Our Choice: A Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis [Paperback]

Al Gore (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 3, 2009

It is now abundantly clear that we have at our fingertips all of the tools we need to solve the climate crisis. The only missing ingredient is collective will.

Properly understood, the climate crisis is an unparalleled opportunity to finally and effectively address many persistent causes of suffering and misery that have long been neglected, and to transform the prospects of future generations, giving them a chance to live healthier, more prosperous lives as they continue their pursuit of happiness.

Our Choice gathers in one place all of the most effective solutions that are available now and that, together, will solve this crisis. It is meant to depoliticize the issue as much as possible and inspire readers to take action—not only on an individual basis but as participants in the political processes by which every country, and the world as a whole, makes the choice that now confronts us.

There is an old African proverb that says, "If you want to go quickly, go alone; if you want to go far, go together."

We have to go far, quickly.

We can solve the climate crisis. It will be hard, to be sure, but if we can make the choice to solve it, I have no doubt whatsoever that we can and will succeed.

—AL GORE, from the introduction

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Nobel laureate Gore is dedicated to one of the most important missions on the planet: educating humankind about the causes and consequences of global warming and offering solutions to the looming crises implicit in the changes to the earth’s climate and habitability that are already well under way. No one is more qualified than Gore to lead the collective movement beyond fossil fuels, given his command of the science and politics involved, his invaluable global connections and resources, and his sensitivity to our reluctance to face the “magnitude and gravity of the climate crisis.” As he did in An Inconvenient Truth (2006), Gore matches clear and ringing explanations and commentary with superb supporting diagrams and illustrations and striking photographs from around the world, documenting the dramatic impacts of human industry and climate change. He begins by providing the straight facts about the sources of the pollutants causing global warming and the disastrous energy inefficiency of our buildings, vehicles, appliances, and industrialized agriculture. Here, too, is the searing truth about the campaign of climate change denial via disinformation and ridicule orchestrated and paid for by oil and coal corporations. But after spending three years convening “solution summits” and assessing the fruits of those productive discussions, Gore turns away from blame and despair and toward answers and encouragement. The result is a veritable catalog for a better world and a practical guide to solar, wind, and geothermal power and smart “super grids,” endeavors China is already pursuing. Gore also eloquently explains how the harnessing of renewable energy sources will solve an entire matrix of global traumas. Our Choice is an inviting and momentous compendium of environmental discovery (with 100 percent of its earnings going to the Alliance for Climate Protection) that addresses one of the greatest threats our species has encountered with intelligence, knowledge, wisdom, and faith in human empowerment. This is a book that should be displayed and talked about everywhere. --Donna Seaman

Review

"In a new book that marks an evolution in his thinking, Al Gore recognizes that the debate over climate change can be more about doing well while doing good."
—John Meachan, Newsweek
 
"Authoritative, exhaustive, reasoned, erudite."
 —Sharon Begley, Newsweek

 

“The clarity of his argument and the fissile power of his analysis combine to elevate Our Choice into the top-ranking environmental books of our time."
 —Financial Times

 

"There is no greater champion of the climate imperative than Al Gore. [He] distills his mastery of the topic into clean, readable prose, and illustrates it with gorgeous glossy photos and accessible -- and eye-opening -- charts. After you read Gore's book, you will see why the choice must be made right now."
 —Huffington Post
 
"Ken-Burns-meets-global-warming, with vivid diagrams of how technologies work and lavish color photos."
—Philadelphia Inquirer
   
"Besides being informative, Our Choice is a truly beautiful book page after page, and I highly recommend it, particularly for those who want a broad overview of the key strategies for preserving a livable climate. This [is] a must-read book for those who want a primer on all the key solutions countries will be considering at Copenhagen."
 —Dr. Joseph Romm, Climateprogress.com
 
"It’s the grand compendium of all that we know about how to undertake this most difficult of transitions. Gore’s new volume is the indispensable one-stop shop for the cutting edge thinking about how we’re going to solve this problem."
 —Bill McKibben, author of The End of Nature

 

“No one is more qualified than Gore to lead the collective movement beyond fossil fuels, given his command of the science and politics involved, his invaluable global connections and resources, and his sensitivity to our reluctance to face the ‘magnitude and gravity of the climate crisis.’ As he did in An Inconvenient Truth (2006), Gore matches clear and ringing explanations and commentary with superb supporting diagrams and illustrations and striking photographs from around the world, documenting the dramatic impacts of human industry and climate change… Our Choice is an inviting and momentous compendium of environmental discovery (with 100 percent of its earnings going to the Alliance for Climate Protection) that addresses one of the greatest threats our species has encountered with intelligence, knowledge, wisdom, and faith in human empowerment. This is a book that should be displayed and talked about everywhere.”
—Booklist

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Rodale Books; First Edition edition (November 3, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594867348
• ISBN-13: 978-1594867347
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (79 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #56,847 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #30 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Earth Sciences > Climatology

More About the Author

Former Vice President Al Gore is currently the chairman of both
Current TV and Generational Investment Management. He was elected to the
U.S. House of Representatives in 1976 and the U.S. Senate in 1984 and 1990,
and served eight years as vice president of the United States, from 1993 to
2000. He is the author of the 1992 bestseller Earth in the Balance:
Ecology and the Human Spirit. He lives with his wife, Tipper, in
Nashville, Tennessee.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 68 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars On the actual book, December 28, 2009

By 

cm - See all my reviews

This review is from: Our Choice: A Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis (Paperback)

Most of the "reviews" on this site are simply political arguments (with varying degrees of relevance to the book's subject matter) by people who either agree or disagree with Al Gore from a political standpoint. I would like to present a review of this book on its own merits.

1) The author has a lot to say in this book, and some of it takes time to read and comprehend. A book club might be helpful for many readers.
2) My favorite aspect of this book (from a literary standpoint) is the format. It is an interesting blend between textbook-style presentation of data, coffee-table-style presentation of main ideas, and textual exposition of a complex thesis. I think this format, while unconventional, fits the author's writing style. The downside of the format is that it could be too accessible, possibly enabling skimming or cherry-picking in lieu of reading.
3) There are minor grammatical errors that do not appear to obscure the meaning. Grammatical errors are common in scientific texts, because the majority of proofreading is done by technical experts. Also, artistic license is taken in some of the artistic renderings and poetry (and has been criticized in some reviews on this site). Both of these could be blown out of proportion by political opponents, but are legitimate in the context of the genre.
4) One of the reviews on this site claims that there is an "error" on the nuclear bar in the graph on p. 165. A range of 1-255 is given in the graph. The reviewer claims that the "actual" value in the reference is 66, but the reference itself gives the range from 1-255 *and* states that 66 is the mean value obtained upon a weighted average. Ironically, the value of 66 is not an "actual" value; it comes from a mathematical analysis, and does not refer to any particular study of an actual power plant. The book correctly presents the actual values from scientific studies, which range from 1-255. This full explanation is given on p. 2941 of the technical review that was referenced, which is free online: [...]

29 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Scientific, Timely, Smart!, December 27, 2009

By 

Vegan-Analysis (from parts unknown) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Our Choice: A Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis (Paperback)

General Description: This book is about global warming - the science and politics behind the issue. The book is attractive and comfortable in the hands despite being fairly large. It features numerous full-color maps, graphs and charts that explain everything from the greenhouse effect to turbine engines. The full-color photography is sensational, comparable to National Geographic. Despite the claims of some reviewers that the content is controversial in science, much of the information consists of basic scientific facts, simple explanations of such things as geothermal energy and solar power. Where the assertions can be contested, Gore appears to rely on consensus scientific opinion. There are 18 chapters spread over 405 pages. The chapters are divided into the following sections:

1)The Crisis
2)Our Sources of Energy
3)Living Systems (ecology and population)
4)How We Use Energy
5)The Obstacles We Need To Overcome
6)Going Far Quickly (Gore's basic plan)

Controversy: Based on what I am reading in this book and others, there is no longer a controversy in science over global warming. There are very few scientists of good reputation who deny global warming or our role in it (see the book What's The Worst That Could Happen?). The controversy is among average folks and politicians. In other words, this is a political, not a scientific controversy. Please note that Gore is referencing leading scientific bodies like The Royal Society in England and the U.S. National Academy of Science. The controversy has been generated largely by conglomerates, notably ExxonMobile, but also Shell, Texaco, General Motors, Ford and other large business combinations. This book is in no small part an expose on a massive cover up by industrial giants. And it appears to me to be an authentic, well-documented expose. But of course, as Gore admits, there are many sincere objectors, including some well-known writers, but few reputable scientists. So why all the sincere objection? To address this issue, Gore taps into psychology and neuroscience. Evolution has geared us for reacting to immediate dangers like snakes, big cats, floods, tornadoes, etc. When the danger isn't visible, we selectively repress the threat, so we can go on about dealing with more pressing problems. I think Gore's psychoanalyses, combined with his accusations of fraud and propaganda, are what's enraging conservatives here at Amazon.

12 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great read, May 11, 2010

By 

D. McAllister "D Mac" (Lake Oswego, OR United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Our Choice: A Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis (Paperback)

I wager that the majority of the semi-literate reviewers who gave this book one star did not read it, but were merely parroting what they heard on Fox News or Rush Limbaugh about climate change, or engaging in ad hominem attacks on Al Gore. This is a very good read and a hopeful guide to our energy future. Why all the hate? Even if, through ignorance and anti-intellectualism, you don't agree that humans are causing global warming, why be against new technologies? Why oppose clean energy like wind, solar, and geothermal, that could reduce our dependence on foreign oil and reduce the likelihood of oil spills like the current one in the Gulf of Mexico? What reason is there to be against progress and entrepreneurs and new ideas? I don't get it - these alternative sources of energy make sense no matter what. Unless you work for an oil company, I suppose.