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tabsfchnr's review against another edition
4.0
Pretty good. I got really excited around page 15 when the core idea of the book was put forward the first time: structure the economy in a way that is inherently restorative of the environment and the resources we use to do business. This is a novel idea now, let alone when it was originally written in 1993. Unlike many environmentalists I've heard from (not loads I'll admit), Hawken actually encourages some kind of a synergy between ecology and business. He's relatively optimistic about innovation, technology and "ecopreneurs".
In terms of the book itself, given how clued up everyone is on the climate crisis, there's simply too many pages on how much destruction laissez-faire capitalism can and has caused. There are also no headings but the title of each chapter. This doesn't help to seperate and digest the different arguments being made.
Bottom line, I think the core concept is still applicable today but a book summary would do.
In terms of the book itself, given how clued up everyone is on the climate crisis, there's simply too many pages on how much destruction laissez-faire capitalism can and has caused. There are also no headings but the title of each chapter. This doesn't help to seperate and digest the different arguments being made.
Bottom line, I think the core concept is still applicable today but a book summary would do.
overheat4600's review against another edition
5.0
Instead of asking "how to save the environment", the book asks "how to save business". Interesting concept. The author suggests:
1) Eliminate industrial waste and trend to a cyclical as opposed to linear economy;
2) Change from carbon to solar (and its derivatives) energy
3) Internalise negative externalities (eg via the imposition of Pigouvian taxes) and change tax systems to remove incentives for cost externalisation and improve incentives for sustainable industry.
1) Eliminate industrial waste and trend to a cyclical as opposed to linear economy;
2) Change from carbon to solar (and its derivatives) energy
3) Internalise negative externalities (eg via the imposition of Pigouvian taxes) and change tax systems to remove incentives for cost externalisation and improve incentives for sustainable industry.
xjuliaaaaaax's review against another edition
5.0
The ideas presented in this book for the future of commerce are simultaneously so radical that its difficult to imagine a world (a US in particular) where these would be adopted, and yet they are sensible and honestly seem like common sense.
One of the biggest takeaways for me was having a better understanding of what could be done to improve the climate situation and preserve “the economy.” It taught me the language I was missing to respond to concerns that environmental regulations are damaging to commerce.
I highly recommend this for anyone who has concerns about climate change, the economy and how they relate.
One of the biggest takeaways for me was having a better understanding of what could be done to improve the climate situation and preserve “the economy.” It taught me the language I was missing to respond to concerns that environmental regulations are damaging to commerce.
I highly recommend this for anyone who has concerns about climate change, the economy and how they relate.
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