David Owen - The Conundrum

Praise for Green Metropolis

Owen makes a convincing case that Manhattan, Hong Kong, and large, old European cities are inherently greener than less densely populated places because a higher percentage of their inhabitants walk, bike, and use mass transit than drive; they share infrastructure and civic services more efficiently; they live in smaller spaces and use less energy to heat their homes (because those homes tend to share walls); and theyre less likely to accumulate a lot of large, energy-sucking appliances. Pugnacious and contrarian, this book has a lot of fun at the expense of sentimental pastoralists, high-minded environmentalists, and rich people trying to buy their way into higher green consciousness.

The New York Times Book Review

The deservedly respected journalist David Owen spent a lot of time in recent years patrolling the environmental beat, doing research for the excellent book we now have before us. Owens style is cool, understated, and witty; it does not appear to be in his nature to be alarmist. But this is a thoroughly alarming book, perhaps all the more so because Owen is so matter-of-fact: The facts alone are so discouraging that no rhetorical flourishes are necessary to underscore their urgency. No one can wave a wand and turn the environmental disasters of some cities across the country into instant Manhattans, with tall apartment buildings densely situated, efficient mass transit and zillions of pedestrians. The much more likely prospect is that we will just keep stumbling along, indulging ourselves and closing our eyes to reality until it crashes in on ussooner rather than laterwith highly unpleasant and probably calamitous consequences.

The Washington Post

David Owen advances the provocative argument that the asphalt jungle is greener than the places where most Americans live. A hard-hitting book that punctures many eco-balloons.

Witold Rybczynski, author of City Life and

Meyerson Professor of Urbanism, University of Pennsylvania

The future of our planet may be uncertain, but one thing is clear: David Owen is going to generate significant heat with Green Metropolis, his provocative manifesto that inverts many of our sacred assumptions about environmentalism. His book mounts a passionate, fact-studded case for the environmental advantages of Manhattan-style urban density. Fascinating and thought-provoking Green Metropolis offers high-test fuel for discussion.

NPR

Seminal to be read by anyone concerned with the true meaning of sustainability. In chapter after chapter, Owen punctures our myths surrounding the green movement with laser-guided precision in the hopes of clearing the air. His method is provocative with irreverent lucidity, he forces us to abandon unfounded beliefs, allowing the sustainability movement to evolve and mature, one realization and one city at a time.

Architectural Record

David Owen always delights with his elegant insights and his challenges to conventional thinking. In this book, he does so again by puncturing the myth of ecological Arcadia and reminding us why living in cities is the best way to be green. Its a triumph of clear thinking and writing.

Walter Isaacson, author of Steve Jobs

A bracing, important work of contrarian truth-telling.

Kurt Andersen, author of The Real Thing and Heyday

While the conventional wisdom condemns it as an environmental nightmare, Manhattan is by far the greenest place in America, argues this stimulating eco-urbanist manifesto. Owens lucid, biting prose crackles with striking facts that yield paradigm-shifting insights. The result is a compelling analysis of the worlds environmental predicament that upends orthodox opinion and points the way to practical solutions.

Publishers Weekly

New Yorker writer Owen lays out a simple plan to address our environmental crisislive smaller, live closer, and drive less. He presents a convincing argument. He effectively connects the dots among oil, cars, public transportation, ethanol, rising food prices, and the role of plastic in modern life. VERDICT: Owens engaging, accessible book challenges the idea of green and urban living.

Library Journal

Want to reduce your carbon footprint and save the planet? Move to Manhattan. Owen assembles useful facts, some of them sure to be surprises even for the most learned of NYC boosters. [He] provides a dogged, contrarian argument that scores some good points.

Kirkus Reviews

ALSO BY DAVID OWEN

Green Metropolis 2009

Sheetrock & Shellac 2006

Copies in Seconds 2004

The First National Bank of Dad 2003

Hit & Hope 2003

The Chosen One 2001

The Making of the Masters 1999

Around the House (also published as Life Under a Leaky Roof) 1998/2000

Lure of the Links (coeditor) 1997

My Usual Game 1995

The Walls Around Us 1991

The Man Who Invented Saturday Morning 1988

None of the Above 1985

High School 1981

The Conundrum

How Scientific Innovation,

Increased Efficiency, and

Good Intentions

Can Make Our Energy and

Climate Problems Worse

DAVID OWEN

RIVERHEAD BOOKS

New York

RIVERHEAD BOOKS

Published by the Penguin Group

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While the author has made every effort to provide accurate telephone numbers and Internet addresses at the time of publication, neither the author nor the publisher is responsible for errors, or for changes that occur after publication. Further the publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

Copyright 2011 by David Owen

Book design by Tiffany Estreicher

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the authors rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

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First Riverhead trade paperback edition: February 2012

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Owen, David, date.

The conundrum : how scientific innovation, increased efficiency, and good intentions can make our energy and climate problems worse / David Owen. 1st Riverhead trade pbk. ed.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references.

EISBN: 9781101560136 1. Green technologyAnecdotes. 2. Energy consumptionClimatic factors. 3. Consumer behaviorEnvironmental aspects. 4. Sustainable living. I. Title.

TD148.O94 2012

628dc23

2011028855

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA