Hot, Flat, and Crowded

By: Thomas L. Friedman

Narrated by: Oliver Wyman

Length: 9 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's Summary

Thomas L. Friedman's number-one best seller The World Is Flat has helped millions of listeners to see globalization in a new way. Now Friedman brings a fresh outlook to the crises of destabilizing climate change and rising competition for energy - both of which could poison our world if we do not act quickly and collectively. His argument speaks to all of us who are concerned about the state of America in the global future.

Friedman proposes that an ambitious national strategy - which he calls "Geo-Greenism" - is not only what we need to save the planet from overheating; it is what we need to make America healthier, richer, more innovative, more productive, and more secure.

As in The World Is Flat, he explains a new era - the Energy-Climate era - through an illuminating account of recent events. He shows how 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and the flattening of the world by the Internet (which brought three billion new consumers onto the world stage) have combined to bring climate and energy issues to Main Street. But they have not gone very far down Main Street; the much-touted "green revolution" has hardly begun.

With all that in mind, Friedman sets out the clean-technology breakthroughs we, and the world, will need; he shows that the ET (Energy Technology) revolution will be both transformative and disruptive, and he explains why America must lead this revolution - with the first Green President and a Green New Deal, spurred by the Greenest Generation.

Hot, Flat, and Crowded is classic Thomas L. Friedman - fearless, incisive, forward-looking, and rich in surprising common sense about the world we live in today.

©2008, 2009 Thomas L. Friedman (P)2008 Macmillan Audio

Critic Reviews

"An exhaustive, impressive, and convincing argument about the need for the United States to transition to more sustainable systems of energy soon or else risk any possible chance of maintaining hegemony. [Friedman's] ability to identify and summarize succinctly the issues and controversies over resistance to a green revolution is matched by his clear and definitive solutions to these forthcoming problems. Oliver Wyman provides a congenial and gentle voice that works well with the text." ( Publishers Weekly)

Overworked

While I think Mr. Friedman is an important social critic who needs to be heard, the premise of this book is stretched a little too far. The insights he poses in this book would probably have made a great article in the New Yorker or the Sunday New York Times Magazine. As it is, there's too much treading water and repetition of the same concepts to hold the listener's interest. I kept wanting him to say something new.

This book is worth hearing, but bring your patience with you.

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

Wake up call

Very insightful book and full of details and common sense wisdom. Living in Japan, I see much of what Friedman hopes to see in America. They are very concerned about natural resources and protecting the environment. I am always a little skeptical when politicians talk about these issues because I always think they are speaking for political gain. Friedman puts politics aside and shows how we should and can be freed from Oil dictators and at the same time lead the world with green technology. I would recommend this book to anyone with an open mind and a global vision for reform. Time is ticking!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A Disappointment

I was so looking forward to Friedman's new book. I tune him in on the tele when he is on and really benefited by the Lexus and the Olive Tree. Some subscribers to Audible may well enjoy this well read book. I found it less than satisfying and Friedman let me down. In the Lexus and the Olive Tree Friedman informs readers about what is happening in the economy - postmodern and otherwise. I learned a great deal by reading the book (yes, I can read the printed word). This book has a great, needed message, but it is really an ideologically focused presentation. For example, he off handedly gives Ronald Reagan blame for changing mileage requirements from 27 MPG to 26MPG. He doesn't put the change in context at all and makes it clear that the Big Three were in control. He is quick to blame the Right for this overlooking that the Left is bailing 2/3s of the Big Three out now. I tend to be on Friedman's side and we need his voice. This time he has not been as helpful to the debate as he could have been.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Very informative

struggled at 1st to get into it. really good at putting the planet and people into perspective. I dont believe people will address global warming until its too late but this books gives me some hope.

Flat

The worse book Friedman has written. Totally flat. I expected a discussion of scientific evidence for global warming balanced with scientific evidence to the contrary like maybe natural cycles. Instead it was an in your face absolute fact global warming is here and we better do something about it. There is sufficient evidence to caste doubt on the "theory" of global warming. Science is more than "well that's good enough or close enough" to make global warming an absolute fact.

1 of 4 people found this review helpful