The Plundered Planet

Why We Must - and How We Can - Manage Nature for Global Prosperity

By: Paul Collier

Narrated by: James Adams

Length: 8 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

Paul Collier's The Bottom Billion was greeted as groundbreaking when it appeared in 2007, winning the Estoril Distinguished Book Prize, the Arthur Ross Book Award, and the Lionel Gelber Prize. The Economist wrote that it was "set to become a classic", the Financial Times praised it as "rich in both analysis and recommendations", while Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times called it the "best nonfiction book so far this year."

Now, in The Plundered Planet, Collier builds upon his renowned work on developing countries and the poorest populations to confront the global mismanagement of nature.

Proper stewardship of natural assets and liabilities is a matter of planetary urgency: natural resources have the potential either to transform the poorest countries or to tear them apart, while the carbon emissions and agricultural follies of the rich world could further impoverish them. The Plundered Planet charts a course between unchecked profiteering on the one hand and environmental romanticism on the other to offer realistic and sustainable solutions to dauntingly complex issues. Grounded in a belief in the power of informed citizens, Collier proposes a series of international standards that would help poor countries rich in natural assets better manage those resources, policy changes that would raise world food supply, and a clear-headed approach to climate change that acknowledges the benefits of industrialization while addressing the need for alternatives to carbon trading. Revealing how these are all interconnected, The Plundered Planet charts a way forward to avoid the mismanagement of the natural world that threatens our future.

©2010 Paul Collier (P)2010 Audible, Inc

Critic reviews

"In this path-breaking book, Paul Collier develops one of the most fascinating subjects he touched on in The Bottom Billion - the resource curse. It will be of great interest to all those who are concerned about the future of our civilization." (George Soros)

"Collier's arguments are compassionate and convincing, and his straightforward explanations of economic principles are leavened with humor and impressively accessible." ( Publishers Weekly)

clear and cogent

Collier does a great job of bringing it all together, along with a tight analysis of the issues, alternatives and his preferred solutions. Super narration too.

This book is a Godsend about global economics.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

The author's treatment is competent, independent, and helpful. It is in a class by itself, far above any other book I have listened to about the most important problems we face in our generation.

What about James Adams???s performance did you like?

Mr. Adams had a good, concerned reading that used pauses and emphasis appropriately. i have no complaints.

Any additional comments?

Really, folks, I'm not making this up. This is one of the most important books that any author in our generation has produced. It covers over-fishing and global warming in a complete and thorough manner. After listening to this book, you will respect the author's wisdom, understanding, kindness, and goodness, and have a good plan for facing the future, the near future, of mankind on the planet. I hope audible.com promotes this book as a must-read for all its customers.