Where We Stand: A Surprising Look at the Real State of Our Planet [Hardcover]

Ph.D. Seymour Garte (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 26, 2007

"Where We Stand" will serve as a reality check in the often heated debate about the environment. Dr. Garte presents irrefutable evidence that the state of the environment and human welfare has been improving steadily for the past two decades and that our efforts to "save the planet" are working. Thoughtful and impeccably researched, "Where We Stand" will energize future efforts with the knowledge that we can make a difference.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Garte, a professor of public health, presents a well-researched, clearly written summary of the health of our planet, with histories of lead paint, ozone and various chemicals as well as analyses of human health and planetary health; the prognosis is surprisingly optimistic, and prescriptions are encouraging. While the environmental problems hyped daily on the news are real and ongoing, things have improved-air and water are cleaner, more food is available, life spans are up and infant mortality is down, diseases are better understood and treated-and will continue to improve if efforts continue. Garte points out the fallacies in standard right- and left-wing approaches-the planet is not in imminent danger of imploding, he says, but neither will it be saved by the free market-and shows how most improvements over the past 40 years have been the result of government intervention. Garte's reasoned discussion and compelling, honest tone make this a valuable tool for increasing science literacy with regards to the important environmental issues of the day; Garte's recommendations, to "continue on the paths we have been traveling and finally acknowledge the great progress that we have already made" should put new wind in discouraged environmentalists' sails, while plentiful references, data and illustrations will give skeptics material to think over.
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Review

"Where We Stand, is an antidote for an overly pessimistic view of the future of the environment...He presents an authoritative and compelling argument for the role of technology and scientific discovery -- an unusual stance in the ecological worldview." ---HealthNet Media

"Dr. Garte does a very good job of spelling out where we're doing well, how we've failed, and what we can continue to do to improve. This book is a testament to the academics and good attitude of Dr. Garte, a professor of environmental and occupational health at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health. Hopefully, by reading it, everyone can learn something, whatever your personal or political views on the subject. I highly recommend this book!" --MilitantLibertarian.org

"Garte’s reasoned discussion[…]a valuable tool for increasing science literacy with regards to the important environmental issues of the day." --Publishers Weekly

"For people who are put off by all the talk of global warming these days, a new book, ‘Where We Stand: A Surprising Look at the Real State of Our Planet’ by Seymour Garte, Ph.D., gives a balanced and in many ways positive view of the state of the planet. Garte, a professor of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh, goes over both the critical issues still facing man, as well as the often-forgotten progress and positive developments. Perusing the book, I find the author’s messages to be more insightful than I would have expected with a level of optimism that’s refreshing.” -- Green World Blog, BostonHerald.com

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: AMACOM; 1 edition (September 26, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0814409105
• ISBN-13: 978-0814409107
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,755,746 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I am a Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health. I am a working reseach scientist who has published close to 200 scientific papers. My book Where We Stand, A Surprising Look at the Real State of the Planet was written for the general public, and contains historical, philosophical, political as well as scientific treatments of the global progress that has been made in the environment, public health, and quality of life for humanity. The book has a uniquely positive and hopeful viewpoint, in a sea of depressing and frightnening literature in the field. I bring over 30 years of experience in the field to the arguments, and a writing style that will entertain as well as inform.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A unique and welcome prospective, January 7, 2008

By 

Jamie Chapman (Hastings, NE) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Where We Stand: A Surprising Look at the Real State of Our Planet (Hardcover)

Finally, a rational treatment of the state of the environment and the human condition. Humans continually rise to solve problems created by our actions, yet this receives little attention in the media. It's refreshing to find a resource so clear on the positive trends disregarded by others. Typically, the focus continues to be on the negative impact we've had on our environment, and this ignores the other side of the coin -- the encouraging side.

"Where We Stand" presents a unique prospective in demonstrating we are able to solve our environmental problems, and in fact, we have done so and continue to do so. The state of the planet is not hopeless, and if our past is any indication of our future, we will solve the problems we create with policy, technology, and effort. As discussed in the book, research and activism can provide the solutions we seek. We cannot, however, sit on our hands and wait for doomsday to arrive. These successes weren't sporadic; they were planned and implemented in democratic societies by scientist, activists, citizens, politicians and businesspersons. Many challenges have been met, but as pointed out in the sections of the book titled "The Bad News", it is obvious we still have a ways to go.

Using compelling data and a conversational writing style, the author documents numerous instances of successes in our history and the continual improvement of the environment and our health (in democratic nations, non-democratic nations have a different condition). I have a broad scientific background, yet was surprised by successes we've had on the environmental front discussed in the book that I've never heard of. For example, I knew we'd brought Bald Eagles back from the brink of extinction, yet I never realized that our air quality is actually improving.

The book itself is well organized, including 3 parts: the present, the past, and the future. Topics are presented in headed sections and indexed, which would make the book a useful resource. It's also a great read for anyone interested in the environment and/or public health. This volume is a great addition to my collection of scientific books, as it shows an optimistic view of "the state of our planet" without painting everything as roses. Highly recommended for those in the field, and those with any interest in the topic of the environment.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing honesty!, July 7, 2008

By 

PShaw - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Where We Stand: A Surprising Look at the Real State of Our Planet (Hardcover)

I had the pleasure of reading Dr. Garte's book a few months ago. Prior to encountering Dr. Garte, I was one of the many who were turned off and tuned out on environmental affairs, primarily due the to "sky is falling" hysteria of the media and extremist environmental types. Dr. Garte's book changed that. It is reasonable, balanced, accessible to the untrained lay reader, and yet full of careful research and detail to appeal to those of a more educated and scientific bent.

Where We Stand focuses not just on climate change issues, but the overall health of the planet and the population. Dr. Garte focuses on the history of the way the planet was, in environmental terms, prior to the first Earth day, and discusses the ways in which technology, legislation, public awareness, and democracy have brought about improvements in our conditions. This book is not just a rosy picture. At the end of each chapter is the "bad news", which points out the areas in each topic where improvements are still needed. An interesting, well-balanced read. I highly recommend it.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How environmental activism has made a real difference in the last 40 years, December 23, 2007

By 

R. D. Wood "drdw" (Pittsburgh PA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Where We Stand: A Surprising Look at the Real State of Our Planet (Hardcover)

Seymour Garte has employed broad knowledge, unique experiences in science and life, and extensive research to make a really good book. It is written for a wide audience - scientists and non-scientists and those of all political persuasions. The dust jacket it says "His book is not intended to lull us into a false sense of security - it is meant to motivate us to keep going forward ..". The main message is that environmental action by people really does make a difference. The many very serious and urgent problems facing the planet are not ignored (e.g. rain forest destruction in the Amazaon, AIDS incidence in Africa, global warming), but one nevertheless comes away with some hope that there may be some way to resolve or ameliorate these problems.