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Summary: A Bible for Environmentalists
Review: This is the "best" book (outside of the Holy Scriptures), that I have ever read. It is well researched, relevant in the extreme, and should be recommended to every literate person on the planet. Any possible imperfections in data can be easily overlooked because of the focus and immediacy of the message. Al Gore sheds a bright light towards the same message the top world scientists gave in their "Warning to Humanity" from the Earth Summit in Rio. It's a shame that the majority didn't listen then, and may not listen now. They will in the near future! That's guaranteed! But then they'll want someone else to fix what they should have fixed themselves, and it will be too late for our species along with all the other species that we seem so complacent about losing. Al Gore is without a doubt one of the most brilliant men in our time, it's hard to believe that he's a politician too. BRAVO! Mr. Gore.
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Summary: Chicken-Little
Review: I picked this book up because I was curious. I read it from cover to cover. I then went to the Internet and researched all of his predictions. The United Nation's own Global Warming website completely contradicts his prediction of atmospheric C02 and methane concentrations for the ten years following the publication date of his book. He completely misses the mark on transpiration and cellular-respiration and the role plants take part in both of these cycles. He also has a very serious lack of knowledge in basic organic chemistry. He attributes many increases in global warming gasses (mainly C02 and methane) to man, but fails to mention that these gasses are a natural product of carbon-based life-cycle (from: birth --> death --> break-down into molecular components). In fact all herbivores generate thousands of pounds of methane a year. Does anyone remember the millions of bison that used to exist in the Midwest?
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Summary: evironmental book
Review: former VP discusses environmental state of earth and mankind hs the responsibility to make wise changes to save the earth. Clean upair, and water recycle and not depend on non renewable resources.
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Summary: 216 New and Used for $0.35 says it ALL!
Review: Leftists still convinced that the "real" Al Gore remains mis-understood are right. This guy is even madder than they hoped! As the one and only Libertarian Environmentalist, I gave Earth in the Balance a shot at the local bookstore in 1992. Al proved one thing for sure, that of the 20th Century Axiom of "lies, damned lies, and statistics." Being of the scientific bent, I was abhorred by the mis-use and poor selection of statistical data to support his "sky is falling" diatribe against capitalism. Nothing is beyond the salvation of total government control though. Al seems to ignor the recent news (a la 1990) that the most polluted enviromnents in the world have been revealed behind the Iron Curtain where the type of government straightjacketing that Big Al prefers flourished for nearly 5 decades. The irony of this review, is that I hated the book but believe in the cause of Environmentalism - especially energy efficiency, renewable resources, and conservation. This portly clown on the big stage did our cause no good. We need a place to send these dimwit, family tradition politicians like Kennedy and Gore, Bush for that matter. How about an Americorp for decendents of degenerate politicians. And don't teach them to read and write, likely they'll all write books like this. Finally, how does this book fare against the test of time. As of June, 2003, Amazon used books says it all, "216 New and Used for $0.35", right down there with that other intellectual giant, Bill Gates' "The Road Ahead" (218 new and used from $0.01), truly not worth the paper they are printed on.
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Summary: Pie in the Sky
Review: This is some of the silliest stuff ever to be published. The ideas are straight out of the Kumbaya-crowd guidebook. In many ways we are fortunate that this book is still in publication after so many years. It proves that the "Man who would be President" never did understand the relation between people and their environment in real world terms. This stuff is right out of the Ted Danson (the oceans will be dead in five years if we don't act now) school of thought. The sad thing is that this type of writing obscures legitimate and truly intellectual environmental debate and initiatives. It is, however, fun to read, if for nothing else than to see how silly his arguments are.
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Summary: What tripe
Review: Thank God a few confused little old ladies could not figure out the butterfly ballot in the 2000 Florida election. This man almost became President! This book is great -- if you run out of toilet paper.
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Summary: Long, but explicit- Boring, yet compelling
Review: First off I'd like to to say that I am neither a Democrat or Republican, because my views and opinions are right and yours is wrong (unless you agree with me) and no money of propaganda can change it. The book is relativly good and interesting, but suffers from being over ten years long and is way- WAY too long. Altough former VP Gore speaks sincerly about a serious problem he only attacks it its edge. In short, he's missing the point. Earth isn't in the balance. God is. The cries of Me! and open selfishness in our society comes from a rejection of the Lord. The enviormental chaos is just a cry for help for those too stubborn to read the gospels of Luke, Mark, John, and Matthew. Still, worth reading- and owning.
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Summary: Somewhat dated now; ideas are good but unrealistic
Review: I'm an avid Gore supporter and a conversationalist. It was for these reasons that I decided to read "Earth in the Balance" after hearing so much about it when it was published in 1992. Unfortunately, in 2003 this book is outdated. While some do not think that 1992 was that long ago, I will remind you that the World Wide Web was invented that year. The world has changed a LOT since then. Gore's telling of how the first Bush administration behaved is like deja vu when listening to the current administration's policies on the environment. When the book was written, Gore hadn't won the Vice Presidency yet so he was speaking about what he would do if...well now, after the Clinton Administration most of what he was talking about was not accomplished. Realistically, his proposals never would happen in today's world or in the world of 1992. Not only were they too far-fetched but they are also very dated. He spent a lot of time talking about the ban on CFC's, which at the time were still in production. Presently, they have been banned from all industrialized nations and the ozone hole has faded from the news. It would be interesting to see what affect these changes have had since then. Additionally, there was much talk about meeting 1990 Clean Air standards by the year 2000, which has obviously past. Again, it would be interesting to see how and if these goals are playing out today. Oddly, the Hydrogen Economy which is getting much talk and fan-fare these days was absent from his analysis. I agree that the environment that we live in is trouble, but there have been many positive accomplishments over the years, before and after this book was written, that I feel need to get adequate attention. If you are interested in reading this book just to get Gore's opinion, to see what environmentalism was like in 1992, or to just get some background I would recommend this book. If you are interested in more recent trends I would read "The Hydrogen Economy" by Jeremy Rifkin or "Natural Capitalism" by Paul Hawken, Amory Lovins and L. Hunter Lovins.
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Summary: READ ME
Review: Earth in the Balance by Al Gore is a well-written environmental novel. Gore provides a view of the environment from that of a politician. Gore is able ot give an accurate view of the threats that our planet faces. Gore starts out with a broad definition of some environmental cirsis. Then, Gore tells us how these problems arose through political, economical, and religious means. At the end of the book Gore gives us his plan to save the planet. Earth in the Balance opened my eyes to the problems that our planet faces. I recommend it to anyone who care about the Earth.
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Summary: Attention Amazon[.com] shoppers............
Review: Those who view Al Gore as long-winded and dry will confirm their opinions with this book. Although the book turns statistical and factual at times, it also humanizes Gore because it demonstrates his passion and concern for the environment and the future of the world. The facts and evidence in this book are SHOCKING!!! This is not a light read either, and although it can be depressing, it provides solutions and policies to solve the environmental problems. This book analyzes the conection that humans have to the environment throughout history and the recent changes in civilization and the subsequent changes in climate and weatehr patterns. This book's shock value will change the current mentality of anti-environmentalists to a genuine concern for the future of the world.
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