A passionate and lifelong defender of the environment, Vice President Al Gore describes in this classic best-selling book how human actions and dec...
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Jul 27, 2008
Brett
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Gore deserves some serious credit for writing this book in 1992, before it was in vogue to care about the environment. And though things are now worse than when this was written, this book still seemed valuable to me. I have, of course, seen An Inconvient Truth (some bits of which are taken from Earth in the Balance), but this book helped give me a fuller understanding of Gore's thoughts on the environmental crisis.
The first section--"Balance at Risk"--is the strongest. He More...
The first section--"Balance at Risk"--is the strongest. He More...
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Aug 18, 2007
Richard
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I read this right after seeing An Inconvenient Truth because I was curious to see what Gore had done in this format, and also to see how his perception of the environment had changed in the years between the two works.
The problem with this book, and the reason I don't recommend it, is that it's short on science and long on spiritual/religious/newage (rhymes with sewage) malarkey. A book on environmentalism should persuade the reader with facts and explanations, and it should let scie More...
The problem with this book, and the reason I don't recommend it, is that it's short on science and long on spiritual/religious/newage (rhymes with sewage) malarkey. A book on environmentalism should persuade the reader with facts and explanations, and it should let scie More...
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Feb 02, 2009
Pete
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Super Al wrote this book in the early 1990's when he was in the Senate. Almost ten years before running for President against Bush. That election has cost world ecology a decade!
Gore's 'Earth in the Balance' is a clear warning given to the human race against it's relentless carbon fuelled rape of mother earth. The ecology issues haven't changed since A.G. wrote the book, they're just more urgent now.
He writes of the dysfunctional human spirit that he traces back to the ideas of Rene More...
Gore's 'Earth in the Balance' is a clear warning given to the human race against it's relentless carbon fuelled rape of mother earth. The ecology issues haven't changed since A.G. wrote the book, they're just more urgent now.
He writes of the dysfunctional human spirit that he traces back to the ideas of Rene More...
Jan 10, 2010
Kaput
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I quite enjoyed this. I wasn't sure what to expect from Al Gore but this book was well written and informative. At nearly twenty years old it did feel very much of its time but it was still interesting to read. In some ways it felt like I was reading the story of when the green movement really started to take off. CFC's and the ozone layer, destroying rain forests, poor irrigation methods and the problems of pollution are all mentioned along with the biggie - Global warming.
The scien More...
The scien More...
Dec 19, 2008
Julia
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Long before AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH became famous, Gore wrote EARTH IN THE BALANCE in 1992, an amazing book with detailed research. He had just turned 40, lost the presidential bid, and his 6 year old son had been hit by a car. Gore worked on the book as he sat by his son's hospital bed. If anyone needs proof as to how brilliant this man is, just read this book. On p. 12 he states:
"In the end, we must restore a balance within ourselves between who we are and what we are doing.... More...
"In the end, we must restore a balance within ourselves between who we are and what we are doing.... More...
Dec 16, 2009
Spenser
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I always hear how extreme Al Gore is on the environment, but reading this book it shows me that everyone else hasn't been taking environmental issues seriously enough. This book was a book about the current events and it is a little difficult to read because of that, but surprisingly most of the problems he points out are still problems. I think anyone who doesn't agree with an environmentalist's point of view should read this book and look at the facts that are pointed out. This is not just a b
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Aug 22, 2007
Lynda
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I've been a fan of Gore for awhile. I learned the 'inconvenient truth' of what our inaction
has done to the planet. and how clean water will
be scarce worldwide.
has done to the planet. and how clean water will
be scarce worldwide.
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Jul 07, 2008
Melinda
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The seeds of "AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH" are right here. Well written by perhaps the smartest man ever "elected" for president of the USA.
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Oct 13, 2007
Saranga
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I'm not finished with this book yet BUT CANNOT RECOMMEND IT ENOUGH!!! really great information and beautifully written.
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Nov 15, 2011
Michael
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Here is the thing: there are too many people creating too much waste and using too many resources for all of this to last for too much longer. Soil, air, water, food...none of the arrows are pointing in the right direction. That's just how it is. Other civilizations have risen, and fallen, because of their inability to exist in harmony with the environment (although never on the scale we are talking about now). I suspect that, at some point--it will seem so sudden!--nature will express her displ
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Aug 09, 2011
Tresuiri
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An excellent piece of work by Mr. Gore. Although I commiserate his electoral loss, I appreciate his taking the opportunity to produce this work. I agree with the cover, an outstanding piece of leadership in our time of need. I have a new found respect for Mr. Gore. It is depressing that since this book was published, progress has not been meted out to meet the need. If you feel that you want or need to address the global environmental imbalance, this is an excellent resource to put it all i
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Apr 01, 2008
Charles
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This book was written over 14 years ago and the republicans made fun of Gore back then calling him the “ozone man, he’s way out their.” He was also right, and the leaders of the Republicans, the Corporates new it but manipulated their base. If you tell a lie long enough, and stay on track with the message, your base will believe anything. As Hitler said, people are not motivated by sound information, facts, but emotions and feeling (I love that). How can anyone not believe what this book pre
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Nov 28, 2009
Neal
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At this point this book is far more interesting as a historical document than as a standalone work. But it really is a remarkable historical document.
It's hard to understand in an era when even Sarah Palin concedes that some climate change is happening, but it took enormous courage for a major party candidate to unequivocally talk about regulating carbon in the early 1990's. To really get the impact of this book, you have to read it remembering that most people thought Gore was cra More...
It's hard to understand in an era when even Sarah Palin concedes that some climate change is happening, but it took enormous courage for a major party candidate to unequivocally talk about regulating carbon in the early 1990's. To really get the impact of this book, you have to read it remembering that most people thought Gore was cra More...
Dec 21, 2008
Nicole
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Al Gore has it right on - this book is a must read for anyone that cares about our planet and its people! He presents interesting facts, but balances the shock and awe terror of the crisis the world faces with a human touch - perfect title for this work. I found myself underlining, noting, and highlighting so much of this book that there is hardly a blank page in it. Please read this book and live your life thinking about the Earth in Balance.
Aug 28, 2009
Douglas
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Read this one shortly after it came out. Surprised I had forgotten I read this until now considering I voted for Gore 4 times; 1988 Democratic Presidential primary in Ct, 1992 and 1996 for VP and 2000 for Prez.
Clearly shows Gore's committment to environmental issues not just to the publication date of the book but back to the 1970's when he had House hearings on this subject. We should have listened to him then, we should listem to him now.
Clearly shows Gore's committment to environmental issues not just to the publication date of the book but back to the 1970's when he had House hearings on this subject. We should have listened to him then, we should listem to him now.
Oct 29, 2010
Nancy
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I read this book shortly after it came out in the early 90s—Al Gore wrote it while a senator. Viewed from a twenty years later perspective his dire predictions of global warming, the depletion of the ozone layer and other environmental concerns seem ahead of their time given current concerns. However, environmentalists were certainly aware of the crisis back then—just not nearly as many of us were paying attention.
Aug 04, 2011
Elise
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The book started out good with information and fact but quickly turned into a rant from former Vice President Gore. I agree that something needs to be done to save our planet and would have liked to see more of how individuals are changing it but this was too much rant even for me. There are plenty other books out there worth reading then to waiste your time with this.
Jul 01, 2008
Laura
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I shudder to think that our destructive habits have worsened since "Earth in Balance's" conception in '92. "Earth in Balance" is laden with emotive stories and facts, proceeded by Gore's proposed solutions. Gore's occasional attempts to harmonize religion and environmentalism both impress and amuse, as it has become apparent during the current conservative presence that we must de-polarize the two to achieve success.
The book is far from brief, which, in all hone More...
The book is far from brief, which, in all hone More...
Jan 15, 2009
Kurt
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The book provides a great overview of many environmental problems the world has experienced or is currently facing. I was expecting it to be more of a discussion on climate change, but it delved into all kinds of topics that one would pick up in an introductory environmental sciences class. For someone with vary little background in this field, I would highly recommend this book. For those who are already pretty well versed in the topic, the book will seem pretty repetitive with what the read
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Dec 17, 2009
Beneth
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This book was on my reading list for an Environmental Land Use Planning class I took in law school. I was impressed Al Gore had such scientific knowledge and the interest in the subject to write it. Then someone told me that politicians often "collaborate" with ghost writers to get credit as author for books for political purposes. I don't know how much Al Gore was involved in writing this book, but it still was a good book. I am saddened Al Gore was cheated out of becoming the pre
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Dec 17, 2009
Adih
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Human civilization economical prowess by, with our knowing or not, geological exploitation (water, air, soil) has lead us to our own threat of survival --our earth is loosing its capabilities to replenish its natural resources. Both household and factories wastes are making things worse.
We are ignorant of their consequences because they take place nowhere near 'our backyards' and too gradually, too. The consequences are now here and ignorance is no more an option. We are challenged t More...
We are ignorant of their consequences because they take place nowhere near 'our backyards' and too gradually, too. The consequences are now here and ignorance is no more an option. We are challenged t More...
Feb 09, 2011
John
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Although this book was a little hard to get through, it has a ton of great ideas that the world should've been following 22 years ago when Gore wrote them. Unfortunately, here we are in 2011 and only a small fraction, at best, have been implemented and global climate change is rearing its head more and more every day. I wonder what it will take before we all band together and try to fix the mess we've made. That day sure seems to be coming soon, it definitely NEEDS to be.
Dec 23, 2009
Kimberly
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the accumulation of material goods is at an all-time high, but so is the number of people who feel an emptiness in their lives.
p222
the false promise at the core of addiction is the possibility of experiencing the vividness and immediacy of real life without having to face the fear and pain that are also part of it.
p222
p222
the false promise at the core of addiction is the possibility of experiencing the vividness and immediacy of real life without having to face the fear and pain that are also part of it.
p222
Feb 12, 2008
Charlaralotte
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There was only one class in Environmental Policy when I was Harvard. I took it, and we read this book.
The better story was about the professor. He'd gone to live with a tribe of people in Africa who subsisted entirely on sweet potatoes. Unfortuntately, due to his portly figure, he had to leave the community as he needed too many yams & their supply was suffering.
Also, my final paper was on disposable versus washable diapers. I had an anxiety attack as I had accumulated s More...
The better story was about the professor. He'd gone to live with a tribe of people in Africa who subsisted entirely on sweet potatoes. Unfortuntately, due to his portly figure, he had to leave the community as he needed too many yams & their supply was suffering.
Also, my final paper was on disposable versus washable diapers. I had an anxiety attack as I had accumulated s More...
Apr 02, 2009
Togar
rated it:
Saya baca awal tahun 2008.
Buku yang sangat bagus dan memberi inspirasi kepada masyarakat dunia untuk lebih peduli terhadap bumi.
Buku ini salah satu faktor, mengapa pengarangnya Al Gore mendapat hadiah nobel perdamaian
Buku yang sangat bagus dan memberi inspirasi kepada masyarakat dunia untuk lebih peduli terhadap bumi.
Buku ini salah satu faktor, mengapa pengarangnya Al Gore mendapat hadiah nobel perdamaian
Nov 29, 2008
Michael
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This book was written in 1992 and he spoke a great deal on global warming and what the USA and the world needs to do to prevent it. We haven't made much progress during this time, especially under the Bush years. He mentioned the auto industy several times on how they are going to make better gas effecient cars. The opposite seemed to happen with the SUV's that were sold during this time period. It doesn't look good in my opinion that we are doing much to better improve the quality of our enviro
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Nov 10, 2009
Rob
rated it:
A wake-up call from a brilliant man that continues to be foolishly ignored by millions. And yes, I voted for him in 2000 (correctly).
