BOOK REVIEW:
In the brave new world of media convergence, a series of presentation
slides spawned a feature film documentary, a website and a
book. This can only be a good thing for a cause as important
as saving our environment.
The
Inconvenient Truth movie is a compact documentary that outlines
the basic evidence Al Gore has compiled on the need to act
on global warming. The Inconvenient Truth book fills in all
the details, including more on Al Gore’s personal experience
and more detailed figures. With the book, while we are unable
to witness Gore’s charming multimedia presentations,
we will be able to keep those damning facts for posterity
and throw it at misbehaving nephews. Al Gore has also inserted
a series of wiry quotes to make the facts presented stickier.
You
can easily flip through this book in 3 hours, or just 12 trips
on the MRT while commuting to work for me. But you will want
to read the book again. And show it to your friends. If you
cannot spend the time to read the book, watch the movie. If
you do not have time for the movie as well, do go check out
the website. If you still cannot be bothered, go. Go stay
on Mars.
CHOICE
XCERPT:
“The era of procrastination, of half-measures, of soothing
and baffling expedients, of delays, is coming to its close.
In its place we are entering a period of consequences.”
– Winston Churchill, 1936
“...
but inconvenient truths do not go away just because they are
not seen. Indeed when they are not responded to, their significance
doesn't diminish; it grows.”
VERDICT:
Despite
the Truth franchise being mostly directed at ignorant and
lazy Americans, the issues raised are global in nature. Just
like the Mark Twain quote in the book, “Denial ain’t
just a river in Egypt.”
XTRAS:
Revives your loyalty to humankind.
Review
by Lim Mun Pong
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