I love this book because it says that business and environmentalism do not have to be enemies. Perhaps they can be more than the sum of their parts. Staggering statistics, well-documented, and compelling. Hawken is a visionary. His classic is _The Ecology of Commerce_.

B- Good information about how businesses will start to change and become "greener" and how it is fiscally savvier and smarter to be eco-friendly; written several years ago so many things have changed since then.

Though many of the insights from the book have been published in a variety of venues, notably through work and publications of the Rocky Mountain Institute, it is a thought-provoking, engaging exercise in consideration of our material world that should be revisited with regularity. I think this should be a required text for any discussion of "externalities" in b-school econ classes.

A good book for chapter hopping...I especially like the chapter about Cucurbita, Brazil

Hawken's work enlightens the reader about the depth of obvious contemporary issues regarding industry and modern life vs. the environment while suggesting possible solutions based on studies and approaches already executed by industry leaders and visionaries throughout the world. The writing style and overall narrative of the book may be a little too technical and academic at times, since it goes into painstaking detail (from statistics to lengthy study references) of the environmental impact of certain practices (such as irrigation for mass agriculture and the production of aluminum cans for sodas) as well as the details of innovative environmentally-conscious practices. In the end, this is a work aimed to persuade people within their respective industries more than a reading intended for anyone interested in the environment.

Terrific book that delves into environmental conservation and its relationship to capitalism. Protecting nature and reaping profit do not have to be mutually exclusive endeavors. We need to rethink our system.

The world's economy is based on natural resources, the extraction of them and the making and selling and buying of those things which come from nature. As a result, the environment is being despoiled, and resources are diminishing. The authors suggest a new theory of economics and that is to place a value on that which comes from nature. That which has cash value is preserved and carefully used. It is the basis for an economic sustainability model that will help manufacturers, allow capitalism to continue, and to protect the environment. For instance, what is the value of the planet's hydrologic cycle, the natural cleaning of water and replenishment? What would it cost to build such a system if the natural one fails? Earth operates efficiently doing expensive work for humans, plants and animals. If it reaches a point where it cannot perform, humans must build systems to replace failed natural systems. Hawken and the Lovins are no strangers to controversial and prescient ideas. This is another one, supported by well researched metrics. I recommend the book t o anyone who likes capitalism, and cares for the environment.

Although I often found myself at odds with the analysis of certain economic theory, there were a lot of really great ideas and discussions in this book. A little out of date but still quite relevant.

Merged review:

Although I often found myself at odds with the analysis of certain economic theory, there were a lot of really great ideas and discussions in this book. A little out of date but still quite relevant.

Great book on how we can grow wealth for all and not kill the planet

Most of the case studies are dated but insightful. So much expressed by this book has moved forward except for the contentious climate change debate. So sad.
Highly recommend chapters 1-3 and 13-15 and the notes.
An excellent primer for anyone looking for a vision to save the planet for our future generations.

Kafka escribió: «Una vez que uno ha aceptado y asimilado el Mal, este ya no exige que se crea en él». Esto es lo que pasa en el capitalismo desarrollado y especialmente en la actualidad: el «Mal» se convierte en nuestra práctica diaria, de forma que, en vez de creer en él, podemos creer en Dios, dedicándonos a actos de caridad y a cosas por el estilo.

Aquí entra una defensa más refinada del capitalismo que, aunque admite que la explotación capitalista de la naturaleza es parte del problema, trata de resolverlo haciendo que la responsabilidad ecológica y social sea rentable; este es el enfoque del «capitalismo natural», una de las últimas versiones de lo que podemos llamar el capitalismo ético posmoderno. La idea de este movimiento (instigado por Paul Hawken) es nada menos que una nueva revolución en la producción comparable a la de la Primera Revolución Industrial, que generó un impresionante desarrollo material, pero a un inmenso coste para la Tierra (disminución de la riqueza natural, pérdida de la capa superior del suelo, destrucción de especies, etc.). Para contrarrestar esta tendencia destructiva tenemos que cambiar todo nuestro planteamiento: hasta ahora hemos incluido en el precio de las mercancías solo lo que hemos tenido que invertir para producirlas, ignorando los costes para la naturaleza; de ese modo, nuestra prosperidad era ilusoria, ya que, explotando despiadadamente los recursos naturales, estábamos obteniendo nuestras rentas no de los ingresos, sino principalmente de una riqueza heredada. La suma de esta riqueza heredada es el capital de la naturaleza, ese almacén de productos elaborados por la naturaleza durante miles de millones de años de su desarrollo: mercancías como el agua, los minerales, los árboles, el terreno y el aire, así como todos los sistemas vivos (pastizales, bosques, océanos, etc.). Todos estos bienes naturales no solo proporcionan recursos no renovables para nuestra producción material: también realizan servicios indispensables para nuestra supervivencia (regeneración de la atmósfera, fertilización del terreno, etc.). De ese modo, a nuestra noción estándar del capital como valor acumulado deberíamos
añadir el valor económico de la naturaleza como sistema, así como el valor de los recursos humanos.

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Given to me by an ex-boyfriend, I was determined to read it the whole dang thing and I did and I had to skim parts of it, but found I was able to refer to it in the past ten years. It's still on my shelf!