Review of Ten Technologies Chris Goodall
Review Of Ten Technologies Chris Goodall
A review of Ten Technologies to Save the Planet by Chris Goodall
shopping | general | carbon | energy efficiencyTen Technologies to Save the Planet by
Chris Goodall was published in November 2008. This 292 page book published by
Profile Books covers the latest
technological advances which could help reduce
carbon emissions, provide us with an alternative to
fossil fuels, and to help us address the problem of
climate change.
Ten Technologies is in no way an academic text. It is thoroughly
readable and requires no previous knowledge as all concepts are well introduced and explained. Although
popular science books like this are typically limited in their depth, the author has managed to make up for this problem with the
breadth of topics covered. The book can be read from front to back cover, or it is possible to dip straight into the chapters which interest you most since they can be read (and understood) independently of one another.
Ten Technologies is made up of ten chapters:
1. Capturing the
Wind
2.
Solar Energy
3. Electricity from the
Oceans
4. Combined Heat and Power
5.
Super-efficient Homes
6.
Electric Cars
7.
Motor Fuels from Cellulose
8.
Capturing Carbon
9.
Biochar
10. Soil and Forests
Some chapters are better written than others, for example, the chapters which cover the easiest to understand topics stand out as being the better put together - most probably because of the author's greater
understanding (and maybe interest) in these. The first three chapters (which cover
wind,
solar, and
tidal/
wave power) for example are very shallow and therefore less readable than the more thorough chapters on
combined heat and power and on
super-efficient homes (including
Passive Houses).
The book is finished off with a
Putting it all Together chapter which looks at how the ten technologies presented in the book can be used together; and an
Epilogue which mentions ideas which did not make the top 10 list:
nuclear power,
energy efficiency measures (including
lighting),
geoengineering, and
carbon taxes.
Covering so many of the technologies which are likely to shape the world over the next 10-20 years, this book is
essential reading. The writing style of the author is very engaging, the content is apparently well researched, and the book will act as an excellent jumping off point / introduction for anyone interested in learning more about the subects covered. However, the book is crying out for a
bibliography and the author's
suggestions for further reading.
There cannot be many people in the world who could read this book and not learn something new, and not feel
motivated to look in more depth at the topics covered.
Buy Ten Technologies to Save The Planet
Ten Technologies to Save the Planet is sold at a recommended retail price of
£9.99, however it is often offered at a 30-50% discount on
Amazon UK. Click here to
buy Ten Technologies to Save the Planet now.
Article Last Modified: 11:44, 21st Feb 2009Comment on this Article
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