Water by Steven Solomon Book Review

Water: The Epic Struggle for Wealth, Power, and Civilization by Steven Solomon is a weighty tome at 500 pages plus photographs and notes but covers a heck of a lot.

Not having time to read it all I dipped in and out of it’s chapters and found it fascinating. With freshwater use growing twice as fast as population growth, water is rapidly going to replace oil as the world’s most valuable resource (if it hasn’t already) and there is going to be bigger battles between those who have access to it and those who do not.

Water famine could outstrip famine and religion as the cause of wars and the scenario played out in the book is pretty bleak indeed. Researched in great detail, Solomon shows enormous understanding of the issues and gives us the history of water’s role in shaping of the world as we know it today. Interspersed with maps and a set of photos, the understanding of the past is critical to understanding the present situation. Egyptian, Roman, Islamic and Chinese sea and water power are explained; the building of the great canals; “The Sanitary Awakening” that lead to a massive clean up of the way water was treated; and much more.

With humans requiring two to three quarts (~2 liters) of fresh water a day to stay alive, population projections for 2050 to be in excess of 9 billion, and only 2.5% of water on earth being freshwater, the challenges are enormous.

If you’re interested in the issues surrounding water in the 21st century and how the issues came to be, I don’t think there is another single book that encompasses all the issues in such great depth and detail.

You can buy it from Amazon for around $18.50. Now I just need to finish it!

A World Without Ice Book Review

Henry N Pollack, the author of A World Without Ice was the contributing author to the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, was a professor of geophysics at the University of Michigan for more than forty years and now serves as a science adviser to Al Gore’s Climate Project training programs.

The book attempts to show that it’s not difficult to envisage a world without ice, and how the relationship between humankind and ice is at a dangerous turning point. Ice is the direct source of drinking and agricultural ware for more that 25% of the earth’s population, and the possibility of “climate refugees” in places like New York, London and Japan is a distinctly real one.

It feels, perhaps deliberately, old-fashioned. I love a book with maps, black and white drawings in, and quotes at the start of each chapter. It makes the reading seem more enjoyable and “real” for some reason. The author explains why ice is such a great indicator (or barometer) of climate change and why changes have such a big impact in the world of ice, and beyond.

The historical context into which facts and arguments were presented was most interesting to me, particularly the early chapter on Arctic tourism. Each chapter has numerous sub-headings throughout that nicely break up the text for easier reading.

I actually found the background, history and factual information around ice more interesting than the later parts about the impact humans are having. Again, perhaps this was deliberate, it made ice seem much more important, and even wondrous, before telling us of what will happen if it keeps declining. A very interesting read overall though, worth a look.

Further details can be found on The World Without Ice website, and you can buy the book from Amazon.

Our Choice by Al Gore Book Review

Al Gore’s latest book is Our Choice: A Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis. Picking it up, it immediately struck me that is was like a school text book, but with more color pictures. It looked incredibly inviting flicking through, diagrams, explanations, graphs and maps, I couldn’t wait to read it.

First though, the front cover has kind of a gimmicky fold out globe. One that shows on one side how the earth looks now, and on the other an artists rendering of when global warming has wreaked havoc. Complete with multiple cyclones. It’s an interesting touch, but does little besides entice someone to pick up the book.

Broken down into large sections, with smaller chapters, the book goes through sources of energy, living systems, how we use that energy, the obstacles that stand in our way, and how to move quickly to overcome the challenges.

It often reads like a “How It Works” book, with great “exploded” diagrams on subject such as how alternative sources of energy work, how soil stores carbon, to where the energy in gasoline goes.

The video below shows Al talking about his inspiration for the book, and how we have all the knowledge and tools to solve the problem.

I’m still reading the book, it doesn’t have to read in order even, and is a fascinating round-up of the current solutions to the climate crisis, and couple with some stunning photographs and interesting graphical explanations, it’d also make a great gift.

Available for around $15.99 from Amazon.

10 Ways To Change The World In Your 20s Book Review

Ten Ways to Change the World in Your Twenties by Libuse Binder is yet another green tips books. What is different about this one? It’s targeted to people in their 20s (as you can tell by the title), and provides ideas, resources and proven strategies to help those twentysomethings take action and make a change.

It may only be ten ways, but at over 300 pages there is certainly a lot of detail. The ways are general, but with specific examples and suggestions, I found it packed full of “ways”. The 20s thing is part gimmick and part practical, there are many ways that are easier when you’re younger, but it certainly applies to people of any age who are willing for inspiration on how to make a difference.

I also liked that is wasn’t preachy, and you can open the book almost anywhere and find something useful you can do almost immediately. There’s a icon ratings guide (lie several other green books) to rate each activity in terms of time, cost and lifestyle impact, and there is even an index to summarize them if you want to looks for some easy ones quickly.

I enjoyed reading about the ideas, and particulary the easy ways to travel lightly and cheaply. If you don’t already have a green book full of ideas, or you’re looking for something with fresh ideas and practical steps to achieving them, then this book is a great resource.

You can find out more about the book on Ten Ways and buy from Amazon.

Heart Of Dryness Book Review

Heart of Dryness is by James G Workman and is subtitled “How the Last Bushmen Can Help Us Endure the Coming Age of Permanent Drought”

I’ll admit I haven’t finished the book yet but I’m really enjoying it. An award winning journalist and one of Bill Clinton’s speech writers, Workman really knows how to write and bring home the relevance of the Kalahari Bushmen to our own backyard. The Colorado River dam has always interested me and hearing the river will be dry in 13 years is pretty shocking. The way water is used as a weapon by governments, the way it is rationed and provided to those who can pay the most, not those who need it the most, is equally disturbing and intriguing.

Neatly divided up into 8 parts, the book is a journey and a guide, well researched (there are 35 pages of notes at the end before you even get to the Bibliography or index) I’m looking forward to the rest of it. Anyone interested in the environment, water and/or different cultures will find this interesting reading indeed.

You can watch an interview with James below, and you can buy the book from Amazon for around $17 (hardcover).

Green Chic – Saving The Earth in Style Eco Book Review

Green Chic – Saving The Earth in Style by Christie Matheson is a book for people who want to go green without giving up on great style. Being thoughtfully, consciously green makes a real difference in the fight against global warming. But did you know it’s also hip, classic and stylish?

I like to think I’m knowledgeable about green issues, and not in an obnoxious way, but I read a lot of green websites and books. However I’m completely open to the fact that a lot of people haven’t got around to it yet even though they would embrace the ideas. Green Chic is definitely a book for beginners, going through the basics covered in may other places (such as our own 100 Ways To Save The Planet), but puts a unique spin on it. Doing green things that make you look and appear better, and even save money makes Green Chic a good read for those wanting to do their part.

The book is wonderfully realistic between changes a person might do and those they’re unlikely to do. Honestly, there is always going to be a range from what someone SHOULD do to what someone is WILLING to do, and the book covers that really well. Yes, it’s “light green” in terms of actions, but with the facts backing them up to show that people can go further than what is recommended as being easy.

Reduce clutter, eat organic food, less red meat and so on are all tips given, but so is the main theme or don’t stop buying, just be more thoughtful when buying products about where they came from, and what they are doing to you. They’re things everyone can do, and the book proves it’s not hard to be green and chic. Available for just over $10 from Amazon.