Sustainabilty /

This is an excellent resource for anyone interested in sustainability and sustainable development. The seven-chapter book addresses the history of the field, geographic considerations, ecology and ecosystem services, the sustainability of buildings and communities, technology issues, political and policy aspects, ecological economics, and the cultural significance of sustainability. Thiele (Univ. of Florida) notes that social equality, education, and citizen empowerment are important parts of sustainable development. The author discusses the significance of global issues such as climate change, population growth, peak oil, and water quantity and quality. He also briefly introduces many key concepts and topics related to sustainability. These include the precautionary principle, the Golden Rule, conservation, acting locally, interdependence, metrics, ecological footprints, dead zones in the oceans, and life cycle assessments. This well-written book, part of the "Polity Key Concepts in the Social Sciences" series, will be useful for undergraduate curricula and public education. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries. L. E. Erickson Kansas State University