Joseph (jsmarr) - Half Moon Bay, CA (19 books)

Joseph is now friends with Brynn

Joseph gave

to:

The Long Thaw: How Humans Are Changing the Next 100,000 Years of Earth's Climate
by David Archer

read in January, 2010

My rating:

A fascinating and refreshingly non-sugarcoated look at the deep history of climate on the earth, and what it can tell us about what we might be in store with future climate change. I learned a ton of amazing things about the science and history of th...more

Joseph gave

to:

Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization
by Lester Russell Brown

read in December, 2009

My rating:

It's easy to be depressed by the major challenges facing the planet and the seeming lack of will or ability by our elected officials to do anything serious about it, but Plan B 4.0 gave me more optimism and specific ideas about how we might make this...more

Joseph gave

to:

In the President's Secret Service by Ronald Kessler

In the President's Secret Service: Behind the Scenes with Agents in the Line of Fire and the Presidents They Protect
by Ronald Kessler

read in December, 2009

My rating:

A fascinating (and often hilarious) inside look at the history and operations of the secret service. I didn't realize how recently presidents started getting protected (officially Truman was the first) and how small the secret service was until quite...more

Joseph gave

to:

The Next 100 Years: A Forecast for the 21st Century
by George Friedman

read in December, 2009

My rating:

This book informed and changed the way I view current events and the global balance of power in a major way. And it was a joy to read. Highly recommended for anyone interested in "how the world really works".

It's a smart, dense, and hard-hitting lo...more

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Joseph gave

to:

Sway: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior
by Ori Brafman (Goodreads Author)

read in November, 2009

My rating:

A quick and enjoyable read with some interesting insights into the ways people are systematically irrational in their decision making. For instance, there's a good explanation of how and why monetary incentives can crowd out social or altruistic ince...more

Joseph gave

to:

Crush It!: Why Now Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion
by Gary Vaynerchuk (Goodreads Author)

read in October, 2009

My rating:

GaryVee explains how he turned his passion and knowledge of wine into a personal brand and career with the no-holds-barred enthusiasm you'd expect from him. It's a very quick read (took me <2 hours) and it's remarkably concise and to the point. If yo...more

Joseph gave

to:

The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World
by Michael Pollan

read in September, 2009

My rating:

An enjoyable read that taught me a lot. If you haven't read Pollan's "The Omnivore's Dilemma" or "In Defense of Food", I would still start with those first, but if they've left you wanting more, this book is a welcome addition--full of the same smart...more

Joseph gave

to:

Hot, Flat, and Crowded by Thomas L. Friedman

Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution--and How It Can Renew America
by Thomas L. Friedman

read in August, 2009

My rating:

This is required reading for EVERYONE. I'm serious.

Friedman brilliantly and comprehensively lays out the case for (1) why our current carbon-intensive energy system is the biggest issue facing America and the planet--not just because of climate ch...moreThis is required reading for EVERYONE. I'm serious.

Friedman brilliantly and comprehensively lays out the case for (1) why our current carbon-intensive energy system is the biggest issue facing America and the planet--not just because of climate change, but also for dealing with population growth and poverty, combating fundamentalist militants funded by petro-dictators, preventing the loss of biodiversity, and more--(2) why rallying America to really embrace a fundamental change to our energy system is also the biggest opportunity to improve America--our economy, our competitiveness, our focus on science and education, and our standing in the world--and (3) what that new energy system might look like, and how we might get there--from the right govt policies to the technical implementation of a smart grid to the impact it will have on business and daily life.

If you're anything like me, this book will make you incredibly angry--because the status quo is so damaging and wrong-headed in so many ways, and because our current govt is seemingly so inept, lazy, and corrupt to do anything serious about it--but also incredibly enlightened--about the way the energy system and political environment really works, what effects it's having, and where efforts are already underway (especially in Europe and China) to change the system. I thought I basically knew this stuff already, but I learned a ton, and I think that any educated citizen who cares about the fate of our country and planet has a responsibility to learn more about this vast, complex, and important topic so that we have a chance to help push our leaders in the right direction.

On a personal note: my dad has been telling me (and anyone who will listen) for some time how important this book is--and dad, you were right. Given the book's title and length, I had worried that it might take a lot of time to read and not really tell me that much I didn't already know. Boy was I wrong. And that's why I hope you'll take my word for it that you should read it too!(less)

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Joseph is now friends with Brynn
Feb 09, 2012 11:18am
Joseph gave to: The Long Thaw: How Humans Are Changing the Next 100,000 Years of Earth's Climate by David Archer read in January, 2010	My rating:
A fascinating and refreshingly non-sugarcoated look at the deep history of climate on the earth, and what it can tell us about what we might be in store with future climate change. I learned a ton of amazing things about the science and history of th...more
Mar 18, 2010 11:01pm · see review
Joseph gave to: Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization by Lester Russell Brown read in December, 2009	My rating:
It's easy to be depressed by the major challenges facing the planet and the seeming lack of will or ability by our elected officials to do anything serious about it, but Plan B 4.0 gave me more optimism and specific ideas about how we might make this...more
Feb 16, 2010 08:33am · see review
Joseph gave to: In the President's Secret Service: Behind the Scenes with Agents in the Line of Fire and the Presidents They Protect by Ronald Kessler read in December, 2009	My rating:
A fascinating (and often hilarious) inside look at the history and operations of the secret service. I didn't realize how recently presidents started getting protected (officially Truman was the first) and how small the secret service was until quite...more
Feb 12, 2010 08:51am · see review
Joseph gave to: The Next 100 Years: A Forecast for the 21st Century by George Friedman read in December, 2009	My rating:
This book informed and changed the way I view current events and the global balance of power in a major way. And it was a joy to read. Highly recommended for anyone interested in "how the world really works". It's a smart, dense, and hard-hitting lo...more
Feb 10, 2010 10:00pm · see review
Joseph added Goodreads to his Facebook Timeline Add your books to Timeline! learn more
Nov 17, 2009 07:22pm
Joseph gave to: Sway: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior by Ori Brafman (Goodreads Author) read in November, 2009	My rating:
A quick and enjoyable read with some interesting insights into the ways people are systematically irrational in their decision making. For instance, there's a good explanation of how and why monetary incentives can crowd out social or altruistic ince...more
Nov 11, 2009 08:38am · see review
Joseph gave to: Crush It!: Why Now Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion by Gary Vaynerchuk (Goodreads Author) read in October, 2009	My rating:
GaryVee explains how he turned his passion and knowledge of wine into a personal brand and career with the no-holds-barred enthusiasm you'd expect from him. It's a very quick read (took me <2 hours) and it's remarkably concise and to the point. If yo...more
Oct 19, 2009 06:16pm · see review
Joseph gave to: The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World by Michael Pollan read in September, 2009	My rating:
An enjoyable read that taught me a lot. If you haven't read Pollan's "The Omnivore's Dilemma" or "In Defense of Food", I would still start with those first, but if they've left you wanting more, this book is a welcome addition--full of the same smart...more
Sep 16, 2009 09:20pm · see review
Joseph gave to: Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution--and How It Can Renew America by Thomas L. Friedman read in August, 2009	My rating:
This is required reading for EVERYONE. I'm serious. Friedman brilliantly and comprehensively lays out the case for (1) why our current carbon-intensive energy system is the biggest issue facing America and the planet--not just because of climate ch...more
Aug 25, 2009 06:53pm · see review

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