Jefferson Birrell says:

I’ll admit at the beginning of his review that I have not read this book. However after reading most of these reviews it seems that there is not an environmentalist among the group of reviewers. This book seems to be a gotcha type of book, not at all aimed at trying to find solutions to real problems but instead more interested in pointing out negative, placing blame and lumping everyone concerned about the environment into one group. I would consider myself an environmentalist and can say I’m more interested in finding solutions than pushing a political group’s agenda. I particularly love to see individuals be a part of the solution. I have worked with farmer to restore portions of their farms for use by wildlife and to help ensure that the water leaving their farms is clean. I think most people who have dealt with the endangered species act recognize that it has some problems and perhaps creates some incentives that are not advantageous to species protection sometimes. However attempt to alter it have mostly come from groups more concerned with lifting the `burden’ of compliance for businesses and not to improve the way it works. As far as the consequences’ of birth control pills on the environment, I believe I first heard about its potential problems from the sierra club an organization that I think this author would deem to be from the far left. So if the left does want anyone to know about it the memo has got to everyone. By the way I’m very concerned with the false notion of sex without consequence. It’s not accurate to say that environmentalists are all in the same political camp. I myself try to stay away from either camp. Regarding Ethanol, many environmentalists have been pointing out the problems with using corn based ethanol as a fuel and fuel additive long before this book was published and many before politicians considered enacting laws about. The idea that the `ethanol agenda’ is somehow a liberal one is just propaganda from a writer who is more concern with promoting a book and a right wing agenda than real environmental solutions. While government programs are not always a good solution and when some other solution can be found should be avoid, they sometimes are appropriate and can provide needed incentive to do get the right thing done. For instance the farmers I mentioned before that I assisted in restoring portion of their farms often time where able to do so because of joint grants from the government and environmental groups. Some of the farmers had real interest in the environment but for many the land was marginal and the grant money was the incentive. Also if it wasn’t for the government stepping in to create fuel standards we may not have the fuel efficiency we have today. I would just encourage the readers of this book to avoid the pitfall this books is trying to push you into which is to believe that concern for the environment is a leftist political issue or a political issue at all and that environmentalist have a secret agenda to subvert your freedom. This is everyone’s planet; the rich and the poor, and those from both sides of the political spectrum. Let’s work together to find solutions not point fingers.
Rating: 1 / 5

Frederick S. Goethel says:

The author of this book writes well and presents good arguments for how environmentalists have messed up the planet. The problem, however, is that the author doesn’t present all of the information surrounding a given issue and only uses selected material to attempt to make his argument. And, that makes the basic premise of the book dishonest.

An example is the author’s argument that ethanol production from corn is causing food prices to spike and people to go without food around the world. While I agree with the author that ethanol from corn is probably not the best use of the crop, his argument falls apart when examining the evidence. I happened to be listening, recently, to a radio show that featured a professor of agricultural economics from a very prestigious California agricultural school. He made the point that many other things are driving food costs, including increased fuel and transportation costs, increased wealth in Asia allowing for more imports, a weak dollar which prices food into the reach of many and severe droughts in the US and Australia. His estimate was that ethanol production was responsible for, at best, 15% in the rise in cost of food.

There are numerous other examples throughout the book, but in almost every case the author picks very select evidence to make his case and ignores the majority of the evidence. And, while it is fine for the author to have an opinion and to present via book format, he should be honest enough to admit that this is less than intellectually honest. This book will appeal to those who think liberals and environmentalists are responsible for all the world’s ills, but the more moderate reader will likely be disappointed.

Rating: 2 / 5