The best thing about this book is that it comes to pretty much the same conclusions about EU energy security as my group study project for my MSc in Renewable Energy Systems Technology did. Namely that the EU is in big trouble in terms of becoming totally dependent on Russia and others for gas in the next 20 years or so. The solutions are a mix of renewables, energy efficiency, better coordination of EU energy policy, nuclear and the wild card – Sahara solar power + HVDC power distribution coupled with a freeing up of trade with the North African countries. Sascha made a very clear point that nuclear isn’t a world wide solution (in fact, I think he is pretty anti it for the EU as well) because of associated nuclear weapons proliferation risks. The book does a great job of describing what the issues are, and who is controlling fossil fuel over the world. It could go a bit further in terms of detailing practical steps we can take in terms of getting the EU organised…
It is a relatively new book, first published in German in 2007, translated by Earthscan in 2008.
Other books read on holiday are “Common Wealth : Economics for a Crowded Planet” by Jeffrey Sachs. He points out that 2 days a year of Pentagon budget could virtually eradicate Malaria in Africa over 5 years. So good in fact, I will write another post about it.
I wanted to learn about the American Civil War, so read “United States History to 1877″ by Arnold S Rice. Still don’t really understand why they wasted 619,000 lives in a country of only 30 million. There seemed to be a lot of scope for a peaceful resolution that wasn’t taken. The book also reckoned the French Revolution was modelled on the US war of independence…
Then “Teach Yourself:Saving Energy in the Home” Not such a great book in itself, but some great links to eco renovated 1950s houses – worth another post too.
Lastly, “Against the Wall” by Simon Yates – the one who famously “cut the rope” starting the saga leading to Joe Simpson’s “Touching the Void”. Nice little book illustrating how our outlook changes with age through a climbing trip to Patagonia.
Also caught up on a few copies of the FT, a few pop science mags, even some French newspapers “L’SudOuest” – sorry, but very boring ! But then most newspapers are pretty dull really.
