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Lives Per Gallon: The True Cost of Our Oil Addiction
How much would you pay for a gallon of gas? $2.50? $10.00? Would you pay with the health of your lungs or with years taken from your lifespan?
The infamous "pain at the pump" runs much deeper than our wallets, argues Terry Tamminen, former Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency and current Special Assistant to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Petroleum may power our cars and heat our homes, but it also contributes to birth defects and disorders like asthma and emphysema, not to mention cancer. In Lives Per Gallon, Tamminen takes a hard look at these and other health, environmental, and national security costs hidden in every barrel of oil.
While the petroleum industry is raking in huge profits, Tamminen shows, it is studiously avoiding measures that would lessen the hazards of its products. Using the successful lawsuits by state governments against big tobacco as a model, the author sets forth a bold strategy to hold oil and auto companies accountable and force industry reform. He also offers a blueprint for developing alternative energy sources based on California's real world experiences.
Certain to be controversial, Lives Per Gallon is an unblinking assessment of the true price of petroleum and a prescription for change. The choice is continuing paying with our health, or kick our addiction and evolve beyond an oil-dependent economy. How much would you pay for a gallon of gas? $2.50? $10.00? Would you pay with the health of your lungs or with years taken from your lifespan?
The infamous "pain at the pump" runs much deeper than our wallets, argues Terry Tamminen, former Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency and current Special Assistant to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Petroleum may power our cars and heat our homes, but it also contributes to birth defects and disorders like asthma and emphysema, not to mention cancer. In Lives Per Gallon, Tamminen takes a hard look at these and other health, environmental, and national security costs hidden in every barrel of oil.
While the petroleum industry is raking in huge profits, Tamminen shows, it is studiously avoiding measures that would lessen the hazards of its products. Using the successful lawsuits by state governments against big tobacco as a model, the author sets forth a bold strategy to hold oil and auto companies accountable and force industry reform. He also offers a blueprint for developing alternative energy sources based on California's real world experiences.
Certain to be controversial, Lives Per Gallon is an unblinking assessment of the true price of petroleum and a prescription for change. The choice is continuing paying with our health, or kick our addiction and evolve beyond an oil-dependent economy.
The infamous "pain at the pump" runs much deeper than our wallets, argues Terry Tamminen, former Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency and current Special Assistant to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Petroleum may power our cars and heat our homes, but it also contributes to birth defects and disorders like asthma and emphysema, not to mention cancer. In Lives Per Gallon, Tamminen takes a hard look at these and other health, environmental, and national security costs hidden in every barrel of oil.
While the petroleum industry is raking in huge profits, Tamminen shows, it is studiously avoiding measures that would lessen the hazards of its products. Using the successful lawsuits by state governments against big tobacco as a model, the author sets forth a bold strategy to hold oil and auto companies accountable and force industry reform. He also offers a blueprint for developing alternative energy sources based on California's real world experiences.
Certain to be controversial, Lives Per Gallon is an unblinking assessment of the true price of petroleum and a prescription for change. The choice is continuing paying with our health, or kick our addiction and evolve beyond an oil-dependent economy. How much would you pay for a gallon of gas? $2.50? $10.00? Would you pay with the health of your lungs or with years taken from your lifespan?
The infamous "pain at the pump" runs much deeper than our wallets, argues Terry Tamminen, former Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency and current Special Assistant to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Petroleum may power our cars and heat our homes, but it also contributes to birth defects and disorders like asthma and emphysema, not to mention cancer. In Lives Per Gallon, Tamminen takes a hard look at these and other health, environmental, and national security costs hidden in every barrel of oil.
While the petroleum industry is raking in huge profits, Tamminen shows, it is studiously avoiding measures that would lessen the hazards of its products. Using the successful lawsuits by state governments against big tobacco as a model, the author sets forth a bold strategy to hold oil and auto companies accountable and force industry reform. He also offers a blueprint for developing alternative energy sources based on California's real world experiences.
Certain to be controversial, Lives Per Gallon is an unblinking assessment of the true price of petroleum and a prescription for change. The choice is continuing paying with our health, or kick our addiction and evolve beyond an oil-dependent economy.
262 pages, Hardcover
First published October 2, 2006
2 people are currently reading
208 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 30, 2025
3.5/5 (rounded up because I support its message) - This book felt like reading my college degree in a nutshell BUT it added a layer of politics I found to be eye-opening, intriguing, and frustrating. I appreciated the parallels that were drawn between the oil and tobacco industries and found the comparison to be helpful at illustrating our addiction and deception to the two goods. It felt very timely to read since there’s an entire chapter dedicated to the year 2025.
One of my college professors was mentioned in this book—go Aggies!
One of my college professors was mentioned in this book—go Aggies!
August 8, 2007
If you've been thinking about how bad you think oil is in general and want some further quantification of it, this book is just the ticket. Tamminen spoke at one of my friend's grad school graduations, and she was particularly moved. Believe me after reading this you will be too.
February 19, 2017
I read this book in a few days. I thought the lives in the title were soldiers and though that cost is mentioned the main focus is the impact of refineries and exhaust on health. Quite unbelievable.
the author is the former director of the epa calif. the stats are chilling. downwind from refineries - the closer to busy streets and really everywhere - more cancer more illness of all kinds. brain damage in children. unbelievable.
I use bullfrog power to power my home with enough left over to carbon credit my seldom use car. few do this. most are too cheap.
if fossil Fuels get 'solved' it will be because they cost $20 per gallon. and with the shale boom that has no chance of happening.
the author is the former director of the epa calif. the stats are chilling. downwind from refineries - the closer to busy streets and really everywhere - more cancer more illness of all kinds. brain damage in children. unbelievable.
I use bullfrog power to power my home with enough left over to carbon credit my seldom use car. few do this. most are too cheap.
if fossil Fuels get 'solved' it will be because they cost $20 per gallon. and with the shale boom that has no chance of happening.
October 22, 2013
This is not an easy read.
.
Babies born to smokers have cancer-causing (non-natural) chemical compounds (such as benzene and toluene) in their umbilical cord blood before they are even born.
Car exhaust is just as bad for you as cigarette smoke. Keeping the windows closed won't help. In some studies, inside car air is as bad or worse for your health than the air outside your car.
Riding the yellow school bus is especially unhealthy. Research has shown that a child riding inside a diesel school bus may be exposed to as much as 4X the level of toxic diesel exhaust as someone riding in the car in front of the bus.
Not going to finish right now because I have too many 'have-tos.'
.
Babies born to smokers have cancer-causing (non-natural) chemical compounds (such as benzene and toluene) in their umbilical cord blood before they are even born.
Car exhaust is just as bad for you as cigarette smoke. Keeping the windows closed won't help. In some studies, inside car air is as bad or worse for your health than the air outside your car.
Riding the yellow school bus is especially unhealthy. Research has shown that a child riding inside a diesel school bus may be exposed to as much as 4X the level of toxic diesel exhaust as someone riding in the car in front of the bus.
Not going to finish right now because I have too many 'have-tos.'
January 18, 2016
An exhaustive account on the social costs of the private car. Full of useful information. I did not know that a parked car pollutes the air with dangerous fumes containing cancer-causing chemicals, for example. A must for anyone interested in health, the environment and mobility.
May 9, 2007
This book is immediately relevant to anyone who, I don't know, drives a car, pays taxes, or lives in the United States.
June 12, 2014
truly enlightening and inspiring. pertinent referencing that covers a wide range of sources.
February 28, 2008
My comments: This is a powerfully informative book that really changed my perspective on how our society gets energy. It will make you feel really disgusted, but it's important knowledge.
September 17, 2011
Learned a bit about how much pollution one is exposed to while driving or stuck in traffic... that's about it.
January 2, 2012
This book will make you angry at oil companies, auto manufacturers, and others that profit from oil.
Want to read
January 29, 2016rec by Jeff Speck, Walkable City
May 29, 2018
Reveals the shocking horrors of our oil based economy-- it's worse than you think! The author also provides a compelling argument for moving to hydrogen technology and suggestions for bringing our current oil use down.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews