The Third Industrial Revolution
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle .
Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Trade In this Item for up to £3.75
Get an extra £5 when you trade in books worth £10 or more until June 30, 2012. Trade in The Third Industrial Revolution: How Lateral Power is Transforming Energy, the Economy, and the World for an Amazon.co.uk gift card of up to £3.75, which you can then spend on millions of items across the site. Trade-in values may vary (terms apply). Find more products eligible for trade-in.
|
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
More About the Author
Product Description
Review
'Though you might not buy into Rifkin's vision or dismiss it as wishful thinking, he presents enough compelling nuggets in his vision of a greener future to make for a very worthwhile read.' - The Architects' Journal
'With the European Union already on board, this is a big idea with backbone.' - Nature
'As so much is going on around the world, it is time for a thinker like Rifkin to rise again. Rifkin is a master at that game, connecting the essential drivers of change. He has always been a creative thinker: on this occasion he doesn't reinvent the wheel or renewable energies or the Internet. His ability is to look through all the changes and innovations and see how they will interact and possibly change the world we live in.' - The Global Journal
'Impeccably argued…a compelling and cogent argument to overhaul our society and economy in favor of a distributed and collaborative model.' - Publishers Weekly
'Rifkin connects the two defining technologies of the 21st Century — the Internet and renewable energies — giving us a powerful new economic vision for the future. As we look to regrow the economy, generate millions of jobs, and create a sustainable future for our children, the Third Industrial Revolution offers an indispensable roadmap.' - Arianna Huffington - President and Editor-in-Chief of The Huffington Post Media Group
'Mr. Rifkin clearly outlines the challenges facing our global community, and creates a vision for business leaders, government and citizens.' - John Chambers - Chairman and CEO of Cisco
'The creative thinking of Jeremy Rifkin has been inspiring policy makers and citizens alike. This book shows the key role renewables and modern technologies can play in our transition to a low-carbon economy.' - José Manuel Barroso - President of the European Commission
'This is a remarkable piece of work from one of the foremost thinkers of our time…Rifkin has come up with a visionary and innovative economic development model that ensures the sustainability of our natural resources and ecosystems.' - Rajendra Pachauri - Chairman of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
'A brilliant new economic paradigm to guide the human journey in the 21st century. Jeremy Rifkin's comprehensive Third Industrial Revolution vision, which is the centerpiece of Rome's long-term economic development plan, provides a blueprint for every city in the world to create a sustainable and prosperous society.' - Gianni Alemanno - Mayor of Rome
'More than thought provoking… a call for action to policy makers and business leaders to embrace the opportunity of a society and economy driven by sustainable innovation and powered by renewable and distributed energy.' - Rudy Provoost - CEO of Philips Lighting
'With the European Union already on board, this is a big idea with backbone.' - Nature
'As so much is going on around the world, it is time for a thinker like Rifkin to rise again. Rifkin is a master at that game, connecting the essential drivers of change. He has always been a creative thinker: on this occasion he doesn't reinvent the wheel or renewable energies or the Internet. His ability is to look through all the changes and innovations and see how they will interact and possibly change the world we live in.' - The Global Journal
'Impeccably argued…a compelling and cogent argument to overhaul our society and economy in favor of a distributed and collaborative model.' - Publishers Weekly
'Rifkin connects the two defining technologies of the 21st Century — the Internet and renewable energies — giving us a powerful new economic vision for the future. As we look to regrow the economy, generate millions of jobs, and create a sustainable future for our children, the Third Industrial Revolution offers an indispensable roadmap.' - Arianna Huffington - President and Editor-in-Chief of The Huffington Post Media Group
'Mr. Rifkin clearly outlines the challenges facing our global community, and creates a vision for business leaders, government and citizens.' - John Chambers - Chairman and CEO of Cisco
'The creative thinking of Jeremy Rifkin has been inspiring policy makers and citizens alike. This book shows the key role renewables and modern technologies can play in our transition to a low-carbon economy.' - José Manuel Barroso - President of the European Commission
'This is a remarkable piece of work from one of the foremost thinkers of our time…Rifkin has come up with a visionary and innovative economic development model that ensures the sustainability of our natural resources and ecosystems.' - Rajendra Pachauri - Chairman of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
'A brilliant new economic paradigm to guide the human journey in the 21st century. Jeremy Rifkin's comprehensive Third Industrial Revolution vision, which is the centerpiece of Rome's long-term economic development plan, provides a blueprint for every city in the world to create a sustainable and prosperous society.' - Gianni Alemanno - Mayor of Rome
'More than thought provoking… a call for action to policy makers and business leaders to embrace the opportunity of a society and economy driven by sustainable innovation and powered by renewable and distributed energy.' - Rudy Provoost - CEO of Philips Lighting
Product Description
The Industrial Revolution, powered by oil and other fossil fuels, is spiraling into a dangerous endgame. The price of gas and food are climbing, unemployment remains high, the housing market has tanked, consumer and government debt is soaring, and the recovery is slowing. Facing the prospect of a second collapse of the global economy, humanity is desperate for a sustainable economic game plan to take us into the future.
Here, Jeremy Rifkin explores how Internet technology and renewable energy are merging to create a powerful 'Third Industrial Revolution.' He asks us to imagine hundreds of millions of people producing their own green energy in their homes, offices, and factories, and sharing it with each other in an 'energy internet,' just like we now create and share information online.
Rifkin describes how the five-pillars of the Third Industrial Revolution will create thousands of businesses, millions of jobs, and usher in a fundamental reordering of human relationships, from hierarchical to lateral power, that will impact the way we conduct commerce, govern society, educate our children, and engage in civic life.
Rifkin's vision is already gaining traction in the international community. The European Union Parliament has issued a formal declaration calling for its implementation, and other nations in Asia, Africa, and the Americas, are quickly preparing their own initiatives for transitioning into the new economic paradigm.
The Third Industrial Revolution is an insider's account of the next great economic era, including a look into the personalities and players — heads of state, global CEOs, social entrepreneurs, and NGOs — who are pioneering its implementation around the world.
Here, Jeremy Rifkin explores how Internet technology and renewable energy are merging to create a powerful 'Third Industrial Revolution.' He asks us to imagine hundreds of millions of people producing their own green energy in their homes, offices, and factories, and sharing it with each other in an 'energy internet,' just like we now create and share information online.
Rifkin describes how the five-pillars of the Third Industrial Revolution will create thousands of businesses, millions of jobs, and usher in a fundamental reordering of human relationships, from hierarchical to lateral power, that will impact the way we conduct commerce, govern society, educate our children, and engage in civic life.
Rifkin's vision is already gaining traction in the international community. The European Union Parliament has issued a formal declaration calling for its implementation, and other nations in Asia, Africa, and the Americas, are quickly preparing their own initiatives for transitioning into the new economic paradigm.
The Third Industrial Revolution is an insider's account of the next great economic era, including a look into the personalities and players — heads of state, global CEOs, social entrepreneurs, and NGOs — who are pioneering its implementation around the world.
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Good
- Jeremy Rifkin has a very compelling vision for the future of the economy. I suspect he is correct in his view on our current problems and how to solve them
- Jeremy is tackling the big problems and coming up with big, integrated, solutions. Hardly anyone else is doing this.
Bad
- The book is far too long for the content. It should have been cut down to half the size. In fact I think the key facts could fit onto a about 5 pages.
- Jeremy is not the best writer, I found is anecdotes quite boring. The book was difficult to finish and I skim red the final chapters trying to pick out the important bits while ignoring the repetition and waffle.
- Jeremy doesn't back up his views with hard facts, or numbers, or much detail. This is frustrating, I wanted more depth.
Summary
- I recommend you read this book on the basis that it is getting to the heart of global problems and identifying a joined up solution - on that basis it is a must read, it's just a shame the book is not constructed better.
- Jeremy Rifkin has a very compelling vision for the future of the economy. I suspect he is correct in his view on our current problems and how to solve them
- Jeremy is tackling the big problems and coming up with big, integrated, solutions. Hardly anyone else is doing this.
Bad
- The book is far too long for the content. It should have been cut down to half the size. In fact I think the key facts could fit onto a about 5 pages.
- Jeremy is not the best writer, I found is anecdotes quite boring. The book was difficult to finish and I skim red the final chapters trying to pick out the important bits while ignoring the repetition and waffle.
- Jeremy doesn't back up his views with hard facts, or numbers, or much detail. This is frustrating, I wanted more depth.
Summary
- I recommend you read this book on the basis that it is getting to the heart of global problems and identifying a joined up solution - on that basis it is a must read, it's just a shame the book is not constructed better.
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have enjoyed this book immensely. It is quite confronting, but presents a number of positive messages and options for how the world might function better in the near future. The rationale is strong and sytematic, and outlines a vastly different looking world to what we know now. I will be recommending this book to my book club.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
30 reviews
85 of 94 people found the following review helpful
A Thought-Provoking Look at the Future
28 Sep 2011
Format:Hardcover
"The Third Industrial Revolution" offers a fascinating look at Jeremy Rifkin's views on the future of energy and the economy. Rifkin believes we are on the verge of a new industrial revolution that will transform the economy and society in a similar way to the major changes that occurred in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Rifkin's "third" industrial revolution is based on "five pillars:" (1) A general shift to renewable energy. (2) Micro-generation of clean energy in homes, offices and other buildings. (3) Hydrogen and other forms of energy storage in homes and throughout the economy (4) an "Internet-like" smart energy grid that would allow individuals to generate power and then distribute it, and (5) Conversion of transportation away from fossil fuels to electric plug-in or hydrogen fuel cells.
While the book contains a lot of insightful analysis, I think it gives short shrift to the problem of jobs. Technology and globalization are increasingly destroying well-paid opportunities for workers in developed countries. The book does discuss this, but only in the very last few pages. This is surprising because, of course, Rifkin wrote a book about this issue in the 1990s ("The End of Work"). Now, however, he seems to buy into the more conventional view that green jobs will solve the problem of unemployment.
I'm doubtful of that. Technologies like artificial intelligence and robotics are accelerating and will soon have a dramatic impact. Advancing technology will also make offshoring of high wage jobs a bigger and bigger problem in the West.
For a deeper treatment of this specific problem, I would suggest reading The Lights in the Tunnel: Automation, Accelerating Technology and the Economy of the Future.
"The Third Industrial Revolution" offers many good ideas, but I think it ultimately falls short of answering the question on many peoples' minds: How will average people in developed countries like the United States make an adequate living (and keep pace with the cost of living) while competing with both technology and globalization? That is a critical question because if households are focused on individual survival, it will be very difficult to amass political support for the energy and climate change policies Rifkin advocates. For a strong analysis of the jobs/income issue and some solutions, also read "The Lights in the Tunnel."
Rifkin's "third" industrial revolution is based on "five pillars:" (1) A general shift to renewable energy. (2) Micro-generation of clean energy in homes, offices and other buildings. (3) Hydrogen and other forms of energy storage in homes and throughout the economy (4) an "Internet-like" smart energy grid that would allow individuals to generate power and then distribute it, and (5) Conversion of transportation away from fossil fuels to electric plug-in or hydrogen fuel cells.
While the book contains a lot of insightful analysis, I think it gives short shrift to the problem of jobs. Technology and globalization are increasingly destroying well-paid opportunities for workers in developed countries. The book does discuss this, but only in the very last few pages. This is surprising because, of course, Rifkin wrote a book about this issue in the 1990s ("The End of Work"). Now, however, he seems to buy into the more conventional view that green jobs will solve the problem of unemployment.
I'm doubtful of that. Technologies like artificial intelligence and robotics are accelerating and will soon have a dramatic impact. Advancing technology will also make offshoring of high wage jobs a bigger and bigger problem in the West.
For a deeper treatment of this specific problem, I would suggest reading The Lights in the Tunnel: Automation, Accelerating Technology and the Economy of the Future.
"The Third Industrial Revolution" offers many good ideas, but I think it ultimately falls short of answering the question on many peoples' minds: How will average people in developed countries like the United States make an adequate living (and keep pace with the cost of living) while competing with both technology and globalization? That is a critical question because if households are focused on individual survival, it will be very difficult to amass political support for the energy and climate change policies Rifkin advocates. For a strong analysis of the jobs/income issue and some solutions, also read "The Lights in the Tunnel."
31 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Re Re Repeats itself to make it long enough
13 Nov 2011
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is good, but it's definitely verbose, as it repeats the same concepts over and over again. There is no doubt that the author is well versed in the subject matter, both in breadth and depth, but there is only so much one can espouse about the transformation of modern society from a fossil-fuel based economy to a renewable-energy based economy. Yes, Europe is way ahead of the United States in achieving the 5 factors that will successfully transform society into the Third Industrial Revolution - we get it. Oh, you want to make the point again? O.K. - got it. Again? Really? There is no need to study that concept ad-nauseum from every conceivable angle. For the layperson, this book is a little much. I think I put it down permanently about midway through... Wait a month and buy it used in order to save yourself some $$'s and thus form your own mini economic revolution.
34 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Great Vision
24 Oct 2011
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I heard an interview with him and was really inspired. So, I got this book. Well, the interview was Great. The book isn't. His vision and ideas are really compelling. I hope I see it all come to pass. However, I couldn't finish the book. It is mostly a chronicle of all the discussions that have happened with many governments. That's all a bit dull. It will make for good history when the TIR happens.
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Business, Finance & Law > Economics
- Books > Science & Nature > Engineering & Technology > Civil Engineering > Environmental
- Books > Science & Nature > Engineering & Technology > Electrical > Power Networks & Plants
- Books > Science & Nature > Engineering & Technology > Energy Technology > Alternative Energy
- Books > Scientific, Technical & Medical
- Books > Society, Politics & Philosophy > Government & Politics
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
