very deep into some interesting topics like petropolitics. Hot, Flat, and Croded brings a good perspective on the state of planet earth. He brings great awareness to current issues that we are dealing with.

MR. FRIEDMAN IS AN EXCELLENT WRITER, WITH IMPORTANT CONCEPTS WHICH HE POINTS OUT IN HIS WRITING. MY FEELING IS THAT HE REFERS TOO OFTEN TO HIS NEWSPAPER COLLEGES AS "AUTHORITIES". I WOULD HOPE HE COULD REFERENCE SCIENTIFIC SOURCES OFTEN FOR HIS "PROOFS" OF THE CALAMITY BEFALLING US. HE DOES HOWEVER MAKE US ABUNDANTLY AWARE OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO OUR PLANET IF REMEDIAL MEASURES ARE NOT TAKEN.

Tom Friedman is absolutely wonderful; he offers real solutions to complex problems. His tone is hopeful, warm and energetic. He puts issues in historical context, which helps the reader to see the connective tissue between problems which on the surface seem unrelated. Must reading for everyone.

llegó en tiempo y el libro es un magnífico libro, si eres fan del autor te encantará si no, te pondrá de frente a uno de los grandes problemas actuales y te ayudará a crear conciencia

Perspectiva ampla sobre globalização, geopolítica e meio ambiente.Às vezes é um pouco repetitivo, mas o texto é muito bem escrito.

Research and info

exactly what i was looking fordelivered on time and in perfect condition

You tube にもＨＯＭＥという素晴らしいビデオが有りますが、ご存知ですか　？　一地球人として、地球の永続性を願う者としての生き方を教えてくれます。