Over the summer, I read Al Gore’s "Earth in the Balance: Ecology and the Human Spirit." This book was awe-inspiring. I know that you may be thinking the entirety of the book would be political and ecological. However, this book was amazingly insightful in areas of philosophy, theology and sociology. Gore has drawn material from ancient civilizations to modern society from the philosophical ponderings of great thinkers to statistical data from modern scientists and global warming researchers.
The book contains information that outlines not only the problem of global warming but also possible solutions in the making from a global team of experts for green technology and green living.
What I found the most fascinating about the book was the subtitle’s implications throughout its pages, "Ecology and the Human Spirit." While Al Gore is a believing Christian, he doesn’t brow beat other religions, realizing that cooperation to avert global warming will require the efforts of a global population, including people of other belief systems. Although he maintains this necessity in cooperation he also maintains his integrity and his adherence to his own values and spirituality.
The way the book reads, one could only surmise that he had divine inspiration. Our planet is heading fast toward a track of destruction and God’s creation, including humanity, is paying the ultimate price. I pray that millions of people will get past their reluctance to trust a political figure and read this book. I don’t think we can afford to be closed-minded when it comes to the stewardship of God’s precious handiwork — that is the Earth and everything in it.
Al Gore has another book that just came out called, "Our Choice: A Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis." I have yet to get further in it but it is structured more like his other masterpiece, "An Inconvenient Truth," containing more color photographs and visual aids. I would encourage you to read all three if you live on Earth and plan on being here much longer.
