While some reviewers have characterized Thomas Friedman's Hot, Flat and Crowded as repetitive I would insist that Friedman is thorough. While looking at the climate change crisis Thomas Friedman outlines how America could become the leader of the world again by doing the things needed to stop putting excess carbon into the atmosphere. For too long our country has allowed the industries that pollute and cause climate warming to do whatever they want while ignoring the new clean power producers who could save us and the planet. Just one example of this is the very small amount of funds congress has allocated from alternate energy research. Oil and gas and nuclear have received billions in subsidies while wind and solar only got a few millions. In spite of that much of the solar technology that other countries such as German and China are implementing were invented in our labs with our tax money. Friedman also mentioned the many articles in the popular press about easy ways to save the earth. There are not 10 easy ways to save the earth the author says but if we as a nation get serous we can not only save our planet but become the leader of the world in every way again. I found this to be a very hopeful book. ( )

Not a quick read to take to the beach on a summer afternoon, but the topic and ideas presented are too important to ignore. People sometimes quickly dismiss books about environmental issues, assuming it will lead to the condemning of science, technology, and societal advances, instead proposing a regression toward a simpler 1800's style lifestyle. What makes the book different to me is that Friedman has researched and described solutions which exist, have been proven, make both environmental as well as economic sense. In 2008, the U.S. has faced significant downturns in the housing market, the stock market, banking, a continuing energy crisis, volatile and soaring gasoline prices, Detroit now stuck with 20th century vehicles no longer suitable for the 21st century, soaring budget deficits, and a do-nothing Congress locked in ideological finger pointing. Perhaps the culmination of all these problems arising at the same time is that the public will read this book and clamor for solutions. Hopefully, elected officials will also read this book, recognize the seriousness of these problems, think Nationally vs. Regionally, recognize the solutions which are available, and lead vs. react to crises in energy and environmental areas, and enact solutions similar to those offered in Friedman's book. ( )

Adult nonfiction. Friedman presents more evidence of a global crisis and reminds us again that the world is already in serious, serious trouble (I'm not looking forward to the world 50 years from now), and that we're gonna need a whole lot more than reusable tote bags to get out of it. In fact we'll need several MAJOR policy changes and we'll need to make some big sacrifices and changes in the way we live our lives. I don't always agree 100% with what he says, and actually skimmed through most of the book, but Friedman does provide valuable perspective on various issues, and I would recommend this one to anyone who's got the time. ( )

I agree with Friedman but I didn't like his presentation, which tended to be repetitive and oversimplified. ( )

I'm still reading this book, but I'm disappointed with his section on 'crowded'.

Friedman mentions (correctly) that there will be 9.6 billion people on the planet in 2053. What he fails to mention is that 9.6 is probably going to be the maximum population and that from then on will slowly decline to less than 9.6.

Not mentioning this makes it appear that the population will continue to grow for ever larger for those who aren't up on their demographics.

The book is also preaching to Americans, which I'm not - so the whole book comes off a little whiny to me. ( )