Vital Signs 2006-2007: The Trends That Are Shaping Our Future (Vital Signs) [Paperback]

The Worldwatch Institute (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 17, 2006 | ISBN-10: 0393328724 | ISBN-13: 978-0393328721 | Edition: 1

The award-winning Worldwatch Institute reveals the often overlooked key trends that tell the true health of our planet.

This annual volume distills the "vital signs" of our times, which often escape the attention of the media, world leaders, and economic experts, from thousands of government, industrial, and scientific documents. It tracks the major indicators that show social, economic, and environmental progress, or the lack thereof.

Vital Signs 2006-2007 presents up-to-the-minute information on environmental and sustainable development topics, such as climate change, world population, energy, transgenic crops, HIV/AIDS, trade, and Internet use. Each trend is presented in text and graphics, providing a thorough, well-documented, and accessible overview.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Vital Signs provides the most straightforward and reliable environmental, economic, and social information available on the planet Earth. The book delivers . . . facts illuminated by contexts and interconnections, often revealing causes of the problems, and pointing the way toward solutions that work (Michael Pastore - ePublishers Weekly )

About the Author

The Worldwatch Institute is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit research and publishing organization dedicated to fostering the evolution of an environmentally sustainable society.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; 1 edition (July 17, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393328724
• ISBN-13: 978-0393328721
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,697,954 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Art in the environment, November 11, 2006

By 

Robin Benson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Guide to the Art of Rockefeller Center (Paperback)

I recently walked round the Rockefeller Center to look at all the public art and this lovely little paperback was invaluable. Without it I doubt you will find the eighty or so works of art in the book that are on walls everywhere even though the majority are on exteriors. Items like Lee Lawrie's Atlas statue or the stunning Wisdom wall-relief are well-known but how many visitors realise that when they walk across the lobby of Radio City they are treading on a carpet (replaced in 1999) designed by Ruth Reeves and full of musical instrument motifs or that the bronze statues above the entrance at 620 Fifth Avenue celebrate industries of the British Empire.

The book is divided into fourteen building sections each with a color strip on the page edge that ties in with a color map on the contents page. Each spread features a color photo of the artwork and the opposite page has a very detailed description and technical listing. The last two sections include artist's biographies and an index. I would have liked to see an aerial photo or two of the Center to appreciate just how big the twenty-two acre site is.

This book is a hands-on version of Ms Roussel's much more substantial art book on the Center (ISBN 0393060829). Both books celebrate a modern American structural icon and it is a credit to the current owners that they keep all the external artistic embellishments in excellent condition.

*If you use the book to guide you round the buildings don't forget to have a look at the lovely grillwork set into the sidewalk to protect the trees.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Everythying you wanted to know..., January 9, 2007

By 

Harry Matthews "KnowGotham" (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Guide to the Art of Rockefeller Center (Paperback)

The title says it all: a detailed account of the history and theme of every scupture, mural, and painting in New York's Rockefeller Center. Casual visitors may find much more detail than they want or need, but anyone who works in the area or is intrigued by the art will enjoy the concise yet engaging commentary. A must-buy for professional guides.

The book is printed on high-quality stock and lavishly illustrated in full color.

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 14 years of succinct, relevant and readable writing on global trends., November 17, 2006

By 

N. Harvey-webb (New Zealand) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Vital Signs 2006-2007: The Trends That Are Shaping Our Future (Vital Signs) (Paperback)

The 14 th year of a "must read" series for those interested in the global ecology, technology and environment.
From ePublisher's Weekly " The most straight forward and reliable environmental, economic and social information available on the entire planet, Earth". - put together in indivdual items in a two page global summary per item.
This year has 44 items, grouped broadly into Key Indicators and Special features and into 8subgroups covering food and agricultures, energy and climate, economy, transport & communication, Health & Social, Conflict and Peace.
As Items vary from year to year - an index at the back of each volume provides complete reference to earlier volumes.