There is probably no one reading this who does not recognize the author’s name and image. But the software engineer philanthropist continues to amaze me with his common touch, brilliance, and generosity as adequately demonstrated in this very readable, and optimistic book of advice. Global in scope and conveying tons of data, his clear thinking about global issues including climate change, public health, poverty remediation and politics is conveyed in clear prose accompanied by charts and graphs, with conviction, a profound humanism and humility. Skeptics may dismiss his arguments as hopelessly optimistic, but there can be no doubt about his logical clear thinking and sincerity. And the alternatives to acting on at least some or most of his recommendations are likely to be disastrous.
The extensive use of the concept of the Green Premium to clarify the costs of different actions to mitigate global warming makes comparisons easier and the alternatives easier to understand. There are revelations here that run counter to conventional wisdom including the fact that planting trees is snowy climates may actually worsen global warming, somewhat neutralizing the message in Michael Powers’ novel, The Overstory. And the concern that setting goals for climate change mitigation for 2030 may be harmful in the longer term is similarly counterintuitive. This is a more scholarly, more universal compliment to the message delivered from a strictly Canadian perspective in Seth Klein’s A Good War. And I trend to trust anyone who quotes the late great Hans Rosling’s Factfulness.
Unlike most of his fellow billionaires who contribute nothing meaningful to the betterment of others, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is dedicated to improving the lot of everyone on earth, regardless of race, nationality, creed or background. While Jeff Bezos strives to ruthlessly acquire more wealth, while ignoring the consequences of global warming, Peter Theil deals with it by planning to move to a huge temperate New Zealand estate, and Elon Musk hopes to escape it to Mars, Bill Gates visits subsistence African farmers to figure out how to improve their lot in life. The contrasts could not be starker. Mark Zuckerberg at least is committed to giving, even the charity of he and his wife is not as well known as that of the Gates’.
After reading this documentary, I wanted to nominate Gates as Secretary of Energy. But his talents and perspectives are too extensive and valuable to be confined to any one nation. He should be in the United Nations with real powers to deal with both global warming and poverty.
The Passionate Reader 