Jonathan Watts

I decided to read this book because of it's interesting and catchy title. But unfortunately, it turned out to be one of the scariest and depressing books I've ever read. We all know about the booming Chinese economy, but using very convincing statistics, as well as personal histories Jonathan Watts demonstrates how this rapid economic boom is coming at a huge cost to the environment. He talks of the attempts China is making to "go green" but with a population of 1.4 billion all trying attain a higher standard of living based on the western models of consumption, Watts sees little chance of China being able to achieve these standards without further irrevocable damage to the environment. And what makes the book really scary is that with China making up 1/5 of the worlds population, if they totally destroy their environment, it's going to put the health of the entire planet in real jeopardy.… (mehr)

The tragic triple disaster of earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear meltdown that occurred in northern Japan on March 11, 2011 hit a nation already in crisis; both economically and spiritually. This Precious Life takes us through the unfolding events of 2011 documenting efforts by Japanese Buddhist priests, temples, and organizations to respond to both the sudden disaster of the tsunami and the ongoing disaster of the nuclear power plants. While Japanese Buddhism has been struggling to recover its meaning for people in this highly modernized nation, the past year has shown its great ability to serve people in times of crisis and trauma. Meanwhile, Japanese Buddhism is slowly starting to take on the nuclear issue and deeper structural problems that face the nation. This Precious Life is filled with many moving stories from this epoch making year; provides a variety of critiques of both Japanese society and Japanese Buddhism; and a presents the work of a small group of Buddhist visionaries already working to create the new Japan of post 3/11.… (mehr)