Kirkus Review
A stirring call to arms urging Americans to demand that the government act now to meet the challenges of global warming and to tackle the country's addiction to oil. Carson, former industry editor of The Economist, and Vaitheeswaran, who for ten years reported on environmental and energy issues for that magazine, take to task the automakers of Detroit and Big Oil, dubbing them "dinosaurs" facing extinction unless they change their thinking soon. The authors' closeup look at the workings of the auto industry is sharp and pulls no punches. They credit Toyota with taking the lead in the race to develop the successor to the internal-combustion engine, calling the Prius a stepping stone to the car of the future. The chapters on oil trace the story of America's dependence on Mideast oil from FDR's pact with Ibn Saud of Saudia Arabia in World War II to the terror-threatened market of the present day, and they consider the serious problems now facing the Western oil giants, especially the restricted access to reserves as competition from national oil companies increases. But there's also good news, note the authors. Employing religious terminology, they envision a "Great Awakening" under way in the form of a new awareness of the need for energy reform and some specific actions being taken to achieve it. They offer engrossing stories about a variety of technology innovators and entrepreneurs with fresh ideas about clean energy, including the use of hydrogen to power cars that have clean fuel cells instead of dirty gasoline engines. The authors conclude with a manifesto stating five principles for a smart energy policy, including the necessity of individual action and a grassroots rebellion that will prompt action from the country's leaders. A timely, authoritative book written in a punchy, easy-to-read style. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Choice Review
This is a highly readable, very timely, general audience book by two experienced Economist magazine writers who argue for US energy independence by weaning cars off oil. Most oil used in the US is for transportation, mostly in cars. The authors convincingly state that "oil is the problem, not cars," and that increasing supply by more domestic drilling is not the solution. The book contains excellent chapters on US energy politics; the role of big oil and US auto companies in promoting consumer addiction to oil; and the undesirable political, military, and financial consequences the US is currently experiencing because of this dependence on oil. On the other hand, the authors include a chapter describing the race to find oil replacements outside the US in Japan, China, and India. The book ends on a quite hopeful note describing the "grassroots movement sweeping across America ... to level the playing field for clean energy and the car of the future." It includes excellent descriptions of fuel cells, hydrogen, plug-in technology, energy storage devices, etc., their domestic developers, and how US energy politics is changing from the bottom up, rather than the top down. Excellent bibliography. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels of readers. D. Brand formerly, Harvard University
