Let’s just get this out there. I think Al Gore kicks ass. Straight up. And his newest book that came out last year does as well. Our Choice is a plan to solve the climate crisis with all sorts of information about our energy sources, living systems, how we use energy, how we can go far quickly and the obstacles we need to overcome.

Obstacles meaning how we think and behave now, and what we need to do to change. We can start with putting a price on carbon. Thinking not about short-term profits but long-run investment. Moving past that overly simplistic idea we call GDP and focusing on our genuine progress which includes benefits like volunteering or costs like air pollution. Understanding that fossil fuel companies spend millions every year to trick people into not believing in a very strong scientific consensus. To be done with the market fundamentalism and realize that for our system to work, we need both markets and democracy.

We can overcome those obstacles. It’s our choice. We’ve got maybe a 2-3 year window to make up our minds. Then we’re moving forward, whether we’re ready or not. Hopefully we pick the blue side.

Now, for the first time ever, most people live in cities. And one out of three of those people live in a slum.

Designed by Pentagram for the Rockefeller Foundation, Century of the City is about the commitment to help more societies “flourish” by sthrengthening the cities — and the lives of citizens — at their core. A remarkable book on the need for leadership in the face of daunting challenges — from water, sanitation and shelter to climate change, urban health, transportation and the need for a global urban commons.

How does one go about designing an inclusive city? How do we help shape a future that will be better for everyone? Perhaps it starts with a book.

Climate Wars by Gwynne Dyer | Soil Not Oil by Vandana Shiva

Yesterday Democracy Now! hosted a little debate between Indian environmentalist, scientist, philosopher and eco-feminist, Vandana Shiva, and geopolitical analyst and columnist, Gwynne Dyer. They talked Geoengineering in the face of runaway Climate Change.

On one side you have a very ecologically-focused, democratically-led effort at getting our emissions down in a way that is in harmony with the planet and its web of life. The Universal Declaration on the Rights of Mother Earth that shifts us to an earth centered paradigm.

And on the other, there’s not enough time. So we’ve got to geoengineer ourselves out of this crisis that’s coming so fast the scientific community is scared and desperate. Temporary intervention is needed so we have more time to get emissions down, then we don’t have megadeaths starting in the tropics and subtropics in 30-50 years.

Very interesting. If a decision had to be made today, which side should we choose?

Obsessive Consumption the Book

Our friend Kate, from the Office of Kate Bingaman-Burt, has a book out. It’s pretty great. Quoting now: “I love documenting the mundane and, in turn, putting a personal face on something that is mass-produced. I make work about personal consumerism, market economies, guilt, joy, excess, more guilt, gifts, celebration, repetition, and the community of these shared experiences.” She’s going on her Summer Zoom 2010. Really nice stuff. Enjoy.

Making Ideas Happen by Scott Belsky

Making Ideas Happen is a remedy to that very sad fact: MOST IDEAS NEVER HAPPEN. Offering insight to overcome “reactionary workflow” and start pushing ideas forward, to let go of the myth of the lonely creative genius, and to push through the “project plateau” and finish, Scott Belsky has quite an effective method for making things happen. The simple equation: Creativity x Organization = Impact. Very nice design too. 

Please visit:

Behance
The Behance Network
The 99 Percent
Action Method
Outfitter

The Action Method at a Glance

The latest from Michael Pollan

Food Rules. Simple. Handy. Easy to understand. A collection of rules for healthy eating answering the question, “what should I eat?” Some notable ones: #11 Avoid foods you see advertised on television. #36 Don’t eat breakfast cereals that change the color of the milk. #58 Do all your eating at a table. #19 If it came from a plant, eat it; if it was made in a plant, don’t. Goes nicely with the mainstay “eat food, not too much, mostly plants.” All with the goal of getting people off the modern western diet, with its abundance of processed food, refined grains and sugars, and its sore lack of vegetables, whole grains and fruit. If you’ve got some to add, you can email Michael Pollan at pollanfoodrules@gmail.com.

The Third Teacher Book

The stack of books I need to read just keeps growing. I haven’t made a dent in awhile. So starting now until the end of summer I’m really going to get after it. The Third Teacher is first up. A project from Bruce Mau Design, it looks at designing today’s schools for tomorrow’s world and includes 79 ways design can transform learning and teaching. It’s a lovely book full of optimism and hope. From Let the sunshine in to Get eco-educated to Put the fun in fundamentals to Dream big and be brave, the efforts of committed individuals are indeed having positive impact. Now add to this list. 

Community Connections Section

Idea 34. Imagine like a child

Doodle Your Way To Where You Want To Go.

Today I came across the cover for a book I designed for a friend who was leaving to take another job. It was a going away gift filled with random things: favorite quotes, work tales, pranks, etc. That was a couple years ago. When I see it today I really kind of like it. I remember not spending much time on it at all. It was ultra rush-rush. It’s amazing how things come out so nice when you don’t spend any time getting in their way. Commence doodling.

A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn.

Why we like to share.

Howard Zinn, a truly remarkable figure in our society, passed away last week. I have always thought of him as a sense maker and a truth teller. Both those things can certainly get you into trouble in America, especially when those in power are directly in your line of fire. His most well-known work, A People’s History of the United States (history from the view of its unknown participants) has been a trusty companion for my outlook on the world. As has Passionate Declarations: Essays on War and Justice. And now The People Speak brings these ideas to life through wonderfully inspiring performances you can view on the History Channel: “Democracy is not a spectator sport.”

Democracy NOW!, one fine independent media network, has quite a tribute to this historian/teacher/activist. It’s a look at how he challenged the status quo and the standard myths most Americans are taught in school. But more importantly, it shows his willingness to be a participant in the great movements for change that have shaped our modern world. He was there. On the front lines. In the shit. Raising hell and speaking truth right in the face of power. He was active. And because of his example, his understanding of the world, his ability to move people with his conviction and his humor, he was able to change people’s perspectives and raise their consciousness.

He will certainly be missed. But his view of the world, “the countless small actions of unknown people” that lead to those great moments that enter the historical record, a record that you simply can’t begin to understand unless you look at those countless small actions, will certainly live on in the millions of people who were inspired by his life. You can’t be neutral on a moving train, and because of him, you know the history of those people who stood up on the side of equality, justice and peace, and you know it’s possible to do the same.

You Work For Them discontinued selling books on their site (sad face) some time ago but have released a new Book Archive that is essentially a collection of some of the best books about design, typography, art, etc.. which are each linked up to buy on Amazon. The benefit of using the YWFT Book Archive to browse books is that they have better descriptions, better images and categorization than you could find by using Amazon alone. They also have a Book Advice section that outlines which books are essential for designers to own or learn from.