Green Prize for Sustainable Literature

Al Gore Propoganda: I feel like this book was just published as something to give Al Gore a better image on his next campaign. If they really cared they would have printed the book on recycled paper, not put that dust jacket on it which tears easily and will just end up in the trash, donated all proceeds to doing something beneficial for the environment, and written the book in a concise manner with attractive illustrations and layout so people would actually be compelled to read it and not tuck it away like a high school social studies book.

Interesting stuff, but nothing new. A series of short articles highlighting actions, organizations, or technologies that could reduce the impact of humanity upon the planet. None of these are new. Most have been published elsewhere, likely on the Internet. In fact, the book would have been better formatted as a Web site with links to all of the people and organizations which were referred to within the articles. As it is the reader is left to go to their computer and follow up. ( )

This volume of essays, news clippings, and reviews is a companion to the massive amounts of information available at Worldchanging.org; as far as I can tell, a lot of it is new writing for the book. The organization of the book flows out from the individual to the community to the planet, encouraging you to broaden yourself instead of getting lost in the depth of anyone category as the website might. It is, like the website, somewhat episodic, but sections are pulled together with (sometimes breathless) introductions. It's also a large book, so while its structure lends itself to those odd moments waiting in lines, its heft does not unless you have it in ebook form or don't mind splitting it into smaller sections like a guidebook. I would say that the book is definitely trying to complement the website, although I might have preferred a more pared down, analytic narrative. However, the book is packed with cool ideas and programs, and the books and sites listed for further reading sound fascinating. You will want to be ready to add a lot of books to your wishlist or TBR pile! ( )

Mostly crappy hack work. The packaging is the best thing about it. ( )