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43rd out of 48 books
—
41 voters
Getting Green Done: Hard Truths from the Front Lines of the Sustainability Revolution
“Green” has finally hit the mainstream. Soccer moms drive Priuses. And the business consultants say it’s easy and profitable. In reality, though, many green-leaning businesses, families, and governments are still fiddling while the planet burns. Why? Because implementing sustainability is brutally difficult.In this witty and contrarian book, Auden Schendler, a sustainable...more
Hardcover, 304 pages
Published
February 24th 2009
by PublicAffairs
(first published February 23rd 2009)
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great read that takes a refreshingly realistic look at climate change. avoiding cliche environmental us vs. them rhetoric and refraining from ostracism of corporations, the author implores us to seek corporations out as allies for the greater good. pointing to the direity of our current situation and the need for broad sweeping policy, he points out that environmentalists will need the long arms of the business world to get this done. he truly has a way with words that makes what can often be a...more
The cover of Getting Green Done: Hard Truths from the Front Lines of the Sustainability Revolution by Auden Schendler got me with its work glove and tag line. You can't imagine my amazement when I opened it and learned the author was from the Aspen Skiing Company. I thought, "you've got to be kidding me — a skiing company — what could possibly be green about a skiing company?" I decided to read it anyway.
The Bottom Line
It was refreshing to read actual stories from the trenches and about what wor...more
The Bottom Line
It was refreshing to read actual stories from the trenches and about what wor...more
The only cool thing about this book, is the cover.
As a sustainability researcher and aspiring architect, reading the title of the book I was excited to think I was going to learn about some case studies (from around the country/world) coming from the forefront of the sustainability movement. But instead the title is very misleading. Just read the first 3 pages in Chapter 1, and you can already tell that it's not going to be what you expected--hardly any educational facts, and pretty much just 25...more
As a sustainability researcher and aspiring architect, reading the title of the book I was excited to think I was going to learn about some case studies (from around the country/world) coming from the forefront of the sustainability movement. But instead the title is very misleading. Just read the first 3 pages in Chapter 1, and you can already tell that it's not going to be what you expected--hardly any educational facts, and pretty much just 25...more
The positives: It kept my interest, I liked the writing style, and there were many good points made that I learned from and take to heart. The negatives: It comes off as very arrogant and superior, condescending to the newly or moderately green citizen. I disagree with making statements that small environmental efforts are meaningless. True, we NEED large scale efforts to make a difference, but it is not wise to give the impression that nothing a person can do within their limited scope will mat...more
Insightful look at the front lines of the green movement. Schendler has done the "dirty work" of green, seen it up close and gives an honest account of the challenges. In a time when most people market sustainability as the easy way to go green AND make green, this book offers a glimpse at why these changes are difficult and why the movement is an uphill battle - without decreasing its importance or the urgency to "get there." Not necessarily a "fun read" but definitely a good one.
Sure, Auden Schendler might keep some info to himself, but he offers such genuine and honest stories about the green efforts he put forth for the Aspen Ski Company that readers will tend to believe his every word. In particular, I appreciated how he admitted that some of the LEED certified buildings at Aspen Ski Company aren't really so environmentally friendly as the certification would suggest.
I was not impressed with this one. Mainly because Schendler is obviously writing from inside a vacuum. The Aspen vacuum. Schendler seems to feel comfortable making broad generalizations and backing them up not with facts but with opinions based on what seems to be a limited world experience. Claiming that MOST SUV drivers are outdoor/environmental enthusiasts is just plain dense. Sure, plenty of them are, but living in the NYC area I'd venture to say there's a butt-load of folks who aren't drivi...more
Auden Schendler gets it, which makes this book really depressing for anyone who fancies themselves to be fighting the good fight for the environment. All the bags bans and recycling in the world won't fix the big problem: carbon emissions. REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT PEOPLE AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO THE SAME!
Oct 12, 2009
Greg
is currently reading it
This is the best book I've read on what it takes to meet the massive challenge we face from global climate change. The author writes in a refreshing, real-life tone. He works in Vail at a ski resort and has gotten schooled the hard way in green projects. I'm dragging all my friends to this and making them read it.
There are some interesting facts on the green economy, but not my favorite book on the topic. Though it did help me better understand the concept of renewable energy credits and how companies can be misleading in their marketing when they say their operations are fully powered by clean, renewable energy.
Found it useful, if only to provide me with language with which to talk about commercial-scale environmental issues, including LEED certification and business-models that address environmental problems and sustainability meaningfully. Very intentionally apolitical, if not anti-political.
wow. really down to earth (hah! no pun intended) book about what actually makes a difference in helping with global warming, and what is "greenwashing". Also talks about how earlier environmentalist groups stupidly alienated many many people with their self-righteous attitudes, and the damage that's done. No easy solutions, but I'm still glad I got this info.
Four stars for the honest attempt to strip "green business" of it's romanticism and talk about what it's really like in the trenches. While Schendler and I don't see eye to eye on everything, I'm sure we could enjoy an evening swapping war stories over beer.
Quick read -- probably aimed at business types who are considering greening their organizations. Appreciate that the author is willing to state where he thinks his company, Aspen Skiing Company, has gone wrong as well as where they've succeeded, and what they've learned from mistakes along the way.
Excellent book. Captures the challenges/angst/uphill battle in implementing green programs - I empathize completely. Wish every Fortune 500 company who are implementing green programs would write something like this so we can all swap and share our stories.
Great book. An uncharacteristically pragmatic take on changing businesses for sustainability.
A fast read that only covers the basic issues surrounding sustainability. Most of it is anecdotal, which makes for an interesting Sunday read but not for someone looking for actual strategies or information.
It was hard to get through this one. I never connected with the author's tone. I was really hoping to find a road map of how to get green done and this didn't do it. I did learn a bit about sustainability from the business perspective so it wasn't a total loss, but all in all not what I thought this book was going to be.
I read the first couple pages and I think I like where Auden is coming from. It appears to be pretty straightforward and witty. I just wonder what, if any, solutions he has to getting green done. His photojacket pic...nice, rustic looking.
I enjoyed this book because it gave both the good and the bad of greening a large company. It focused mainly on the author's experience but dabbled a little in what other companies are doing.
Very practical book about making choices in building a green company.
May 07, 2013
Christina
marked it as to-read
May 05, 2013
Mary Butcher
added it
Apr 16, 2013
Samantha
marked it as to-read
Apr 10, 2013
Gareth Johnston
added it
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Sep 03, 2009 03:29pm