Ezra Levant Ethical Oil
Four finalists for the National Business Book Awards 2010, credited as one of the most prestigious literary awards, were announced last week. The award is open to all authors in Canada who published a business-related book last year, and the winner will receive a $20,000 prize together with the award. Jeff Rubin’s “Why Your World is About to Get a Whole Lot Smaller: Oil and the End of Globalization” was chosen as the best entry last year.
Getting over the hurdle
This year’s submissions largely reflect the impact of the financial crisis as Canadians search for clearer answers to their questions and uncertainties concerning the recession. Many books focus on attempting to explain and analyze reasons for the downturn. Another common issue dealt with by nominated books is the environment and green policies, many of them dealing with the impact of the economy on the environment.
Richard Florida The Great Reset
The 2010 finalists are:
• Richard Florida, “The Great Reset: How New Ways of Living and Working Drive Post-Crash Prosperity,” published by Random House Canada. Professor Florida, a development researcher and philosopher, discloses his point of view on the history of economic cycles and presents an opportunity to “reset” the system and introduce positive changes to society.
• Ezra Levant, “Ethical Oil: The Case for Canada’s Oil Sands,” published by McClelland & Stewart Ltd. Levant offers his examination of the impact of the media on environmental protection and challenges some of the myths connected to Canada’s Oil Sands. In addition, she provides a series of “ethical profiles” of oil producing nations.
Sheila McLeod Arnopolis
Saris on Scooters
• Sheila McLeod Arnopoulos, “Saris on Scooters: How Microcredit Is Changing Village India,” published by Dundurn Press Toronto. The book offers an insightful look into the reality of Indian women living in remote villages who try to reshape their lives using microcredits, and focuses readers’ attention on developing economies.
• David Orrell, “Economyths: Ten Ways Economics Gets It Wrong,” published by John Wiley & Sons Canada, Ltd. Orrell is a mathematician who decided to devote his book to revealing flaws in traditional economical thought, and he offers a stunning analysis of the causes of the financial crisis. The book also suggests possible alternatives for our future economic development.
Roger Martin, the Dean of the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, is the chair of the jury. The winner will be announced during a National Business Book Award ceremony on May 12, 2011, in Toronto.
