The Ecology of Commerce Revised Edition: A Declaration of Sustainability (Collins Business Essentials) Paperback – March 25, 2010

I don't even know how to begin describing how great this book is. It should be required reading for EVERYBODY on the planet. I learned about this book while watching the documentary, "The Corporation," and I'll have to admit, I wasn't expecting anything revolutionary in this book. I thought I'd be getting some interesting pictures and statistics relating to consumption, recycling, landfills, global warming...pretty much your standard environmental rhetoric (of which I'm a subscriber) to complement what I already know. What I got, however, was so much more. This book is not only about the environment, but about how the environment integrates with global business and economics. For some reason, the 'developed' world has created a disconnect between the environment and business. Hawken shows how the two are inextricably connected, and in order to guarantee a successful future for us, our children and all life on earth, business and the environment must work harmoniously and each stop being the bane of the other.His metaphor for business IS the environment: everything in nature is cyclical, which brings maximum efficiency. Nothing is more efficient than the natural world: one organism's waste is another organism's life source. If business would approach operations and resources from this perspective, waste would not be 'waste' and the benefits of increased efficiency would permeate throughout all life and systems. His metaphor is very simple but exceedingly beautiful, and only becomes more so as Hawken goes in-depth with concrete examples and further exploration of all issues from both sides. Throughout reading this book, I was continuously floored by his analysis, his insight and his prescription for the future.And a note about his prose: every sentence reflects structurally the economies and efficiencies it conveys ideologically. This man is concise and his style is powerful - every word packs a punch. He says so much with so little, maximizing the time spent in our reading investment. Clearly, I have nothing but the highest praise for Hawken and this book - it is truly visionary.

I read "The Ecology of Commerce Revised Edition: A Declaration of Sustainability" because it offers a compelling vision for integrating business practices with environmental responsibility. Hawken's insights challenge conventional thinking, advocating for sustainable economic practices that benefit both business and the planet. It's a thought-provoking read that inspires individuals and organizations to reconsider their roles in creating a more sustainable future.

This required textbook addresses why we need to merge business with serious concerns about preserving the earth environment. Learn the real meaning of sustainability and how we can contribute to this vital and ongoing issue.

This book did help me understand some key principles for confronting the challenges ahead. But, I couldn't help but think: "What will move us from these concepts to action?" There is hope in Mr. Hawken's case studies of heroic companies and in new technologies but something is missing. Maybe the same dynamics confronted George Washington and the Continental Congress as they were debating and trying to determine the next best course of action in confronting a formidable foe like Great Britain and a similar "clear and present" threat to freedom and the pursuit of happiness. Our founding fathers similarly articulated very clearly the concepts of risk and opportunity in that century. Then they pursued a path of unknown destiny to address it one engagement at a time on the foundation of some polarizing events (no pun intended). Maybe that is what we lack . . . a clear beginning point and a clear commitment. Let's hope and pray that this declaration of dependence on a new and improved commerce and an emphasis on heroic individual choice is the solution to global climate change and the erosion of our quality of life. Maybe what we really need is to create a "green" tea party and to see 9-11 and the BP oil spill as our modern day Boston Massacre and Bunker Hill. What will wake us up Mr. Hawken? May we all choose to say "give me liberty" from oil and coal because without that liberty, all life will be given certain "death".

Having read the 1993 version dozens of times I can only be profusely grateful for an updated version from which to teach collge students. The revised version is like visiting a great city after a twenty year absence. The bones are there but there are new buildings that have evolved to reflect the times. Thank you Paul. You have given another generation another chance to wake up a world asleep at the wheel of a car headed for a cliff.It still reads like a collection of keynote speeches where every sentence is designed to pack a punch. It doesn't take a lot of words to be honest and direct. Ecology of commerce is not a spectator sport; if really read it is a call to action.