Memories of a Catholic girlhood ; How I grew ; Intellectual memoirs, New York, 1936-1938

Book Description

This unique autobiography begins with McCarthy’s recollections of an indulgent, idyllic childhood tragically altered by the death of her parents in the influenza epidemic of 1918. Tempering the need to fictionalize for the sake of a good story with the need for honesty, she creates interchapters that tell the reader what she has inferred or invented. Photographs.

Customer Reviews:

growing out of a Catholic girlhood.......2006-05-29

In this memoir Mary McCarthy's childhood appears to be marked by two contradictory principles: orphanhood and board study at a Catholic convent. Convent life appears to her as a revelation of the aristocratic principle in life. The Catholic nuncs she encounters are dazzling intellectuals, preoccupied by themes such as purification through sin and the fate of the romantics. The identification of the nuns with the romantics is stressed, and is based on their shared antimodern nonconformity, the spirit of loss and failure flickering at the side of the happy, straight road of Protestant civics. The exact opposite of the romance of Catholicism lies in the prototype exemplified by Uncle Myers, the "rootless municipalized man who finds his plasures in the handouts or overflow of an industrial civilization." The purposeless emptiness of modern municipal life is contrasted with the beautiful heroics of medieval European history.

Yet from the pretty orderliness among the girls at the convent isnot only derived romance, but at times also misunderstanding. When Mary rehearses a "loss of faith" drama to gain popularity, her faked doubts lead to a real breach of faith: "Why can't the universe be self-sufficient?" In order not to disturb the expectations of the nuns, she will be forced to fake her period. The limits between the real and the pretended, both spiritual and organic, seem troublesome inside the convent.

Mary McCarthy's love of Latin language and culture came about at college, where she represented the opposing forces of law and anarchy in the classic play "Marcus Tullius" as a reflection of her own mixed heritage. To her surprise, though, she sides with the Protestant, "law and order" Preston side of her family, which is hardly shocking to us if we take into account the abusive, stingy character of the McCarthys she knew: "The injustices my brothers and I had suffered in our childhood had made me a rebel against authority, but they had also prepared me to fall in love with justice, the first time I encountered it."

As a minute analysis of a developing psychology, we find in Mary McCarthy's memoir a description of her central conflict betwen that which she can give and that which her community needs and expects. Either with the nuns at the convent, at the boarding school before graduation or with her Protestant relatives, Mary finds the need to take refuge in pretension and lying so as to repeatedly restore the precarious balances of peace of the communities she seeks to inhabit. From this psychological need of absolute, unconditional integration we can perhaps trace the origins of her vocation as a novelist: "My whole life was a lie, it often appeared to me, from beginning to end, for if I was wilder than my family knew, I was far tamer than my friends could imagine, and with them, too, as with my family, I was constantly making up stories..." In her view this dilemma is also a designing feature of adult life, or "the trap of adult life in which you are held, wriggling, powerless to act because you can see both sides."

A Conglomeration.......2004-04-27

This is the type of book that I think of as a conglomeration but not really a book. That is, she had published several magazine articles, then gathered them together and made a book. I find that style difficult to get into. She glossed over too much; so many years were packed into just a couple pages.

It irritated me after I kept reading and reading, and she kept criticizing and criticizing the people who raised her after her parents died. I sure didn't blame her for criticizing her father's side of the family. But her criticism didn't end with them. She didn't have many kind words for anyone.

Brilliant, analytical, and literary memoir.......2003-09-12

That Mary McCarthy's childhood was difficult and unpleasant is well recognized. She has created a worthy and literary memoir from the material gathered during the years before she was claimed by her benevolent Seattle grandparents from the truly draconian aunt and uncle who kept her for 5 years prior to that. Somewhere along the way, this child who was probably difficult and moody - and certainly intelligent and scathingly witty - developed the ability to step outside herself, observe what was happening, remember it, then later write about it. The result is a classic memoir that deserves to be read by writers as well as the general reading audience. Funny, heartbreaking, sarcastic, bitingly acerbic - and always excellent.

Poor Little Rich Girl.......2001-12-22

I have always held a fascination for people who grew up with a real sense of religion that later fell away from the faith. I bought this book expecting something akin to the movies that are so prevalent nowadays about the catholic schoolboys smoking and getting caught by the nuns and hit with a ruler across the wrists. Instead, I was greeted with an amazing tale of Mary and her sad loss of her parents, pitiful existence with her aunt and uncle and twisted "saving" by her West Coast relatives.

The childhood she had was less than perfect, I agree, but the fact that she survived it and lived to create such a wonderful literary account of it almost makes me appreciative of her having to go through it. The chapter on her grandmother is so reminiscent of my own mother that I had to laugh out loud at times.

Well worth the read and the struggle through the many latin references and unfamiliar religious practices.

Young Mary.......2001-09-24

As an off-again, on-again admirer of Mary McCarthy, I sometimes wondered if she ever had a childhood or just appeared full-blown, rapier-witted and sword at her side. While never doubting her talent, reading her was frequently as pleasant as drinking a glass of vitriol.

Mary indeed had a childhood, and unusual it was. I am sure it marked her forever to lose both her parents within a week of one another to influenza at age six. To add to the horror, the family was traveling by train to start a new life in Minnesota. Mary, herself, was deathly ill with the virus, and that colored her impressions of the tragic event.

Some reviewers and the book jacket describe her childhood as "Dickensonian," I presume referring to Oliver Twist. I disagree, as Mary came from a well-to-do family that didn't lack for the material things of life. She lived with an aunt and uncle from her 6th to 11th year and was tremendously unhappy, claiming she didn't have enough to eat, was dressed in hand-me-downs and frequently beaten. Yet all photos of this time depict a well-dressed, well-fed child. At age 11, she was taken to live with her benevolent, wealthy grandparents in Seattle. From that time on, she received the kindest attention and was expensively educated. My doubts about those five early years are because Ms. McCarthy all her life was an implacable, unforgiving enemy when her feelings were aroused.

The memoir is beautifully written with sharp and fascinating characterizations of her family. She appends each chapter with an epilogue taking an adult's eye-view of her childhood impressions. It is most effective. You are constantly reaffirming her brilliance. Well worth reading.

Memories of a Catholic Girlhood
Average customer rating:
Memories of a Catholic Girlhood

Manufacturer: Berkley Publishing Corp
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000BY9UQU

Product Description

"...an altogether fascinating memoir...Mary McCarthy, today, is one of the half dozen finest stylists amont American writers." -Charles Rolo, Atlantic "A volume of remarkabley vivid reminiscence..." -Chicago Sunday Tribune

Average customer rating:

Memories Of A Catholic Girlhood
Mary Mccarthy
Manufacturer: Penguin Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OPWE8C

Average customer rating:

MEMORIES OF A CATHOLIC GIRLHOOD
Mary McCarthy
Manufacturer: Harcourt Brace
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0000CJUBB

Average customer rating:

Memories Of A Catholic Girlhood
Mary McCarthy
Manufacturer: Penguin Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000PC9PR2

Average customer rating:

Memories of a Catholic Girlhood

Manufacturer: Harcourt Brace
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000EHNHJA

Product Description

Her autobiography.

Average customer rating:

MEMORIES OF A CATHOLIC GIRLHOOD
MCARTHY
Manufacturer: HEINEMANN
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000RY1SXW

Average customer rating:

Memories of a Catholic Girlhood
Mary McCarthy
Manufacturer: Harcourt Brace and Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NQGWOY

Average customer rating:

MEMORIES OF A CATHOLIC GIRLHOOD
Mary McCartghy
Manufacturer: Harcourt brace and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000QAEO56

Book Description

To the uninitiated, German military symbols appearing on documents, maps, orders-of-battle, and throughout post-war German WWII military literature, can appear indecipherable. Yet an understanding of their meaning is key to being able to seriously read and research all aspects of the WWII German Armed Forces. This book aims to provide the reader with a clear and comprehensive reference to these symbols, as seen in photos, tables of organisation and maps for the period May 1943 onwards.

The first two parts of the book feature an overview of how the German Armed Forces used the symbols in the field. Parts III, IV and V deal with specific forms and categories of symbols used. The format used throughout has been to provide an image of the symbol, accompanied by the relevant German term and its English translation, along with any pertinent information that will aid the reader's understanding of the symbol and the unit that it represented.

The final part of the book, containing a list of over 500 abbreviations and their German terms, supplemented by English translations, should prove invaluable to any reader who has more than a passing interest in the Second World War German Armed Forces.

Key FeaturesThe only English-language book available on this subject ; a new book, NOT a photocopied reprint!

All images computer-enhanced for crystal-clear reproduction

Ideal reference for modellers and all those who take an active interest in the WWII German Armed Forces

A thoroughly-researched guide to a little-known subject

Over 800 symbols illustrated ; over 1,000 German terms and abbreviations translated into English

Customer Reviews:

Excellent reference for historians and modellers alike.......2004-07-02

The military symbols in this book appeared on maps, documents, tables-of-organisation, and orders-of-battle, as well as on military vehicles. The symbols illustrated replaced those in use up until May 1943, although some of the former symbols remained in use until the end of WWII. The book is divided into six sections: Structure of the Symbols, featuring basic arm-of service, weapon, and mobility indicators; Command and Senior Headquarters symbols; Combat Troops, featuring infantry, panzer troops, cavalry, artillery, engineers, signals, field waterway units, and propaganda units, among others; Supply and Rear Area troops, including baggage train, supply, water supply, ordnance military, and field post office units; Units and Departments with Special Assignments such as administrative units, transportation departments, rear-area care facilities, border and penal units.

Each symbol appears with its description in both German and English, and there are occasional organizational examples included, along with pertinent information that assist the reader to understand the symbol and the unit it represented.

There is an equally useful A-Z section entitled Abbreviations, where relevant terms in German are expanded and translated into English.

The author has been exhaustive in his efforts to research his subject, and the result is a vital reference for modelers of figures, AFV's and dioramas alike, as well as historians wishing to understand the complex hierarchy of the Wehrmacht. Very highly recommended.

Handbook of WWII German Military Symbols and Abbreviations 1943-1945
Average customer rating:
Handbook of WWII German Military Symbols and Abbreviations 1943-1945
Terrence Booth
Manufacturer: Helion and Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0739431862

Government By the People, Basic Version (21st Edition)
Average customer rating:
Government By the People, Basic Version (21st Edition)
David B. Magleby , David M. O'Brien , Paul C. Light , James Mac Gregor Burns , Jack W. Peltason , and Thomas E. Cronin
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Civics | Government | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
General | Political Science | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Government | Political Science | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Nonfiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Perspectives on American Politics

Adult Development and Aging

Working in Groups: Communication Principles and Strategies (4th Edition)

The Riverside Reader

You Decide! Current Debates in American Politics, 2006 Edition (3rd Edition) You Decide! Current Debates in American Politics, 2006 Edition (3rd Edition)

ASIN: 0131921584

Government By the People, Basic Version (22nd Edition) (Government by the People)
Average customer rating:
Government By the People, Basic Version (22nd Edition) (Government by the People)
David B. Magleby , David M. O'Brien , Paul C. Light , J. W. Peltason , and Thomas E. Cronin
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Civics | Government | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
General | Political Science | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Holt Handbook: Fifth Course, Grammar, Usage, Mechanics, Sentences

Silencing Political Dissent: How Post-September 11 Anti-Terrorism Measures Threaten Our Civil Liberties

Felicia's Journey

Steps to Writing Well with Additional Readings

College Algebra

ASIN: 0132434423

Book Description

The most authoritative text for American Government, Government By the People is always one step ahead. Building on a long tradition of clear and accessible writing, sound scholarship, and currency, it has become the most reliable, responsive, and respected text for today’s American government course. Its distinguished author team addresses your needs and the needs of your students in every edition–with the most innovative response to teaching trends, as well as trends in the discipline. With this text’s essential foundation, students will be set to respond–as involved American citizens–to the political issues facing their country, and their world, in the twenty-first century.

Government by the People, Basic Version, 20th Edition

Average customer rating:

Not to worry---it's fine
Governmet? HA!
gooses review
I noticed a definite left tilt as well.
Leftist propaganda not science

Government by the People, Basic Version, 20th Edition
James MacGregor Burns , J.W. Peltason , Thomas E. Cronin , David B. Magleby , David M. O'Brien , and Paul C. Light
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Civics | Government | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Nonfiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Sacrements: Celebrations of Gods Life
Nuts & Bolts: A Practical Guide for Explaining and Defending the Catholic Faith
Texas Politics: Economics, Power, and Policy
Literature: The British Tradition
Handbook of Christian Apologetics: Hundreds of Answers to Crucial Questions

ASIN: 0131101722

Customer Reviews:

Not to worry---it's fine.......2007-04-26

Apparently, the Fox Noise machine has cranked out a lot of negative reviews on Burns here. But ignore all that. The book is fine and well-balanced. Burns has long been a first-rate historian and political scientist and there's no reason to doubt that now. The negative reviews are from the Karl Rove crowd.

Governmet? HA!.......2006-01-26

I absolutely hated this book, it gave little factual information on the srtucture and founding of our government. The book also had an enormous left wing bias which is definately inappropriate for a college class. Instructors please find another textbook that is more interesting and deals with function and structure of government {if you want your students to read it ;) }

HORRIBLE BOOK!

gooses review.......2005-07-12

The best features of this book include the charts which appear to have been all polled in new york state or california due to the leftist bias which makes me question the accuracy of any of the statistics. The thing that I liked least was the books negative attitude toward third parties which it attempted to emphasize as spoilers in political races. Besides that the side stories were interesting but of completely no use in showing how government works. The chapters were long and very repetative stating information several times as if it was new even though it had been explained several times before. The same examples were also used in many cases to explain different things. If you have a class with this book there is no point in reading the whole book. If you know nothing about political science you should read up to the last 4 chapters which are on rights and civil liberties this part is just common sense and can be largely opinionated.

I noticed a definite left tilt as well........2004-12-17

After having spent a semester taking a class requiring this book, I definitely noticed a rather liberal-leaning bias throughout most of the text. One of the obligations of national government, as stated by the text, is its "matter of fact" attitude that more wealthy individuals owe it to "impoverised" people through literally "taking money from more wealthy states" and giving it to poor states. Give me a break, there is so much socialism and liberal drivel in this book it made reading it a headache.

Profs and teachers, PLEASE find something a little more objective than this textbook. Sheesh!!!

Leftist propaganda not science.......2003-10-28

This book presents the issues in a twisted manner, and never teaches fundamental values. It does not discuss at all the Declaration of Independence, does not give nearly enough historical background and generally mystifies the foundations of American politics. The meaning and value of the Electoral College is not explained nor compared to the structure of the Senate and House. Well if that was mentioned it would tell too much. Instead you get the usual leftist posturing, "uh - it's so complicated - let us fix it for you". The misery of this book is most evident in the discussion of the First Amendment - it is declared contradictory. Of course their interpretation is contradictory but this is what they like, so this is what you get. Once a conflict is introduced, the familiar soap opera style takes over. If you are not into MTV this book is not for you. BTW, editions galore and the price is definitely not "for the poor".

Government by the People, Basic Version, 2001-2002 Edition (19th Edition)

Average customer rating:

Gives great insight to American government
Great Intro to American Politics Textbook
I love their attitude,I want to read it in English!

Government by the People, Basic Version, 2001-2002 Edition (19th Edition)
James MacGregor Burns , J. W. Peltason , Thomas E. Cronin , David B. Magleby , and David M. O'Brien
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Democracy | Government | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Federal Government | Government | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

U.S. | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Nonfiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

The Meaning of Vocation
Elements of Literature: Sixth Course Literature of Britain With World Classics
Men And Women Are From Eden: A Study Guide to John Paul II's Theology of the Body
21 Debated: Issues in American Politics, Second Edition
Calculus: Graphical Numerical Algebraic

ASIN: 0130315656

Book Description

KEY BENFIT: This comprehensive, classic book takes readers from on-lookers to participants. Government by the People lets them see democracy as the participatory government that it is. Covers 2000 Presidential Election, constitutional democracy, political culture and ideology, campaigns and elections, the Presidency, the judiciary, and much more. Explains how Congress and the President work together. For anyone interested in American Government.

Customer Reviews:

Gives great insight to American government.......2004-12-29

I was amazed at how interesting this book was. I used it for a class I was taking, and I had many preconceived notions that I would not like the class. I was very surprised that everything was so interesting. The author has gathered all of the latest information that was available during the publication of the book, and intergrates the ideas and concepts very well. The book gives you information that a normal person of the "general public" would not have known. I found that every chapter had something to learn that benefited me and that everything in this book applied to me as an American. Great text for my online class; I'm glad we used this book.

Great Intro to American Politics Textbook.......2002-08-11

Excellent intro to politics text. I highly recommend it for a classroom or for anyone really who wants to sit down with a plain-spoken piece to get you to understand our government. Whether it is for someone with little knowledge as to who this vast bureaucracy works, or for someone with a fairly good knowledge of it all - I don't think it will disappoint.
I think what I appreciated the most was the honesty that the text was written. The authors also included a good amount of humor to emphasize the point (in cartoon, comic, Top 10 List, etc), in order to keep a reader interested.
I think this text is also a good reference as well, as there are numerous court cases and explicit examples of gov't at work - that if you are ever at a loss for "what was it that happened?" or "what does that term mean?" Things are extremely easy to find and be referred to.
Good works.

I love their attitude,I want to read it in English!.......2000-04-16

I'm reading this book in Chinese,I love it! Our teachers never told me about it, they just teached us what is 'right'.

Government by the People, Basic Version, 2001-2002 Edition and Companion Website Access Code (19th Edition)

Average customer rating:

Just another school book.

Government by the People, Basic Version, 2001-2002 Edition and Companion Website Access Code (19th Edition)
James MacGregor Burns , J. W. Peltason , Thomas E. Cronin , David B. Magleby , David M. O'Brien , Burns , and Peltason
Manufacturer: Pearson Education
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

Just another school book........2002-02-09

I bought this book for a college class. I really like the cover, I don't know why. It has some pretty good facts in it besides the same ol' polysci stuff. If I wanted a text book just to have about the US government, I would probably get this one. It wasn't a bad price either.(I bought it from a dealer).

Government by the People Practice Tests: Basic Version

Average customer rating:

Government by the People Practice Tests: Basic Version
David B. Magleby , David M. O'Brien , and Paul C. Light
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Nonfiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 0131560115

Government by the People, 2003-2004 Edition, Basic Version, Review Guide and Lecture Companion

Average customer rating:

Government by the People, 2003-2004 Edition, Basic Version, Review Guide and Lecture Companion
James MacGregor/ Cronin, Thomas E Burns
Manufacturer: Prentice-Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Average customer rating:

Government By the People: Basic Version
David B. Magleby , David M. O'Brien , Paul C. Light , J. W. Peltason , and Thomas E. Cronin
Manufacturer: Pearson; Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Education | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0131725076

Product Description

The most authoritative text for American Government,Government By the Peopleis always one step ahead. Building on a long tradition of clear and accessible writing, sound scholarship, and currency, it has become the most reliable, responsive, and respected text for todayrsquo;s American government course. Its distinguished author team addresses your needs and the needs of your students in every editionndash;with the most innovative response to teaching trends, as well as trends in the discipline. With this textrsquo;s essential foundation, students will be set to respondndash;as involved American citizensndash;to the political issues facing their country, and their world, in the twenty-first century.

Government by the People: Basic Version : Study Guide

Average customer rating:

Government by the People: Basic Version : Study Guide
Larry Elowitz
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall College Div
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0130117552

Government by the People: Bill of Rights Edition, Basic Version

Average customer rating:

Government by the People: Bill of Rights Edition, Basic Version
James MacGregor Burns , J. W. Peltason , and Thomas E. Cronin
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall College Div
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Democracy | Government | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

State & Local Government | Government | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

U.S. | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Amazon.com

That most of the world's environments are in bad shape is by now well known. They need not remain that way, insists veteran environmentalist Denis Hayes, a coordinator of the first Earth Day in 1970 and now CEO of the International Earth Day Network. Many animal and plant species have been brought back from the brink of extinction since the dawning of the environmental movement, and more and more people are aware of the ecological consequences of their actions. But then, Hayes notes, more and more people are buying gas-guzzling SUVs, using energy-thirsty halogen torchieres, consuming fossil-fuel-squandering foodstuffs grown far from home out of season, and otherwise behaving as if the good times will never end. The cost of that behavior is mounting: witness the greenhouse effect, by which gases trapped in the atmosphere prevent solar heat from escaping, thereby warming the earth. "Within a few decades," Hayes warns, "you will breathe air containing twice as much CO ₂ as the air your grandparents breathed unless we radically change our use of carbon fuels such as coal and fuel."

There is much we can do, counsels Hayes. We can change our habits of energy consumption and develop sources of clean energy. We can agitate for the protection of air-cleansing forests--especially the vast boreal forests of North America and Asia, which, while less rich in biodiversity than the better-publicized Amazon rainforest, are far more effective at filtering poisons out of the air. We can try to leave a smaller footprint, ratchet up our consciousness just a little bit more, elect "green" politicians and boycott "brown" corporations. The list goes on.

Thoughtful and well written, The Official Earth Day Guide to Planet Repair is a fine sourcebook for anyone willing to get started on the perhaps quixotic but just as certainly necessary task of fixing all the damage we have done. --Gregory McNamee

Book Description

Everyone talks about the weather but no one ever does anything about it. Sadly, that old joke is no longer true. A large body of increasingly compelling scientific evidence is telling us that many things we do - from the kinds of cars we drive to how we heat our homes - are directly affecting our global climate in unprecedented and alarming ways. But what can any one person do about this vast, global problem? Help fix it! And it doesn't have to be a do-it-yourself project; we citizens and stewards of the earth can unite in greater numbers and power than ever before.

In The Official Earth Day Guide to Planet Repair, Earth Day leader and renewable energy expert Denis Hayes tells us how changes in individual, local, and national energy choices can slow or even stop the dangerous build-up of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, while at the same time saving us money, helping the economy, creating new jobs, and enhancing human health. A how-to home improvement guide for the planet, the book:

describes the problem of global warming today as well as its likely effects in the future
considers the sources of energy available to us, and explains why one of them is the Earth's best hope
offers dozens of ways to painlessly reduce your own energy use
provides action steps to affect the world's energy use and help change policy
tells where to go for further help and more information

The first Earth Day in 1970 helped launch the modern environmental movement. Rather than waiting for elected officials to take action to address environmental abuses, environmental maverick Denis Hayes and his compatriots took the lead in bringing the subject to the forefront of American consciousness. Through three decades, the idea of Earth Day has flourished, and now more than ever, individuals need to take matters into their own hands and create change from the ground up and from the whole earth down. As citizens and consumers, we hold a vast capacity for improving our environment and leaving a bright legacy for our children. For seasoned green veterans and environmental newcomers alike, The Official Earth Day Guide to Planet Repair is the must-have book for the next century.

Customer Reviews:

An ideal home, school, and community library reference........2000-06-04

The Official Earth Day Guide To Planet Repair describes the problem of global warming and its effects today and in the future; considers available energy sources and explains why one of them is the Earth's best hope; offers dozens of ways to painlessly reduce energy use; provides action steps to affect the world's energy use and help to change governmental policy; reveals where to find further help and more information on environmental issues and concerns. The Official Earth Day Guide To Planet Repair is an ideal home reference and a timely and highly recommended addition to personal, school, and community library environmental issues collections.

Surprisingly optimistic!.......2000-06-01

I hadn't expected this book to focus so tightly on global warming, and particularly on the role of carbon dioxide therein, but nevertheless it held my interest and left me full of hope. It has solid suggestions for ways in which of each of us can flex our consumer muscles to reduce unnecessary energy use, and also lays out a larger strategy that we can use for a national blueprint.

The really good news is that this book makes clear that we already KNOW how to reduce our greenhouse emissions (thereby helping our planet and ourselves), keep our economy strong while we do it, and continue to be a world technological leader to boot. The only thing standing in our way is a group of people (a large, politically powerful group of people!) who feel that their short-term profits from fossil fuels matter more than the health of ourselves, our descendants, and all the other people on the planet.

I hope that this book gets a broad readership; it deserves it. We all deserve to hear this message and start moving toward a cleaner world.

Not a bad book but not what I expected.......2000-05-04

If you are looking to buy a car, buy gasoline, or own a home...maybe this book is good for you. I found that the majority of the book was only a high level overview of the environmental situation with few advice on what a person can do to make a difference. From the title, and the discription I was led to believe that I would read something that I could do in order to help, but instead the advice was only for those owning a home and a car- which I do neither (Bike power is better than owning a car anyway! :) )

Its not an expensive book, but I personally would return it, or give it away,...I didn't really learn anything new at all- except the last chapter where the author goes into detail about the GCC -Global Climate Coalition - which I previously hadn't heard of. This was really the only new thing that I learned- not worth the (...) for 3 pages of new info.

I am presently looking for a better environmental book which gives me ideas for little things I can do day to day in order to help the earth.

Concise and constructive!.......2000-04-18

Of late I've been looking for some clarity, simplicity and guidance on what kind of shape our environment is in and on what you and I and the companies we work for, or partronize, can do to preserve and improve that environment. I believe Denis Hayes got it in one.

He starts with a brief review of the state of the environment (not great, folks!), with a focus on global warming, major national policy decisions and international efforts of the last decade. He then moves on to identify energy sources to get rid of and general technology developments that we deparately need to support for the future.

Following these bigger industry issues, he then gives some simple suggestions on how to make our own lives more energy efficient and earth friendly - in the near term, and for the long haul. Very helpful - I've followed three!

As a finale, Hayes circles back to the initial discussion of global warming & climate change and comments on how many major industries do NOT have a strong interest in our improving our energy efficiency, but the exact opposite. This reminder gives new insight into any media coverage on this issue.

So, whether you are convinced about global warming or not, this book offers the average person some constructive suggestions for helping to reduce waste and pollution. And, hey, you might help keep the planet cooler, too.

Note: Compared to other books that I'm reading on the subject, this one is concise and very readable - great for the average reader. The others (while excellent) are much more philosophical and/or detailed ("Natural Capitalism", by P. Hawken et al, and "Believing Cassandra", by A. AtKisson).

The Official Earth Day Guide to Planet Repair
Average customer rating:
The Official Earth Day Guide to Planet Repair
Denis Hayes
Manufacturer: Island Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NY66P6

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books