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Hot, Flat, and Crowded

Mike Edwards, CEO and President of the Knoxville Chamber, leads a community discussion of the book Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution and How It Can Renew America by Thomas Friedman. In his groundbreaking book, Thomas Friedman discusses what he sees as America’s surprising loss of focus and national purpose since the September 11 terrorist attacks, as well as the global environmental crisis. Friedman explains why he believes this is a great challenge, but also a great opportunity—one that America cannot afford to miss. Not only is American leadership the key to the healing of the earth, it is also our best strategy for the renewal of America.

Edwards says he chose Hot, Flat, and Crowded because it "hits the nail on the head. We're facing a big uphill climb, but fortunately, in East Tennessee we've got some world class resources to deal with the issues ahead of us." (Recorded March 11, 2009)

About the Podcast

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Knox Pods
Podcasts of Knox County Public Library

About your hosts

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Melissa Brenneman

Melissa listens to hours of podcasts on most days. She started the habit with the intention of taking long walks, but podcasts proved to be more addicting than exercise. She records, edits and mixes podcasts for the library.
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Alan May

Alan May works as a librarian at Lawson McGhee Library. He holds an MFA in creative writing and a Master's of Library and Information Studies, both from the University of Alabama. In his spare time, he reads and writes poetry. His work has appeared or is forthcoming in New Orleans Review, The New York Quarterly, The Hollins Critic, The Idaho Review, Plume, Willow Springs, and others. He has published three books. His latest, Derelict Days in That Derelict Town: New and Uncollected Poems, is forthcoming in 2025.