Beyond "Green" Talk

Offering a fascinating look at the multifaceted effects of changing climate in the Arctic, Anderson, a distinguished science journalist and former editor of (and now senior consultant to) New Scientist magazine, summarizes his approach by noting that while science provides the heart of the future, people and creatures form the soul. Instead of stressing narrow topics, he presents a comprehensive, integrated portrait of the environmental, cultural, and geopolitical transformations occurring now and in the future. Examples of his appealing style include descriptions of reindeer herders in northern Russia in the vicinity of a major gas field, the stench of walrus breath, and the ecological consequences of replacing the polar bear with the killer whale at the top of the Arctic food chain. The description of how a shift in ocean temperature led Greenlanders to begin dancing the tango is a keeper. VERDICT Highly recommended for readers interested in a clear and balanced global view of climate change but without the usual hysteria.—Roland Brosemer, Washington State Univ., Pullman

Bringing a sociological imagination to the climate change debate, activist and academic Derber (People Before Profit) argues that as a symptom of underlying capitalist disease, global warming cannot be solved by green technology alone: social and political innovation is also necessary. His critique is trenchant, but proposed solutions (e.g., nationalization of big banks and energy companies, rewriting company charters for the greater benefit of stakeholders, forcing all federal agencies to cut 90 percent of greenhouse emissions by 2050, and mobilizing progressive grassroots movements on a global scale) are vague and, at times, fanciful. Derber's core strategy, though, is what he calls "time trickery"—a feat wherein a long-term crisis like climate change can be attacked by "hitching a ride on the back of short-term issues [like jobs, poverty, and crime]…." Does this represent a breakthrough or is it hogwash? Because the idea is not adequately developed, this reviewer remains unsure. VERDICT Derber writes in a lively, "hurry-up" style reflecting, no doubt, the urgency of the global warming problem, but it tends to work against the big ideas he proposes. For a weightier discussion, readers will want to consult James Gustave Speth's The Bridge at the End of the World.—Robert Eagan, Windsor P.L., Ont.

Until recently, conversations about climate change have often overlooked the global food systems impact; this book is designed to change that. Lappé, whose mother wrote the now-classic Diet for a Small Planet in 1971, asserts that global food production accounts for as much as 30 percent of human-caused global warming effects. Contending that Western-style industrial agriculture causes most of the damage, the author proposes numerous ways big agricultural companies can improve their environmental track records. She rightly points out that consumers wield tremendous power in forcing companies to change, and she provides a helpful list of principles for a climate-friendly diet. Unfortunately, most of Lappé's arguments are one-sided rather than nuanced, a disappointment with such a complex public policy issue. Lacking scientific rigor, the book should be viewed as a consciousness raiser for general readers rather than those in an academic setting. VERDICT Lappé is a well-known environmental advocate, and her book will be heavily marketed; expect demand. Readers seeking practical advice on cooking and eating in environmentally healthy ways may prefer Mark Bittman's Food Matters or Kate Heyhoe's Cooking Green.—Kelsy Peterson, Prairie Village, KS