Friday Bookshelf

There are two sides to every issue; environmental issues seem especially divided. Compromises are a necessary ingredient in solutions. Sometimes understanding the other side brings innovative win-win solutions that no one was aware existed.

That is why Taking Sides Clashing Views on Controversial Environmental Issues by Theodore D. Goldfarb is an important, well read book on my shelf.

This book outlines 18 important and controversial environmental issues. Then 2 experts on either side of each issue offer up their side. After that it is up to you to decide where you stand. You'll find that things are not as black and white as you once believed. You'll also find that there are no easy answers.

Ideally this book would be read by everyone. It should be part of every school curriculum. No matter where someone stand on the issues, everyone should be aware that they exist. Solutions to problems don't always come from predictable sources. Sometimes answers are floating around in left field; the only problem is that left field isn't aware of the problem's existence.

There are no clear answers or sides in Taking Sides but if everyone read this book we'd have a lot more options.