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

About the book! The book itself is a very easy read, which is a good start. It starts with Mr. Farber’s history with learning many languages and how he initially hated it and quickly turned it around and learned to love languages. He then describes his method, which is simply put to use as many resources as possible and work as hard as possible to learn the language. Then he details how to efficiently use otherwise ‘wasted’ time learning a language and memory retention methods.

He also takes time to make certain points and to dispel uncertainties and misconceptions. He also tries to make the book, and your decision and methods to learn a language, as fun as possible. He engourages people to use even the most vain of reasons to learn a language as long as it will keep you interested – picking up foreign women. He even goes as far as advising people on which language one should start to learn depending on their tastes. A bit sexist, but one can easily modify it to be sex neutral. The one thing he discourages is using dirty words or curse words. You should learn them so you know when others are insulting you, but refrain from using them.

Overall, I am extremely happy for purchasing the book. Some of his methods are technically outdated, but easily modified in the spirit of his method. Overall I think it will be a wonderful way to learn a language. I will try and blog my progress in learning conversational Spanish to see how well is book really helps learn a language!

I enjoyed reading this book even more than the first. I find the storyline and the setting absolutely fascinating and fun as well. What is intriguing me the most is that Mr. Norrell is constantly and variously described as a disagreeable fellow, and Jonathan Strange is thought of as a pleasant gentleman who is always willing to help honest people. Yet, when the quality of magic is described it is said that Jonathan Strange is the one performing more and more dark magic. I find that a rather interesting contradiction that will hopefully get more and more interesting in the last book.

I still give this book 5 thumbs on a hand and recommend that all people young and old pick up a copy of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell before it comes out in the theaters next year!

I thought the book was a fascinating read. I was particularly interested in the parts where Mr. Gladwell detailed how the ability to think without thinking could be short circuited and how it could be supported by environmental factors. I basically saw the whole book as an extensive scientific exercise on the Oriental concept of Zen, with a dash of Feng Shui thrown in. Obvious ironies aside, it is a very compelling book. The whole idea is so intriguing because I would love to learn how to ‘think without thinking’ effectively. It certainly would be a much more efficient use of time and resources! I also wonder if Mr. Gladwell read any books on the philosophy of Zen, or if he did in the future would he incorporate any of those writings into another printing of his book?

The bottom line? I give this book an excellent rating and would recommend this book to anyone.

I loved this book and I look forward to reading the other two volumes! The writing is excellent, I had no problem imagining myself at one of the many society parties that Mr. Norrell visited. There are equal parts humor and drama interwoven in the book so well that one cannot help but be charmed and clamoring for more!

What really captured me was the characters themselves. Mr. Norrell is a peevish man who is a loner and feels very threatened by any competition. He feels so threatened that he buys all the magic books that he finds and secrets them away so others cannot read them. He is far from heroic, but he tries to be a decent person. In other words, instead of seeming larger than life he seems like the guy next door. While he has a special gift he himself is not special.

Often in books Magicians are defined first as Magicians, as if they have lost some or all of their humanity by becoming a Magician. Mr. Norrell is clearly human first, and Magician is but an aspect of him. This care in portraying all the characters as human first is applied to everyone in the books. Or at least all the humans. When non-human characters are introduced they are set apart by both description and actions.

There is so much more to this book, like the manservant who is much more worldly than his master and the two society leeches who attach themselves to Mr. Norrell’s coattails and feed off his successes. I encourage everyone who loves read a good fantasy novel to start reading this book, you will not be disappointed!