December book reviews

"Winning our Energy Independence: An Energy Insider Shows How"
By S. David Freeman

RATING:

The most remarkable element of “Winning Our Energy Independence” is the expertise and credibility of author S. David Freeman. Believe it or not, Freeman has been involved with drafting energy policy and managing public utilities since he worked as part of President Kennedy’s administration in the 1960s.

In an effort to share his lifetime of energy experience, Freeman has crafted a book that is neither über-technical nor plainly academic. His discussion of the world’s energy situation is grounded in reality, and his proposal for shifting to a renewables-based system is equally rational and plainly spoken. In a field that has been dominated by the polar opposites of bleeding-heart environmentalists and skeptical industrialists, Freeman’s book strikes a balance that should capture the attention of readers on all sides of the argument.

Or wait, is there really still an argument?

I want to believe this is the type of book America could rally around. As I read it, I thought about how it should be in the checkout isle at every grocery store in the nation. You know, right in between the bubble gum in excessive packaging and the Britney Spears–has-another-meltdown drama. I suppose it’s unlikely, but I still have to hope sometimes.

"Power to Save the World: The Truth About Nuclear Energy"
by Gwyneth Cravens

RATING:

The title is a bit dramatic, really. Maybe change the world would be more appropriate. That said, there are some compelling arguments for a nuclear energy renaissance found within the covers of “Power To Save The World.”

The first and most plausible is the amount of electricity that can be generated with little or no greenhouse gases. The second is the potential for energy independence and natural resource preservation. Maybe these are the reasons environmental groups like Sierra Club once championed nuclear energy production.

Cravens gathered most of her research for this book through firsthand visits to nuclear reactors and waste sites while befriending a nuclear physicist named Rip Anderson. A former fiction editor at the New Yorker, she recounts her experiences in great detail and, at times, in great length. She also reviews the history of nuclear science and covers the pros and cons as they’ve evolved over time.

This book has the feel of a “life’s work.” It’s overly thorough and at times reads like a diary. Not that there’s anything wrong with this from a literary perspective. However, from a practical perspective, I think it limits the delivery of an important message that nuclear energy should probably play a significant role in our battle against climate change. Maybe she’ll release an abridged version.