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

Nice to know I'm not alone in thinking Friedman is a "Johnny Come Lately" gasbag of tired, clueless anecdotes.

My local MPR station seems infatuated with dimbulb Tom and I had the misfortune to hear him go on with his latest catchy phrase tomb for pseudo-intellectuals.

With his typical intellectual depth of a mud puddle, the man manages to take what would be no more than a run of the mill essay on global warming and ecological collapse and stretch into a 400 plus page tomb of drivel.

Okay Mr. Brain Trust Friedman, lets say your catchy phrase 'ET' is the future. And like you say, it will be the panacea for everything--from the economy to the climate to biodiversity.

Then explain this--with the population of human beings about to increase by another billion within the next 10 years, how are we going to FEED all these people? How is a solar panel, wind turbine or electrical car gonna fix that? Oh, and by the way, where are the animals and other living things going to move off to once we've plowed under every square inch of aerable land on the PLANET to feed ourselves???

Oh that's right, silly me, I forgot, you never let a fact or reality interfere with your latest bloviation. ...nor would you ever let research and investigation on a subject interfere with you positioning yourself as an expert. Nah, who needs that when just few minutes of verbal masturbation with your elitist buddies is enough to write an entire tomb on the matter...

"The Lexus and the Olive Tree" was unique in its point of view. The writing was instructive and entertaining. Friedman's follow-up book, "The World is Flat," was a hit! New insight into seeing the world as it "is."

"Hot, Flat and Crowded" interprets the meaning of the word "is." Long-winded and lumpy, oft times boring, Friedman must have written this in Minneapolis while looking out the window. No new insight, here. Me thinks he went to the well once too often in this book.

Hell, who wants to pay $5/gal tax on gasoline to cut consumption of Arab oil? Why should everyone in the world be entitled to buy a car on some kind of subprime deal. The answer, Tom, is new kinds of energy, not how to make oil last longer as the fuel of choice.

Skip this one. You won't miss anything. I'm sure Tom is working on a new book now that Obama is "in" and his Nobel Prize energy secretary at Livermore Berkeley National Laboratory is working on
an answer to Arab (and Russian) oil. Maybe a combination of wind, hot air and the atomic bomb!

I love the book! It came really fast. I would buy from this seller again!

Thomas Friedman brilliantly summarizes our chlidren's future if the world doesn't take a solidly green stand. Though initially terrifying, he does give us hope if the US government and businesses take action. Wake up America! Our families lives depend upon it. This book should be on everyone's bedside table.

This book is a must read for any voting citizen. You may not like what he has to say but you should read it anyway. The book will help anyone understand the subject. The recent election and statements from the President elect shows how the Green issue is a major shapping force in American politics. Many people are worshiping at the Green alter. I know many don't understand what this Green thing is. Many view it as a feel good issue like don't club Baby seals. There isn't much argument to that. To others the green issue is a starting point to the one world government bent on destruction. This book shapes that issue in a new way that will help all parties. No matter what you believe this issue will truly haunt us in many different ways over the next few years.

Thomas Friedman here captures the issue like nothing else. Most books on the subject are nothing but sad stories about Bambi and the other creatures of the forest from nasel sounding failed politicians. All of those books were written by rich ex-politicans or whinny university professors who all don't have to worry about where their next meal is coming from. To 90% of the world living in the edge of poverty the Green religion has different meanings. This book takes a radically new approach to explaining things. He both shows the importance of the isse but tempers it with some reality.

Thomas's reality on the world is a good read. The first half of the book shows in great detail the status of the world. He in very clear detail shows how population for the third world is going through the roof. Then he discusses the impact from that unrestrained growth. This growth has a huge impact on other things and vice versa. Growing populations need more energy. As they burn that energy damage from pollution grows and the demand on supply increases pushing up price. Friedman's discussion of this angle is excellent. It is clear, concise, and very believable. Christians who read it will swear they are reading a description of the last days, though Mr. Friedman doesn't talk about that. He says the pressure from this situation demands a "Green Revolution".

His ideas on how to start this revolution is really thought provoking. He has very specific ideas like a new electrical grid system for the country or how to use R&D monies to prime the research pump. Friedman's ideas do seem to rely heavily on optimism and humanism. His descriptions are very clear and entertaining. He has some little known stories that really enrich the story and do give hope. The stories make the issue real and not some vague ideology ex-liberals like to preach.

He does have some ideas worth exploring on the policy front. The recent President elect's radio speeches sound like he has read this book. I am sure we all will see these ideas debated on TV news over the next year or so. That is why I think everyone should read this book. It will help you understand events.