Hot, Flat, and Crowded by Thomas Friedman

Book Review

Hot, Flat, and Crowded
“Why We Need A Green Revolution – And How It Can Renew America”
By Thomas L. Friedman
New York, NY: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. 2008. 438pp.
Thomas L. Friedman, author and New York Times Journalist, published his fifth book, Hot, Flat, and Crowded in 2008. The book is divided up into five parts and twenty-one chapters. Friedman’s terms Hot, Flat, and Crowded refer primarily to climate change, economics, and overpopulation. All terms are interconnected throughout.

The first section, titled: ‘Where We Are’, covers two chapters. Friedman cites three trends in the U.S., the first is the post-9/11 political mentality, the second is the “dumb as you wanna be” mood that has overtaken our political elite… “. The third trend is toward what the author calls “nation-building at home”…our country is still exploding with innovators and idealists…” (9).

In section two, entitled ‘How We Got Here’, the author covers six chapters, and discusses the role of politics and oil (petropolitics) and the rise of self-serving regimes (petro-dictators) and the correlation between the price of oil and basic human freedoms.

In section three, covering six chapters, entitled ‘How We Move Forward’, Friedman makes a good case of implementing resourceful energy solutions and they relate to military operations using Iraq as an example. In section four and five, the author provides an analysis to the world’s two largest economies – China and America.

This work contributes to the debate on how best to move forward on national energy policy with an emphasis related to national security and global economics. Although I don't agree with all of Friedman's assessments and suggestions on environmental policies, he does offer a unique perspective on environmental issues.  He is a bit critical of the U.S. government's policies and seems to advocate a very pro-environmental stand without considering all of the unique challenges economically, politically, and socially that may hinder his suggesstions from becoming reality.

To learn more about Thomas Friedman you can go to: http://www.thomaslfriedman.com/.

Paul J. Christopher