Eco Barons vs the Car Guy
I don’t normally respond to book reviews, but in the case of Dan Neil’s strange diatribe in the Sunday Los Angeles Times, I’m compelled to point out that the Times’ auto writer is just making things up about Eco Barons to support his own class warfare rant about the rich. Here’s the letter to the editor I just sent the paper:
Dear Editor,
It’s clear from Dan Neil ‘s review that he didn’t much care for my book, Eco Barons: The Dreamers, Schemers & Millionaires Who Are Saving Our Planet. Dan, of course, is entitled to his opinion. But he’s not entitled to misstate the premise of my book in order to tear it down.
His review begins by incorrectly asserting that my book is a celebration of a few really rich people doing good things for the environment when, according to Dan, the only appropriate position is to blame really rich people for ruining the environment, as well as the economy and the country. Having established then attacked this false premise, he next suggests that it was misleading of me to write about wealthy folks doing good in the world because they “are so atypical as to be, in a way, sociopaths.”
Now, setting aside the fact that this claim of Dan’s is both bizarre and truly offensive, I don’t know whose book the Times’ car guy read, because it’s not mine. I wrote about men and women, some with a great deal of money, many without, but all with vision and fortitude. They are working far outside the mainstream and often behind the scenes to conserve wilderness, save endangered species, develop green technology and force government and industry to act against global warming. I call them Eco Barons not as a measure of their bank accounts, as Dan would have it, but of their impact, which is unparalleled. These Eco Barons are not trying to cash in on the world’s environmental peril, but have a commitment to change our wasteful, polluting ways that the rest of us would do well to emulate. I beg to differ with Dan: Their stories do matter, because they show us that, while it is late, it is not too late to save our planet and ourselves. As Harry Hurt of the New York Times noted, we all need to become Eco Barons. And quickly.
Edward Humes
This entry was posted on April 5, 2009 at 6:46 pm and is filed under Book News, environmental activism. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments.
Tags: Doug Tompkins, Eco Barons, Edward Humes
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April 8, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Hi Mr. Humes,
I just finished reading your beautifully-written book and it really inspired me to think seriously about following my dreams of making a difference. Do any of the eco-barons mentioned in your book need help with their projects?
Also, the LA Times auto writer is the last person I’d expect to understand the message behind the book, but please know that activist Americans belonging to the Obama Generation certainly do because we believe in the hope that the eco-barons bring for a better future.
I live in Princeton, NJ. Will you be coming to the area for a book signing? This town would be a great place for such an event (try the University Store – it’s the cool venue for students and professors as well as townsfolk for book signings and talks with authors). What do you think?
Anyway, thanks for writing such a fine book about some rather extraordinary souls. And don’t let anti-eco combustible engine crowd get you down.
Cheers,
Alexandra
April 23, 2009 at 11:07 pm
Just wanted to recognize your clear, clean and substantial shot a couple of days ago in LA Times Letters contravening Neil’s–their auto buff’s–childish review of Eco Barons. Nice going….
I was copy chief for a lot of automotive and major publications lo those many years, and at first enjoyed Neil’s freshet of wild, new car language, but his basis, structure and approach has begun to pretty much pale, eh? Guess it’s called aging.
Mostly wanted to say thanks and good luck.
All best,
Dave