one.point.zero - Colin O'Brien's weblog
March 12 2007
The independent on the books many people own but have never read. Strangely enough, I’m busy reading Cloud Atlas which is in their top 5 and I can’t put it down it’s so captivating.
October 24 2006
John Thackara reads Monbiot's Heat“I am still in Beijing as I write this. It is going to be a long walk home.”
October 20 2006
How close is runaway climate change? Way too close for comfort.
September 05 2006
The Empty Tank (Jeremy Leggett)
Jeremy Leggett is a geologist who worked inside the big oil companies for years before jumping ship to Greenpeace and finally setting up his own renewable energy company. In this book, he lays out his arguments for an early peak in oil production combined with the ongoing climate crisis and their implications on our way of life. He doesn't paint a pretty picture but the facts are there and his insider knowledge tends to confirm the well-held beliefs that changes will not come from above. He sees future energy prices and lack of forward-thinking pushing us back into exploiting coal and other dirty fuels, thus accelerating climate and economic instability. It's not all gloom though, he sees renewable energy setting us back on track but only after crossing a very depressive post-cheap-oil era. Basically: we'll fall right down before we can stand up again. Worth the read if only for the insider oil stories. Note: this book is also sold under the title 'half gone'. [link]
May 22 2006
A journey through the UK’s remaining independent bookshops as they survive the onslaught of the big online and offline chains.