A blend of travel writing and discussion of environmental policy. It was written long enough ago that some of the latter is outdated, but it also interesting to see how much things have changed.

The environmental problem is two-fold: the poor focus on survival and advancement more than preserving the environment, and the rich are unwilling to curtail their overconsumption - focuses on China, little bits on Sudan and Brazil

I read this book a few years ago but, with the recent discussion on global warming and especially George Bush's recent (April '08) global warming goal nonstatement, I have been thinking about issues raised in this book. This is a great introduction to the global environment and issues facing the global community. I want to reread the book and then write a real review. Right now I want to recommend the book to anyone who cares about people, the Earth or both! We should ALL be environmentalists. What we do (or do not do) does have an impact on the quality of life for human beings -- that's US, folks; we need to care! The author adeptly invites all to participate at whatever level is comfortable. Too many times I hear "Oh, I can't, as one person, make a difference." Wrong! Without the "One" there can never be the "Many!" Come on, people, let's get going!

The title sounds like a "green" annoying preaching type - but it is to the contrary and almost reads like a fiction in that his tales of discovery and people that he encounters is quite entertaining. His thoughts combined with extrememly interesting information that is unknown to most is intruiging and balanced.

This book is interesting because the author travels around the world and interview individuals about the greatest environmental issues in their country. It's a wake-up call with hope.

I read this book when i was pretty young, right when it came out, and i think it is what sparked my activism, just the stories of his travels and the hardships and realities of the rest of the world compared to white north americans.

i recently re-got this book and debate about reading it again because i probably wont like it as much. I think this came out in 1996 or something and he said then that the world was already ten years late on turning back the clock on global warming and if we stopped all of the discharge of harmful emissions in the next five years, we *might* have a shot at survival. C'est la vie.

Great book, but outdated.

I learned that technology is both a blessing and a curse in terms of the environment

This is an important book. I gave it 4 out 5 star for primarily two reasons: 1) Some chapters, like the ones about China, are at times repetitive and meandering. 2) SOME of Hertsgaard's claims do not stand up to the test of time and now seem so exaggerated, they cause the reader to question the truth in what Hertsgaard writes. This shadow cast over his writing is unfortunate, since there is so much important information in this book.

Hands down, one of the most important books I have ever read.

Employing a refreshingly anthropological approach with just a few statistical crumbs couched between the cracks, Herstgaard explores international environmental concerns in context of socioeconomic and political cultures throughout the world. He introduces us to many faces and places whose contributions to environmental degradation are all too human, while casting dark shadows on the few institutions which have the means, but fail to lead the way out. Sometimes heart-wrenching, frequently paranoia-inspiring, and only sporadically mundane, Earth Odyssey speaks for humanity as much as it does for the planet, and makes clear just how fragile the relationship is between the two.

An entertaining read on a most disturbing subject.