Carbon: The Book of Life

Saved by Hawken again! Paul has a wonderful way of swooping in with his compassionate brilliance, just when I (and I'm guessing a great many) need it most. Had we all been implementing in alignment with Hawken's sage words over the last several decades, we'd be living in a world blessed with much less unrest, greenhouse gases would already be drawn down, regeneration would the norm, and natural capitalism would make it easy to grow a business and appreciate the ecology of commerce, as we all thrived in the next economy! This "book of life" gives us fresh, fascinating, empowering information and the inspiration necessary to finally wake up, come together, and love life from the depths of our being. It might be our only hope! May CARBON be a read that turns the page on what being human really means. It's up to us.

I bought this book expecting a treatise on how carbon is formed in the universe. While such info is included in the pages, the real content of the book pertains to how carbon unites pretty-much every facet of life under the over-arching idea that we are all one. The book is written in a very readable style with no complex chemistry, physics, or mathematics to wade through. I found it provocative and refreshing in its message. I highly recommend it.

Carbon is perhaps the only book I've read that I wanted to immediately pick up and re-read. I'm not sure why we don't have more books that speak to the beauty, interconnectedness, and necessity of all life like this one, but I am glad that Paul has finally done it. In world driven by scientific facts and figures (essential of course), Carbon was a breath of fresh air, a reminder of why we are here and who we are here with for the fleeting time that we are. Our moments here are nothing short of magical, but trapped in the conveniences and the unusual levels of comfort we afford ourselves in this modern era, we are missing the magic. It's this magic of life that hums within each of us, and this book is an astonishing account of what many of us have been missing for a very long time. May we begin to "feel" again. The undercurrent of life is interconnection, and the change so many of us desire will come when recognize that every single individual plays a role in what keeps us alive here.

I was surprised the book was not what I expected. For me personally it surpassed my expectations

Carbon: The Book of Life explores the profound role of carbon in shaping the world and life as we know it. While the book’s intent to illuminate the importance of this elemental building block is clear and commendable, it didn’t quite resonate with me in the way I’d hoped. I found the tone a bit too preachy for my liking, which made parts of the narrative feel less engaging than they might have been otherwise. This wasn’t my favorite read—it leaned heavily on an impassioned delivery that at times felt less like storytelling and more like a series of fervent proclamations. For readers who enjoy a strong, persuasive tone paired with intricate scientific concepts, this may be an ideal choice. The author’s enthusiasm for the subject shines through, but for me, it was a bit overwhelming. That said, others may connect with the book’s style more than I did. Its focus on the undeniable significance of carbon might strike a chord with readers who appreciate thoughtful explorations of science and its interconnectedness with life. While it wasn’t a perfect match for me, I can see how it might appeal to those seeking a bold and passionate perspective on a fascinating topic.

Fascinating!

This little gem was terrifically informative and beautifully written. It has an "essay" feel, but with lots of facts. It mystifies me how something so commonplace and central to life is so missing from common knowledge! I kind of wished the author had continued on for longer, because I couldn't put it down. It was over too soon, I feel.

It had interest, but reviews rated higher than I would after reading.

Sensacional!

very interesting and informative

The most inspiring book I have read recently. Paul Hawken shows us humans how little we still know about nature, scientist names we never heard, lessons we could have learned from, especially from indigenous societies/first nations: why don't they get Nobel prizes!?

Un libro muy ideológico acerca del carbón, NO ES UN LIBRO CIENTÍFICO SOBRE EL CARBON. Es una descripción global sobre la importancia de la administración residual del carbón y sus opciones para librarnos o reciclar tal elemento. Sin embargo, carece del rigo científico químico que yo esperaría. Muy caro para lo que recibí. Pero esa ES MI OPINIÓN. No necesariamente la de otros que encontraron en este libro algo fenomenal. No es mi caso.

Ein sehr wichtiges Buch, das mit rasch geliefert wurde und unversehrt ankam.