Thomas L. Friedman's phenomenal number-one bestseller The
World Is Flat has helped millions of readers to see the world
in a new way. In his brilliant, essential new book, Friedman takes
a fresh and provocative look at two of the biggest challenges we
face today: America's surprising loss of focus and national purpose
since 9/11; and the global environmental crisis, which is affecting
everything from food to fuel to forests. In this groundbreaking
account of where we stand now, he shows us how the solutions to
these two big problems are linked--how we can restore the world and
revive America at the same time.
Friedman explains how global warming, rapidly growing
populations, and the astonishing expansion of the world's middle
class through globalization have produced a planet that is "hot,
flat, and crowded." Already the earth is being affected in ways
that threaten to make it dangerously unstable. In just a few years,
it will be too late to fix things--unless the United States steps
up now and takes the lead in a worldwide effort to replace our
wasteful, inefficient energy practices with a strategy for clean
energy, energy efficiency, and conservation that Friedman calls
Code Green.
This is a great challenge, Friedman explains, but also a great
opportunity, and one that America cannot afford to miss. Not only
is American leadership the key to the healing of the earth; it is
also our best strategy for the renewal of America.
In vivid, entertaining chapters, Friedman makes it clear that
the green revolution we need is like no revolution the world has
seen. It will be the biggest innovation project in American
history; it will be hard, not easy; and it will change everything
from what you put into your car to what you see on your electric
bill. But the payoff for America will be more than just cleaner
air. It will inspire Americans to something we haven't seen in a
long time--nation-building in America--by summoning the
intelligence, creativity, boldness, and concern for the common good
that are our nation's greatest natural resources.
Hot, Flat, and Crowded is classic Thomas L. Friedman:
fearless, incisive, forward-looking, and rich in surprising common
sense about the challenge--and the promise--of the future.
