- Hardcover: 273 pages
- Publisher: Susta Press (21 Feb 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0955736900
- ISBN-13: 978-0955736902
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 22 x 2.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,078,835 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
Adapt and Thrive: The Sustainable Revolution
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
McManners offers a unique combination of expertise. Trained as a military engineer and geographer, he is also a longtime expert on business information systems and environmental management. The combination gives McManners a comprehensive, multifaceted take on the science of climate change and on the policies needed to empower people to chart a new course. Many authors call for sweeping change without enumerating how we ll get there, but McManners walks a deft balance between macro-level policy shifts and individual everyday actions. Naturally, the discussion largely surrounds the world s addiction to fossil fuels and the array of energy sources available. The author calls for a host of taxes and other mechanisms to begin the shift, but also delves into the relationships between different international and environmental trade agreements, including how globalization and free-trade zones have made environmental regulation a moving target. Ultimately, Adapt and Thrive reads like a breezy textbook, with both well-researched historical and topical details; yet it also is driven by one man s passion to bring about change. --Brian Libby, Sustainable Industries magazine
'...government and business who are currently unable to see beyond the current political term/share prices will oppose this book, but in twenty years they will be quoting it as the Bible for Survival.' --Etelä-Suomen Sanomat, Finland
'Few writers have the cross discipline perspective to bring such a wide range of issues together.' --That s Green: green and environmental news from around the world
'...government and business who are currently unable to see beyond the current political term/share prices will oppose this book, but in twenty years they will be quoting it as the Bible for Survival.' --Etelä-Suomen Sanomat, Finland
'Few writers have the cross discipline perspective to bring such a wide range of issues together.' --That s Green: green and environmental news from around the world
Product Description
Adapt and Thrive: The Sustainable Revolution, the controversial book from Peter McManners is a radical green book that predicts across society huge change, which he terms the Sustainable Revolution. He argues that we must reconcile our economic aspirations with the growing imperative to protect the Earth from further damage. This book shows how. The recommendations are realistic and hard-edged, as well as inspiring. One surprise, in a book that makes such a strong case for a sustainable society, is that business can be the force driving the pace of change.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I would highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to understand the sustainability agenda and see a glimpse of an alternative future that could lead to a sustainable planet Earth. Peter McManners is very passionate and articulate in his well thought out call for a more sustainable future. He has a gift for seeing the future impact of our current actions and developing vivid alternate visions of the future that few would dare consider today. But I think the real value to the reader will come for its informative, thought provoking, and pragmatic approach.
This book provides the reader with an informative survey of on the issues that need to be addressed if we want to reduce carbon emissions and live in a sustainable manner. He provides well thought out surveys of the potential for the full range of alternative energies, and looks at issues such as water shortages, agricultural, transportation, waste, and the needed changes to government policies, business, and our lifestyle.
It is thought provoking in that he is not afraid to take controversial positions that will achieve the sustainable future he so passionately believes in. Whether you are far left or right wing, for or against globalisation, for or against business and free trade, your thinking will be challenged, because Peter does not take sides, but focuses on the ideas that he believes have the best chance of securing long-term sustainability for the planet. The chapter on Healthy, Cohesive Urban Communities is particularly innovative in its call for local chequerboard communities, such as he has seen in Finland, where property rights are shared, roads buried underground to free up more living space, people are healthier and safer through more exercise and community spirit, and there is very little need for cars at all.
This last example also shows the pragmatic nature of his approach of creating a sustainable society. He uses examples he sees as best practice already available today in places such as Finland, where he wrote this book, or experimental communities that already use much more fuel efficient designs and energy sources. His design challenges are also eminently sensible, and show his engineering background, such as a call for a fuel efficient, slow, large air transport that makes use of solar power and helium.
This book provides the reader with an informative survey of on the issues that need to be addressed if we want to reduce carbon emissions and live in a sustainable manner. He provides well thought out surveys of the potential for the full range of alternative energies, and looks at issues such as water shortages, agricultural, transportation, waste, and the needed changes to government policies, business, and our lifestyle.
It is thought provoking in that he is not afraid to take controversial positions that will achieve the sustainable future he so passionately believes in. Whether you are far left or right wing, for or against globalisation, for or against business and free trade, your thinking will be challenged, because Peter does not take sides, but focuses on the ideas that he believes have the best chance of securing long-term sustainability for the planet. The chapter on Healthy, Cohesive Urban Communities is particularly innovative in its call for local chequerboard communities, such as he has seen in Finland, where property rights are shared, roads buried underground to free up more living space, people are healthier and safer through more exercise and community spirit, and there is very little need for cars at all.
This last example also shows the pragmatic nature of his approach of creating a sustainable society. He uses examples he sees as best practice already available today in places such as Finland, where he wrote this book, or experimental communities that already use much more fuel efficient designs and energy sources. His design challenges are also eminently sensible, and show his engineering background, such as a call for a fuel efficient, slow, large air transport that makes use of solar power and helium.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Information on the environment tends to appear in the media in a piecemeal form. Policy suggestions arise in reaction to partial information, only to be shot down by people looking at the issues from a different angle. Businesses struggle to understand what the future will look like, and are unable to invest in radical solutions. The net result is precious little progress on tackling environmental issues which we all know to be urgent.
This book has two purposes in my view:
1. It provides an inventory of issues (technical issues, transport and town planning, tax incentives, lifestyle issues, etc) to inform those who may only be aware of one or two areas.
2. It paints a broad picture of what a sustainable future will look like, and the logic that will drive it, providing much needed context to decision makers.
The key thing that distinguishes this book is that it is both realistic and positive. It shows that, with some fairly radical adjustments, we can both save the planet and enjoy a better quality of life.
Having had a long-standing interest in these issues, I was already aware of much of the information in the book, but nonetheless found it thought-provoking. For example, the author's take on the globalisation/localisation debate was interesting, and the view of re-use and recycling (an environmentally-neutral recycling loop for artificial materials to run alongside the composting of bio-degradables) was not something I had come across before.
All-in-all a useful and inspiring book for any reader.
This book has two purposes in my view:
1. It provides an inventory of issues (technical issues, transport and town planning, tax incentives, lifestyle issues, etc) to inform those who may only be aware of one or two areas.
2. It paints a broad picture of what a sustainable future will look like, and the logic that will drive it, providing much needed context to decision makers.
The key thing that distinguishes this book is that it is both realistic and positive. It shows that, with some fairly radical adjustments, we can both save the planet and enjoy a better quality of life.
Having had a long-standing interest in these issues, I was already aware of much of the information in the book, but nonetheless found it thought-provoking. For example, the author's take on the globalisation/localisation debate was interesting, and the view of re-use and recycling (an environmentally-neutral recycling loop for artificial materials to run alongside the composting of bio-degradables) was not something I had come across before.
All-in-all a useful and inspiring book for any reader.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I think someone should make all our political and business leaders read this book . The author has the guts to suggest realistic solutions as to how we just might be able to get ourselves out of the whole ghastly "global-warming-we're-all-doomed" mess. And what is surprising is that he's putting it from a business perspective, ie business can lead the way. The solutions Peter McManners suggests won't be easy - he says we can't avoid some real hardship. But for the first time with any of these endless `global armageddon' books I get a real sense that this time someone is suggesting things that might possibly work.
I reckon this might be because of his background, as a Paratrooper and also as an engineer and map maker. It sounds as if he's got enough practical experience to really make things work. Or at any rate he certainly sounds like the sort of person I'd like on my side in a crisis!
I reckon this might be because of his background, as a Paratrooper and also as an engineer and map maker. It sounds as if he's got enough practical experience to really make things work. Or at any rate he certainly sounds like the sort of person I'd like on my side in a crisis!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
I'm hooked
Written by someone with a number of areas of expertise means that this book contains a lot of perspective, unlike many "We are all going to die" and "It's all ____'s fault" style... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Josie Thornewill
I loved this book
I think everyone with an interest in saving our planet should read this book. The author doesn't try to hide how critical the situation is, but doesn't then just go and predict... Read more
Published on 27 Feb 2008 by S. Phillips
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