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The Revolution
This is a revolution. If you want to shut an airport then stop flying.
Want an end to factory farming? Grow your own. An end to pollution?
Change to renewables. An end to war & poverty? Microgenerate. Life
for your childen? Stop needing oil. YOU have THIS Power. You do not
need Government. Seize the initiative. Bring democracy to your
community. Be an example to your children. Take responsibility.
Change for good today. |
Books - Authors I through L
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In this section you
will find our Book Reviews of the work of Authors I through L.
The topics we cover are across the spectrum of topics including
Global Warming, Peak Oil, Oil Security, Politics, Environmental
issues, etc. The views expressed here are purely those of the
reviewer's. These reviews are not prompted by copies direct from
the Publisher.
It is our policy to
be fair about each book and to point out good and bad in each
review. In our opinion we believe that the informed Carbon
Cutter should make a reasonable effort to read a selection of
these books based upon our recommendations. Knowledge is power. |
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Lovins "Oil Endgame"
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  Review
coming soon. |
Lomborg "Skeptical Environmentalist"
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ISBN 0 521 01068 3. Bjørn Lomborg's "The Skeptical
Environmentalist - Measuring the Real State of the World".
Love him or hate him Lomborg sure stirred up a hornets nest
with this one. Widely quoted within the environmental
movement itself, this has been a phenomena that could not be
ignored. Why all the fuss? Although now largely out of date
(published 2001 by Cambridge University Press) he compared,
what he calls the environmental "litany" to statistical
evidence to see how bad things really are. For an alleged
member of Greenpeace Lomborg sure takes an active dislike to
the polemic of environmental activists. What he comes up
with is a mixed bag. He tries to prove that our resources
are not running out, that fewer people are starving and that
all is well with the World. The Forests are not dying,
Global Warming won't kill you and the species are not dying
out as quickly as claimed. As such he provides a valuable
and level-headed contribution to the debate about, for
example, such pre-conceived links between pesticides and
cancer. We learn how GM foods are not necessarily bad for
us, and so on. As such this work is not original and many
have analysed just how far society has abandoned enlightened
thought. Science and statistics have been abandoned and
hijacked by anyone with a point to prove. It would be nice
of Lomborg had restricted his argument to the facts. Despite
claiming that he is using the facts against the myths he
only trades one set of irrational arguments for another. His
work is as subjective and qualitative as any of the people
and organisations
 he
criticises. His argument about Global Warming is largely
mystifying to the average reader. Even worse, his analysis
of Oil supplies are just plain wrong. He never mentions
standard geological evidence for Hubbert's Peak (apart from
a brief mention in the end notes where he tries to claim
that Hubberts Curve only applies to the USA - maybe like the
law of gravity?) Whilst even the oil companies make no
secret that Oil supplies peak sometime around 2015, Lomborg
ignores all the evidence and draws a convenient line of
expanding supplies up until 2001. This is years short of the
known peak. This kind of cornucopian idealism is at odds
with the facts. Indeed, to continue to propagate absurd
ideas of endless supplies of Energy, that will be
continually renewed by "human ingenuity", undermines many of
the valid arguments he makes. Some of his arguments are
circular and confuse cause and effect. Despite arguing that
we need do nothing about Global Warming for years he goes
onto say that CO2 emissions will be negated by switching to
Solar Power. Well, why would we do that then? Maybe because
we are worried about Global Warming? And why is there a
correlation between wealth and natural resources? Is it
because your natural resources are your wealth or, as
Lomborg claims, that the wealthier you the more you look
after your environment? A useful book but somewhat
undermined by its author's enthusiasm for iconoclastic
idealism. Worth a read. Just the once. For a rebuttal of
Lomborg's claims go to
www.lomborg-errors.dk/skeptical.htm. |
Kunstler "Long Emergency"
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ISBN 1-84354-453-9. Published by Grove Atlantic in 2005. I read this
book in January and February 2007. Despite the blurb on the book
this is not intended for a universal readership. When they use the
word "we" they, of course, mean the citizens of the United States of
America. This is a parochial Book for a parochial people. However
(unusually for me) I don't hold this against the author, it is only
the blurb of the Publishing House. The Publisher made other
mistakes. Kunstler wrote three versions of his book and submitted it
all jammed together. The publisher should edit this down into one
book. They didn't, rendering it too long and repetitive.
Kunstler's knowledge of the people of the
Middle East and Europe is poor. He has obviously never been to these
places and his manner borders upon xenophobic. Likewise his attitude
towards young blacks and black culture is racist. In fact he is a
perfect white middle class product of
up-state New York. He has read the New York Times for his entire
life and his whole world is constructed around the world-myth it
propagates. The irony of the author owning two homes passes with no
comment despite the sarcasm in which he treats his other SUV-loving
Americans. If you want to read the twisted logic of the neo-con
reason for war in Iraq then read this book.
This is meant to be a book about the decline
of western civilisation through the effects of climate change and
the end of oil. Despite his obvious ignorance Kunstler accidentally
manages to deliver on the title of the book. If someone had edited
out the obvious hogwash then it might be more reasonable. As soon as
he gets around to his main topic then it all works. It charts just
how large parts of North America will descend into chaos, violence
and disease in the next fifty years before it all reverts back to an
agrarian existence. He seems to have an overtly rosy view of US gun
culture and fails to see that civil war is a more likely outcome in
a country saturated with guns. The 'mad max' scenario would play
more true in the world he writes of.
However, putting these criticisms to one side
here is a perfectly good book about how western civilisation will
transform into a post-oil existence. It is a reasonable lesson for
Europeans too - particularly inhabitants of the United Kingdom who
have gone the furthest in copying the US Suburban model minus the
guns. This remains possibly the only book to chart this
uncomfortable future but sadly it is so flawed that the message gets
lost. Worth a read if you have the patience to study it properly. |
Laughton "Tapping the Sun"
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ISBN 1 90217 529 8. Published in 2006 by the Centre for
Alternative Technology. The perfect companion to Chris
Laughton's "Home Heating with Wood" although it is much
shorter - weighing in at only 56 pages versus 117 - half the
size. This book is in its fourth edition with the first and
second having being written by Brian Horne whilst the third
was written by Pete Geddes. Hence why it is so short remains
a mystery. Although short it is densely packed with loads of
information, pictures and diagrams. By the end of this book
any novice will be well armed with every piece of
information required to select their own installation even
if they are having it installed by professionals. You will
know the right questions to ask so there is no danger of any
'pro' befuddling you with the science. Chris is very honest
about how much these installations cost and their pay-back
period. He admits they may never pay for themselves but then
doesn't really mention the fact that oil and gas prices are
bound to increase faster than inflation whereas the sun is
always free. Yes, you can install such systems yourself but
most of us would be terrified at the prospect and Chris is
equally honest about the hazards. However, most of the
pitfalls mentioned come from much older systems and from
saving money on cheap
 plumbing
work. The book largely discusses the different varieties of
central heating systems into which to plug your Solar
Panels. If you are into plumbing this will be for you but I
admit to finding this largely dull! So you get a good run
down of heat transfer systems, hot water storage and thermal
storage devices. Some of the advice is invaluable - such as
how to calculate the size of the Thermal Store and your
Radiators. There is probably no better 50 page guide on this
topic on the market. Another must have. |
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Klare "Blood & Oil"
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ISBN 0-141-02003-2. Published by Penguin Books in 2004.
Following up on his successful "Resource Wars" (above) the
subtitle for this books is "How America's Thirst for Petrol is
Killing Us". John Gray gets to pour on his praises on the front
cover. This is Klare's post 9/11 view of the same topic of his
previous book. This time he is focused on the U.S.
petro-Foreign Policy and the hole the Americans are digging for
themselves. Their domestic supplies are running dry so military
intervention
will be 'necessary' in various unstable
 corners of the World -
Persian Gulf, Caspian Sea, Latin America and Africa. Klare exposes
the fundamental truth about American foreign policy and the growing
US dependence on oil from abroad. They undermine foreign governments
in a desperate lust for control and generate the hatred that
blowback as 'terrorism'. You picks fights and people fight back -
surprise surprise. Klare goes into detail of the close history and
relationship between Saudi Arabia and America. Recommended.
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Kleveman "New Great Game"
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ISBN 1-84354-121-1. Published by Atlantic Books in 2003.
Subtitled "Blood and Oil in Central Asia". One of two books I
bought to read whilst on a trip to Kazakhstan. This was quite an
eye-opener and revealed the politics and military engagement
into the Caspian Sea area and how the post-9/11 world has been
opened up by so called 'national security' issues. Politicians
in both the west and north (Russia) are fighting over the oil
resources and clashing
with the inherent Islam in the area.
 Politicians struggle to control
Central Asia and nobody asks whether it is ethical, right or wrong.
Such morality is thrown out of the window in an orgy of corruption,
bribery and under-hand dealings. All the Great Game players are
joined for battle - the USA, Russia, China, Pakistan and Iran. Out
goes the rule book as each power-bloc seeks the ultimate prize -
power, money and oil in Central Asia. The losers are all the usual
people - the innocent members of the public in the Central Asian
countries as well as peoples of the perpetrators of the crimes.
Recommended.
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Lynas "Carbon Counter"
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ISBN 978 0 00 724812 4. This Book, although looking like one of
those Collins Pocket Reference Guides, is actually classified
under "Politics/Current Affairs" and is written by Mark Lynas. I
actually read the entire thing before I realised who wrote it.
Mark is famous for his books "High Tide" and "Six Degrees" where
he plots the damage that Global Warming can, and will, do to
mankind. Mark liberally borrows from so many of the other books
you will see reviewed on these pages such as "How we can save
the Planet" by Mayer Hillman and "Heat" by
 George
Monbiot. Lynas also gets several opportunities to discretely
plug his own books on the matter. This is a pocket guide. No
doubt about it. It is aimed at the UK market and provides a lot
of links to web sites as
well as Tables of numbers to use on ready-reckoners so everyone can
very roughly calculate their Carbon Footprint. The advice contained
on reducing this Carbon output is very similar to Chris Goodall's
book "How to live a Low Carbon Life" reviewed elsewhere on this web
site although it was not credited by the author of this little work.
There are lots of good numbers to get tucked into here. The book
steers clear of controversy and sticks mostly to the main facts in a
very light-hearted, bright and breezy tone that some may find
annoying. However, it is a great little read and every home in the
UK should have a copy posted through it's letter box by the
Government.
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Laughton "Home Heating with Wood"
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ISBN 1 90217 527 1. Published by CAT Publications in 2006. A
cracking little read as these things go. These little ring-bound
pocket books are put out by the Centre for Alternative
Technology and this is one of many available. It is pitched at
the UK Market and serves as a primer on the topic answering all
the most obvious questions. The books opens with some great
facts and figures - this is really well researched. There is
precious little out there on this topic which makes this a
treasure-trove. Chris kicks off with the oddly self-obvious
topic of "How Wood Burns" - apparently most of us have no idea!
Judging by the science it is far more complicated than a few
flames. Which probably explains why modern stoves are so much
more efficient than the old open fire-places. Moving on from the
science we look at the different type of appliances that can be
used to burn wood to heat a home, office or factory. Then there
is
 hooking
them up to your Central Heating System, chimney and flue. We
learn how different types of wood burn and the various legal
requirements within the UK. Towards the end of the 115 pages we
get some maths for calculating the size of wood heating systems
and a few case studies. It is all very succinct. The books
bristles with illustrations and pictures. I read this from cover
to cover in under and hour and a half whilst sitting one sunny
Saturday afternoon in the Conservatory in February. A delight. A
must-have. Very useful. |
Klare "Resource Wars"
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ISBN 0-8050-5576-2. Published by Henry Holt in 2001. I
probably read this book several years later in 2005.
Although I was primarily interested in Oil Wars this book
was quite an eye-opener as to how common wars for resources
were, not only now but in history. The more you think about
it the more you come to believe that this is self evidently
true. Behind most of our cherished "principles" there is an
underlying current of greed. All empires are built out
of a desire to secure resources, even if that resource is profit or
security. However, this book focuses on primary resources - commodities such
oil, gas, water, diamonds, etc. The data on water-wars was new to me and the
problem with water-stress in the Middle-Eastern conflicts was a surprise. We
think of the Middle Eastern problems being largely to do with Zionism, Oil
or Islam - however, water is a real problem for the burgeoning population
of the region. A dry read (no pun intended) but recommended. |
Mark Lynas "Six Degrees"
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ISBN 978-0-00-720904-0. "Six Degrees - Our Future on a
Hotter Planet" by Mark Lynas. Published by Fourth Estate in
2007. There are few books that cross the desk, here at
Carbon Cutters, that truly stand out. Robert Kennedy's
"Crimes Against Nature" was one, Chris Goodall's "How to
Live a Low Carbon Life" and Richard Heinberg's "The Party's
Over" are others. These books all have one thing in common -
they pretty much make all other books on the topic redundant
in being a truly defining work. We tend to be critical of
many books for various failings but we were hard-pressed to
find a single thing wrong with this little gem. Perfect. 10
out of 10. If you read ONE Book on Global Warming please
make it this one. If you inherit a lot of money and decide
to push one book through every letterbox in Britain makes it
this one. If you ever get a chance to put a book on the
National Curriculum please make it "Six Degrees". Why?
Because it simply removes the veil from our eyes and tells
us exactly what Global Warming will mean for us Human
Beings. It lays it out straight. There is no flinching from
the grim reality of the challenge ahead. He pulls no
punches. We get a frank appraisal of the link between Global
Warming and Peak Oil - namely that when the clean Oil and
Gas supplies dry up we'll pump out countless billions of
tonnes of CO2 by switching to coal, shale oil and other
dirty substitutes with a low energy yield. Peak Oil makes
things much, much, worse as it decreases our ability to cope
with Global Warming. Mark steps through each degree of
warming from 1 degrees up to 6. At each step he deals with
how many species and habitats get destroyed. However, it
ain't just the fluffy bunnies. One of the habitats to get
wiped out is the Human one. We will have to keep moving
further and further north as the weather becomes more and
more violent. The chances of us ever being able to feed
these 6 billion people looks exceedingly remote. To make it
clear there is a handy table on page 274 that tells you
which circle of Dante's Hell we pass into as we allow CO2
ppm to pass from 450 to 550 and beyond.  Let's
be honest, much beyond 600 and we are all dead. Anything up
to 400ppm can mean up to a 2 degree rise and that is enough
to have a serious effect upon human populations. There is
nowhere to hide. Scary as hell and there is no happy ending.
We need to cut the crap now and do something. Even towards
the end Mark is clear what the options are and how difficult
it will be. Just like Carbon-Cutters he believes there is no
ONE solution but there will be a rich mix of solutions. We
just need the courage to take them, and take them ALL.
Unbelievable. A must read. |
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