A Review about the - Hot, Flat, and Crowded by Thomas Friedman - Book Report/Review Example

 A Review about the Book “Hot, Flat, and Crowded” by Thomas Friedman The article Eco-nomics by Jonathan Freedland gives a review about the book “Hot, Flat, and Crowded” by Thomas Friedman. Freedland through his article is informing the audience about the book Hot Flat and Crowded. The conclusion of the article is that the book written by Friedman has some irregularities but it is still powerful enough to urge individuals to work towards the change of climate in the world. Through his article Freedland is creating awareness amongst the audience regarding the changes that the world requires.

In other words Freedland is reviewing Friedman’s book in such a way that he wants the audience to follow the guidelines given by it. A premise given by Freedland is “With the world’s population of “Americans” heading toward two or three billion — all desiring the middle-class comforts of a car, a fridge and an air-conditioner — the global demand for energy is soaring to new heights. That, Friedman says, is unsustainable. Here Freedland is clearly telling that the book is revolving around global climate change which cannot be sustained by this world.

Another premise used by Freedland here is “This hunger for energy is dangerous not only because it means belching more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, so pushing the temperature to dangerously high levels, but also because it is robbing the world of precious, and beautiful, bio diversity, destroying a unique species every 20 minutes”. This clearly tells as to how the harmful gases can affect the environment of this world. Freedland believes that the book lacks in some areas but it still provides with excellent strategies to improve the world.

Freedland in his review has used valid deductive reasoning when telling how Friedman’s book is lacking at places. He clearly tells the audience that Friedman’s book does not inform the audience as much as the other sources which have previously informed them about the situation. He rather tells that the book is providing with different solutions to the problems of the global climate change. Here it is seen that Freedland is clearly linking the three points together to show how the book is really lacking and emphasizing on one specific issue of solutions.

On the other hand at one instance it can be seen that Freedland has not given enough reasoning to come to a conclusion. It is in these words that he describes the book of Friedman “Thomas L. Friedman’s new book, “Hot, Flat, and Crowded” may lack the soaring, elegiac qualities of those others. But it conceivably just might goad America’s wealthiest to face the threat of climate change and do something about it.” Here he is not providing with sufficient data to prove that the book is lacking at some places and is coming to a conclusion directly.

Hence here it can be said that Freedland has committed an error of invalid reasoning. Here Freedland could have cited some passages from the book or could have given more details about the book which would have easily led the audience to the definitive conclusion. Freedland gives an honest appraisal of the book and Friedman’s evident passion for the issues of climate change and fossil fuel depletion. The review has enough catchphrases and bylines used by Friedman to drive home his points about the urgency of the issues.

The reviewer puts the matter into perspective by mentioning that the jet-setting CEO’s often listen to Friedman much in the same way they lapped up his earlier book. The World is Flat and hence the reviewer points out, that Friedman might be the ideal cheerleader for climate change as the same CEO’s who listened to him earlier might listen to him once again and hence there is a possibility of action.ReferencesFREEDLAND, JONATHAN. Book Review: Hot, Flat and Crowded by Thomas Friedman. 03 Oct 2008.

27 Jul 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/05/books/review/Freedland-t.html