Rating: 
Summary: Great book
Review: A conscientious, thoughtful book.
The book's implications are so disturbing that many readers can expect to be shocked and angry with Mr. Gore for rocking our boats so violently.
"Earth in the Balance" is definitely not the sort of vision-thing we expect to hear from our politicians, who usually specialize in massaging our egos - not disrupting them!
For that reason alone, I consider this to be THE must-read book of the last decade.
Rating: 
Summary: Good book--sub-standard performance.
Review: This book should be required reading for every American as long as Al Gore has a shot at the whitehouse. Regardless of your political persuasion or your opinion of Mr. Gore, you need to know what this book says. However, don't listen to the tape. The melodramatic reading belittles the importance of what is being said.
Rating:
Summary: One of the ten most important works of this century
Review: A corageous defender of the environment, Vice President of the United States Al Gore demonstrates how modern technology and culture have brought us to the brink of catastrophe. In this compelling work he shows that only a deep rethinking of our relationship with nature can save the earth for future generations. Here is an author who will not soften the warning for political expediency. His honesty reveals a true statesman and his analysis makes him a remarkable mind in our times of half measures and sophistry. This bestselling work about our planet's environmental crisis gives a shocking account of just how serious ecological problems have become. The research and documentation are extensive the facts are no longer open to dispute. Only deception remains for miopic vested interests to distort irrefragable truth in the public mind in their pursuit of fast profits, Al Gore proves there are more jobs and greater prosperity in saving the earth than in putting more billions in the pockets of 1% of the world population.
Rating: 
Summary: This book was the ONLY textbook for my class
Review: When I signed up for a required ecology class at my college, I never expected to have this book as the only textbook for the class. Textbooks are the main backup for the days you just can't get out of bed and attend class. When I went to buy my books, I quickly realized that I would be getting a lot less sleep. I even remember mentioning loudly, much to the amusement of the other students, that I had to read a book written by a man who doesn't move his head and can't dance. I sat down to read the first assigned reading and was pleasantly amazed. The book isn't boring at all. Al Gore has a beautiful, flowing writing style. I managed to read an entire required book without a sign of fatigue or distraction. It even had pictures to keep my thoughts from straying. I am not ashamed to say that I enjoyed this book. I really mean it. Even if you are not into the environment, at least read it to be shocked by a book that defied many of my preconcieved notions about the man. I ended up getting my required sleep for the quarter.
Rating: 
Summary: This book belongs on the "B" Fiction shelf.
Review: The greatest collection of scientific fiction, half truths, exageration, mis-statements and general doom-mongering since Rachel Carson's, Silent Spring. Weakly footnoted and completely unsubstantiated by any references other than to the author's opinion. Apparently American's still have a need to be frightened by Chicken Little and the boogie man. It seems to sell books. Incidently, in the 35 years since Silent Spring was first published, none of Ms. Carson's dreaded predictions of ecological catastrophe have come to pass.I think we can all rest assured that Mr. Gore will be equally as inaccurate an environmental prophet
Rating:
Summary: An absolute must for every individual on earth.
Review: This book is an absolute must for every individual on earth who cares even a tiny bit for any other person around him and wishes to see him happy. The necessity to read this book is accompanied with an intense urgency to read this book because of the ghastly terrible consequences that every moment misused now, that the book predicts.
Al Gore is undoubtedly one of the most effective user of the pen of these times. "Earth in the Balance" is the outcome of one of his well studied, sincere and earnest expedition to the world of environmental conciousness.
The necessity to invoke a conciousness among the people of today that they are "leaving their children with a degraded earth and a diminished future", as says Gore has to be coupled with a comprehensive strategy for global environmental protection.
The book appeals to every reader who shares some concern for Mother Earth, knowingly or unknowingly and the fact that the words come from a leader of such foresight and a high position in the ladder of decision and policy makers, makes it a primer for even an academic course on the subject.
The thought process that has gone behind the compilation of the book and the implications of the consequences it predicts can be fully understood only by reading the book.
Rating:
Summary: You really must study this book carefully
Review: Senator Al Gore won high praise for this book from Bill Moyers because he "faces honestly the unremitting evidence of science"; from M. Scott Peck for "clearly pointing the way we need to change to assure the survival of our grandchildren"; and from Carl Sagan who tells us that "mitigating the crisis will require a planetary perspective, long-term thinking, political courage and savvy, eloquence and leadership - all of which are in evidence in Al Gore's landmark book." As a child the author watched eight acres an hour of top soil being carried away in the Mississippi River while his mother explained the implications of Rachel Carson's 'Silent Spring'; as a student his professor explained the profound and disruptive change in the global climate due to the carbon dioxide build up in the atmosphere measured at Mauna Loa; as a serviceman in Vietnam he learned of the results of using Agent Orange; as a Congressman he investigated hazardous waste dumps such as Love Canal and learned of our leaders' powerful and determined opposition to the truth and their unwillingness to think about the comprehensive nature of the response needed. After reflecting on his own personal role in determining the course of his nation and civilization he ran for President focusing his campaign on global warming, ozone depletion, the ailing global environment and nuclear arms control only to discover that no one was interested in these issues and that the media would not provide coverage. It was a lesson in how political motives and government policies have helped to create the crisis and frustrate finding solutions; it was a lesson about leadership and evasion of responsibility, timidity of vision, avoiding important issues, and postponing difficult choices. He concluded that "Each of us must take a greater personal responsibility for this deteriorating global environment; each of us must take a hard look at the habits of mind and action that reflect - and have lead to - this grave crisis. The more deeply I search for the roots of the global environmental crisis, the more I am convinced that it is an outer manifestation of an inner crisis that is, for the lack of a better word, spiritual." Gore concluded that the search for truth about the crisis and the search for truth about himself are in fact the same search. Mahatma Ghandi said "We must be the change we wish to see in the world" but Gandhi could say that only after he was asked to tell a boy to stop eating sugar, stopped eating sugar himself for two weeks and only then spoke to the boy. Gore concluded that he had to deal with his own hypocrisy in such things as using CFCs in his automobile air conditioner before he could hope to convince others of the hypocrisy in their lives.Gore examines the crisis from the perspective of the earth sciences, economics, sociology, history, information theory, psychology, religion and from his vantagepoint as a politician. Although very difficult changes in established patterns of thought and action will be required, success is within our capacity and desirable in the interest of social justice, democratic government and free market economics. But we must adopt an attitude similar to that which brought success in World War II where the central organizing principle was total commitment to the defeat of fascism. Following the war and through 1989 the central organizing principle of government policy and society was total commitment to the defeat of communism; this was the reason for the Marshall Plan, MacArthur's blueprint for Japan, the 1947 decision to give massive aid to Greece and Turkey, NATO, foreign aid, the Korean and Vietnam wars, the nuclear arms race, and arms sales to dictators opposed to Soviet communism - all served the same central purpose of defeating communism. Even the interstate highway system, federal aid to education and the space program were tied to the defeat of communism. The Marshall Plan concentrated on fixing bottlenecks impeding growth. Today we need total commitment to a Global Marshall Plan concentrating on five strategic goals - stabilizing world population, environmentally appropriate technologies, changes to the economic rules, renegotiated international agreements, and educating the world's citizens about our global environment - and emphasizing actions and programs aimed at removing the bottlenecks to creating a healthy global economy. This book gives much more than the environmental facts; it helps us understand why our leaders fail in their responsibilities even when presented with indisputable evidence; it helps us understand that we need more political savvy; it helps us understand that you and I are the problem and we have to do as Gandhi tells us - WE must be the change we want to see in the world. Finally it helps us to understand that if we are to take greater personal responsibility, we must be committed. Gore quotes W. H. Murray who is actually partially quoting Wolfgang Goethe who I quote in full because it is only when we accept Chico Mendes' level of commitment that we will work the miracle that is needed to save our world.
"Concerning all acts of initiative and creation,
there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which
kills countless ideas and splendid plans;
that the moment one definitely commits oneself,
Providence moves, too.
All sorts of things occur to help one,
That would otherwise never have occurred.
A whole stream of events issues from the decision,
Raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and
Meetings and material assistance, which no person could
Have dreamt would have come his or her way.
Are you in earnest?
Seize this very minute!
Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it!
Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it."
Rating: 
Summary: SEEMS SHAKY
Review: As a lay person, like most, I have no real idea whether global warming is real, or at least a real threat. The problem I have is that those who say it is a real threat are not believable to me. They may be right, but I reserve all possibility that they are totally off the mark. It seems that this issue has been coopted by a certain segment of the political class, and is used not in an effort to further real science, but to further their political agenda. This is somewhat, if not totally, socialist in nature. Al Gore spoke about global warming on the coldest day in New York City in 150 years, then endorsed "The Day After Tomorrow" as a big movie about global warming that has to be seen. It was so bad, got such terrible reviews, and was so universally panned as lies that it cannot be described herein. Gore has now taken to podiums, changing his voice to sound like Huey Long or George Wallace or some such Southern populist, rolling his r's, leavin' the "n's" off his words, and every time he makes these speeches those he opposes rise in the polls. Al said he "had" to be President, and now he just seems unable to accept his fate. Unfortunately, his association with global warming seems to discredit it. "The Day After Tomorrow" certainly did the issue no good. There are so-called "right wing" scientists who oppose the global warming threat, calling it "junk science." They may have a political agenda. They may be wrong. Personally, I think they are less likely to be wrong than the Leftists. I could be wrong, but that is just my opinion. The problem is that this issue has become so political that, until something really verifiable comes along, it is just a tug-of-war with no real truth attached to it. STEVEN TRAVERS
AUTHOR OF "BARRY BONDS: BASEBALL'S SUPERMAN"
STWRITES@AOL.COM
Rating:
Summary: OPINIONS, POLITICS, AND FEW FACTS.
Review: Before you read the book, look at the sources. I only found one scientific paper out of hundreds of sources. Everything else has to be classified as opinions. Sources for this book include news stories and testimonies in congress. I will point out by two examples (not from the book, but from information that you are probably familiar with) why these are not good sources. I recall the news stories based on the opinions of experts that said it would take five years to put out the oil well fires started in the first Gulf War. They were all wrong. It took six months. CEO's and others testified before congress about tobacco products being non-addictive. Were they correct? No! So when we read this book, we can't be sure of anything. It is a book of opinions and ideas. Some of them may be good, but they may also be bad. This is why we have science and the scientific method. Even science may be corrupted at times or fail until we have a better understanding. Even if Mr. Gore had scientific papers, it is unlikely that he could judge whether they really support his environmental views. He would need a Ph.D. or at least a lot of experience in the proper field(s) to interpret scientific papers properly.
This book discusses how corporations are unfriendly to the environment. Surely some of them are. But so is the government. When the government plant at Fernald, Ohio, (near Cincinnati) was accused of poluting the soil and water with radioactive waste, the government denied, dragged its feet, and fought in court. The government lost it case because there was obvious guilt, but the government did not hestitate to fight against the very people it represents. When you or I appear to be at fault in an auto accident, do we admit it and offer to pay all claims, or do we take a less candid approach as our insurance company suggests? We might even think we are not at fault. Mr. Gore has denied being at fault countless times in his political career, but he can't believe that a corporation should do anything but admit guilt, accept every environmental claim that is made, and pay large sums of money.
Mr. Gore is an elitist. First, he believes that he is an environmental expert because he has heard a lot of opinions. He doesn't need an advanced degree in environmental science or experience in that field. He just knows better because he is Al Gore. Secondly, he sees how he uses the environment and how you should use the environment quite differently. When he was Vice President, he flew to Kyoto, Japan, to symbolically (read unnecessary trip) approve the Kyoto Treaty. He used more than 180,000 gallons of fuel in a private government plane in one day. My wife and I can drive our cars and heat our house for our lifetimes and never use this amount of fuel. During his Presidental campaign, Mr. Gore would fly a private jet to his son's games. I have no great objection to the former Vice President doing these things as long as he doesn't start telling me how I am abusing the environment, that I should drive an electric car, ... I do have trouble believing his environmental views are anything but political.
If you like the views in the book, read it and feel good. If you don't like the views, read it for some good laughs. There are plenty of flaws. Books like this make money, but they don't make good science, and they don't produce good policy. Don't forget to recycle the book!
Rating:
Summary: Change is needed
Review: Al Gores book is brilliant. It is rare that a politician recognizes the need to heal an environment that is being destroyed by its inhabitants. Gore not only describes the effects of Global Warming, Ozone depletion, deforestation, faulty irrigation, but also delves into the evils that are corporations swaying the views of high ranking officials to turn the other cheek towards the environment. George W. Bush is doing it now. Although most scientist agree these are problems, Corporations put out loads of propoganda saying it is junk science supported by only a few "scientist" who are in it for big incentives and overall greed. The book expresses the need for USA to take the lead in changing the effects of the overall corrosion of earths balance. The fact that people can dismiss the enviroment and the health our children makes me sick. Quite honestly it makes me ashamed to be an american. Our administrations, with the exception of Clinton and Gore, are ruining the environment for political and mentary gain. I wish them only the worse. Vote Kerry 2004!
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