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International Economics Search International Economics International EconomicsHot, Flat and Crowded: Why the World Needs a Green Revolution - and How We Can Renew Our Global Future
Allen Lane Search Allen Lane by Thomas L. Friedman Search Thomas L. Friedman
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An argument for green revolution
I think that this book present very compelling arguments. The author argues that we need a green revolution and that green technology is the next big thing. He doesn't know which country will lead it, but it has to happen. As the world population grows along with the increase in the global middle class, there is a tremendous pressure places on natural resources such as oil, coal, and gas. If we think that $3 gasoline is expensive, this is nothing in comparison to what the price will be in the future. It becomes increasingly difficult to find more oil reserves. Some might argue that we need to drill more, especially off-shore. But according to the author, this is only a temporary and not a long-term solution. The amount of natural resources is shrinking as the demand is going up. This is not a pretty picture.
Obviously something has to be done, but first we need to stop being in denial, and this book get definitely convince anyone that we have a problem.
- Mariusz Skonieczny, author of Why Are We So Clueless about the Stock Market? Learn how to invest your money, how to pick stocks, and how to make money in the stock market
fatally-flawed environmentalism 
While the arguments are compelling, and his obvious passion to reverse the adverse effects of climate change are real, his method for achieving these ends is fatally flawed. He focuses on the idea that growth is essential and forgets that in order to produce all the solar panels and wind turbines we are going to need to fuel his 'energy internet', we will need a lot of chemicals and raw materials. Does he realise how many chemicals go into producing a solar panel? He seems to think that Americans and by default the rest of the world, can continue to indulge in consumption at unprecedented levels as long as we switch to using green electrons to fuel that consumption. Unfortunately, this ethic will not encourage people to have more respectful behaviour towards nature and our very limited resources.
He goes on to compare the race to become green with the Cold War and the arms race between America and Russia, only this time the race is between America and China as they try to 'outgreen' each other and become market leaders in the next global industry, energy efficiency and green electrons. The rest of the world doesn't get a mention, least of all the European Union which is currently a world leader in environmental standards and the Scandinavian countries where many of the ideas he hopes America will bring to the fore are already in place. Perhaps he should look across the waters and suggest collaboration between the US and the EU and indeed other countries instead of simply looking for market supremacy for the US.
He also uses the example of video conference in his utopian vision of the world in what he dubs the 'Energy Climate Era', but his stories of personal travel and extensive globe trotting, including family holidays in all corners of the globe show that he fails to apply these laws to himself. Indeed global travel is in itself a major cause of pollution and needs to be slowed down.
Whilst he highlights the adverse effects of climate change and the need to develop an ethic of conservation, he fails to concentrate on the need to collaborate globally, seeing America as key and seeing the whole climate change threat as an opportunity to extend American capitalism and dominace on world markets. In doing this he refuses to recognise attempts made by countries outside the sphere of American influence, i.e. Germany, Denmark and only uses American examples of success.
He also believes that growth can continue unmitigated if we change our energy sources, which is still an unsustainable position. We need to encourage people to ultimately radically change their lifestyles and this can be done through education.
The book is written in accessibe, non-academic language and so can be easily understood by all readers but beware of the hidden agenda.
Friedman explains global warming 
On the whole, this book resembles a televangelist's Sunday morning sermon. It is full of passion, action and emotion. The "preacher," The New York Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman, exhorts a congregation of true believers with a rousing endorsement of their shared faith, hitting all the familiar themes, stories and touchstones, plus a heartfelt environmental alert. Even for nonbelievers, the spectacle is impressive. Friedman is a skilled coiner of phrases and he sure can work a crowd. To judge by the many interviews and conversations referenced in this book, he has gone to great effort to assemble a corpus of evidence in support of his argument. Baldly put, his message is that conventional wisdom about global warming is true: Because of irresponsible consumption, the world faces an environmental catastrophe of unprecedented magnitude. He explains that George W. Bush's administration was unconscionably negligent in this crisis, that most honest scientists agree something must be done, and that climate change deniers are mostly hirelings in the service of the oil industry or ideological conservatives unwilling to face facts. For any reader reasonably acquainted with the news media, much of what Friedman says, though urgent, will be somewhat familiar. However, getAbstract notes, he always has a strikingly entertaining and persuasive way of saying it.
one of the most interesting and insightful wrong people writing today
The basic argument of `Hot, Flat and Crowded' is that the world is facing a series of challenges. ('Flat' refers to the internet creating a more level playing field) "Global warming, the stunning rise of middle classes all over the world, and rapid population growth have converged in a way that could make our planet dangerously unstable." As a result, we face the threat of energy poverty, petro-dictators, a biodiversity crisis, and climate change.
In his analysis, Friedman is great, but his solutions are way off the mark. His main answer is that America must ride to the rescue. Forgetting that the US is most responsible for our current crisis and has shown less inclination to fix it than almost any other country, it must now become "a beacon of hope and the country that can always be counted on to lead the world in response to whatever is the most important issue of the day."
Okay then. The US will lead us all out of crisis by going green, and this it will do by creating a smart national grid and by creating the right conditions for investment in renewable energy. Personal action and lifestyle changes will not be required.
Friedman's linking of the green agenda and nationalism is rather squirm inducing, although no doubt great for getting conservatives on side. To a non-American, it sounds like jingoism.
As well as being about national power, going green is also about "making America richer". Friedman cannot conceive of a future without infinite growth, no matter how at odds that might be with a true environmental awareness. "I start from the bedrock principle that we as a global society need more and more growth" he writes. That 'bedrock principle' is a very bad foundation for a book about sustainability.
Having said all that, `Hot, Flat, and Crowded' is still a good book. There is some enlightening material on China and India. He deals with conservation and biodiversity loss, often forgotten in the climate change debate. The book is full of useful examples and on-the-ground perspectives. Friedman hasn't won the Pulitzer Prize three times for nothing. Wrong he may often be, but he is one of the most interesting and insightful wrong people writing today.
It connects the dots
This book is written in such a way that it's a pleasure to read. I read it from cover to cover in a couple of days (I was on a holiday).
The book is an eyeopener. It discusses the problems that we're faced with as a planet. But it does much more. There is a lot of information, but the real value in the book is in how they all are connected into the real picture. The book really connects all the dots and shows in my view correctly how petrodictatorships and oil are related to not just our dependence on oil and the impact on the environment but also to many other events in world politics.
It advocates that we should make drastic changes to save the environment. And that it does very convincingly.
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isbn:184614129x
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