“Hot, Flat and Crowded” (2008) is a polemic that focuses mainly on climate change due to carbon dioxide emissions. These emissions of carbon dioxide are a direct consequence of the world’s dependence on fossil fuels for energy. So Friedman uses the beginning of his book to set up a huge challenge to the world, but he charges America with the burden and ability to solve it. Friedman believes that America can provide a solution to fossil fuel and related problems. Friedman cites America’s greedy and lazy attitude as a potential root cause of problems like carbon dioxide emissions, which have been allowed to grow to such an alarming extent.
Friedman also offers an active thinking solution. He calls on man to find an energy system that will provide clean, cheap and renewable electricity and to develop an “ethic of conservation”. Friedman intends to motivate Americans or any other country that is willing to take up the challenge of solving the global energy crisis and climate change crisis. “Hot, Flat, and Crowded” is critically important to our quality of life, our cultural assumptions, and our existence as a species on Earth.
Argument “warm, flat, and assembled“ Argument
Friedman’s intent and the importance of his work are realized in the arguments he makes throughout the book. Friedman states that this era we live in should now be called the “Energy-Climate Era,” and then explains the meaning behind the words “Hot, Flat, and Crowded.”
“Warm” refers to the rapid warming trend observed by scientists worldwide due to the massive emissions of carbon dioxide since the Industrial Revolution in America ; we have so many more resources and more connectivity, but we have also alienated a large group of people who do not have access to energy and technology.
With Friedman eloquently asserting this about our current world, he can point out that the central problem facing us is global climate change as a direct result of the energy crisis. This makes it more clear that if global climate change is ignored, “baby globes”, meaning that the emission of carbon dioxide will not only make the world warmer, dissolve the polar ice caps and submerge large areas of the ocean floor; but probably the unpredictable change of climate in various places on the globe will certainly be vague. Friedman brilliantly maintains this central claim throughout his book, using the arguments and evidence that all contribute to it.
Friedman’s Style
Friedman makes his assertion about global climate change very cleverly and persuasively, presenting many plausible arguments in a simple, straightforward and generous manner. He skillfully weaves scientific statistics, political science theories, and anecdotal evidence into a comprehensible form and at the same time asks about laymen. This at the same time direct yet creative speech allows Friedman to be very serious about serious issues and even remind his audience without losing the audience.
Friedman captured the audience in a new, unfamiliar and snapshot of today’s energy scarcity for our growing world and the untimely future that could be ahead of us. Friedman doesn’t bemoan how horrible it is going to be or how hard it is for the audience to deal with the criticisms that other authors in his position might be prone to, which also allows Friedman to keep the audience’s attention. However, Friedman frames this challenge as a positive opportunity, which is an excellent and encouraging perspective.
Critical Evaluation
Although “Hot, Flat, and Crowd” is an excellent and persuasive book in many ways, it is not perfect. Friedman faltered at a few points in the book. For example, Friedman is very scientific and provides many arguments when discussing the problems that fossil fuel dependence creates, the energy crisis. and global climate change, but from its use of evidence or scientific research to support its proposed solution.
He makes a great argument for what the solution should be, but it is not a solution that is based entirely on science or is supported by no clear evidence. However, it could scientifically examine the current proposed solution in more depth and evaluate which technologies have the greatest potential to solve the energy crisis and prevent future climate change. But prematurely most of the fun dismisses projects energy as not enough potential to really be worth investing time and effort in developing. . He says we should focus on all electric systems in cars and find a way to make carbon “clean”.
In the end, Friedman has the right ideas about solving global climate change and the energy crisis. he also presents these ideas in a persuasive, interesting and understandable way. Almost all of us read these instructions because of their best ideas that will affect our immediate future, but Friedman’s views – especially on the solution to global climate change – should not be considered absolute, because creative thinking can uncover even better solutions. .
Sources
- Friedman, Thomas L. “Hot, Flat, and Crowded.” Detroit: Gale Cengage Learning, 2008. Print.
