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12th out of 211 books
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191 voters
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Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things
"Reduce, reuse, recycle," urge environmentalists; in other words, do more with less in order to minimize damage. But as architect William McDonough and chemist Michael Braungart point out in this provocative, visionary book, such an approach only perpetuates the one-way, "cradle to grave" manufacturing model, dating to the Industrial Revolution, that cr...more
Paperback, 193 pages
Published
April 22nd 2002
by North Point Press
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Three stars doesn't quite do justice to this book. Its ideas merit five stars, but the text sags a bit and tends to repeat itself a lot, thereby losing some power.
What the text lacks in eloquence, however, it makes up for in tactility. I couldn't stop petting this book. Its "synthetic paper" pages felt so resilient and smooth and sleek. The authors chose to make a recyclable, "treeless" book from from plastic resins and inorganic fillers. It is waterproof and w...more
What the text lacks in eloquence, however, it makes up for in tactility. I couldn't stop petting this book. Its "synthetic paper" pages felt so resilient and smooth and sleek. The authors chose to make a recyclable, "treeless" book from from plastic resins and inorganic fillers. It is waterproof and w...more
The central issue in this book is the notion that we can manufacture products and infrastructure that are really, actually good for the environment instead of simply being "less bad".
Here's an example of what on Earth that could possibly mean. In making paper, you have two options. (1) You can cut down a tree to make clean, high-quality paper, but on a large scale this involves massive deforestation and the annihilation of ecosystems. (2) You can recycle old paper. Howe...more
Here's an example of what on Earth that could possibly mean. In making paper, you have two options. (1) You can cut down a tree to make clean, high-quality paper, but on a large scale this involves massive deforestation and the annihilation of ecosystems. (2) You can recycle old paper. Howe...more
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Cradle to Cradle is a essentially book of questions, and a calling for people to not only re-think the way we make things, but to re-think the way we perceive ourselves as pitted against the natural world, rather than working with the natural world. The age old paradigm of conquering nature and bend (or in many cases break it) to fit our needs is outmoded,short-sighted, and, in fact, harmful not only to humans but the entire natural system.
The concept of Cradle to Cradle replaces th...more
The concept of Cradle to Cradle replaces th...more
The authors tell an encouraging and interesting story about our approach to product development and use today. One where the product 'lifecycle' is from 'cradle' to 'grave' - a product is made and when it dies it goes 'away.' They give lots of good examples of a) why that is a bad thing and b) how we can do it better by opting for a cradle to cradle mentality.
What I liked most about this book was how they peeled apart the subtle metaphors that strongly affect our outlook today for pr...more
What I liked most about this book was how they peeled apart the subtle metaphors that strongly affect our outlook today for pr...more
Everyone on the planet should read this book. The authors, one a chemist, and the other an architect, have thought more deeply about what "green" truly means (in terms of the environment) than anybody else. What they say will surprise you. They are not big fans of recycling, for example, because most things that are recycled were not designed for same, and it takes a lot of energy to cycle them 'down' to a lower use (like recycling paper). Instead, they argue for designing products...more
A very interesting book that ought to be required reading for anyone at least marginally interested in the environmental catastrophe we humans seem poised to create.
The authors' vision for a future of abundance challenges the long-established paradigm of environmentalist thought, conservation. They argue that the focus on conservation and efficiency is misguided, because under that paradigm we are still using damaging techonologies, only less of them. Instead we should be striving ...more
The authors' vision for a future of abundance challenges the long-established paradigm of environmentalist thought, conservation. They argue that the focus on conservation and efficiency is misguided, because under that paradigm we are still using damaging techonologies, only less of them. Instead we should be striving ...more
Sweet and sour on this book:
Sweet:
-- Is a nice philosophic groundwork for re-thinking our relationship to the earth, to manufacturing, to design. Broad and all-encompassing.
-- Some potent ideas about how processes and materials work can or don't work in an ecologically sensible way. Tying things back to simple logic is a consistent method that is effective here.
-- printed on synthetic paper, a wonderful demonstration of the book's argument
...more
Sweet:
-- Is a nice philosophic groundwork for re-thinking our relationship to the earth, to manufacturing, to design. Broad and all-encompassing.
-- Some potent ideas about how processes and materials work can or don't work in an ecologically sensible way. Tying things back to simple logic is a consistent method that is effective here.
-- printed on synthetic paper, a wonderful demonstration of the book's argument
...more
McDonough and Braungart demonstrate that design may be the key element in a (un)sustainable product's lifecycle. They show that products can be designed that are fully "bio-integratable" (including natural breakdown and absorption processes), where all the parts are fully reusable and that beautiful, functional and affordable, too.
They stress a triple win philosophy: Cradle to Cradle (cycle) success means ecological harmony, social equity and economic profitability. All pro...more
They stress a triple win philosophy: Cradle to Cradle (cycle) success means ecological harmony, social equity and economic profitability. All pro...more
It was not the easiest read; I probably waded through more than half. The ideas of designing production and products so that there is minimal or no waste, and multiple processes can benefit from each other is certainly elegant and timely. We have spent way too long squandering resources by using whatever portion we need in the moment without much regard to waste and pollution.
Revolutionary and a long ways off from being implemented, but necessary seeds of thought to plant for our...more
Revolutionary and a long ways off from being implemented, but necessary seeds of thought to plant for our...more
I give it a 5 for the concept, a bit less for way he sells it. The message here is that strategies like recycling, consuming less and so on just mean we destroy ourselves and our world more slowly. In fact he calls them insidious because they mask the problem and prevent us from taking the bold steps that are really needed: reinventing products so they are actually beneficial to make and use, and can be "fed" back into future biological or technological production processes indefinit...more
Pretty much as advertised -- a screed (in a good way) against the normal cradle-to-grave paradigm of consumerism and short-sighted product design. For instance: Isn't it funny that in, say, apple juice boxes, the product inside has a shorter shelf life than the packaging? Why would the packaging be more durable than its product? Wouldn't it be cool if packaging was designed to be tossed into your yard, decompose in weeks, and maybe even contain a wildflower seed that would germinate?
...more
...more
Cradle to Cradle was a very logical book. When I first picked up the book I realized that it wasn’t like any other books, it was a whole lot heavier than the normal paper back or hard cover book. This book is re-innovating the way we look at books, it is designed out of a synthetic plastic, and has multiple purposes. One of those purposes being its ink can be washed off and reused as a different book; The other being that it has a seed implanted into it so that you can toss it and it will litera...more
It's immediately obvious this book is a little different, and not just in the content. The book is very heavy for it's size, and the pages have a texture more like plastic than paper. The reason for this is that the book IS different. It's not made out of paper, rather the synthetic pages are made of plastic resins and inorganic fillers. This gives the book a number of advantages over conventionally produced books, including making it water proof. (but I won't go tossing it in the tub)
But that's...more
But that's...more
Amazing, amazing read. I definitely recommend this to everyone.
McDonough and Braungart present a simple, cogent perspective on how human creativity and ingenuity is often limited by imagination as we pursue sustainable development / design. The offer the compelling argument that innovation need not only minimize the problems in existing designs, but can achieve the higher goals creating new solutions to problems unseen. Rather than rebuild the tool, why not change the entire infrastructure?
I ...more
McDonough and Braungart present a simple, cogent perspective on how human creativity and ingenuity is often limited by imagination as we pursue sustainable development / design. The offer the compelling argument that innovation need not only minimize the problems in existing designs, but can achieve the higher goals creating new solutions to problems unseen. Rather than rebuild the tool, why not change the entire infrastructure?
I ...more
A great topic, but not the best presentation. Other books may cover this topic better (such as Slow Death By Rubber Duck maybe).
A lot of important information in here. Even recycled materials can create hazardous dust (phthalates) with normal use. The authors have a very clear concept of how to create products that can be broken down into restructurable components, but the key is in being able to easily separate manufactured and natural ingredients. There are some great examples of...more
A lot of important information in here. Even recycled materials can create hazardous dust (phthalates) with normal use. The authors have a very clear concept of how to create products that can be broken down into restructurable components, but the key is in being able to easily separate manufactured and natural ingredients. There are some great examples of...more
One of Cambridge Sustainability's Top 50 Books for Sustainability, as voted for by our alumni network of over 3,000 senior leaders from around the world. To find out more, click here.
Cradle to Cradle begins where eco-efficiency ends. Eco-efficiency, according to McDonough and Braungart, is just about making a bad system a little less bad. Eco-effectiveness, on the other hand, is about redesigning products and services to make them good - bigger and better in a way that replenishes, r...more
Cradle to Cradle begins where eco-efficiency ends. Eco-efficiency, according to McDonough and Braungart, is just about making a bad system a little less bad. Eco-effectiveness, on the other hand, is about redesigning products and services to make them good - bigger and better in a way that replenishes, r...more
I actually really enjoyed this book. I was a bit sceptical at first (given the choice of the author's to intiallly publish on a plastic book) but thought they made interesting points, which were not rocket science, but are notably "different".
Basically the premise is a re-evaluation of what we consider waste. It encourages a life-cycle analysis of products, promoting the idea that manufacturers are also responsible, not only for the reduction of their own waste but the remo...more
Basically the premise is a re-evaluation of what we consider waste. It encourages a life-cycle analysis of products, promoting the idea that manufacturers are also responsible, not only for the reduction of their own waste but the remo...more
There are some very important concepts within the plastic pages of this book. The authors are really on to something here, which they are very well aware of, which makes this an occasionally annoying read, which I wanted to ignore, which was made harder because of the self-conscious writing, which aimed to downplay the grandeur of their great idea, and so on...
Nonetheless, despite the effeminacy, what is espoused in this text is thought provoking and a valuable contribution to the solu...more
Nonetheless, despite the effeminacy, what is espoused in this text is thought provoking and a valuable contribution to the solu...more
There are a lot of intriguing ideas in this book, but it lacks comprehensive recommendation for how to get to the books desired goal of products and buildings and other made things that that won't poison you or your children. The authors have a large amount of expertise in their area, and an inspirational book with a half-dozen examples might convert other designers to their cause but not give them the ability to implement the ideas. But it is clear that those that do have the knowledge will h...more
Well presented and inspiring. I definitely would recommend this book. I couldn't put it down, and finished it in about a day and a half. The book itself talks about remaking the way we make everyday things, to make them truly environmentally friendly, etc, and for once the book itself isn't hypocritical by nature... it actually FEELS different; it's heavier, waterproof, and durable. Content-wise the two authors (an architect and a chemist) give a refreshingly open minded, "out of the box"...more
Amazing book. Here are some key points that I found interesting:
- Before the Industrial Revolution, there was no such thing as waste.
- Universal design solutions are not as good as diverse, place-specific ones.
- Everyday products are often toxic.
- Instead of trying to be "less bad," environmentalists should try to be only good.
- Growth doesn't have to have negative consequences.
- The majority of products are designed with only one life cycle i...more
- Before the Industrial Revolution, there was no such thing as waste.
- Universal design solutions are not as good as diverse, place-specific ones.
- Everyday products are often toxic.
- Instead of trying to be "less bad," environmentalists should try to be only good.
- Growth doesn't have to have negative consequences.
- The majority of products are designed with only one life cycle i...more
Pie-in-the sky book on sustainability- good read and presents important concepts, but the authors are completely uncritical of their case studies and present a flimsy roadmap of how to make their vision a reality.
To concept of cradle-to-cradle certainly is appealing, but the author's own attempt to implement this concept through the very unique construction of the book is unconvincing. Sure, this book can be probably be truly recycled or even "up-cycled", but if I were to ...more
To concept of cradle-to-cradle certainly is appealing, but the author's own attempt to implement this concept through the very unique construction of the book is unconvincing. Sure, this book can be probably be truly recycled or even "up-cycled", but if I were to ...more
“Cradle to Cradle” reads quickly, and is worthwhile if you’re interested in environmental design because it presents an essentially optimistic message: environmental problems can be reduced to (soluble) design problems. The authors, Bill McDonough and Michael Braungart, invoke a change in design paradigm centered on one aphorism—“waste is food.” The authors contrast natural systems, which evolved to continually cycle limiting nutrients, to our industrial system, which creates products without re...more
I read this book after picking it up at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. There was a display on sustainable manufacturing. It was quite interesting. This book is quite interesting as well. The authors McDonough & Braungart are working to change the way things are manufactured. Working to have companies focus on sustainable processes. On processes that eliminate hazardous by-products. They have several success stories, and through their work some manufacturing processes actually ...more
I guess this is as good of an environmental design book as you can get if you are working within the model of capitalism. I dislike the authors' disregard for government regulation, because ideas are great but money and laws are what make companies change. Putting a green roof on an automobile manufacturer is certainly better than no green roof, but without questioning the consumer system that creates millions of cars each year, the environment isn't seeing much of a net benefit.
Tech...more
Tech...more
Katrina
rated it
Recommends it for:
Concerned Citizens and Everyone Else
Shelves:
adult,
non-fiction
Three stars doesn't quite do justice to this book. Its ideas merit five stars, but the text sags a bit and tends to repeat itself a lot, thereby losing some power.
What the text lacks in eloquence, however, it makes up for in tactility. I couldn't stop petting this book. Its "synthetic paper" pages felt so resilient and smooth and sleek. The authors chose to make a recyclable, "treeless" book from from plastic resins and inorganic fillers. It is waterproof and...more
What the text lacks in eloquence, however, it makes up for in tactility. I couldn't stop petting this book. Its "synthetic paper" pages felt so resilient and smooth and sleek. The authors chose to make a recyclable, "treeless" book from from plastic resins and inorganic fillers. It is waterproof and...more
Eco-Partisan
Sadly, environmentalism seemingly exists only in the far reaches of the liberal spectrum. As an increasingly volatile political debate, these ideas are a source of contention for countries, counties, cities, and families.
Some might say, “Al Gore thinks the world is going to end? I disagree with him politically so he must be wrong.” Others contend, “Why do conservatives fight science? We are empirically ruining our world and they just dismiss these arguments as if ...more
Sadly, environmentalism seemingly exists only in the far reaches of the liberal spectrum. As an increasingly volatile political debate, these ideas are a source of contention for countries, counties, cities, and families.
Some might say, “Al Gore thinks the world is going to end? I disagree with him politically so he must be wrong.” Others contend, “Why do conservatives fight science? We are empirically ruining our world and they just dismiss these arguments as if ...more
Eventually, everything that humans manufacture should be able to be safely and effectively recycled, or be biodegradable. Sounds great.
There were a few theoretical points in the book that I strongly disagreed with, however. The authors write that a waste-less manufacturing system can be achieved by imitating nature, since nature produces nothing that isn't usefully consumed by something else. True, but the authors' views about the mechanics of nature are oversimplified and romanti...more
There were a few theoretical points in the book that I strongly disagreed with, however. The authors write that a waste-less manufacturing system can be achieved by imitating nature, since nature produces nothing that isn't usefully consumed by something else. True, but the authors' views about the mechanics of nature are oversimplified and romanti...more
Featuring the viewpoints of an architect and a chemist, this book strives to convince the reader than traditional recycling shouldn’t be acceptable, and in many cases creates what the authors coin a “monstrous hybrid”...something that is now even less likely to degrade back into the environment in a non-damaging way.
While I feel that they are a bit starry eyed at times with their goals, the book is truly fascinating. It features some interesting tips on green architecture and general s...more
While I feel that they are a bit starry eyed at times with their goals, the book is truly fascinating. It features some interesting tips on green architecture and general s...more
Brilliant ideas, but not much else. I read a blurb that describes this book as a "manifesto." Probably a good word for it. It introduces some very cool concepts that should absolutely be taken seriously, but then doesn't present them in the way that a serious scientific book would do. I feel like the authors could have done a lot more with what they were trying to say, and found "Cradle to Cradle" a bit unsatisfying on the whole.
The basic idea is that human societ...more
The basic idea is that human societ...more
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