Hot, Flat, and Crowded Audiobook By Thomas L. Friedman cover art

Hot, Flat, and Crowded

Why We Need a Green Revolution - and How It Can Renew America

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Hot, Flat, and Crowded

By: Thomas L. Friedman
Narrated by: Oliver Wyman
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Thomas L. Friedman's number-one best seller The World Is Flat has helped millions of listeners to see globalization in a new way. Now Friedman brings a fresh outlook to the crises of destabilizing climate change and rising competition for energy - both of which could poison our world if we do not act quickly and collectively. His argument speaks to all of us who are concerned about the state of America in the global future.

Friedman proposes that an ambitious national strategy - which he calls "Geo-Greenism" - is not only what we need to save the planet from overheating; it is what we need to make America healthier, richer, more innovative, more productive, and more secure.

As in The World Is Flat, he explains a new era - the Energy-Climate era - through an illuminating account of recent events. He shows how 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and the flattening of the world by the Internet (which brought three billion new consumers onto the world stage) have combined to bring climate and energy issues to Main Street. But they have not gone very far down Main Street; the much-touted "green revolution" has hardly begun.

With all that in mind, Friedman sets out the clean-technology breakthroughs we, and the world, will need; he shows that the ET (Energy Technology) revolution will be both transformative and disruptive, and he explains why America must lead this revolution - with the first Green President and a Green New Deal, spurred by the Greenest Generation.

Hot, Flat, and Crowded is classic Thomas L. Friedman - fearless, incisive, forward-looking, and rich in surprising common sense about the world we live in today.

©2008, 2009 Thomas L. Friedman (P)2008 Macmillan Audio Business Development & Entrepreneurship Economics Engineering Environmental Environmental Economics Globalization International Relations Politics & Government Power Resources Public Policy

Critic reviews

"An exhaustive, impressive, and convincing argument about the need for the United States to transition to more sustainable systems of energy soon or else risk any possible chance of maintaining hegemony. [Friedman's] ability to identify and summarize succinctly the issues and controversies over resistance to a green revolution is matched by his clear and definitive solutions to these forthcoming problems. Oliver Wyman provides a congenial and gentle voice that works well with the text." ( Publishers Weekly)
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I appreciate Friedman's point of view, as I have been an environmental advocate since the early 1970s. The point of this book is to energize the American populace to jump on the bandwagon of becoming "new energy" purveyor to the world. We actually need to do this in order to benefit ourselves, but his approach is a very capitalistic way of going about "doing the right thing". Instead of speaking to us about how profligate our lifestyle has become, he approaches the problem by saying that technology and production will allow us to maintain our position as top dogs. Admirable, in a twisted way. I found that much of this could have been conveyed without so much repetition. For this reason, I recommend the abridged version.

Unabridged should be fine...

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Friedman has done it again. He has written a book that describes in detail the precarious position we find ourselves in -- and he provides solutions. America must make alternative energy a top priority or our children and grandchildren will face a disaster even worse than what we're beginning to go through economically. This is a MUST READ, but we must also follow through with our politicians to make it happen.

A Very Important and Well-Written Book

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This book presents the combined issues of the explosive growth of the middle class in countries like China and India, the exponential effect of that growth on energy consumption, and the effect of that consumption on the natural world. The well documented facts are presented without hyperbole but without sugar coating. This combined story is one that has not been told elsewhere. Friedman is a master journalist and has uncovered the most important story of the century. I also find Friedman fun to listen to -- he uses language wonderfully, and melds facts, stories, and analysis in a way that makes you want to listen and learn.

One of the Most Important Books of our Lifetime

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I gotten through about half the book and all I have to say is if we dont Actually start doing something about our addiction to Oil this country is going the way of Rome.

Rome is Burning

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Friedman does a great job bringing the listener into a fully up to date conversation about climate change. He covers what's going on, where it is headed and what we need to do. A long listen, but full of info on recent developments and suggestions for policy changes on how to solve the problem.

very up to date

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Friedman's explanation of the importance of energy to the world economy, as well as the environment, over the next century was an eye-opening experience. He goes beyond "easy ways to be green," and beyond the "save the polar bears" emotional appeals -- advocating rather a systemic approach to changing our energy system to remain globally competitive. And, he argues persuasively, this will actually be good for the economy.
One downside of this book is that some of the examples and anecdotes get a bit lengthy, and some of the points repetitive. I usually prefer unabridged books, but I think I would have been just as satisfied with the abridged version of this one.

An eye-opener about energy

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A thoughtful, well written book that is standing the test of time. I must treat for anyone who is concerned about climate change and the impact of global warming.

Crazy pertinent after all these years.

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Hot, Flat and Crowded makes a strong case that changing the rules that currently make it difficult to bring green technology to the marketplace is essential to keep America competitive and further, that the United States is the one country most capable of taking this leadership role. To do so, however, will require shifting regulations and tax burdens onto the dirty technologies that are currently favored by the U.S. tax and regulatory system. This book is persuasive and well-researched, though the author occasionally uses more words than needed to make his points. Even so, his points are too important for this to be a meaningful criticism.

A Much Needed Call to "Arms"

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Anyone who watches the news or even looks outside once in a while can see how weird our weather is getting. Record hurricane season, Atlanta under water, dust storms covering Australia, record drought in Nigeria, and the stuff no one cares about like glaciers disappearing and polar bears dying and holes in the ozone later. China is polluting themselves out of existence but won't stop unless America does first. But Americans showed their priorities when they voted Bush over Gore. And when their kneejerk reaction to high oil prices was to go drill more.

This brilliant book presents alarming facts and fills them with impeccable arguments. Everyone should read this book. And the best reason to do so: green isn't just good for the planet, it's good for the economy. Our two biggest problems solved in one stroke.

Problem is, the only people who will read this book are those already convinced. Or maybe not. Here's hoping.

We're screwed

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A book that should be read or listened to by everyone. As usual Friedman does a comprehensive and thorough examination of the world's energy and global warming crisis and has profound recommendations to provide us. His book is a bit long and he tends to be very repetitive. The narration was not good, a very slow and ponderous speaker. I kept saying to my IPOD, "SPEED IT UP"!

Thought provoking

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