Juliet Eilperin
"A Contract with the Earth is an earnest call to deal with worldwide environmental problems, from disappearing species to ever-expanding roadside landfills. Its central proposals include: "demand objectivity" in science, "educate and inspire" citizens to foster a greater appreciation of nature and "encourage green enterprise." This is no revolutionary manifesto. It's Gingrich as Smokey the Bear, rather than as the provocateur he used to play on the national stage."
—The Washington Post
Publishers Weekly
Efforts to cleanse the world's air and water and to put a brake on calamitous climate change aren't exclusive to "one political philosophy," Gingrich and Maple argue in this probusiness call for proenvironment action by politicians, corporations and individual Americans. Though the title echoes Gingrich's hard-right 1994 Contract with America, this more conciliatory contract reflects the former academic's penchant for bullet-point sloganeering, with its "ten commitments" call for politicians to abandon adversarial politics and for businessmen and conservationists to form "compatible partnerships." The authors alternately brand their approach mainstream and entrepreneurial environmentalism-mainstream because it rejects alarmist projections based on what they perceive as activist science and hysterical journalism, and entrepreneurial because they reject the notion that free enterprise and a cleaner world are opposing forces. The authors' concern about the future of the Earth is certainly sincere, but their prescription for action breaks shallow ground. (Nov.)
Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information
Library Journal
Including a foreword by noted scientist E.O. Wilson, former U.S. Speaker of the House Gingrich (Winning the Future: A 21st Century Contract with America) and Maple (president & CEO, Palm Beach Zoo; conservation & behavior, Georgia Inst. of Technology) call for bipartisan environmental stewardship and propose ten commitments to ensure its success. Gingrich and Maple express that climate change and the destruction of ecosystems demand attention; but they believe that market-driven, entrepreneurial environmentalism, in which the government participates as a partner offering incentives, not requiring mandates, is the appropriate response. The authors attempt to broaden their base of support by defining "mainstream environmentalists" to include even those who may not subscribe to their green conservatism. Gingrich and Maple occasionally move too quickly from one point to another, citing interesting examples of private-public partnerships, some of which warrant greater consideration. Footnotes or endnotes would have been helpful. Still, this serves as a useful reminder that the debate about environmental policy is far from over. Recommended for all libraries. [Ted Nordhaus and Michael Shellenberger's Break Through: From the Death of Environmentalism to the Politics of Possibility, LJ8/07, also stresses market-driven solutions to climate change.-Ed.]
—Robin K. Dillow
From the Publisher
This serves as a useful reminder that the debate about environmental policy is far from over. Recommended for all libraries.—Library Journal
'Ten commitments' call for politicians to abandon adversarial politics and for businessmen and conservationists to form 'compatible partnerships.'—Publishers Weekly
As a general proposal for protecting the Earth, A Contract with the Earth is a worthy read for the healthy debate it should stir.—Internet Review of Books
The book could be influential in guiding the public onto a commendable environmental path.—Ecoviews
A worthy read for the healthy debate it should stir. —Bob Sanchez, Internet Review of Books
Kudos to Newt Gingrich and Terry Maple . . . Let's hope their ideas take root and grow.—Emmett Duffy, Natural Patriot
Gore and Gingrich, both enjoying their 'elder' status, now must watch as their White House-hopeful juniors wrestle with their enviro-ideas. But here's a prediction: Those who follow Gingrich's techno-optimism will have an easier time than those who put on Gore's hair shirt.—James P. Pinkerton, Newsday
Gingrich offers some good ideas.—E Magazine
Give Newt a chance.—Katherine Mieszkowski, Salon
Offers a new approach to the challenges of the twenty-first century.—NPR
The book . . . has already garnered praise from the heads of such organizations as the Nature Conservatory and the Wildlife Society.—Greg Rienzi, Gazette
Lays out [Gingrich's] earth-saving agenda.—Outside
The fact that a Republican politician and a zoo executive have coauthored a book extolling the virtues of 'mainstream environmentalism' . . . underscores how much the green debate has shifted. . . A Contract with the Earth is an earnest call to deal with worldwide environmental problems, from disappearing species to ever-expanding roadside landfills.—Juliet Eilperin, Washington Post Book World
A Contract with the Earth is strong in outlining the tremendous proliferation of government/business environmental partnerships and the expansion of strategic, collaborative philanthropy on behalf of conservation.—G. Tracy Mehan III, Weekly Standard
Emphasizing that American entrepreneurship can best drive environmental solutions.—Wildlife Conservation
An important little book.—Thomas E. Lovejoy, Bioscience
Although the authors readily acknowledge the scale and immediacy of the multiple threats facing global biodiversity and do not dispute the science of climate change, their tone is positive, not grave; encouraging, not dispairing.—Peter Ainsworth, Resurgence
Ecoviews
The book could be influential in guiding the public onto a commendable environmental path.
Newsday - James P. Pinkerton
Gore and Gingrich, both enjoying their 'elder' status, now must watch as their White House-hopeful juniors wrestle with their enviro-ideas. But here's a prediction: Those who follow Gingrich's techno-optimism will have an easier time than those who put on Gore's hair shirt.
Internet Review of Books
As a general proposal for protecting the Earth, A Contract with the Earth is a worthy read for the healthy debate it should stir.
Wildlife Conservation
Emphasizing that American entrepreneurship can best drive environmental solutions.
E Magazine
Gingrich offers some good ideas.
Internet Review of Books - Bob Sanchez
A worthy read for the healthy debate it should stir.
NPR
Offers a new approach to the challenges of the twenty-first century.
Outside
Lays out [Gingrich's] earth-saving agenda.
Resurgence - Peter Ainsworth
Although the authors readily acknowledge the scale and immediacy of the multiple threats facing global biodiversity and do not dispute the science of climate change, their tone is positive, not grave; encouraging, not dispairing.
Bioscience - Thomas E. Lovejoy
An important little book.
Natural Patriot - Emmett Duffy
Kudos to Newt Gingrich and Terry Maple . . . Let's hope their ideas take root and grow.
Washington Post Book World - Juliet Eilperin
The fact that a Republican politician and a zoo executive have coauthored a book extolling the virtues of 'mainstream environmentalism' . . . underscores how much the green debate has shifted. . . A Contract with the Earth is an earnest call to deal with worldwide environmental problems, from disappearing species to ever-expanding roadside landfills.
Weekly Standard - G. Tracy Mehan III
A Contract with the Earth is strong in outlining the tremendous proliferation of government/business environmental partnerships and the expansion of strategic, collaborative philanthropy on behalf of conservation.
Gazette - Greg Rienzi
The book . . . has already garnered praise from the heads of such organizations as the Nature Conservatory and the Wildlife Society.
Salon - Katherine Mieszkowski
Give Newt a chance.
APR/MAY 08 - AudioFile
Opening with a quiz to see if the listener is “a mainstream environmentalist,” Newt Gingrich and co-author Terry L. Maple propose a conservation plan—described as a ten-point Contract with the Earth—that emphasizes technological solutions, public-private partnership, and finding common ground. The authors then give examples of successful projects. Callista Gingrich does an acceptable job with her earnest narration but can sound monotonous as she reads the details of a policy or program. The authors hope to organize “green conservatives,” but while there’s a political call to action here, the main interest could be among like-minded businesspeople and entrepreneurs looking for guidelines. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine
