Children of my generation were constantly pressed to eat everything on their plate. Our mothers seemed to be forever barking: Think of all the starving children in China [or India]! Modern mothers cannot exploit that handy inducement. Despite doubling their populations during the past half-century, China and India grow all the grain their billion-plus populations can eat. BORLAUG; The Mild-Mannered Maverick who Fed a Billion People is a series of books telling why this miraculous transformation almost didn t occur. Without one little-known scientist's charmed career and myriad hairbreadth rescues from professional ruination, China, India and scores of other nations would still be synonymous with famine. And today's world would be much worse off. Great lessons can be learned from this heretofore hidden history. Indeed, this humble man's endeavors provide a blueprint for countering today's resurgence in global hunger. At heart, however, his story highlights the immense power of the human spirit. To that end, it can entertain and inspire everyone, whatever their mission or motivation in life. You see, no one has ever done more to lessen human misery or to increase human happiness than Norman Borlaug. Noel Vietmeyer
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About the Author
Noel Vietmeyer earned a PhD in organic chemistry from the University of California. During a long career at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. he produced over 30 books describing innovations that can benefit Africa, Asia and Latin America. Vietmeyer was also a prolific freelance writer, producing some 200 articles for publications such as National Geographic, Reader s Digest, Smithsonian, Encyclopaedia Britannica, World Book, International Wildlife and Ranger Rick. His quarter-century of National Academy of Sciences service was noteworthy for the discovery of tropical crops that were little known to science but that possessed qualities for helping the world's poor nations. It was through this work that Vietmeyer met Norman Borlaug, who graciously agreed to chair several of the review panels the NAS appointed to make the final calls on certain extremely fast-growing trees, nutritious food crops, potentially valuable industrial crops and vegetative environmental supports that stabilize tropical lands. Off and on over the years, the two traveled together, and Borlaug eventually related roughly 300 personal experiences. They included life-and-death adventures as well as coincidences, escapes from financial disaster, squabbles with those who disagreed with his methods (virtually everyone), and farmers who many times came to the rescue just as his program was about to be axed. These stories make up the heart and soul of this multivolume biography of the mild-mannered maverick who fed a billion people.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fine and recommended biographical read,
By Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Borlaug; The Mild-Mannered Maverick Who Fed a Billion People (Paperback)
Going outside the norm can lead to great results. "Borlaug: The Mild-Mannered Maverick Who Fed a Billion People" is the story of Norman Borlaug, a man who has revolutionized twentieth century agriculture so that it could feed a rapidly growing world through the twentieth century population explosion. Chronicling the man behind the miracles, author Noel Vietmeyer uses Borlaug's life to inspire readers with the story of a truly remarkable man. "Borlaug" is a fine and recommended biographical read.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
a proper context for Norm's amazing life,
By Zaphod "Monadman" (Chassahowitzka, Florida) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Borlaug; The Mild-Mannered Maverick Who Fed a Billion People (Paperback)
Norm is the most amazing person I've ever met, and I have met quite a few of the rich and powerful. He is in a class of his own. This marvelous book explains why this is so. The author so artfully intersperses stories about Norm with socioeconomic history that for the first time I have proper context for Norm's astounding character development. This book has my unqualified recommendation for anyone interested in truly great human beings.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An atypical, but pleasurably readable, biography; provides a great historical review of life in early 20th century America,
This review is from: Borlaug; The Mild-Mannered Maverick Who Fed a Billion People (Paperback)
This is a biography of a relatively unknown but incredibly interesting American hero. It is an extraordinary and masterfully written treatise of how Borlaug survived hard times in America, including the Great Depression; it is about a man whose learned and subsequently highly developed philosophy of life and education drove him to success in a field of work that he did not choose initially. Millions of people, nay billions, would not have survived without Borlaug's work that coincidentally led to his winning a Nobel Prize. He had help from mentors (called "career savers" in the book) who are interesting unto themselves. Among the many stories told are those under each of the very interesting pictures that provide a glimpse at events and people significant to our country's history. While in the hands of a lesser writer, this history and story laden biography might otherwise produce glazed eyes. BUT, I can assure you won't want to put it down! It is the first of a three volume set. I can't wait for volumes 2 and 3! Thank you Dr. Vietmeyer for helping me to learn about this great American.
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