I read this book on vacation to the dismay of my family. But I just needed to know how bad it could get and whether there was something we could do. This book gave me a bigger picture of the problems our earth and we as inhabitants face. The message is yes it might get really bad but I think Browns recommendations for saving our planet are not impossible. So I found hope in this book. I am a realist, so I found this book to be straight and honest no sugar coating but definitely hopeful.