Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A story worth telling but..., 13 Feb 2009
This appears to be an honest appraisal of both sides of the ecoligical argument but by painting with a broad brush he skips too lightly over some serious points. Having said that this could serve as a useful introduction to the subject and may lead you to read some of the alternative views put over by many other authors name checked and sourced in here.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
an eminently readable book investigating the various claims and counter claims, 6 July 2009
Brian Clegg, who has a background in natural sciences and experimental physics, has written an eminently readable book investigating the various claims and counter claims about green and environmentally sustainable business practices. He looks at the logic of green and sustainable practices, while trying to remove the often emotive (greenwashing) element in popular debate about environmental management, such as the assertion that "natural is always better than chemical". Clegg is not a climate-change skeptic, but does suggest that significant `greenwashing' takes place. He states the practice may not only reinforce false and misleading claims, but may also lead to further environmental damage. Clegg highlights examples of "greenwashing" in the carbon pollution debate, the fair-trade movement, organic farming and international travel and transport. He concludes with an interesting take on the green debate, in which he proposes a strategy called "Going McGreen". He suggests following certain practices established by business systems as followed by McDonald's. He argues that such an approach may provide useful economic and business practices that are market-based and deliberately factor in consumers' sensitivities to price and choice. Recognising price sensitivities of both business and consumers, Clegg suggests, is an important consideration for better design and management of environmental practices.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not really sure what to make of this book, 26 Mar 2010
I borrowed this book from the library, but, although I enjoyed it to some extent, I am not sure whether I found it useful or not, or whether I discovered anything that I did not already know. The basis of the book is do not believe everything you read - an old adage, and surely not something to base an entire book on. The author uses some good examples to show how surveys, 'scientific data' and everyday media reporting cannot be taken at face value - look to see if there is a hidden agenda and who is paying for the research. There are some good points to the book, it is easy to read, and does not contain anything that requires any previous environmental or scientific knowledge to understand. It does have an introduction to a topic before launching a critique of the media coverage, and the author does appear to be fairly objective about the topics covered - and there is a huge raft of topics covered in the book. The thing that stops me giving it four stars is that to me, everything is fairly obvious, but, I do read a lot of information about environmental issues. However, if you are feeling a little overwhelmed by the arguments and counter arguments that are in the media these days about issues from global warming to organic farming and alternative energy sources then this is probably a good place to start to get a balanced view (at the very least borrow it from your library).
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|