Member Reviews

This book is an ambitious look at the history of marketing's role in the current climate change situation - and it starts at the discovery of electricity, lights, etc. So there is plenty of material. I found the organization to be unique and as the author states in the intro, it would be fine to jump around in this book. In fact, I can see it would be quite educational to do a re-read of this book starting with chapter 1 from each section, then chapter 2 of each, etc. to cover the historical context from all perspectives.
I'm an engineer, and I found the author's explanations to be enjoyable for technical and non-technical alike. The book is written in a very casual style, almost like a nerd hangout at your favorite watering hole, so there are lots of metaphors and similes and jokes that may not work for all readers.

Was this review helpful?

THE PARROT AND THE IGLOO by David Lipsky received the rare distinction of being recommended by LibraryReads even though it is a work of non-fiction. Lipsky, a professor of writing and literature at NYU and a contributing editor at Rolling Stone, adopts a narrative approach which will succeed in engaging readers as they learn more about the history of climate change and its denial. For example, Lipsky outlines the impact of events like the harnessing of electricity, increased use of fossil fuels, 1970s environmental movement, and the documentary, An Inconvenient Truth. The text is divided into sections on inventors (primarily Edison, Tesla, and Westinghouse), scientists (e.g., Jim Hansen, Roger Revelle, Svante Arrhenius) and deniers (and their links to the tobacco industry strategy). Some rather startling observations (e.g., discovery of greenhouse effect in 1824; a 1956 Time Magazine article warning that "in fifty years or so this process ... may have a violent effect on the Earth's climate") contrasts with the better-known (and, sadly) ongoing political lobbying and inaction. At 496 pages, this is already a lengthy text so the endnotes are published online. THE PARROT AND THE IGLOO received starred reviews from Kirkus ("simultaneously captivating and disturbing") and Publishers Weekly ("a first-rate entry in the field of climate denial studies"). Interested readers should definitely check out related titles like Greta Thunberg's compilation The Climate Book.

Was this review helpful?

An interesting history of climate change denial and how we got to where we are now. Certain parts felt like the dragged on and could have been cut but overall interesting topic.

Was this review helpful?