Book Review - A Contract With the Earth

One of the lastest books I have read was “A Contract With the Earth – Ten Commitments you can Make to Protect the Environment Now” by Newt Gingrich and Terry L. Maple. Newt Gringrich was the Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999 and was an Environmental Studies Professor. Terry L. Maple is president and CEO of the Palm Beach Zoo.

As stated clearly by the title, this book outlines a ten-step program to help people protect the environment. The book lists the ten commitments, the contract, right in the second chapter of the book. They are:

1. Take the Lead
2. Reward a New Generation of Environmental Entrepreneurs
3. Retire or Rejuvenate Old Technologies
4. Transform the Role of Government
5. Become and Aspirational and Inspirational Nation
6. Postiion America to Meet the Challenge
7. Encourage Scientific and Technical Literacy
8. Invoke the Spirit of Collaboration and Cooperation
9. Support the Environment through Philanthropy and Investment
10. Enlist the Nation

This contract is obviously meant to be used by those in political power to direct the nation toward a more environmentally friendly way of doing business. It is also a primer for the average citizen to pressure their representatives to push for environmental reform.

I enjoy reading, and thus I enjoyed this book to a certain extent. It was a learning experience, and there was value in the reading. I will say that I often find myself at odds with some of Mr. Gingrich’s philosophies and some of the ideas presented in this book are not ideas I would support. I do agree with the basic concepts of the contract as outlined by the book. I often do not agree with how the concepts should be fulfilled. It seems to be a difference between Conservation and Preservation. Mr. Gingrich seems to propose using Conservation, or active Human management of Natural Resourses, as much as possible to basically use the earth as one big resource and to replace what we have taken. I, more often than Mr. Gingrich, prefer the route of Preservation, or from keeping humans from interfering with the Environment. I find that if one attempts the road of Conservation over Preservation, even with well meaning intentions, the results are much less than desired. I also find some of the books methods of Conservation wanting.

I would recommend this book to everyone, even if one disagrees with a lot of the practicalities in this book like I did. What matters most that people become active and educated in Environmental Pursuits and this book can and does help in that regard.

Title: A Contract With the Earth
Author: Newt Gingrich and Terry L. Maple
ISBN#: 978-0-452-28992-5
Format: Paperback Book