The bestselling author of Emotional Intelligence and Primal Leadership now brings us Ecological Intelligence—revealing t...
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reviews
Jul 07, 2011
Charleen
rated it: 
Want to learn how some sunscreens have chemicals that turn to carcinogens when exposed to the sun? Want to learn how your buying habits affect you, the environment and the rest of the world? Read, or listen to, this book.
This book or audio book is a great learning tool for anyone that wants to learn about the products we buy. The purpose of "Ecological Intelligence" is to educate the reader (or listener, in my case) about the things we use, are exposed to, buy and consume More...
This book or audio book is a great learning tool for anyone that wants to learn about the products we buy. The purpose of "Ecological Intelligence" is to educate the reader (or listener, in my case) about the things we use, are exposed to, buy and consume More...
Apr 22, 2011
David
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This book drives home one important idea: if the free market provided perfect information for consumers, purchasing decisions alone would change the behavior of companies to be more sustainable. The lack of information is indeed one of the major market failures that makes what some wish the call the "free" market far from it. Companies systematically hide the contents of their products, the processes by which they are made, the identity, age, and wage of those that do the producing, th
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Mar 25, 2011
Kristine
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If individual readers and businesses haven't heard previously about Life Cycle Assessment, radical transparency, and websites like Good Guides and Skin Deep, this book is worth a look.
Toxins accumulating in the environment and our bodies could be a depressing topic, but the author presents a hopeful message and a vision of how to move forward to improve things.
Some changes have, in fact, already begun using information technology and consumer power. More change More...
Toxins accumulating in the environment and our bodies could be a depressing topic, but the author presents a hopeful message and a vision of how to move forward to improve things.
Some changes have, in fact, already begun using information technology and consumer power. More change More...
Feb 21, 2011
Pierre
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I think the title is a good theme for the environmental movement as it transitions into the 21st Century. To try and sum up in a couple sentences: Goleman describes how, within the capitalist global economic institution we've essentially got in place today, a new value order known as "radical transparency" (i.e., mostly via "an informed consumer") will provide the essential piece to uncover the impacts of external costs and benefits on our ecological systems create sustaina
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Jun 08, 2010
Desiree
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I really enjoyed this one and had a hard time putting it down! Goleman writes about how "green" really isn't "green." We may think we are buying green, but he says that nothing made industrially can be utterly green, only relatively more so. He talks about how "freegans" are green, as they try never to buy anything new, try not to drive, etc. Not a way of life that most of us will live, especially when it comes to food.
Good Guide is evaluating a lot of More...
Good Guide is evaluating a lot of More...
Sep 24, 2010
getAbstract
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The insightful backstory on green products
The manufactured world has produced incredible variety, luxury and convenience, but at what cost to the environment and to human bodies? Emotional intelligence expert Daniel Goleman persuasively argues for “radical transparency” about environmental impact. He says that if people could see at a glance the harm that the products they buy wreak upon the earth and human health, they would make ecologically sounder choices. Goleman asserts that su More...
The manufactured world has produced incredible variety, luxury and convenience, but at what cost to the environment and to human bodies? Emotional intelligence expert Daniel Goleman persuasively argues for “radical transparency” about environmental impact. He says that if people could see at a glance the harm that the products they buy wreak upon the earth and human health, they would make ecologically sounder choices. Goleman asserts that su More...
Jul 26, 2010
Erin
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Goleman uses his impressive grasp of informational and social trends to argue for the role of radical transparency* as an environmental savior. While I learned from his descriptions of informational web programs like the Good Guide** and Earthster***, Ecological Intelligence comes off as more of a cheerleading routine than a critical analysis than.
Consider this quote from p. 246: "This informational fix hasbeen a missing piece in the free market system all along, one that holds More...
Consider this quote from p. 246: "This informational fix hasbeen a missing piece in the free market system all along, one that holds More...
Apr 06, 2011
Lee
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Honestly, after this, I feel ashamed of making ANY purchase (including local, organic vegetarian foods)! Believing I'm a conscientious shopper has apparently only been vanity on my part. No matter how much I keep my lights off, turn my heat down, take public transit, refrain from making frivolous purchases, and don't contribute to population growth, it's not enough. I feel discouraged by this book.
There is a lot of information contained in the book and it could be well used to fuel t More...
There is a lot of information contained in the book and it could be well used to fuel t More...
Jul 30, 2009
Muriel
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I became interested in this book after seeing the author interviewed on Bill Moyer's Journal on PBS. Then I got the book at the library and a sense of dread came over me when I saw "other books by Daniel Goleman Emotional Intelligence" (have no idea what that book is about but will look but that type of title leaves me cold". Anyway, not to worry, a great book and if you are interested in living a greener lifestyle a must read. This book explains how very complex the entire iss
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Apr 05, 2010
Willowwind
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Assumes you know the ecology. This book is focused on the idea that 'radical transparency' regrading the origins and production processes of the goods we buy would allow us to make market choices that would create more sustainable consumption. It shows some interesting examples of what market pressure can do when the public is informed. But we are far from the state of information Goleman considers necessary and would take a lot of activism in people demanding the information which many, if not
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Jul 08, 2010
Angela
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This book is a must-read for every consumer! The author talks about how we really don’t have a transparent marketplace – meaning that we really don’t know the labor force that goes into making our products and the true carbon cost of items since companies hide this information and we don’t do our best to look for it. If we did, we could make wiser decisions as consumers. Goleman talks about how this is changing and how to support the change.
One of the BEST things I learned in this bo More...
One of the BEST things I learned in this bo More...
Jan 13, 2012
Eddie
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I had heard of Goleman prior to reading this as a stickler for the facts with a high social IQ. This particular book was extremely interesting in that Golemans take on the notions and fads associated with the "green/organic" wave in tech, food, and fashion is critiqued through a totally contrarion paradigm. You can sense the bias in this book coming a mile away, but the 'unveiling' so to speak of the marketing of such an industry is definitely that of the quieter non-represented voices
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Jun 22, 2011
Mario
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Este libro es una buena manera de saber porqué estamos afectando al medio ambiente, incluso si reciclamos, apagamos las luces, evitamos el uso del coche, etc. Nos presenta el autor términos que, de no ser por él, pasarían inadvertidos en nuestra vida cotidiana; y es que debería ser tan importante el saber un Análisis del Ciclo de Vida de un producto como sus efectos nocivos directos hacia la salud y el medio ambiente. Nos enfocamos en lo que produce después de haberse usado, pero nunca nos pregu
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May 01, 2010
steffi
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Though I found this book hard to travel through, I felt the information he was passing onto me very useful.
The idea of Radical Transparency gave me another choice in how we might deal with companies and 'the greater good of people/earth' without being greenwashed.
I do wonder if his theory could work, and if certain processes already in place will be pure to the consumer.
I feel this book was marketed perhaps to the consumer, which seems like a small part in the More...
The idea of Radical Transparency gave me another choice in how we might deal with companies and 'the greater good of people/earth' without being greenwashed.
I do wonder if his theory could work, and if certain processes already in place will be pure to the consumer.
I feel this book was marketed perhaps to the consumer, which seems like a small part in the More...
Sep 14, 2009
Tyler
rated it:
I don't blame you if you roll your eyes at guy who titles all his books "... Intelligence," as Daniel Goleman does, (his other books include Emotional Intelligence and Social Intelligence) but this is a very worthwhile read.
His main "call to arms" is for people to start taking stock of the environmental impacts of the products they buy.
He notes a website called good guides, which rates the environmental impacts of household products.
There More...
His main "call to arms" is for people to start taking stock of the environmental impacts of the products they buy.
He notes a website called good guides, which rates the environmental impacts of household products.
There More...
Mar 28, 2010
kafka4prez
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I share Daniel Goleman's goal of "radical transparency", which I call "deprivacy", that trend--voluntary or otherwise--toward increased transparency through the use of information technology. Businesses and individuals, governments and non-profits, will increasingly ask themselves the extent to which they are revealing information, whether the flow can be stopped, and whether their competitive advantage is tied to increasing the flow or lessening the stream.
Golem More...
Golem More...
Jun 10, 2009
Kevin
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Probably the most valuable lesson I learned from reading Ecological Intelligence is just how important it is for us, the consumers to close "The Information Gap" We can't rely on the government to pass laws or expect business to voluntarily change their ways while sacrificing profits. It's up to the consumer to learn which companies are acting responsibly and which are not. And then the answer is clear; support the ones acting responsibly and boycott the ones hurting the environment.
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Nov 28, 2010
Danette
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The title includes, "..How knowing the hidden impacts of what we buy can change everything." So when I picked up the book I was expecting it to tell me a plastic water bottle is better than the aluminum water bottle. But, that's not true, it turns out to be a very fuzzy line. The plastic may use less energy to create and use many toxic chemicals to produce but the aluminum could be recycled at the end of its use but the energy used to make it is so very high, is it worth it? He exp
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Apr 06, 2011
Lucy
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So after 'reading' this book for about a year, today I finally finished it.
I picked up this book for a song in the 'closing down' sale of Borders. It sounded right up my alley. I've started it about 14 times and never made it past chapter 7, but today I decided to devote my plane journey to it and I'm glad to say its finally finished.
The premise is simple, we consume too much, we consume wastefully and we consume irrationally. The book doesn't really cover the first point but More...
I picked up this book for a song in the 'closing down' sale of Borders. It sounded right up my alley. I've started it about 14 times and never made it past chapter 7, but today I decided to devote my plane journey to it and I'm glad to say its finally finished.
The premise is simple, we consume too much, we consume wastefully and we consume irrationally. The book doesn't really cover the first point but More...
Apr 29, 2010
Bradley
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Nov 24, 2011
Chris
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Goleman shares his view of the impact of radical transparency in retailing. He discusses Life Cycle Assessment, developing products for consumers that go beyond a profitable impact for the company, and consumers knowledge of product development that begins to change purchase behaviors. While I knew some of the points addressed in the book, Goleman provides a good analysis/overview of the current ecological impact of industry and what options consumers have to minimize their ecological impact.
Aug 03, 2011
Todd
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Not as much psychology as I expected, but a good book on industrial ecology. Actually more hopeful than similar books, with more of a focus on solutions. Goleman envisions a near future of radical transparency in the products we buy where we can make choices based on the total ecological impact of a product including shipping, manufacturing, and eventual disposal. We would judge this impact based on geological, biological, and social factors.
May 03, 2010
Sarah
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Carbon footprint is just one of many factors in the "goodness" of a product. It's incredibly complex, but people are trying to figure out how to measure ecological, social, and other factors that go into the products we buy.
GoodGuide and SkinDeep are two real sites making a first attempt at what Goleman calls "radical transparency" - putting the data at the consumer's fingertips to facilitate everyone doing their little bit that will add up.
GoodGuide and SkinDeep are two real sites making a first attempt at what Goleman calls "radical transparency" - putting the data at the consumer's fingertips to facilitate everyone doing their little bit that will add up.
Jul 03, 2009
Stefanie
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I slogged through this so you don't have to! The message is that although it is very difficult to calculate a product's precise environmental impact (because there are so many variables in ingredients, manufacturing, delivery, etc.), some organizations are coming up with metrics, and it is helpful to use them, even if they are, at present, imperfect. Check out, for example, GoodGuide.com and www.cosmeticsdatabase.com. You're welcome.
Feb 11, 2011
AJ
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1.5 stars
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I would like this book more if it didn't talk about how awesome some giant multinational corporations are by making tiny incremental changes in some small ways that might help the environment. Just because P&G makes "Cold Water Tide" doesn't mean they don't still screw over the environment in many drastic ways. While I agree that consumer transparency is going to help drive more environmentally friendly purchases, multinationals are going to be the first to lobby More...
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I would like this book more if it didn't talk about how awesome some giant multinational corporations are by making tiny incremental changes in some small ways that might help the environment. Just because P&G makes "Cold Water Tide" doesn't mean they don't still screw over the environment in many drastic ways. While I agree that consumer transparency is going to help drive more environmentally friendly purchases, multinationals are going to be the first to lobby More...
May 04, 2010
Rosemarie
rated it:
I do the basics to help Planet Earth: basic recycling.
This book changed my life by:
1. Looking not just at the carbon print of a product but also its social justice impact.
2. Motivated me to utilize rating guides:
www.goodguide.com
You want non-toxic, environmentally friendly products from companies with good social and safety records. GoodGuide rates over 65,000 products based on these factors.
This book changed my life by:
1. Looking not just at the carbon print of a product but also its social justice impact.
2. Motivated me to utilize rating guides:
www.goodguide.com
You want non-toxic, environmentally friendly products from companies with good social and safety records. GoodGuide rates over 65,000 products based on these factors.
Sep 05, 2010
Ann
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Daniel Goleman took me on a journey of the all of the small chemicals in our environment and how they all add up to negatively impact our health and the earth's well-being.
If we continue down the path that we are going there will still remain a planet earth but it seems that human beings may cease to exist at some point.
If further secures my belief that I don't want an ethanol plant, another expansion on our current nuclear plant, and a new incinerator. We're going backw More...
If we continue down the path that we are going there will still remain a planet earth but it seems that human beings may cease to exist at some point.
If further secures my belief that I don't want an ethanol plant, another expansion on our current nuclear plant, and a new incinerator. We're going backw More...
Jun 11, 2011
Dayini
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This book focuses on a few simple premises: doing the right thing for people and the environment can be a positive and profitable thing for capitalist participants in our world, and people have the power to change the behavior of companies by basing their purchasing decisions on more than just quality and price (i.e. social, environmental and political considerations).
Mar 04, 2010
Steve
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We don't really know what is in the products we buy. We trust - although we may be poisoning ourselves or using far too many valuable resources. I had never heard of Life Cycle Assessment, but it would be great if all products published LCA data, so we knew exactly what goes into produce and even how they should be disposed of. The consumer needs to be wiser.
Sep 30, 2011
Uchill
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This book is highly informative and up to date about the hidden impact of the products we use in our day to day life. A good read for any one to understand the impact of the goods we use from a scientific perspective. The beauty of this book is that a moderately high technical content is written in an easy to understand and appreciate manner.
