“…highly informative handbook.” “I am very impressed by your book.”
"You have collected in one small volume a great number of facts and figures relating to issues of environmental concern — a highly useful compilation."
“The Little Green Handbook is a very big aid for anyone seeking information on the planet's environmental crisis. Really, it is all about us — we 6 or 7 billion human beings now marauding the Earth's resources. Ron Nielsen has gathered a galaxy of helpful facts. It is information, which is crucial to averting the onrush of environmental calamity — how wisely we respond to it is up to us!"
“Based on a massive amount of research, this user-friendly narrative is filled with up-to-date facts and figures about the most serious trends facing the planet. It is a unique reference work that draws together scientific evidence across a range of inter-related fields to present an incontrovertible picture of the state of our world. The Little Green Handbook is the essential reference book on the subjects it deals with. Anyone who needs this kind of information — students, journalists, professionals, policy-makers, and general readers — will find it here.”
“This is a book filled with data of incredible depth and diversity. As a physicist, Ron Nielsen is clearly comfortable with numbers and lots of them! With 118 tables and 22 pages of references, this book compiles an enormous quantity of facts and figures. “Not only does Nielsen report data from a diverse range of sources, he has adjusted all figures into standardised units for consistency and easy comparison. He has also fitted functions to time-series data to project trends into the future, and where possible, compares these to projections by other authors. “…he advocates greater international cooperation, particularly in the transfer of sustainable t3chology and knowledge from industrialised to developing countries to overcome the environmental problems of their burgeoning populations. “The author, Ron Nielsen, deserves credit for synthesising such a diversity of material into such an accessible, straightforward account.”
“Not often you read a book and say: I wish I had written that book. But I had that feeling when I read this book. It’s a wonderful analysis of the global problems and some of the solutions.”
"The Little Green Handbook: Seven Trends Shaping the Future of Our Planet is my permanent and reliable companion. It rests on the table next to my computer and is referred to frequently as I write my papers on health and the environment. If updated regularly, it will become indispensable."
“What are the critical global trends? In his very useful book,
The Little Green Handbook. A guide to critical global trends,
published earlier this year, Ron Nielsen suggest the following list
1. The population
explosion “If we are going to do anything to deal with these problems, several of which later speakers in this Symposium will discuss in detail, we in the wealthy countries need to attack item 6, what Nielsen calls 'social decline'. This means that we, by which I mean the general public and especially the politicians, must radically change our behaviour. We must all follow René Dubos's concept, "think globally, act locally". But this must happen all over the world. We must think on a decadal scale rather than an election-driven scale, and not just as current Government does, in terms of the pressure of old people on our health systems. We must all seek a fulfilling life, rather than a life of material wealth. We must overcome the growth fetish and somehow use our current affluence to attack the poverty of the Third World countries. And we do not have much time to do this, because in so many of the items that make up the detail of Nielsen's other six global trends, we are approaching or have already exceeded the limits.”
“The major strength of the book is the wealth of information provided ... this is an informative book which outlines global environmental problems clearly and concisely and is suitable for a lay audience seeking an introduction to environmental issues.”
"Thank you for sending me the copy of your book. I have enjoyed going through it; there is a wealth of useful information in there. I am impressed by the wide range of detailed (and well referenced) information you have pulled together.
"The Little Green Handbook should be bought and distributed widely; at this 'greatest turning point in our history' I suggest it be kept close at hand by all over the age of sixteen, especially your local pollie. "Most of us, some significant politicians and industrialists aside, now appreciate that our future depends on the Environment. This not-so-little book (the size of a solid novel) does a fine job of helping us to understand why this is so. Instead of a biased polemic, Ron Nielsen provides us with a robust package of data on the health of the environment and humanity, and succeeds and succeeds in synthesising and objectively commenting on (as far as one can see) the important issues. "The reading of the book is mostly easy because of the use of simple language and clear layout.The Little Green Handbook is a a call for us to ensure that our children's future is 'safe, nurturing, and sustainable'. The bottom line, as most of us suspect already, is that with proper global management, reflected in 'selfless care for one another and dedication to the environment', we can have 'global economic growth and sustainable future' - so let's go to it!"
“Clearly presented and thoroughly researched, The Little Green Handbook is an essential reference for anyone who cares about the future of the planet. "The
scientific facts are beyond dispute. The book has so much information
that it becomes a tool that every public speaker should carry all
the time."
Dr
John Innes recommends The Little Green Handbook to students
in support of his course on Global
Environmental Issues at The University of British Columbia,
Vacourver, Canada.
“The Little Green Handbook concludes positively with a review of key progress, and Nielsen argues that, with proper global management, we can have both global economic growth and a sustainable future. Background readers will appreciate the book’s contribution to a broad outline.” “I'm thrilled to be in touch with you today as the acquiring editor for the US edition of THE LITTLE GREEN HANDBOOK, a book I'm immensely moved by, that I pushed with unmitigated enthusiasm here, and that I think would do this market and this country in general a whole lot of good. Many congratulations for this amazing and singular work. “As you probably already know, we would like to crash this book onto our "Winter" list for publication on Earth Day, April 22, 2006. Again, this book is a pleasure and an honor for us; the entire company is thrilled to have you and is at your service. I look greatly forward to our collaboration on THE LITTLE GREEN HANDBOOK. Please feel free to get in touch with me at any time.'
“An erudite, wide-ranging, and fascinating picture of how our world works today, how we got here, and where we're going “The aim of The Little Green Handbook is to illustrate and explain the current critical global trends, and to suggest areas for positive change. Compulsively readable, it is a unique reference work that relates physical trends to social and political repercussions, drawing together evidence across many inter-related fields to explain the science behind the news stories, sound bytes and cocktail-party banter. Just how serious are our environmental problems? Are we doing enough to deal with them? How many people can the planet sustain? What are the long-term effects of continued environmental damage? How fast is the process of global warming? What are the implications of our continued dependence on fossil fuels? “The Little Green Handbook has the answers. Based on a massive amount of research, this user-friendly narrative is filled with up-to-date facts and figures about the most serious trends facing the planet. A worthy companion piece to the work of Tom Friedman, Malcolm Gladwell, Elizabeth Kolbert, and Steven Levitt, this book makes complex but vitally important ideas simple.”
“This book
will outsell ‘The Little Red Book’ because it's more important.
“Now, with The Little Green Handbook, we have, for the first time, a complete, comprehensive, and concise summary of all critical global trends and events.”
"It may be little and green, but this book packs a mighty punch."
“As someone who earns a living from words, It was with trepidation I approached a book filled with figures. But within hours of starting the book I realised the enormous power and impact of seeing this data laid out in tables. The figures really speak for themselves, with some help from Dr Nielsen. Under each table he gives an example of what the data is telling the reader and allows you to confirm that you are reading information correctly. “The handbook is full of facts and figures but they are presented in such a way that it is never cumbersome or a less than absorbing read ... Although the reader cannot escape the serious picture presented by this reference book, the take home message is that with a concerted effort to address these issues a sustainable future is possible” “Ron Nielsen’s book is a fantastic reference ... What’s amazing about this book is the amount of data and research material put into it ... it certainly belongs in any good school or university library.” “Ron Nielsen is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Physics and he has pulled together an astonishing array of scientific evidence to present a clear picture of the most serious trends facing the planet.”
“In my opinion, Ron Nielsen’s book is one of the most important publications that has been released in the last 20 years; this is must-know information for all of us. What sets this book apart is that it takes these huge global issues and breaks them down into bite sized chunks of information that we can all comprehend; it is very cleverly written and compiled.”
“The seven
critical trends determined and analysed by Ron Nielsen have convincing
facts to back up his comment and predictions. I’ve never read
statistics in such an easy way. Significant facts just roll off in
support of the discussion whether it be diminishing land and water
resources, population explosion, atmospheric destruction, the approaching
energy crisis, social decline or conflicts and our increasing killing
power. “Now to a magnificent book by Ron Nielsen, a nuclear physicist, who with a natural personal modesty has called it ‘THE LITTLE GREEN HANDBOOK’. “It is not little – at some 400 pates in length – nor is it thoroughly ‘green’; although it is devoted to matters that could influence the way we think about our environment. “Fortunately he writes in a conversational style that is easy to read and understand. No high-flown or academic gobbledygook, just plain and simple facts. He describes the influence of populations, the resources needed to keep them alive, how many resources we still have left on our small planet. And he lays out the information in a manner that clearly shows where needs and resources balance or they don’t. “Nielsen is an experienced and highly qualified scientist and he presents the information in a neat and readable form. His conclusions are logical and free of opinion, bias or emotion ... If you ever give thought to the future this is a book that will hammer home our present circumstances.”
“Nielsen provides a comprehensive summary with facts and figures on the physical environment, but ties in economic, social and political trends to physical environment to give a broader view of what we are up against. It¹s accessible and has an extensive list of references.” “The Little Green Handbook gives an excellent summary of the essential facts and figures of global environmental change while giving a broader view of what these continuing developments will mean for humanity ... Nielsen’s attention to detail and breadth of research is extraordinary. His ability to graph and tabulate complex ideas about social decline or the energy crisis in an accessible and interesting form make this book a truly valuable source of information for any environmental or social justice activist.” “I’ve been inspired by The Little Green Handbook and my aim now is to work harder and spend more time, maybe even to devote my life on looking for solutions to environmental and social issues.” “The Little Green Handbook is an invaluable publication for all who care about our global environment. It is also a timely call to action in terms of making healthy choices and lobbying our politicians to do the same - for all our sakes.”
“The Little Green Handbook by Dr Ron Nielsen is a comprehensive guide to the current state of the planet. It is packed full of data covering environmental degradation, population, land and water resources, atmosphere, energy use and much more. Each topic is thoroughly covered with a multitude of up to date facts and figures. These are easily understood and clearly explained by the author. This is not a book by a scientist for scientists; it is written for the average reader. The only thing overwhelming about this book is its message about the state of the planet.”
“The Little Green Handbook by Ron Nielsen is a fascinating read. Nielsen argues that with proper global management we can have both global economic growth and a sustainable future.” “The author,
a nuclear physicist, is very careful to refrain from 'doom and gloom',
focusing most on facts and a little on probabilities for the future.
And he asks a lot of hard questions.
“How many people can the planet sustain? How fast is the process of global warming? How long will our fresh water supplies last? You'll find the answers to these questions and innumerable others in The Little Green Handbook, and exhaustive survey of critical global trends that covers everything from the state of the environment to the economic, social, and political trends that have shaped our world. The news in this book is not necessarily pretty, but far from being a doomsday prophet, Dr Nielsen undertook the work "out of concern for the future of our children, because... It is our duty to do what we can to understand the issues and then use whatever means at our disposal to ensure that their future is safe, nurturing, and sustainable." Knowledge is power, and Nielsen's user-friendly narrative makes this essential knowledge accessible to all.” ”Ron Nielsen and Melbourne publishers Scribe bring readers this timely compendium –an all-in-one guide to the state of the world.” “Nielsen…has mobilised his technical expertise in helping to answer realistic questions about environmental damage and climate change. A huge amount of research data has been squeezed down in this solid volume, making it as digestible as possible, in an effort to offer real answers to questions concerning the global condition. “…this mass of hard data has been mobilised to cut through the debate, rhetoric and war of representation on both sides of the environmental issue.” "The Little Green Handbook – Scientific evidence on critical global trends and everything to do with the environment and politics. Best Part – The take-no-prisoners section on food production and food quality. Essential reading."
"What riveted me to my chair whilst reading Ron's book, was the compassion of the man for this planet. "As a consequence of reading Ron's book I am more committed than ever to changing the technical paradigms that can deliver sustainability."
"If you haven't already read it, this is a great book: The Little Green Handbook: Seven trends shaping the future of our planet, by Ron Nielsen. It's not a book on how to be green, but rather an analysis of things as they are and on how the world as a whole needs to start being more green. Good information." "The Little Green Handbook is an invaluable publication for all who care about our global environment. It is also a timely call to action in terms of making healthy choices and lobbying our politicians to do the same — for all our sakes."
"The Little Green Handbook is an excellent reference for anyone concerned about the state of the world, and a strong wake-up call for those who haven't heard the multitude of earlier alarms." "I found this amazing little book by chance while browsing the 'green' section of an independent bookstore. This book is different from many others I’ve read because it focuses far more on numbers and stats than on mere hyperbole. Although Nielsen does include his opinions, he backs them up compellingly. In a field that can be very controversial, solid figures are invaluable. "Charts and tables abound throughout the book, which makes it a powerful tool when you want to prove a point or dispute a skeptic. All the statistics are carefully commented and referenced, and come from well known and reputable sources within the scientific community. Tables contain helpful examples that explain how to read and interpret the information you’re looking at, because a table of data is of no use if you don’t know what it says. "Alongside the statistics, Nielsen provides clear, concise commentary that helps bring meaning to the numbers. Each individual topic is highlighted with the first sentence in bold text, which makes skimming through the book for information on a certain topic very convenient. There is also an extensive index, and various useful appendices containing glossaries, sources, and even an explanation of different notation systems used in the statistics. "Never has so much information been compiled in such a straightforward, compelling, understandable manner. This book is great for those who want to move beyond the basic concepts merely referred to in mainstream books and films, and begin to understand the detailed reasoning behind them. "The Little Green Handbook is as much a reference resource as a narrative. If you’re interested in the issues you’ll end up reading it all." "Nielsen's analysis and conclusions are sobering. But, summed up in four words, this startling book's thrust is: The Power of One — you alone can begin making a difference! Each of us can conserve energy throughout our buying habits, and by becoming informed. This book will be a good place to start — if you haven't already."
EIANAZ Policy and Practice Committee of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ) used my book to prepare a "Draft EIANZ Policy Statement on WATER" (31 August 2006) for discussion at the 2006 EIANZ Conference. Canterbury Library City of Canterbury Library recommends my book to students as an "Environmental Homework Helper". Citations The Little Green Handbook has been used and cited in an article on Energy Policy of the United Kingdom as well as in articles on the Population Explosion, Sewage Treatment, Malthusian Catastrophe, Loss of Biodiversity Does Matter, Is Humanity Causing Climate Change?, and Seeking Sustainable Solutions to Climate Change. Julie Wilson Foster, BA, an internationally recognised environmental artist, based her article on my book.
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Australia. The Little Green Handbook was used in preparing a 91-page Climate Change and Energy Taskforce Final Report, Brisbane, March 2007.
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