State of the World 2004 (Paperback)

~ Brian Halweil (Author), Lisa Mastny (Author), Erik Assadourian (Author), Christopher Flavin (Author), Hilary French (Author), Gary Gardner (Author), Danielle Nierenberg (Author), Sandra Postel (Author), Michael Renner (Author), Radhika Sarin (Author), Janet Sawin (Author), Amy Vickers (Author), Linda Starke (Editor), The Worldwatch Institute (Author) "China has a well-deserved reputation as the land of the bicycle..." (more)
Key Phrases: less consumptive economy, global consumer class, promoting sustainable consumption, United States, European Union, United Kingdom (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School-From the moment they awake in the morning to bedtime at night, Americans are among the 1.7 billion people who are the megaconsumers, using most of the world's energy and eating almost all highly processed food. Unfortunately, that leaves 2.8 billion people living in poverty, hunger, and on a planet running out of resources. Sponsored by the World Watch Institute, this book should be read by every stakeholder on Earth, who will never take the everyday consumption of industrial products for granted again. Included in the dozens of issues covered is the environmental toll made by the annual production of four trillion plastic trash bags, and luxury foods such as shark-fin soup. The authors also offer thought-provoking solutions for solving the environmental issues presented. Even though it's chock-full of statistics and details, the book is fascinating and flows well. Its focus on the negative aspects of our consumer society, and the resulting excessive consumption will help teens relate to how their individual actions directly affect the global environment. A wonderful book for students interested in environmental issues and to stimulate class discussions.
John Kiefman, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

The most comprehensive, up-to-date, and accessible summaries...on the global environment. -- Pulitzer Prize winner E. O. Wilson

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company (January 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393325393
• ISBN-13: 978-0393325393
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #852,493 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The State of Consumption (Minus Real Alternatives), January 21, 2004

By	J.W.K (Nagano, Japan) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Although reading them can be a bit depressing, annual Worldwatch reports are always worth while, because unlike any other institute out there, the WWI seeks a comprehensive understanding of humanity's impact on the environment. This year, the format has changed a little. Instead of providing the usual litany of statistics outlining the global eco-crisis (fisheries collapsing, forests shrinking, rangelands deteriorating, soils eroding, species obliterated, temperatures rising, rivers running dry, water tables falling, ozone depletion expanding, more destructive storms brewing, polar ice caps melting, sea level rising, etc.), the focus is consumption - which makes sense, because if are reading this, you are more than likely a consumer, and if you are a consumer, you are a fundamental part of the problem. As usual, the scholarship is excellent. Unfortunately, it lacks serious discussion of alternatives for individuals seeking to do more than reduce, reuse, recycle and support green energy initiatives. In other words, as with all State of the World reports, it is only useful as a scholarly reference - or, to put it another way, not very useful. If you have already come to believe there is in fact a fundamental problem with the way industrial civilization works, I would recommend one of four books, depending on your outlook: (1) WHAT GOES UP, by Derrick Jensen (due for release sometime in 2005) (2) PERMACUTLURE: Principles & Pathways Beyond Sustainability, by David Holmgren (3) RADICAL SIMPLICITY: Small Footprints on a Finite Planet or (4) ECOVILLAGE LIVING: Restoring the Earth and Her People, by Hildur Jackson Karen Svensson. The first book, which will no doubt be as insightful and transformative as Jensen's earlier works, addresses the issue of bringing down civilization. The second book utilizes system's theory and design science in an effort empower ordinary people to create their own permanent and sustainable communities. The third book, rather consumer-oriented and reformist in nature, offers radical advice on reducing your ecological footprint. The fourth book profiles various ecovillages all over the world and provides lots of practical advice for people seeking to join or start their own. If you are like me, you will no doubt read them all - and then some - but if you are just looking for a global eco-almanac on consumer trends, the State of the World 2004 will do. Of particular import were the sections on computers and cell phones, which detail the human health (cancers, miscarriages and birth defects) and environmental impacts (ground, air and water pollution) of the two industries. I've got blood on my hands for just posting this review.

Essential annual reading.

j.w.k.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Food for thoughts., February 28, 2004

By	Y. LIN "save the earth" (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Although I like the extended reading list provided by angry-bear and agree that SOTW 2004 provides mostly facts than solutions, I wouldn't say that it is disappointing. On the contrary, this is what the series is all about. Facts are the food for thoughts, and I dare to say that every reader of SOTW has her/his own ways of facing the challenge.

The reasons are simple. The dire facts prompt us to think, to act, rather than simply to sit back in distress.

In case you haven't heard about other publications by Worldwatch Institute, please visit http://www.worldwatch.org.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reason and responsibility, December 5, 2004

By	Rebecca A. Chaney (Carnation, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

By focusing on consumerism, this book addresses the practices of our current society and the impacts those practices will have on future societies. I found it provides easily comprehended summaries of factual data that allows its readers to consider the issues of global consumption from their own individual perspective and from their particular societal perspective as well.

Throughout the book examples are given of individual and community practices that affect consumerism and global health for better or worse. Examples of consumer trends which illustrate how individual members of societies of abundance are willing to make choices based on their perceptions of global health (such as sharing cars or buying organic food) are included, as are examples of communities, companies, and governments that are attempting to move toward more sustainable production policies. The scope of the book is broad, well-indexed, and documented enabling opportunities for follow up research on material of interest. Additionally, the writers reach for an inclusive approach to personal and global well-being by emphasizing the inherent sociability of the human species and the need for solutions that are not just environmentally responsible but are globally equitable as well.