Our Choice
Book by Al Gore
Reviewed by Giselle Carr
Issue 11 Winter 2012
After the worldwide phenomenon of An Inconvenient Truth, the sequel, Our Choice lays out the solutions to the global climate crisis: what can be done, and what is already happening right now. The book presents chapters that focus on energy, living systems, the obstacles that may be missed or immeasurable, and the power of our choice to “go far, quickly.”
How can a multilayer dialogue around climate change generate accessible solutions? How can readers learn more about the challenges at hand, while being inspired to take the everyday actions that can lead to change? Perhaps the most compelling aspect of this book is its use of strategic design to bring the message to a new and profoundly actionable medium. The very first interactive book, Our Choice has changed the way we read books. The interactive application available on iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch is a groundbreaking multi-touch interface that allows readers to experience documentary footage, interactive infographics and maps, as well as listen to Gore’s narrative:
“Our ability as human beings to use information in order to make sophisticated mental models of the world around us is arguably the one capacity that most distinguishes us from all other living creatures. Now that we are faced with the unprecedented challenge of rapidly improving our understanding of the earth’s ecological system and our place in it, it is time to focus on how we can make the fullest and most creative use of information technology to help us.”