Books - Authors V through Z

     In this section you will find our Book Reviews of the work of Authors V through . 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.

John Yeoman "Self Reliance"

     ISBN 1 85623 015 5. John Yeoman's "Self Reliance - A Recipe for the New Millennium" is claimed to be "a practical cookbook of tested ideas to secure your family's future". If the title sounds a bit odd then it makes more sense if we tell you that it was published in 1999 by Permanent Publications. Hence the reference to "millennium" reflected the paranoia of that time. It is also apparent that John wrote this many years ago and has continually updated it. Early in the book the author waxes lyrical about how to make economies in your spending and getting out of debt - all pretty self-evident commonsense stuff. From that opening chapter, onwards, it settles largely into its main topic of "survival" food. Indeed, a large part of the books is concerned with how to grow (hydroponics), find, cook, preserve and store foodstuffs when the end of the world comes. There is no doubting the authority of this work but it is sadly lacking in illustrative photographs. There are a few line drawings but they are largely useless. Hence you need to think of this as a 'primer' on the topic. It is so densely packed with information but the index is very short for a 235 page book. A crisis of starvation caused by Climate Change and depleted Oil Stocks is just one several scenarios the author discusses. It certainly is eye-opening just what you can find to eat in the wild. However, cooking it to make it palatable actually requires a lot of other stuff that you will only find in a supermarket. Hence he advises you to stock up in time of plenty. If you find 'cook books' deadly dull then you will probably hate this. In the light of our possible fate John makes it clear that the book is not for the "survivalist" freaks and he does accept that in some conditions most of us would certainly prefer to be long dead. On the other hand he seems overly confident in a family's ability to head out into the countryside in the family car in case of emergency. By the time that emergency comes few of us will have cars to drive let alone petrol to put into them. Wisely he also suggest that we invest in rucksacks and bicycles. If all this sounds bleak it is not meant to be. John stops short of true paranoia. You should probably let the book wash over you and allow a few general lessons in. Primarily, if you are prepared and determined you, and your family, can survive Peak Oil. But you will need practice. This is a bit worrying. Few of us are going to take these survival techniques seriously in the good times. By the time we need them it may be too late. The trick will be to stay just ahead of the game. Welcome to Carbon Cutters chum.

Woodin "Green Alternatives"

     This book actually barely qualifies as anything to do with the preservation of the Human Eco-Sphere. The book is entirely politics.

     Lets get one thing straight; we are not a traditional "Greens". We are proponents of the free market and, to a certain extent, of Globalisation. There is much in this book that is nothing more than a load of reheated and totally obsolete Socialist rhetoric. Hence there was much here that I found tiresome and irrelevant. The author's concerns about Globalisation run along the normal lines of objections to the 'one-size-fits-all' neo-conservatism of the WTO and World Bank. To this I have sympathy. Where I depart from this line of logic is that it fails to recognise that the 'greens' are, sadly, NOT going to change this with the arguments in this book.

     The simple truth is that liberal economic policy can be largely successful in some modern industrialised western countries. These countries have mature economies. Hence they can 'graduate' to the neo-liberalism because they are ready. These countries have engineered this situation through largely Keynesian Economic Policy. In the case of the US this policy is still in place regardless of any Washington consensus.

     Where I have sympathy for the arguments presented here is in their analysis of the lack of a level-playing field between rich countries and poor countries. These points of view are not new. It is a self-evident truth that the powerful will coerce the weak into arrangements where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. There is genuine concern that the 'West' will create endless poverty and misery in these poor countries unless they are actually cut loose from the world economic system. They should choose their own path and the rich world should support them in any decision they should take rather than penalising them because of their 'unorthodox' beliefs. Take Cuba as a good example.

     My fear is that most of what this book suggests is aimed at the first world not the third. Cutting the rich loose is not an argument that will win many friends as most participants are themselves winners in the system. My second major beef with this book is that there is little if any focus on matters of trade that impact global climate change or the early depletion of oil supplies.

Waterfield "The Energy Efficient Home"

     ISBN 978 1 86126 779 5. "The Energy Efficient Home - A Complete Guide" by Patrick Waterfield published by Crowood Press in 2007 (written in 2006). 150 pages excluding Glossary, Index and Resource sections at the rear. Like other books on this topic Patrick focuses a lot on the new build and self-build markets leaving the average DIYer scratching his/her head. As it will take a thousand years to completely replenish the UK housing stock then the biggest difference in the short term is retro-fit to existing stock. There is a short section on Fossil Fuel Depletion on page 9 that manages to be completely original in that it quotes Frederick Snoddy from 1922 discussing "capital energy" and "revenue energy". This is fantastically obscure and unnecessarily so in our opinion. Most of Chapter 1 concerns the new build. This is interesting and well illustrated (true of the entire book). Chapter 2, on Insulation, is excellent but it would be nice to see some kind of ready-reckoner or rules of thumb for the lay man rather than relying upon the impenetrable mathematics of the U Value. Chapter 3, on Construction, is of academic interest to most of us. Chapters 4 and 5 cover windows, doors, conservatories and loft conversions, ie, more useful! Chapters 6, 7 & 9 hit pay-dirt with Heating, Hot Water, Renewable Energy and Lighting although pages 108 & 109 are quite mystifying as the author shows us how to calculate the "Daylight Factor". At this point we kind of drift off into areas where Waterfield expresses more his personal opinion and inexperience. Chapter 8 deals with ventilation. On page 111 Patrick tells us to never dry your clothes on a radiator - instead you should get a tumble-drier. I am sure Chris Goodall would have an argument with this concerning the Carbon Footprint of Electricity versus Gas. Patrick's prejudice against clothes on radiators is based on aesthetic reasons. There is no room for that sort of thing in a book like this. By chapter 10 we are into Household Appliances - a section largely based on some strange assertions. Patrick recommends we all go out an buy Hot Fill Washing Machines and Dishwashers. Of course this is impossible as no manufacturer makes such things any more. His recommendations for Household Gadgets completely misses out Energy Monitoring, remote Standby Isolation Devices and Energy Balancing systems. No mention whatsoever. Chapter 11 covers Legal and Planning Issues whilst Chapter 12 covers "Wider Environmental Issues". The author is mostly comprehensive but he admits the work is based upon his own experience as a Consultant therefore it is a little personal in places. His recommendations for household appliances seems to be "don't buy them stupid!". Helpful. We all feel that way but there are more useful things to say if you are going to be taken seriously in print. A good book, occasionally wide of target but with some useful information. Treat it as a guide to be dipped into. However it will never come close to being as good as The Green building Bible. Tough competition indeed.

Blog

Any Questions about what you have read here? Do you have an opinion you wish to share with us? Want an update on Carbon Cutting topics hitting the news?

Then trip over to our Blog and Forum for the latest and greatest news and information. (Click on screen left or right.)

Forum