Cheaper, Faster, Better: How We’ll Win the Climate War

by Tom Steyer

Climate investor and activist Tom Steyer shows us how we can win the war on climate.

The climate is changing more rapidly than scientists predicted even a few years ago, with extreme weather already touching our everyday lives. At the same time, the clean energy revolution is forging ahead faster than nearly anyone anticipated. As Tom Steyer sees it, these two trends together create a moment like the one America faced during World War on the one hand, an existential threat calling for collective action; on the other, an opportunity to lead the world, protect the planet, and set the stage for a new generation of shared economic prosperity.

In 2012, Steyer walked away from the highly successful investment fund he founded to devote himself full time to climate issues, and he’s been on the front lines of the fight ever funding cleantech research and businesses, spearheading clean-energy ballot measures and voter registration drives, and running for president on a climate platform. Today, he leads a climate investment firm focused on accelerating climate solutions. In this accessible book, Steyer shares his own story and showcases the inspiring and innovative work of other climate leaders in the clean-energy transition. He shows us how capitalism can be used to scale climate progress, debunks many of the arguments made by fossil fuel companies, and calls on all of us to make stabilizing our planet part of our life’s work. As green technology is fast becoming cleaner and cheaper, reshaping our planet’s future—and our own—has never been more crucial or within our reach.

Genres: Nonfiction, Environment, Science, Economics, Climate Change, Politics, Audiobook

275 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 28, 2024

Reviews

[Isabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always a grain of salt listening to a billionaire and “unapologetic capitalist” speak on what us plebs should do to improve the world, but I largely enjoyed this forward-thinking perspective on clean energy and climate economics.

Filled with scientific background on the current and future impacts of climate change on our living world, Tom Steyer provides his unique perspective on our role in the climate war, particularly in fighting Big Oil and Gas.

He communicates the science and industry knowledge in a way that is digestible for all audiences, and leaves a lot of room to be hopeful for our future provided we take the best actions.

Thanks to Netgalley, Spiegel & Grau by Spotify Audiobooks, and Tom Steyer for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book about climate change beautifully sheds light on the problems of progress in the search for clean energy. The part that resonates with me the most, and which seems very practical, is the author's encouragement to invest in green energy, as return on investment keeps many people investing in oil and gas. The tone of this book is hopeful, which was encouraging.

My thanks to the author, Tom Steyer, and the publisher, a Spiegel & Grau, for my ARC of this book to be published on May 28, 2024. #Goodreads Giveaway

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tom Steyer narrates his impassioned text on climate change and "your" role in it. If you're already on board, there's not much new here for you. He was also writing for a certain audience. An American and privileged audience. He even anonymously references his rich buddies who, in their uber privilege, are complacent or worse. The message that "we all have a role to play" is one we can all get behind, but so what? What can people in the Global South do, realistically? In America, how about the poor and underprivileged? How about those without the power to act and the privilege to take the inevitable hits when they come? Steyer ends on the note that personal choice does little, so let's be good citizens and become politically active. Oh! And let's quit our jobs and choose a different, "purpose-driven" career! Because he did, as a rich white American man .......... with all the stability and resources that implies. Can single mothers juggling multiple jobs without universal income and basic healthcare or child support do this? Look, I'm 100% on board with Steyer's values and hot take on the situation, but he's a rich white American man, and his suggestions make all sorts of assumptions that only someone of his background would have. A more effective strategy would be for Steyer to harness his power (and gather his courage?) to persuade his rich white American male friends to make systemic change that will cascade down to those who want it but can do little about it. In the end, this text comes across as the same ol' material presidential hopefuls tend to produce for campaign season: a message to vote by.

Thanks to NetGalley and Spiegel & Grau by Spotify Audiobooks for the advance copy.

[Jack Reidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cheaper, Faster, Better
Posted on May 26, 2024 by Jack

While I was browsing through Netgalley looking for an interesting read, I came across the name Tom Steyer. I am pretty sure it was in the business & finance section as I browse there sometimes for investment books suitable for a “RetiredGuy”.

Anyway, the name sounded familiar and then I remembered that he was in the debate for the Democratic Party nomination for President. Tom Steyer is a very successful investor and businessman. And ran in the primaries to raise awareness of climate change issues.

As a scientist, I see overwhelming evidence indicates that climate change is a great threat to everybody’s future and we are already seeing the early effects.

This book is “Cheaper, Faster, Better: How We’ll Win the Climate War” by Tom Steyer. Since climate change is a very real problem with multiple effects, including huge economic costs. I was not surprised to find the book in that the business section. The summary of the book sounded like I might enjoy it so I decided to give it a try.

But I was surprised at how optimistic this book is. Tom Steyer's vision is a world where we have broken our addiction to fossil fuels and replaced our dependence with newer technologies which will bring us into a future where things are cheaper, faster, and better.

The book is both very realistic as to climate change and the damage already done and optimistic about our future if we can act together address this crisis. There are extensive discussions on some of the new technologies and business opportunities as well as various roles we can each play.

I highly recommend this book for everyone.

[Emily Stryker-Cherfan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cheaper, Faster, Better by Tom Steyer absolutely blew me away. At a time when it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the irreversible damage done to our climate, Steyer presents a surprisingly optimistic and refreshing outlook on the future. His vision is clear: a world where we break our addiction to fossil fuels, embrace new technologies, and create a future where things are, as the title suggests, cheaper, faster, and better.

The book does an excellent job balancing realism and optimism, acknowledging the climate damage already done while offering hope through collective action. Steyer provides practical, easy-to-understand solutions, making the complex topics of climate change, economics, and technology accessible to everyone. His analogies, from comparing oil dependency to cigarettes and whale oil, helped clarify the economic forces behind fossil fuels.

I especially appreciated the inspiring stories of climate leaders working tirelessly to spearhead the clean-energy revolution. It’s a 280-page motivational call to action that ignites hope for our planet's future. Combining science, economics, and engineering with a sensible approach to sociology, this book is not only smart but deeply inspiring. Highly recommend for anyone looking to feel empowered and informed in the fight against climate change!

[Riley Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you SO incredibly much to NetGalley and Spiegel & Grau by Spotify Audiobooks for an audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review. WOW! This book absolutely blew me away. I must admit, I am “new” to learning about climate change as I was raised in an extremely conservative, fundamental Baptist church attending, republican voting home. It has only been in the past about 13 years (I’m now 32) that I have been free from that kind of thinking and belief system. And it has definitely been a slow process. However, at the beginning of April, I got a job in the Climate, Energy, and Environmental division of my company, and I genuinely feel like everything has changed. It’s like a whole new world has opened up to me and I’m greedily reading anything and everything I can so that I can be a part of the change to making our world a better place. That being said, it is so incredibly easy to get discouraged and depressed when reading and hearing about the irreversible damage that has been done to our climate. So when I started listening to this and hear how very positive Tom’s outlook was, it got me even more fired up and excited!! While facts were given, and some were definitely less than exemplary, the overall positive outlook on climate change was quite refreshing. I appreciated how easy every topic that was covered was to understand, and how practical goals were given that anyone could easily accomplish. This is a book that I will most definitely be referencing time and time again, and I will be buying a physical copy to have on my shelf for easy access. This should be a required book for everyone to read.

[Stephen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Audiobook DNF

Well this was a rough ride.
I really wanted to enjoy this book and learn how I can make a difference for our planet, but I got halfway through chapter 5 and could not face anymore.
I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was either being told how to invest my money well or being forced to listen to how much money the author made. I appreciate the economy and big companies play a major part in the fight against climate change, but the self-indulgent tone had me turning my nose up from the first chapter.
Not a book for me and not one I’d recommend. 1 star.

[Faye Benjamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love tom!!! This is great as an audiobook

[Helen Cho · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was such a painful book to read that it took me four days to finish when I was thinking it would take me two. Obviously, a book geared toward Democrats, that I guess I should have picked up on with the subject matter. I guess that I thought that climate would be a subject many would be interested in, not just those in the know in the Democratic party.

For the most part the book was a screed (denunciation, diatribe, harangue, invective, ranting sermon) directed at the oil and gas industry who are determined to bring the world to an end through mass killings of the poor and Donald Trump who is determined to bring democracy and the American way to an end through his unconstitutional thoughts and policies while being a total fascist.

The author has good points, I'm sure, and I wish he had presented them straightforwardly instead of with all the opining, posturing, autobiography, and god-awful egoism and personality that he seems to have in spades. I would be interested in hearing the story that the title seemed to promise.

I think the author would do well to get out of the echo chamber he seems to live in on his regenerative farm and move to Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington DC or Columbus, Ohio and see how the real people live. Unless the poor people that the author claims to champion can get out of the situations they are in where they are thinking day to day, I don't think he will get the massive support for climate citizens he claims to be fighting for.

If nothing else, it would help his writing greatly.

[Roger DeBlanck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hardly anyone has sacrificed more to take on the climate crisis than Tom Steyer. His book is hopeful with a vision and solutions for how we can make headway against the damage we’ve done. Steyer outlines how supporting the cause to save and preserve our planet will inevitably make energy more affordable and make opportunities for jobs and wealth in clean energy seemingly endless. Steyer is also a realist, and he spends a number of chapters addressing the tricks and machinations of propaganda pulled by the fossil fuel industry to try and undermine clean energy efforts from moving faster in taking on climate change. When he is not identifying and calling out the hypocrisy of deniers, he gives ample time to highlighting the work of dozens of activists who are proving how the climate crisis can be harnessed, preventing our planet from falling into further ruination. As he covers the facts of science, Steyer often uses interesting analogies and personal anecdotes to make his points about climate change more impactful. As for his writing style, he tends to be a little verbose at times and his chapters also tend to overlap with some redundancy. But overall this is an impassioned book of advocacy from one of the world’s foremost leaders working to save our planet.

[Betsy D · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm putting together, with the help of some librarians, reading lists --children's and adults'--on the sun and especially solar power and other clean energy. This is as part of the preparation for Sun Day, a project of Third Act, and brainchild of the founder of Third Act, Bill McKibben.
A key organizer highly recommended that this book be on the list. I have read or skimmed about 2/3 of it, finding it a strong case for becoming a "climate person" to fight the fossil fuel power that is running our climate and so many other things.
Tom Steyer is or was a successful investor, but dropped out of that field (after amassing an adequate billion dollars) to devote himself full-time to climate work. I like that he, who started his career at Exxon Mobil, agreed with my understanding that the personal carbon footprint is a distraction promoted by the fossil fuel companies to keep us all from focusing on the real culprits. I do "go green" in many ways but also go out on the streets to keep the attention on oil companies and the banks and insurers that prop them up. And he makes a strong case that solar power is not only greener, but also cheaper, faster and better at this point, which is also the basic point
A big difference is that he can meet the true culprits "where they live," in CEO offices and the like. I believe that this book is aimed primarily at others like himself, as he talks about how the life as a climate person is so satisfying, and the book could be very powerful for them. For me, it was pretty good.
He makes a strong case that solar power and its friends are Cheaper, Faster, and Better at this time, which is what we will be celebrating on Sun Day.

[Margaret T · Rating 4 out of 5]

An optimistic climate book for once

[Ashley Sala · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. A well-articulated optimistic approach to combating climate change. The analogies to cigarettes, car safety, and whale oil made my understanding of the business end of oil and gas obvious and clear. I naively didn't consider all the propaganda oil companies were using to stop greener energy. I also wasn't aware of the tax breaks they were getting. This book gave me a lot to think about and has already driven me to more action. I felt it brought to light many facets to the fight against climate that I was unaware of. Glad to have had the opportunity of an advanced reading.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

An optimistic but very realistic view of the problems facing us in the climate war....most notably the size and strength of the oil industry, their deep pockets, and their Republican party stooges. Steyer is an investor, a businessman, an entrepreneur who has gone all in to promote renewable energy. If his name sounds familiar, he ran for president in 2020.

[Vicki (MayhemBoundBookshelf) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, Tom Steyer and Spieger and Grau for this audio ARC! I’m fascinated by the fact that climate deniers even exist, let alone that because they do, the work that people like TS do is so incredibly important, but alas, here we are. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this audiobook. I learned plenty of new things and reaffirmed things I already had some knowledge of. I very much appreciated the capitalistic approach to climate change and awareness that TS employed in this book. Overall a really important read.

[Jay Blackwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to enjoy this book, but I struggled with the author’s lack of context and comparative analysis. The author frequently provided specific data points, but did not do justice in explaining the relative significance of the presented data. All-in-all, this book felt like it was written by a politician, trying only to advocate for their side of an argument rather than providing a wholistic perspective from which the reader can draw their own conclusions (I might even say this book felt “rushed”, only spending time researching a single point of view).

[Isaac · Rating 2 out of 5]

My daughters both suffer from climate anxiety and when I heard about this book I immediately had high hopes that we could read it together and it might plant a seed of optimism about the future. I ended up grabbing the audiobook on sale and finishing it before we could get a copy from the library to read together and now I don't think we'll bother.

The book is not necessarily bad, it's just... maybe shallow? He opens with this "greatest generation" comparison, where in the future we'll talk about what we did to beat climate change just like that generation talked about what they did during the war. It's nice, but I imagine the sentiment resonates more with a man in his late 60s then it does with me in my 40s, and even less with my teenage kids.

He occasionally revisits that analogy, but the majority of the book is just the same stock information I would expect from any Atlantic or Times piece on climate change. Extreme weather is on the rise, carbon is bad, capture is expensive, Republicans killed cap and trade, Oil companies control politicians and spew propaganda, Ted Cruise is a humongous asshole, here's some cool green tech, the end.

Again, all fine points, just nothing particularly new or interesting to me. On the occasions when Steyer does editorialize it struck me as hypocritical. He makes ad hominem attacks then criticizes others for ad hominem attacks against him. He broadly dismissing anyone invested in oil as having a conflict of interest, while himself being heavily invested in the green tech he's promoting.

[Sam Steyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am obviously not the average reader, as Tom Steyer is my dad, but I genuinely LOVED the book.

1. It presents a realist's case for climate optimism and essentially a 280-page pump-up speech for those of us working hard to solve Climate.
2. It has interesting and, honeslty, funny stories from my dad's days building Farallon. I didn't know them myself and thoroughly enjoyed.
3. It reads exactly how my dad talks -- it is 100% authentic to what it's like to just have a conversation with him.

Can't recommend enough!!

[Luke Walker · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am already a “climate person” so maybe this book just wasn’t for me. Steyer really focuses almost solely on the oil and gas industry. While I understand the impact that the industry has had on climate, there were so many missed opportunities to address other solutions. There is little talk about how disproportionately corporations contribute to pollution at a grandiose scale compared to individuals. There was no talk about zoning, transit, urbanism, and clean energy outside wind and solar. Again, maybe this book wasn’t for me, but I found it uninspiring.

Gets an extra star for highlighting the innovation and progress in the climate field and the people behind them.

[Reading · Rating 2 out of 5]

I should have known early when the author wrote "I'm an unapologetic capitalist..." That most of this book would be a frustrating and at time angering book by a disconnected, privileged, well intended but fundamentally broken 'visionary'.

[Dorothy Moller · Rating 1 out of 5]

Superficial and largely lacking in substance.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: A climate activist and investor argues we can win the climate war through clean tech and free market capitalism.

Tom Steyer walked away from a highly successful investment fund he managed to focus on climate issues. Since then, he has advocated for clean-energy ballot measures and invested in clean technology firms. He even pursued a brief run for president on a climate platform. Reading Steyer is metaphorically, and perhaps literally, a breath of fresh air. Steyer moves past the standard binary of either climate action that is costly and government regulated and the fossil fuel industry arguments that we need to keep digging and drilling. From his work, he is convinced that mobilizing capital to invest in clean energy can be profitable, create jobs, and can be ramped up to reach climate goals. And we can do this without climate-shaming people.

He begins by describing his personal pivot to climate activism and investing. He became convinced of the real threat to life on our planet from climate change. And he discovered that the fossil fuel industry is also convinced of this. It has orchestrated campaigns to protect their industry, including the huge government handouts they receive each year. As a capitalist, he argues that this just doesn’t make sense, comparing it to the whaling industry, that tried to hang on as oil discoveries threatened to supplant them. Doesn’t it make more sense to shift our investment to new sources of energy, especially as these become cheaper to implement and scale up? Rather than get into the weeds of all the fossil fuel industry arguments, he applies “the Jane Austen test.” He asks “Are these guys trustworthy?”

He outlines the major areas where technology innovation is needed: electricity generation, transportation, manufacturing, agriculture, and building. The point is for each of us to assess to understand our choices and what we can do in each area. He argues against climate doomsayers and urges people to stop rooting for the end of the world, contending that we’ve just scratched the surface of what we can do. Instead, he argues for embracing a “walk-on” mentality. You accept you are an outsider, enjoy the game you can play as a JV and don’t relinquish your judgement to the insiders. It means doing what needs to be done even if you are not on “the first team.” This includes refusing to accept conventional wisdom and thinking smart. An example is the cattlemen who figured out you could grow beef and sequester carbon.

He argues against carbon-footprint shaming. Of course we should do what we can personally. But it can be more important to join collective actions like ballot initiatives that have the potential to be carbon-negative on a large scale. Steyer also believes it is time to take calculated risks to “go big.” We can timidly ask “what is right?” when we need to think about whether we are doing enough. This means winning in the marketplace by doing things that are not only cleaner but better and cheaper. And he offer examples of clean technologies that are doing just that.

Steyer believes the rules need to change so that fossil fuels don’t have an unfair advantage. He believes the best way to do this is to set standards but give lots of flexibility to industries as to how they meet them. He also proposes that getting better at measurements helps us better target interventions. Finally, messaging is more important than being right. What we call things is important.

Steyer compares this generation to the Greatest Generation of World War Two. Just as it was common to ask someone “what did you do during the war?” in an effort to which everyone was all in. He argues that we have this opportunity once again. One way or another, our children and grand-children will ask, “what did you do?”

I write this review on the night a president who opposes what Steyer advocates has taken office. I suspect this is especially a time for that “walk-on” mentality. It doesn’t look like the “rules” are going to favor clean tech. It’s going to take scrappy entrepreneurs who succeed because they are doing something better and cheaper. It would be great if they do this in America. But they might be more successful in other places more open to clean tech. The world needs this, even if the U.S. falls behind.

I like Steyer’s approach which argues that we can both walk and chew gum. We can be clean and profitable. We can invent in ways good for both people and the planet. Steyer impresses me because he has put his money and his life where his mouth is. The question is, will we jump in, or give over to despair? Will we believe lies that even those telling them don’t believe, or will we act on what we know is true while there is time?

_____________

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from the publisher through LibraryThing’s Early Reviewer Program.

[Brandon Pytel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tom Steyer’s book is all about doing your part to fight climate change, comparing the challenge to the world wars fought by previous generations and how getting to Net Zero is the equivalent of V-E Day. In doing so, he breaks the book down into three sections: why you should be a climate person, how you can change your approach to have the biggest impact, and where we can make rapid progress to solve climate change.

But probably what makes this book stand out is just how candid Steyer is. He brings in his own accounts a a businessman and activist to tell stories and creat analogies that tie to some life lessons that can be applied to climate change.

These lessons are summarized in chapter titles: Do the Obvious Thing: what story is the simplest — the promise of renewables or the elaborate combo of luck, coincidence, and inaccuracy that fossil fuel companies portray? I.e., the climate story is simple: we’re facing a threat and we should do something about it.

Sharpen Your Bullshit Detector: fossil fuel companies are acting with a total disregard for the truth and spinning crazy stories and lies and framing (e.g., it’s not worth being a climate person) to justify actions and stay in power as long as possible, and thus they are delaying everything when we don’t have time to delay.

Know What to Know: It’s impossible to know everything (uncertainty is what climate delayers use to delay climate action and stay in power), but we should be asking ourselves what we do know and what we can do with that info: “If you wait for perfect information, you’ll be left waiting forever. If you act as though you understand something completely, you’ll make bad decisions.” In this chapter he also gives us the five plus one approach to driving down emissions: electricity generation, transportation, manufacturing, agriculture, buildings, and then sequestration.

Stop Rooting for the End of the World: People are putting money in front of everything without considering the human consequences, nor if it’s the most fulfilling or interesting or creative way to spend your life.

Think Like a Walk-in: “You can’t go it alone in life. But you also can’t just go with the flow. The higher the stakes, the more important it is to be a team player and be independent at the same time.” In other words, get out of your lane and focus on accomplishing what needs to be done rather than saying it’s not your job. You may ruffle some feathers, but that’s just the frustration tax.

Redefine Smart: essentially, use your talent not to make the world worse, and that true talent is measured not by what you have but what you do with what you have. And it’s smart not to defend oil and gas but to stand up to climate change.

Against Footprint Shaming: Bad-faith footprint shaming is destructive, and all-or-nothing standards give the fossil fuel industry an out. “We can set an example for others, not spend time on needless guilt when we fall short, and have the ability to spur our communities, our states, and even our countries to take the collective action that can change the world.”

Take the Right-sized Swing: quality needs quantity. “The real choice isn't between acting now and acting never. It’s between taking smart, constructive action right away that preserves our way of life.”

Kindness Doesn't Scale: Kindness alone isn’t enough to transform the world, but markets are the quickest way to change things at scale. And markets are amoral. Climate capitalism looks like better tech, ideas, rules, and metrics. And altogether, this will make green products cheaper and better for all.

Rules Matter: Regulations and fair standards create healthy competition and force businesses to innovate, solve problems, and compete; right now, oil and gas want to keep the subsidies coming in, the rules of the market favoriting them, and boxing out clean energy from entering the market.

Measurements Make Miracles Happen: We need better ways to measure what's going on with our planet and our climate so that we can start addressing the problem with solutions. And so that we can charge oil and gas the true price for putting us in the mess we’re in.

Being Right Isn’t Everything: You have to make your case in a compelling, persuasive way; use the language that people use; focus on people instead of nature; and use naming, simplicity, and branding to your advantage, especially as the right and fossil fuel companies use it as a partisan tool.

Steyr is probably overly optimistic at times, but the frank, candid way he speaks to us in this book is really effective from a messaging perspective. He lays out all the ways we need to look at climate change, and all the ridiculous and unfair ways oil and gas try to stay in power. It is a clear, practical call to action and a worthwhile climate read.

[Irene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom Steyer really did give me hope!!

Picking up this book, all I knew about Tom Steyer was that he was the billionaire climate candidate in the Democratic primaries of the 2020 presidential election.

After reading The Climate Book: The Facts and the Solutions by Greta Thunberg, it became clear to me that saving the climate is at odds with capitalism, and we will never sufficiently address the climate crisis while fossil fuels are profitable and consumerism abounds. Moreover, we are now at a point where we need to implement sustainable practices even when there is no financial gain and when it's a less convenient option. But realistically, degrowth doesn't seem likely, so what are we going to do?

This book's title, then, got my attention. Can we really fix this climate emergency in the context of our capitalistic economy, on the basis of sustainability being cheaper and better? Indeed, Tom Steyer makes exactly that argument, even going so far as to say that clean energy is already a more profitable investment.

The introduction immediately drew me in. Tom Steyer's optimism is infectious. He described what motivates him: "Protecting humanity from climate change is the fight of our lifetime. Am I doing my part?" (p. 4) The question each of us should be asking ourselves, each other, and our leaders is, "What are you doing to fight climate change?" (p. 4) Our first goal is to reach net zero (when global greenhouse emissions are entirely balanced out by the amount being removed from the atmosphere), and Steyer insists that clean-energy technology will get us there, and beyond. Not only that, he boldly claims, "if you care about getting rich, being part of the revolution taking place in energy is a pretty good way to do it." (p. 10) Like authors featured in The Climate Book, Steyer believes that "the climate movement is no longer about conservation... It's about making the world better than it's ever been before." (p. 11) And he wants you to know that it really is possible.

This book is a very approachable introduction to the climate crisis, how the oil and gas industry have so far misleadingly defined the narrative, and what we need to do in response. Every chapter includes a section highlighting specific climate people who are already doing important work to move us forward, including climate activists, researchers, and entrepreneurs in clean energy and other technologies that help reduce CO2 levels.

I appreciate that Tom Steyer acknowledges that many "[y]oung people are furious - and rightly so - at older generations for leaving them a huge mess" (p. 84), making them particularly susceptible to despondency and a "climate doomer" mentality. Again, his optimism is unequivocal as he points out that "we're barely scratching the surface of what we can do. Our incomplete effort [at addressing the climate emergency] is already reshaping the way we create and use energy, revolutionizing transportation, making us rethink agriculture... Imagine what would happen if more people [got on board]." (p. 85)

At times, it felt like the book was intended for a moderately wealthy and privileged audience, which, arguably, is the demographic most responsible for carbon pollution and therefore the very people who could make the most difference. Yes, now is truly the time to invest in climate-conscious companies, install solar panels, make the switch to electric vehicles, even take a job in the climate sector; there is value in individual actions as testaments to personal commitment and as examples to others to help spur wider change, but, of course, not everyone is in a position to do those things. Thankfully, Steyer makes clear that "[t]urning a collective problem into a matter of individual responsibility is... exactly what the fossil fuel industry is trying to do... We need systemic change, not perfect people." (p. 133) He encourages everyone to be locally engaged and politically active, and he specifically discussed the power of state ballot measures as conduits of collective action for large-scale change.

While I really want to share Tom Steyer's sanguinity, it's hard to feel confident about the path we are on when even he admits that, generally speaking, most people won't act in the greater interest because "human beings are, let's face it, often driven by our own self-interests." (p. 160) But contrary to my thoughts on capitalism noted earlier, Steyer believes capitalism is exactly what will get people to act. He argues for a "climate capitalism" based on "better tech, better ideas, better rules, and better metrics" that will "shift the incentives so that even the most self-interested people make choices that help stabilize our planet and prevent human catastrophe." (p. 165) I know very little about economics or finance, so whether capitalism will ultimately be our undoing or our savior, what do I know!? All I can say is, it feels like a good thing, that there are climate people working on both sides of that debate, so there are solutions both within and outside of the existing system.

The bottom line is that we need forward-thinking leaders who will take immediate and bold action to enact policies, programs, and laws that will support clean energy and reduce dependence on fossil fuels, thereby incentivizing companies to make climate-friendly innovations and normalizing sustainable practices. We also need more of the general population to become climate-conscious, and Steyer offered up a number of suggestions for how best to meet others where they are, including focusing on the potential damage to people rather than nature or the weather and being aware of how specific word choices can make topics more accessible.

After reading this book, I am heartened, if not entirely convinced, that humanity can take action with enough urgency to possibly stave off the very worst of climate disaster, which is already underway. It's actually a relief to know that the technologies needed to address the climate crisis do, in fact, already exist or are being developed. What we need now is for all people to become "climate people" so that change can happen quickly and at scale.

Edited to add: I still think this book is worth reading, but urge anyone who reads it to also read Less Is More: How Degrowth Will Save the World.

[Craig Amason · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tom Steyer is confident that humanity will win the climate war. In my opinion, he may be a bit too confident. His primary thesis is that governments, industries, businesses, and just regular people will find it economically beneficial to make the migration from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy. In other words, we will all overcome the destruction of our global environment from climate change out of good old fashion self interest and greed. Okay, I'm grossly oversimplifying his argument in this intriguing book, but he really does believe that renewables are quickly becoming cheaper, faster, and better as his title declares.

Of course, there will be plenty for critics to pick apart here, not the least of which is the author's obvious distaste for Donald Trump and his policies as President that were the worst for the environment, including attacks on renewable forms of energy and subsidizing the oil industry. He goes a step further to discuss the moral depravity of Trump, so some readers will consider him too biased to be trusted. He has other biases that slip through on occasion, such as his distrust of chemical herbicides that conclusive scientific evidence has yet to prove are harmful. He makes a ridiculous claim that Iowa has the highest rate of cancer in the U.S. because of the herbicides used in cornfields that end up in the water table. There is absolutely no data to substantiate this claim. Stick to climate, Mr. Steyer.

I suspect Steyer is a tad too optimist about how quickly the technology will make renewables inevitable economically and practically, especially for rural areas in developed countries and most everywhere in less developed nations. I hope he's right. As someone who started out in the fossil fuel industry and converted over to being an advocate for renewable energy sources and investor in climate change science and technology, Steyer is certainly knowledgeable about his subject and convincing in his arguments. I found his answers to skeptics of climate change, critics of climate change warriors, and dishonest fossil fuel industry leaders to be the most compelling part of the book. He has thought through most carefully the strategy of winning the climate war. Overall, I agree with his conclusions and hope his optimism bears fruit sooner than later, for all our sakes.

[Bao Huynh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cheaper, Faster, Better: How We’ll Win the Climate War by Tom Steyer is the book that gave me more knowledge about the climate change, gave me a vision that the climate change is real and happening faster than we can imagine. The book showed me that the government supports the oil and gas companies $7 trillion dollars every year. The climate change will affect us all and we can and must solve it as soon as possible.
The book lets me know the potentials of capitalism to make the solutions for climate change, and also telling me that the green technologies is becoming effective and cheaper for everyone to afford them. Through this book, I know that when we replace the fossil fuels with green energies not only benefit the planet but also everything that lives inside. Steyer's comparison of the climate crisis with World War 2 was very smart because is showed me the urgency and the necessity of every country in the world.
This book is very educational, and it had the persuasive tone through the stories he told based on his personal experiences and the examples from the climate leaders. Although we can't get rid of the fossil fuels properly and replace it with green energy faster but in the future, we can do it.
Cheaper, Faster, Better is the book that everyone should read because when you read it, you will have more views about the climate changes and how to help the world deal with it properly. The author wrote this book very well, I like this book

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚 2024 #51: “Cheaper, Better, Faster” by Tom Steyer

📕 This book shares a positive outlook on the climate crisis and is divided into three sections: why do we need to make a change, how do we do it, and four areas in which we need to make change fast. Steyer breaks down why people doubt climate change and believe false claims from the oil industry. He focuses on decarbonization as the main goal, defining a “five plus one” strategy - five ways to reduce emissions (electricity generation, transportation, manufacturing, agriculture, buildings) and one to undo damage (sequestration).

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5/5: There's way too much information to be presented in this quick review, but anyone trying to understand the climate crisis and what they can do about it should read this. There's so much misinformation, misleading done by oil/agriculture/plastic industries (that obviously just want you to buy more of their stuff), and blindly hoping that tech will solve all our problems. People are generally confused about what's going on (as big business wants us to be) and this book clears a lot up using facts and research. I tend to be a climate pessimist these days, but if more people that have doubts or confusion read books like this, we might stand a chance.

🤓 You should read this if you liked "Wasteland" by Oliver Franklin-Wallis or anything by Barry Lopez.

🥰 Thank you to NetGalley and Spiegel & Grau for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of “Cheaper, Faster, Better: How We’ll Win the Climate War”

By: Tom Steyer

Available May 28/2024

Disclaimer: Please note that I received a Audio ARC from NetGalley and Spiegel & Grau by Spotify Audiobooks, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

“Cheaper, Faster, Better” by Tom Steyer offers a refreshing perspective on combating climate change, blending hope, practicality, and investment wisdom into a compelling narrative.

What sets this book apart is its focus on capitalism as a tool for scaling climate progress. Steyer’s argument for investing in green energy over fossil fuels resonates strongly, offering a pragmatic approach to driving change. His emphasis on the economic benefits of sustainable solutions provides hope for meaningful progress.

Despite the dire circumstances, Steyer’s message is one of hope and possibility. He highlights inspiring examples of individuals and communities leading the charge for climate action, showcasing the potential for transformative change.

“Cheaper, Faster, Better” is a thought-provoking and inspiring read that encourages readers to rethink their approach to climate action. Steyer’s hopeful vision, combined with his investment expertise, offers a compelling roadmap for a sustainable future.

[Anusha Datar · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book contains Tom Steyer’s perspective on the current state and potential futures of the climate crisis and our fight against it. He provides a lot of insight from his own career and intuition as an investor. In doing so, he argues that investing time and money into climate action is both existentially and financially sound.

I hadn’t thought about Tom Steyer since the 2020 democratic presidential primaries. I was pretty skeptical of this book, but I actually thought that Steyer does a good job clearly communicating his ideas and connecting with his readers without sounding too out of touch or judgemental.

This book was a nice dose of optimism and reminder of what we (as individuals, as industries, as governments) ought to prioritize in the coming decades. I liked how he focused on concrete initiatives in infrastructure development, startup companies, and political agreements instead of just speculating about what would be ideal or promising that we’d figure it out. I finished this book prior to the 2024 election though, and I bet many of the efforts he described could be spun down in the next year or so, so maybe this book make me feel less optimistic if I were to revisit it.

[Judie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steyer

I am 84 years old. I am part of the problem. I’m trying to be part of the solution. I know I won’t be around when future generations are severely affected with what we have been doing and are doing now.
The problem is climate change. Rachel Carson warned us about the problem in 1962 when she wrote SILENT SPRING what was happening to the environment. She was ignored.
It is now 2024. The situation is much worse. I’ve seen the glaciers in Alaska. Future generations will not have that opportunity. What there will see rising water levels destroying coastlands, weather extremes, animals losing their homelands, major agricultural changes.
In CHEAPER, BETTER, FASTER, Tom Steyer not only describes climate change, elaborates, what his what causes it, primarily industry and wealthy
He explains climate change in a readable format, and offers practical solutions for what can be done now to help make the earth healthier and