Product Description
The phrase global warming is a term that has been in common usage for some time and usually refers to recent warming of Earth s atmosphere, which also implies a manmade or human influence. Each chapter of this book deals with an aspect of it. Starting with A for Amazon, the book takes the reader an A-Z journey through global warming, with each chapter dealing with a specific point on the issue of climate change and global warming. Biofuels are looked at, Carbon Dioxide, Electric Vehicles through to Weather, Xtinction, You Can Help and finally Zero Hour.... The book is illustrated throughout to assist in the simplification of this complex subject matter. 10% of authors net sale proceeds will be divided between 4 global warming related organisations, to include The Alliance for Climate Protection, WWF, Global Cool, and Pure the Clean Planet Trust. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A-Z of Global Warming-Kindle Edition
The A-Z of Global Warming book is now available on Kindle for E-Download. The book provides a complete guide on all matters relating to global warming from the Amazon, Biofuels, Carbon Dioxide to Electric Vehicles, Weather and extinction. Book is illustrated throughout and is supported with facts sourced from NASA, NOAA, WWF, Stern Review, IPCC, NSIDC, and other organisations. This book is for anyone wanting to get to the facts on this complex subject without the scientific jargon and laborious text that most books on this subject matter suffer with.

Climate Change Clarified
A great book, dealing with all apsects of global warming, set in unusual, but handy A-Z format. Covers all aspects of the topic, accompanied by nice illustrations and photo's. If you want to get straight to the heart of the subject, without too much heavy science, then this is the book for you... easy to read, concise, absorbing and well written...referenced throughout. A worthy addition to the global warming book shelf...

Global warming simplified...
A nicely written book, covering and simplifying all aspects of climate change and global warming. A refreshing, simplified and easy to read book on this subject. Lovely illustrations too.... highly reccommended.

Creative, Inspirational, Educational
Mr. Rosser's passionate and "ordinary person" approach to this subject is refreshing. He explains concepts of global warming in plain terms and the key points at the end of each chapter are very helpful.
Evidently, the author is also the artist. The drawings throughout the book are very appealing and nearly tell the story all on their own.

The book is just the right length and has nice feel to it. With so many books currently available on this subject, this one stands out as a favorite.

A-Z of Global Warming
This book provides the reader with a complete guide on all the issues related to Global Warming and Climate Change. It cuts straight to the science and is written in unique and unusual A-Z format in easy to understand laymans terms. The A-Z format seems to cover all possible aspects of global warming with the information taken from numerous scientific sources, including NASA, NOAA, The Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change, NSIDC, the IPCC, and the WWF, and other organisations. The book takes the reader on a journey from the relevance of The Amazon, Biofuels, Carbon Dioxide, Deforestation, Electric Vehicles and Transport through to the Weather, Xtinction (extinction) and what You can do to help...Almost all chapters are illustrated with the authors own handrawn annotated illustrations or with NASA and NOAA photo's and graphs. A must for anyone interested in getting to the bottom of this hot and complex topic! ... Read more

Product Description
ChemConnections modules cover a broad range of chemical topics and supply research-base, classroom-tested, active learning strategies that guide students through the scientific process.A project of the National Science Foundation, ChemConnections modules use guided, discovery-based learning activities to promote a deep understanding of a broad range of chemistry concepts and problem-solving techniques. Each module poses a central question for example, "What's in a Star?" or "How Can We Make Our Water Safe to Drink?" that students investigate through guided discussions, collaborative laboratory work, reading and writing assignments, case teaching, policy simulations, Web research, and videos. ... Read more

Product Description
Shattered Consensus: The True State of Global Warming convincingly demonstrates the remarkable differences between what we commonly read about global warming and what is really happening. Nine chapters describe major problems with computer simulations of future climate that are the basis for wrenching policies being proposed by world leaders. Anyone who reads this book will come away with a new appreciation of the complexity of the climate issue and will question the need for expensive policies that are likely to have little or no detectable effect on the planet's temperature. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

More than the Average Climate Denying Book, but Not an Alternative Theory of Global Climate Change
One of the most sophisticated of the many books seeking to question the science of global climate change, Patrick J. Michaels's edited collection, "Shattered Consensus: The True State of Global Warming," published in 2005 mobilizes a set of authors to pry at the armor of those who argue for the immediate and potentially catastrophic climate change currently underway. Michaels is a senior fellow of the conservative Cato Institute and has written several other books denying global warming, including "Meltdown: The Predictable Distortion of Global Warming by Scientists, Politicians, and the Media" (2004), and "Climate of Extremes: Global Warming Science They Don't Want You to Know" (2009), with Robert C. Balling Jr., both of which had been published by the Cato Institute.

The ten authors assembled by Michaels in "Shattered Consensus" explore and find wanting scientific temperature and precipitation forecasts, the volatility of weather patterns, the impact of El Niño, the presumption of a rising temperature on human health, and the role of CO2 concentrations on rising global temperatures. In the process the authors take aim at the scientific enterprise, including the data received from satellite-based instruments, and how they have been interpreted by climate scientists. An important, and uniquely sophisticated, part of this book was an essay questioning the quality of global temperature records; arguing quite appropriately that it is sketchy for all but the recent past and sometimes hard to verify and analyze. The authors also take aim at the use of CO2 as a global warming catalyst, arguing that while there have been periods of warmer temperatures--as much as 6 degrees Celsius higher than in the early twenty-first century--the Earth was characterized as having CO2 concentrations 20 percent below current levels.

No doubt, "Shattered Consensus" is one of the more sophisticated efforts to call into question climate science and the threat of global warming. While it contains essentially the same tired rhetoric used by global warming deniers for a quarter century, it displays the trappings of scholarship while downplaying the green house gas effect on climate change and questions the construction of the scientific consensus. It claims to expose misleading statements in the IPCC report and challenges the famous "Hockey Stick" graph as being misleading and incorrect but offers little in the way of explanation beyond rhetoric and opinion. Indeed, a significant part of the book is dedicated to undermining this graph, exploiting its fully acknowledged deficiencies but failing to recognize the self-correcting nature of the scientific enterprise as climate scientists have continued to work on problems.

The work is an effective rhetorical device, convincing enough to persuade science and energy editor of the "Hawaii Reporter," Michael R. Fox, to conclude that "Shattered Consensus" "is a 'must read' for those who wish to get to the basic scientific understanding of the many climate issues" (August 13, 2007).

But it is, nonetheless, ineffective as either a work of history or of science. Consisting as it does of the same rhetoric that has long been used by deniers of global warming, it persistently downplays the green house gas effect on climate change and in effect shouts all is well to those who are concerned about this. It also offers unproven alternative theories like solar variation as the explanation for temperature growth. It emphasizes the inconsistencies in the scientific consensus of global warming, but is ultimately unsatisfactory in offering an alternative explanation of the observable data on global climate change.

One might conclude that "Shattered Consensus" is ill named. There remains a fundamental scientific consensus that the climate of the Earth is heating in a manner that will be detrimental to many populations of the world, that humans have contributed to this change, and that countermeasures are appropriate in seeking to overcome this change. I certainly agree with Michaels and his essayists on one key point of "Shattered Consensus," there is a pressing need for much more scientific study of global climate change and that results from it be honestly interpreted and presented to the public. I give the book three stars for its sophisticated analysis, even though I find its argument ultimately unpersuasive.

Great Book
Another in a great line of real science verse spin/propaganda etc relating to global warming, sorry..the new term is "climate change" and for good reason.LOL
Remember the predictions for some of the "experts" to start calling the cooling trends, as , "masking the upcoming heating trends".
Its started in the UK yesterday.
I note the new temp game is adding cities temp+global ocean WITHOUT the argosy buoys temp.
There was a reason for that...Ha
Nice trick..this book will help you think.

"Denier"?
A comment on the reviewers here. When I see the word "denier" used as in "Global Warming Denier" it tells me everything I need to know about the person. They are ignorant of scientific method and the difference between hypothosis, theory and fact. And that is a shame, because people like them have been manipulated in the name of one "Great Cause" or another for all of history. (The Crusades, Eugenics, Prohibition - they all worked out so well.)

There is a need in humans to feel guilt about that which they do. A belief in a devine power (a god) handled this need for millenia. Since god has fallen out of favor with the masses, some new form of mythos was needed. The sane concern for clean water and air has morphed into a new religion. Like all religions, it needs leaders who live as they like while chastising their followers to live austerly (and send them money and gifts to pay for their guilt). It needs masses who feel guilty about (fill in the blank) and seek forgiveness from (fill in the blank). They receive it by donating money to the cause and giving up things that make them happy. In past religions it was slaughtering a sheep or giving a daughter to the temple, more recently it was giving up sex, drugs or alcohol. In the new religion of "Global Warming"....oh wait..."Climate Change", the congregation gives up big cars and houses or they salve their guilt by buying solor-powered patio lights and sending money to Green Peace. If they fly in private jets they save face and buy forgiveness by donating money to plant trees- CO2 offset or sin tax - take your pick. (Nevermind that when the tree dies the decomposition makes CO2 net gain zero - those science facts conflict with doctrine so ignore them). Pope Al Gore the First sits at the top of the hierachy taking up collections to the tune of over 100 million dollars while his followers carefully select the science they believe in order to be consistent with their religion and berate the unbelievers. To question doctrine is to be branded a "denier".

The earth cools for ten solid years? Ignore Occam's Razor. Explain it away with convoluted facts strung together to suit doctrine. All facts must fit into doctrine. Mars warms because of solar activity? It flies in the face of doctrine so pretend (even though it denies scientific method) that what happens on one planet can not happen on another. The ice record shows that CO2 increases AFTER a warming period? Just slide the chart over a little bit to make it fit doctrine. There. Now CO2 is a cause and not an effect. Doctrine is fulfilled. All is well.

I'm all in favor of freedom of religion. If you need it to feel good about yourself please worship in the fashion you choose. But science thrives on constantly questioning, testing and evaluating observations. If you create a religion based on loosely strung together observations, label it "science" and then expect no one to question it, your ignorance of science and history is sorely lacking. The louder you scream at the people questioning your doctrine, the more you prove our point about it being - at best - poor science and at worst - just another religious fad. Good luck with that.

The book? A little dry in places. Says little I have not already heard. Maybe it'll get through to some people on the fence, most likely it's preaching to the choir. Hope it sells a million copies. Maybe then I won't have to use stupid florescent lights in my home in order to satisfy someone else' religious beliefs.

BTW. I drive a Civic Hybrid and a Cadillac. The Caddy because I like a nice car and I am totally guilt free. The Hybrid because even if Global Warming is not real, the economic effects of it are. You won't be seeing $3/gal gas again so remember to thank the people who stopped us from drilling for 30 years in the name of their god/godess.

Later:
Mercifully, for several reasons gasoline has again returned to less that $2/gal. (I make no claim at clarvoyance.) Please remember the varous leaders who said (paraphrased): " I am not concerned about the high price of gasoline, only with the speed at which it rose." (Not that our government officials will ever pay for their own transportation.)

Like various zealots throughout the ages, groups pushing their agenda always assume only the "sinner" will have to change his or her ways. Life does not seem to work that way. Regardless of whether Global Warming is real or not, policy changes made to acommodate it will impact everyone economically.(And I am still glad I bought the hybrid because this ride is just beginning.) Good luck to us all.

Psuedo-science funded by the oil industry
Let's see, should we believe the 95% of climate scientists and the IPCC reports on global warming? Or should we believe a man who has received hundreds of thousands of dollars from oil and energy companies?

Source:
Writing in Harpers Magazine in 1995, author Ross Gelbspan noted that "Michaels has received more than $115,000 over the last four years from coal and energy interests."

Wake up people--global warming naysayers paid by oil companies are hardly credible sources of information.

If thousands of astronomers from around the world said that an asteroid would hit Earth in 30 years, would you believe them? Or would you believe a handful of pseudo-astronomers (paid for by special interests) who claim otherwise?

Shattered Consensus
The book is way to technical.I need to read it but it is boring as hell.Most of the text is spent on minutia about obscure details.Buy something else. This book bits ... Read more

Product Description
Most of us have heard the dire predictions about global warming. Some experts insist that warming has already started, and they warn of such impending disasters as the sea level rising to flood coastal cities. Others, however, have issued loud counterclaims, assuring us that global warming is a myth based on misleading data. How can we tell who is right, and how we should respond? And why is there no scientific consensus on a matter of such vital importance? George Philander addresses these questions in this book, as he guides the nonscientific reader through new ideas about the remarkable and intricate factors that determine the world's climate.

In simple, nontechnical language, Philander describes how the interplay between familiar yet endlessly fascinating phenomena--winds and clouds, light and air, land and sea--maintains climates that permit a glorious diversity of fauna and flora to flourish on Earth. That interplay also creates such potent weather disrupters as El Niño and La Niña, translates modest fluctuations in sunlight into global climate changes as dramatic as the Ice Age, and determines the Earth's response to the gases we are discharging into the atmosphere, such as those that led to the ozone hole over Antarctica and those that are likely to cause global warming. In his discussion of these matters, Philander emphasizes that our planet is so complex that the scientific results will always have uncertainties. To continue to defer action on environmental problems, on the grounds that more accurate scientific results will soon be available, could lead to a crisis. To make wise decisions, it will help if the public is familiar with the geosciences, which explore the processes that make ours a habitable planet.

The book is an excellent introduction to the basics of the Earth's climate and weather, and will be an important contribution to the debate about climate change and the relationship between scientific knowledge and public affairs.Amazon.com Review
Is the Temperature Rising? Well, yes, according toS. George Philander, a geoscientist at Princeton University whoseintroductory course in climatology provided the seed of thisbook. Written in a clear, literate style aimed at the layperson,Philander is a welcome antidote to the all-too-often sensationalclaims made by one side or the other in the global-warmingdebate. This is not to say that his book is comforting: Philander haslittle doubt that current conditions on earth--the proliferation ofCFCs in the atmosphere, the forest fires and factory emissions thatcontribute to the destruction of the ozone and to the blanket of gasesthat trap heat--are having damaging effects. In the long run, hewrites, the earth can take care of itself, adapting to the changes inits atmosphere; over the short term, however, the picture is grimmer,for no one can predict with any certainty just how these atmosphericchanges will play out. And herein lies the real interest in Is theTemperature Rising? Rather than rant about imminent doom or denyit, Philander explains just why it is so difficult to forecast theconsequences of global warming.Clouds, for example, are a hugeuncertainty, since they can either heat or cool the earth depending ontheir form.

But just because you can't predict exactly what willhappen is no reason not to do something about the problem, Philanderargues. He opposes those who suggest we wait for more accuratescientific information about global warming on the grounds that thescience of climatology will never be exact; put off making decisionsfor too long, he warns, and it could be too late. Is theTemperature Rising? is both a solid explanation of the factorsthat contribute to global warning and a no-nonsense exhortation to actwhile there is still time. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

good overview but short on any deep details of global warming debate
I enjoyed this book, being a good introduction to the science of climate, over seasons and over eons.He leads the reader to plausible conclusions by offering examples of how things have been, on the Earth and its neighboring planets, and the direction they are likely to head.I think all reasonable people today agree that increased greenhouse gases will cause SOME warming in the future. Question is how much? and how quickly?And that is where the science needs to be more exact, and where more insight is needed.This book does not do that adequately.It remains a good starting point, however, for those who can seek further details elsewhere, later.

A "risky business"
If you retain any doubts about whether the atmosphere around us is warming, this book will dispel them.George Philander has produced the most complete study yet of climate mechanics and trends.His theme is the complexity of the global weather systems.With three decades of experience teaching the subject, he understands these intricate systems.He knows each part must be dealt with individually.Although derived from a series of lectures, he rises above a purely pedantic approach in presenting the issues.He's fully aware that human-induced factors in climate change can be modified only by those same humans.Although containing a wealth of detail, the book is directed at the general reader.It's an indispensable starting point in learning about climate and global warming.

In coping with the many interacting elements that must be addressed in assessing global warming, he begins at the fundamental level.Once any form of atmosphere is in place, what does light do in generating change?No atmosphere merely sits in place - light drives chemical and temperature changes.What changes take place, and how severe, great or minimal, can they be?This is the "uncertain science" Philander uses to subtitle the book.Because interactions of light, water vapour and various molecules react differently, he cautions the reader and his fellow scientists not to arrive at conclusions without making fully comprehensive assessments.It is too easy, he cautions, to draw conclusions through focussing on one or a few players in the climate drama.Ignored or dismissed factors are likely to hold surprises.The biggest surprise, of course, is a scenario that proves false.

With global warming universally accepted, with only the pace and impact in dispute, Philander's book is a welcome summary of the science.His style is neither alarmist nor overly detached from the issues.The balance keeps the book readable.He even banishes most of the mathematical explanations to Appendices at the back of the book.The text is enhanced by highly effective graphics.The theme of uncertainty is introduced early in the book with an image of a skier's wallet skidding down a slope."Moguls" of heaped snow make the wallet's track unpredictable - a point referred to frequently in the narrative.He images the way
mountains affect rain patterns, how globe-girdling oceanic currents move and what happens in the deep seas as fresh, salt, cold and warm waters interact.Anyone still thinking the oceans are simply beds of salty water should look here.

Although Philander's style is understated, he leaves no doubt as to the seriousness of the problem.The atmosphere is warming.Whether humanity initiated the current cycle is irrelevant.We are aggravating it and only we can reduce our impact.We are unlikely to curb the El Nino cycles, but we can learn to better cope with them.We can also reduce the likelihood of their growing more intense.Philander cites the case of fluorocarbons and the Antarctic Ozone Hole.An accord led to reduction in those gases, new accords can reduce or eliminate production of others clogging the atmosphere.Global warming, he says, is a "risky business".It's up to us to reduce the risk.Read this book and find out how.[stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

Not an easy read but worthwhile
In his book "Is The Temperature Rising?: The Uncertain Science of Global Warming", S. George Philander provides an excellent overview of the various geological, climatic, atmospheric and oceanic forces that bear on the debate over global warming.In contrast to other groups who have taken sides on this issue, Philander's book reflects a basically moderate view which seeks to bridge the chasm between the overly-simplistic or just plain hysterical rhetoric that too often characterizes the debate over global warming.

The primary focus of the book is a tour of the science that bears on the ultimate climatic question: is the temperature rising?Philander dives into a detailed review the energy inputs and forces that shape the earth's temperature balance and discusses what is happening now that will affect those forces, in particular, the impact of man-made greenhouse gasses.No doubt this survey is a necessary foundation for understanding the problem, however it comprises the bulk of the book and required some dedication on my part to get through it.In other words, it's not a quick and dirty read and you may find yourself, like me, putting it down frequently.

This review gives the reader the understanding of the many factors that will impact the outcome of current trends in fossil fuel gas buildup - factors which are not unidirectional.For instance, models of global warming generally predict that increased temperature will lead to more water moisture in the air, which in turn acts to reflect sunlight and helps cool the atmosphere.What is not fully understood is how the opposing forces interact and which trend will prevail.Unfortunately, the complexity of the issue - as exemplified by this interaction - greatly clouds the debate, leaving ample room for sophistical arguments from those who both accept and reject the global warming hypothesis.

According to Philander (and essentially everybody else), what is indisputable is that the concentration of so-called greenhouse gasses is rising dramatically, and that alone should be enough to engender caution and attention to this issue.The author lands with those who believe that the earth will continue to warm but implicitly acknowledges that he doesn't know the answer either.Nor can we be sure, but the debate is not likely to go away, so those interested in participating in it could do worse than to read this book.Other reviewers appear to have been disappointed that the book chose to concentrate so heavily on the science behind the global warming debate, but to them my reply is that the science is the crux of that debate - if you're interested in the topic don't let them dissuade you from reading Philander's book.It could be a bit more readable - but it couldn't really be any more on-topic.

He indeed has built a house, but on the foundation of facts
'Is the temperature rising?' is an amazing book. It's perfect for anyone who really wants to get the facts straight on the issue. It states that to make a proper judgement, one must be familiar with the way the earth works. The way light interacts with molecules, heat, albedo, the weather, air, carbon dioxide, etc. Without a basic knowledge of the way the planet functions, it's hard to undestand what Global warming really does. Philander explains all of this in great detail so it's not exactly light reading but well worth the time. Best of all, it's writen from an unbiased point of view.

an excellent mistitled book
This book should really be called _How the Temperature Rises: the Fundamentals of Global Warming_.

In concise readable prose Philander outlines all the physics, chemistry, biology and geology that you will need to understand to truly follow the debate about global warming.This is no mean feat.We are talking about GLOBAL warming here, i.e. the science of how everything works.He methodically proceeds component by component through the environment and explains basic scientific principles that govern, among other things,how the wind works, how ocean currents move, how heat is transported through the atmosphere and in the oceans, how the atmosphere is heated from below and why, and how mathematical models represent climate.

He is determined to make his readers into informed participants in a discussion that he makes clear that he believes is very important.He does not hector, but he does take an unambiguous position:we should do something about this.It is a pleasure to read a book that reaches a passionate conclusion through reasoning.I withhold one star because I thought that the summary chapter that actually does address global warming directly could have been more detailed. ... Read more

Product Description
Get positive suggestions for practical solutions to this heated issue.

Hotly debated in the political arena and splashed across the media almost 24/7, global warming has become the topic of the moment. Whatever one's views on its cause, there is no denying that the earth's climate is changing, and people everywhere are worried. Global Warming For Dummies sorts out fact from fiction, explaining the science behind climate change and examining the possible long-term effects of a warmer planet. This no-nonsense yet friendly guide helps you explore solutions to this challenging problem, from what governments and industry can do to what you can do at home and how to get involved. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Wast of money Tipical tree huger far left bull.
pg 68 talks about empowering women so they will have less kids ( abortion? )

Even more controversial is the assertion on pages 256-257, where May and Caron argue that people who question global warming orthodoxy should be excluded from media coverage of the issue. But Later, they claim that, "Giving both sides equal coverage creates the inaccurate perception that it's an equally weighted debate." "Because journalists are supposed to give both sides of the story, sometimes they actually create a bias in their reporting," they say. Later, they claim that, "Giving both sides equal coverage creates the inaccurate perception that it's an equally weighted debate."
They also say: "Although `balanced' reporting might seem fair, the likelihood that humans are contributing to climate change is 95 percent certain." So typical of the type, you can talk if I want to hear what you have to say, other wise shut up.

They will steer you away from books they don't like page 266.

They hate Nuclear power page 222. (but that don't emit carbon? )
and kiwi fruit pg 90 ( has to be shipped in.)

Pg 90 also condemns product packaging, especially bubble rap and kiwi fruit( has to be shipped in.)


On pg 39 good old h20 causes 60 percent of the planet's warming??
for us Dummies that is water

On pg 156 they are into rasing yor taxs

Elizabeth May is in the Canada Green party looking for face time and you money. In 10 yrs she will me screaming about the next Ice age and we are all going to starve as the glassier comes down ( look up the 60s and 70s and global cooling.)

for a full book review far better then mine go to


[...]

A Positive Reaource for on a Critical Subject
This book offers a simple and easy to reference guide into one of the most complex and defining issues of our time.Outlining the possible effects of global warming and how they are linked to almost every other social and ecological challenge we are face locally and globally, this book is a reminder that we all need to be a part of the solution.

I applaud May and Caron for their clear writing and solution orientation. All of us need to understand the complexities, trade offs and potential ways forward and this book is a wonderful resources in that direction! I recommend it to beginners and climate change champions alike.

A Valuable Resource
Authors May and Caron provide a clear, well articulated picture of what global warming is and how it affects us. The different chapters break the issue down topic by topic in an easy to read fashion. This book goes one step further and provides the reader with practical solutions for change that everyone can use. As an Environmental Science professional with a strong background in climate change I would recommend this book as a great go-to resource for everyone. A perfect blend of hard hitting facts, practical solutions and just a splash of humour!

Very informative book on climate change
I found this book overall to be very informative on the issues of climate change. The book explains greenhouse gases and how those gases affect the climate, the carbon cycle, man's impact on greenhouse gas emissions, what people can do to decrease their carbon footprint, and much more. It is a great book for getting people up to speed climate change.

I definitely recommend this book for people who want to learn the basics. People who already know a bit about the issues of climate change might even learn a little bit. I did.

Unfortunately, I have to detract 1 star for a lack of objectivity and some areas of the book could stand to be condensed. ... Read more

Product Description
In New England, 1816 was called the Year Without a Summer. Crops failed throughout America and, in Western Europe, it was even worse, with food riots and armed groups raiding bakeries and grain markets. All this turmoil followed a catastrophic volcanic eruption--a year earlier on the other side of the world--the eruption of Tambora, a blast heard almost a thousand miles away.
In When the Planet Rages, Charles Officer and Jake Page describe some of the great events of environmental history, from calamities such as the Lisbon earthquake of 1755 (the greatest in recorded history) and the ice ages, to recent man-made disasters such as Chernobyl, acid rain, and the depletion of the ozone layer. Officer and Page provide fascinating discussions of meteorites and comets; of the demise of mammoths, mastodons, and dinosaurs; and of great floods that have swept the earth. But they also show that human activity can make trouble for nature, discussing the depletion of natural resources (we burn coal and oil at millions of times their natural rate of production), air pollution in Los Angeles and London (where the Killer Smog of 1952 caused the death of some four thousand people), and the pollution of major waterways, like the Chesapeake Bay and Lake Erie. For the paperback edition, the authors have included a new preface, have added material on the recent Sichuan, China earthquake, the Indian Ocean Tsunami, and Hurricane Katrina, and discuss such topics as of the (un)predictability of symptoms of global warming.
Ranging from the monumental eruption at Krakatoa to industrial disasters such as the mercury poisoning in Japan's Minamata Bay, When the Planet Rages will engage anyone concerned with the environment and the natural world. ... Read more

Product Description
Whilst there is now overwhelming evidence that greenhouse-gas pollution is becoming the dominant process responsible for global warming, it is also clear that the climate system varies quite naturally on different time-scales. Predicting the course of future climate change consequently requires an understanding of the natural variability of the climate system as well as the effects of human-induced change. This book is concerned with our current understanding of natural climate change, its variability on decadal to centennial time-scales, the extent to which climate models of different kinds simulate past variability, and the role of past climate variability in explaining changes to natural ecosystems and to human society over the later part of the Holocene. The book highlights the need to improve not only our understanding of the physical system through time but also to improve our knowledge of how people may have influenced the climate system in the past and have been influenced by it, both directly and indirectly.

This ground-breaking text addresses predictable modification in the climate system in the context of global warming. Ideal for researchers and advanced students, it explores current thinking on natural climate change.

• Addresses the natural variability of the climate system in the context of global warming
• Contributes substantially to the ongoing discussion on global warming
• Integrates state of the art research and brings together modeling and data communities in a balanced way
• Considers questions of climate change on different time-scales

“Natural climate variability and global warming is clearly an important book, well-focused and distinctive, with fundamental things to say about Holocene science and its interface with the practical problem of global warming. It is an authoritative, up-to-date summary and synthesis of current knowledge in this area and is attractively produced with clear, colour illustrations throughout. It is a ‘must’ for all university libraries and our private book collections.” The Holocene, 2009. ... Read more

Product Description
From acclaimed writer and physicist Mark Bowen, Censoring Science tells the true story of the Bush administration’s censorship of the world’s preeminent climatologist, and the science behind global warming that they do not want you to know.

The facts don’t lie:
• 2005 was the warmest year since the invention of the thermometer.
• 2006 is on track to become the hottest year ever recorded in the United States.
• The six hottest years on record have occurred in the last eight years, and the twenty-two hottest years on record have occurred in the last twenty-six years.

Preeminent climatologist and leading NASA scientist Dr. James Hansen has been studying climate for over three decades. It was his testimony to a Senate committee in 1988 that first brought the threat of global warming to the world’s attention. In January 2006, news broke that the Bush administration had been attempting to censor Dr. Hansen—obscuring his message and suppressing the vast body of his scientific work, which unequivocally demonstrates the reality and immense danger of global warming.

Now, for the first time and with unfiltered access, writer and physicist Mark Bowen finally tells the exclusive story of Hansen’s decades-long battle to bring the truth about global warming to light. Censoring Science illuminates the real science behind global warming and maintains that we can still prevent environmental disaster, while both strengthening our economy and our national security. In the tradition of Ron Suskind’s blockbuster bestseller, The Price of Loyalty, Censoring Science exposes the truth behind the administration’s spin doctors, and shares the inside story of one of the most important and influential scientists of our time. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

An Important Book on the Recent History of Climate Science at NASA
This important book tells one of the most troubling stories of 2005, the attempted silencing of scientific findings about global climate change at NASA in a ham-handed effort to control the story of scientific findings. "Censoring Science" outlines the battle between science and politicians in a very specific incident. Mark Bowen sets an impressive agenda for this book, and generally he does a credible job of explaining three related issues as they came together at NASA Headquarters in the middle part of the decade.

The first is the tragicomic efforts of the Bush administration to control scientists associated with the federal government and attempts to keep them from taking positions on hot-button issues, such as global warming, that would necessitate policy decisions anathema to the conservative political base. This was a broad-based effort involving scientists at NASA, NOAA, and other government agencies. The focus here, however, was on NASA and one particular scientist. This is the second issue that Bowen discusses thoroughly; James R. Hansen has been involved in research about global warming since the 1970s. His organization, NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies in Manhattan, has a long tradition of tracking the annual global temperatures and has been finding a slow rise over the decades since the space age began. A third area, less well handled by Bowen but certainly a useful overview for general readers, is the manner in which scientific disciplines and questioning has led to the current state of understanding about the phenomenon of global warming.

The story begins with James Hansen, a global climate change scientist at NASA's Goddard institute for Space Studies in Manhattan, N.Y., and he is clearly the star of "Censoring Science." Throughout he battles bureaucrats, ideologues, and contrarians to ensure that his research findings about global warming are neither bowdlerized nor buried under mountains of pressure from those seeking to minimize changes that might result from knowledge about this threatening crisis of the twenty-first century. "Censoring Science" makes the case that the evidence is compelling for global warming and that concerted efforts existed in the Bush administration to keep it from being presented. This took several forms: questioning the quality of the science or emphasizing that consensus on the meaning of the scientific data did not exist or in some instances bald-facedly altering reports and press releases to cast doubt on what the vast majority of scientists are convinced is the undeniable fact of global warming.

Hansen has been sounding the alarm for many years. For example, in June 1988 he told a U.S. Senate committee of the potential hazard of climatic changes. One sentence to reporters caught the public's attention: "It's time to stop waffling....and say that the greenhouse effect is here and is affecting our climate now." Such strident statements did not endear Hansen to political leaders who had responsibility for implementing changes to mitigate these changes because of the manner in which they would affect U.S. business interests. Bowen makes clear that this was not specifically a partisan issue at first. Some in both political parties believed action needed to be taken and others on both sides also believed no action was required. That has changed over the years, and the response to global warming has taken on the color of the two parties and their priorities, with the Republicans either denying it or questioning the science or, as we see in this book, manipulating the presentation of findings to reflect ideological biases. Hansen stands in "Censoring Science" as the resolute advocate of the integrity of science, eventually going over his NASA handler's heads to speak directly to the public through the media.

The villains in this story are several political appointees in the White House and at NASA who tried to counteract both the science and the fears concerning global warming. The associate administrator for public affairs at NASA, David Mould, is center stage in this discussion. So is Dean Acosta and Glenn Mahone. All were Bush administration political appointees. As Bowen quoted David Steitz at NASA Headquarters, "Glenn was evil and smart; Dean was just evil" (p. 123). Mark Bowen documents well the manner in which they ensured that the global warming science that Hansen issued was censored, especially through "editing" press releases of newly published scientific research, and in trying to box Hansen so that his access to the media was limited.

There are others also involved in censoring the science of global climate change. The person that received the most attention, although he was essentially a flunky, was a young political appointee named George Deutsch, who was not clevor enough to cover his tracks and resigned his job when his actions were exposed. As a junior public affairs officer at NASA Headquarters he exerted more pressure on the system than his position in the bureaucracy would have justified. He modified press releases, tried to control who spoke with scientists, and repeatedly put partisan loyalties above seemingly inviolate ethical considerations in the pursuit of science. His actions went far beyond global warming. He sent an e-mail to Flint Wild, a NASA educator, arguing that the Big Bang should not be mentioned unless NASA emphasize that "it is only a theory" and that "intelligent design" should have equal standing. "...it is not NASA's place, nor should it be," he wrote, "to make a declaration such as this about the existence of the universe that discounts intelligent design by a creator....We, as NASA, must be diligent here, because this is more than a science issue, it is a religious issue. And I would hate to think that young people would only be getting one half of this debate from NASA" (p. 66).

It was Deutsch's ham-handed approach to scientific censorship that ignited the public debate that eventually led to the reversal of these actions. Andrew Revkin's bombshell of a front-page "New York Times" article on Sunday, January 29, 2006, opened this story to public scrutiny. It led to official NASA policy statements affirming scientific independence.

But this came only after the actions of several careerists both inside NASA and out who worked, often quietly, to make sure scientists could report their findings without censorship. The chief among them is James Hansen, but Mark Hess, Public Affairs head at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, and Leslie McCarthy, the public affairs officer at the Goddard Institute for Space Sciences, are two others. Hess and McCarthy consistently asked for written guidance, and rarely got it. Failing that, they wrote notes of their telephone conversations with Mould, Acosta, and others, documenting what had been discussed. These proved critical in showing that NASA Public Affairs had ridden off the rails in carrying out its primary task, as stated in the National Air and Space Act of 1958, to "provide for the widest practicable and appropriate dissemination of information concerning its activities and the results thereof."

"Censoring Science" is a fascinating and cautionary account of one of the saddest episodes in the history of NASA, the subversion of the search for scientific knowledge to a political agenda. NASA officials have made many mistakes over the agency's history; the agency heads' devotion to certain programs and priorities might be questioned but I am aware of no instance in NASA's past (and I have spent many years close to the space agency) in which there was a cabal in place systematically seeking to change scientific findings to fit some pre-ordained position. It reminds me of the great soliloquy by Randy Quaid from Ron Howard's feature film, "The Paper," about the tabloid nature of a major New York City daily newspaper: "We run stupid headlines because we think they're funny. We run maimings on the front page because we got good art. And I spend three weeks bitching about my car because it sells papers. But at least it's the truth. As far as I can remember we never ever, ever knowingly got a story wrong, until tonight."

This censorship episode was NASA's "tonight." I hope the agency does not allow such a thing to happen again. If Mark Bowen's account of what took place at NASA serves as a smack to the forehead of agency leaders and employees it will serve a valuable purpose. It also points directions for historical research in the future, as that community must work to explore the theme of the creation and dissemination of scientific and technological knowledge and its control in space history.

Excellent Account
The Bush administration's use of NASA for political propaganda was unprecedented. I served under 9 other Presidents. This book provides an accurate and detailed description of the attempt to censor the global temperature of the earth for the year, a data point that NASA regularly provides.
I found it fascinating.

A sobering book
This book tells the story of James Hansen, NASA's leading climatologist, and the attempts of the Bush adminstration to hush up his warnings of catastrophic climate change.

Of course, knowing Bush's attitude towards science and scientists, and truth in general, it's no surprise that his administration tried to keep important scientific information from leaking to the public. Nevertheless, it's sobering to read about it in detail. For instance, the fact that leading scientists were told what to do and what to say by a 24-year-old creationist with faked credentials is disturbing.

Of course, a book about the leading climate scientist is also a book about climate science. Even though I already knew a lot about the subject, this book taught me a thing or two about climate science. For instance, the idea that scientists in the late seventies, by and large, believed in an impending ice age, is a myth. Very few scientists ever took this seriously. I checked the scientific literature, and it is true. Bowen goes on to explain that the prediction was based on a model with a serious error in it. When the error was corrected, it predicted anthropogenic global warming.

Sometimes Bowen forgets is objectivity in his admiration of James Hansen. For instance, Bowen states that Hansen's 1988 global warming is eerily accurate. I checked the original paper and the NASA global temperature data since 1988, and although the predictions are very good considering the limited knowledge that was available at the time, the current temperature is several years behind the prediction. The important thing, however, is that the actual temperature data is within the margins of error that can be expected from the model.

Overall, this book raises a lot of awareness about climate change, and that is where the main merit of this book lies.

excellent after the first 100 pages
I would caution the reader not to be discouraged by the first 100 pages which are a detailed account of the back and forth exchange of memos and directives handed down from NASA public relations as they attempted to reign in the scientists from making scientific statements that were interpreted as critical the coal and petroleum industry. Clearly we can solve a lot of our problems by burning NASA PR hacks instead of coal. If however you are employed by a government agency where your work could be surpressed or politicised, then this book is essential reading. The book focuses heavily on Hansen and the singular importance of his work. My only criticism is that I was often confused about the timeline of what was happening. I was often lost as to when and in what order statements and discoveries were actually made. What is remarkable about this book is that it names names. It names a LOT of names. A lifetime of scores are being settled here. The second half of the book does bring the reader up to late 2007 in the global warming debate. Things are changing fast, however, none of it in the right direction. This book may soon be out of date as a current summary ofdeveloping global warming issues, but it is priceless as an historical record which may prove to be as important as the Manhatten project .

Important Story on Suppression of Global Warming Science
I have had the opportunity to hear James Hansen deliver a lecture, and he istruly inspiring to many of us in the environmental field.Certain politicians simply did not want to hear what he had to say about global heating, so they tried to censor his message.A very important story that has finally seen the light of day.

If you've followed general environmental news for the past few years, the revelations within this book may not come as a big surprise, but I still found the actual mechanics behind science suppression to be very interesting.

The book is essentially two books in one - the first part is about Dr. James Hansen, and the second part is more on the general topic of global warming.Although several reviewers have stated the book did not become interesting until the second half, I had the opposite reaction, as the second half was largely review to me, while the Hansen story was new.

My main quibble with the book was not the message, but the organization.The organization of the book was a little difficult to follow at times, withthe story presented in a non-chronological manner, with lots of shifting among different years from chapter to chapter.I think the narrative would have flowed much more smoothly if the years covered had been boldly placed at each chapter title page.Several times, the year being covered wasn't clear, as the author kept changing between 2005, 2001, the 1980s, and so on. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review
The Live Earth Global Warming Survival Handbook is the official companion volume to the Live Earth concerts, 24 hours of nonstop concerts broadcast from around the world on July 7, 2007. The book presents 77 essential skills for stopping climate change--and for living through it. It is a fun, compelling, and sly deconstruction of a survival guide (think Boy Scouts of America crossed with WorldChanging atop the Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook) that offers equal parts tongue-in-cheek suggestions, practical advice, factual information, and bluesky dreaming of ways to save the world. Each skill is presented on a spread featuring a bright, full-color instructional illustration, a brief introduction to the skill and its core ideas, a set of instructions, spin-off ideas, and scientific and environmental facts. The book also includes a resource guide that provides useful resources for the eco-conscious reader.

More to Explore

An Inconvenient Truth: The Planetary Emergency of Global Warming and What We Can Do About It

Climate: The Force That Shapes Our World and the Future of Life on Earth

Home Enlightenment: Practical, Earth-Friendly Advice for Creating a Nurturing, Healthy, and Toxin-Free Home and Lifestyle

Earth in the Balance: Ecology and the Human Spirit

An Inconvenient Truth: The Crisis of Global Warming

... Read more

Customer Reviews (36)

Follow the money - Rothschild benefitting from Global warming carbox tax
This is called propaganda, mixed with cutesy easy to follow common sense green ideas.

Global warming is an agenda started by the rothschild family, the jewish banking family, to benefit immensely from carbon tax trading. Al gore, david rothschild are all front ends to this evil scheme.

It will prevent industrialization of india, africa and china and cripple US economy.

The idea is to created a carbon tax trading system, with derivatives, credit swaps etc and for the rothschild to benefit. They own the carbon trading company. Google and research the rothschild.

The Live Earth Global Warming Survival Handbook: 77 Essential skill to stop Climate Change
I absolutely love it!! It is fun, easy to follow...I already incorporated couple of the skills in my everyday life. This is a must have book and I think it will make a huge impact if we all a least practice 10 of them in our everyday life.

Nice and easy to read
This book is very enjoyable and in a very playful form sets out the strategies that must be followed so that each of us contributes with a sand granite to diminish or to mitigate the effects of the global warming. The book was a gift for my children of 10 and 13 years old, and they think that is brilliant and funny.
It would have to be translated to Spanish and to be located for developing countries, because it is a very useful tool to include the paper that each person has in her commitment with the climatic change.
We love the part of the letter to the Congressman where you are asking him or her about what has he or she have done to prevent global warming.

F U N N Y.......C O M P E L L I N G..,,...E S S E N T I A L !.!.!.!.!
DO YOURSELF, (AND EVERYONE ELSE ON EARTH), A FAVOUR....B U Y....
T H I S....B O O K....! Utilize everything you can from and in it,
and follow, (please!), at least one, (and hopefully more!) of its
many great tips.

This is a very easy book to read.It is even, (yes!), actually FUN
TO READ, in many parts.I mean, let's face it....Global Warming is
a VERY scary subject.Scarier than any other disaster imaginable,
really.For example, take disasters depicted in movies. I mean, if
you are, really, in the midst of an equivalent to "The Towering In-
ferno", you have an admittedly big problem: getting out of the build-....but after that, you're OK.If you're in an "Earthquake" zone,
it's scary...but find a way out of the city, or earthquake area, and
you're OK!The same is true with an "Airplane!" disaster....find
SOME way to land, or get out of, the stricken airplane craft, and you
may be shaken for a while, but you'll be OK soon."The Killer Bees"?
VERY scary, indeed.But I have heard that there was an experiment
to give the killer bees a weakening disease...myasthenia gravis....so
the killer bees would be killed.Unfortunately, that didn't work --
but I have suggested to the Interior Department that they try to give
these bees an even MORE debilitating ailment...ALS, (or "Lou Gehrig's
disease.) With medication, people with Myasthenia Gravis have been
able to live long and productive lives.....but not so, (yet, anyway),
with ALS.I haven't received any message back from the Interior
Department....I'll try them again, soon.But, in any event, killer
bees haven't killed everyone in any town yet, (that I have heard), &
the possibility is always there, to just escape them, (at least tem-
porarily), by leaving town.

But what do you do when the "town" one is speaking of is the ENTIRE
PLANET?One COULD imagine going to another planet, (and just such a
possibilty is, in fact, discussed....with tongue firmly in cheek)...
by David de Rothschild, in his "IF ALL ELSE FAILS" section, at the
very back of this book -- along with such other things as "Harvest The Clouds", "Learn To Barter" Barter", "Evolve", "Buy A Camel", "Beat
The Heat", "Learn to Barter", "Start A Menagerie", and "Build A Floating House",These ideas may seem semi-humourous now -- and perhaps are intended to be,But there is always the distinct possibility that these things COULD become really necesary things to do!Humourous and chilling at the same time!Ingenuis!

Along with the rest of this book, David de Roths-
child's small, but chilling "If All Else Fails" section, at the
back of his book, (clearly marked with a red-and-white striped bord-
er), is written with a deft pen, and clever, witty words, THAT MAKE
THE READER WANT TO KEEP READING EVERYTHING IN THIS BOOK, NO MATTER
HOW AWFUL ARE THE EVENTS HE DESCRIBES!

This is definitely one big attribute of this book.Reading of things
people are now doing to increase global warming, and of other things
which we can, (and really should) be doing, to keep it at bay -- or
even reverse it -- could be pretty terrifying, or at the very least,
pretty boring stuff.Not so here!With an optimistic, (but also,
totally realistic) style, sparked with humour and enormous amounts of
common sense, this book is, as mentioned, fun (or almost fun) to read!
The illustrations by WILLIAM VAN RODEN enter into the spirit of this
book perfectly.They are realistically drawn, and the experessions of
the people depicted are rarely actually smiling, but rarely actually
unhappy, either.I guess most people depicted have a PURPOSEFUL ex-
pression on their faces.They seem to KNOW they are doing sometimes
difficult things, but the RIGHT things. People of all ages, genders,
racial and political groups are also depicted -- from the older black
gentleman, in shirt and tie, blissfully riding a bike (backwards????),
on page 75, to a young white hippie, complete with Mohawk hairdo,
jeans and tatoo, shown thoughtfully looking at his collection of organ-
ic labels.Global warming is obviously EVERYONE's problem, since we
all live on Planet Earth!

More immediate, (and practical) solutions, such as "Say No To Styrofoam", "Replace A Lightbulb", "Bank Online", "Convince A Skeptic", "Ride A Bike", and many others, are presented in the front section of this book.Each topic is not only discussed in detail, but is given ratings for the amounts of 'Cost', 'Time', 'Impact', and
'Effort', they will require and/or give.

IMPORTANT ATTRIBUTE OF THIS BOOK:On the bottom of most pages, (and also within the text of a few of the
pages), are internet links to the topic on that page. Nice to be able to find more info on the topics you are interested in the most!

There is also a nice section, in the back of the book, entitled "RESOURCES", with even more web addresses, for specific subjects.The Introduction, (in the
front of the book, of course!), gives a concise description of what
global warming is, and what it is doing to the planet we all, at present, live on.The FORWARD, by ROB REINER, (yes, THAT Rob Reiner),
introduces the organization LIVE EARTH, (whose offical handbook, this
book is), and also S.O.S., (SAVE OUR SELVES)...an allied organization,
as well as giving a broad outline of what the book itself is about.



There are 87 suggested activities in this book, to help stop or turn
back, global warming. 10 of these are near the very beginning of the book, in a short list entitled, "10 Easy Steps To Help Stop Global
Warming", (adapted from Adventure Ecology's Top 10 For The Planet) These are easy, common-sense things, like "Bring Your Own Mug", and "Shop
Locally."Common sense pervades this book -- and it's no wonder that
David de Rothschild, author of this book, is the founder of Adventure
Ecology!

The main section, consisting of 67 other ideas, some difficult to do,some quite simple and easy to do.The remaining 10, in the back, highlighted "If All Else Fails" section, range from the difficult ("Mine A Landfill"), to the the ridiculous, (but at the same time, practical), such as "Evolve", (a neat trick if you can do it....but I have yet to hear of anyone who could evolve voluntairilly.It usually takes millions of years....)

Well, make that, the PHYSICAL evolution of living things takes years and years. The MENTAL evolution of people on this planet need not take so long. Our ATTITUDES towards this planet, and our ability to continue to live on it, as we have done, needs to change. Above all, we have GOT to realize there IS such a problem as GLOBAL WARMING....and that it is happening NOW.Also, we must realize that it is NOT necessarily fatal for life on this planet, as we know it...IF we recognize it, and IF we ALL do something ...or as many things, as we can, to stop it.THE LIVE EARTH GLOBAL WARMING SURVIVAL HANDBOOK, by DAVID DE ROTHSCHILD shows 87 ways to help save the planet....surely, everyone can pick out at LEAST one or two, (and hopefully more), to practice?

"SAVE OUR SELVES" (SOS), is NOT a selfish motto.It is a motto of SURVIVAL FOR EVERYBODY ON THIS PLANET, AND FOR GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE, WHO WANT TO LIVE ON THIS PLANET, TO COME......

I someomehow think back, now, on an early disaster movie, "On The Beach".
It's interesting for me to think back now, that when our family first saw it, my father -- in a jovial mood -- decided that we should see it on January 1st!I couldn't understand why he would want to see such a movie on January 1st, but later discovered why... I thought he knew, (as I did), that it was about the aftermath of a nuclear war.But, from the title, "On The Beach", he assertained that it was a sort of Annette Funicello/Frankie Avalon type movie, only with the older actors of Gregory Peck and Ava Gardner!Well, seeing the movie was, I guess, a shock to him. (If I had known what he believed the movie to be, I would have corrected it....but I thought he knew....)The interesting thing is, there were some other people in the movie theatre too.Surely, ALL of them couldn't have expected a "beach" movie?Were they there as sort of tempting fate?Was it a sort of
"sticking out their tongues" at the possible reality, then, of nuclear war (In 2008, are WE doing the same thing now, by ignoring ideas such as those presented in David de Rothschild's engrossing book?)

Nuclear war really COULD have happened. But brave people fought it, and no nuclear war occurred.It can be the same with the present danger of global warming: the worst need not happen, if we all do SOMETHING, OR THINGS, to stop it.
You need no other book, in my opinion, than this one by David de Rothschild, to get you started, and involved.Buy one copy for yourself, and buy others as gifts!

In "ON THE BEACH", the very last frames of the movie are unforgettable.All the people are gone, but a sign remains.It reads:

'......THERE___IS___STILL___TIME___BROTHER.....'

Nonsense book
A really nonsense book that tries to shove the myth of global warming down our throats.. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

A fine review of what global warming is and how it's affecting the planet.
The second updated edition of a classic treatise provides a fine review of what global warming is and how it's affecting the planet. Where similar books sport a weighty appearance lending to college-level pursuit, this slim paperback offers a more user-friendly presentation making it a fine recommendation to both high school and general-interest public library collections, especially in light of the numerous color photos throughout.

Global Awareness
Any book or DVD on this issue is necessary in my opinion.Its obvious that global change is taking effect.No doubt the devistating effect of ever increasing populations is the cause.The cars we drive,and the huge amount of fumes that come from them.The pulling down of those old trees makes me feel sad,to think how long they have been there then gone in an instant.I get to travel around a bit in my trade and i get involved in the building industry.I see the new housing estates,where there was once vast land with beautiful trees and wildlife,there is now streets being made,and houses being built.A funny thing happened to me recently.I was working in a house and i saw 2 ducks,they were swimming in a large puddle of water.It was probably 5 metres square,a house was going to be built there.For some reason it looked odd to me to see them there,i took a photograph.I went back inside continued working,next time i came out both ducks had wandered across the road right to where i was about 4 metres away from me.I had some bread in my car,so i fed them a slice.Then i looked around,and i said to myself,pretty soon these ducks are going to have nowhere to go.We keep pushing the wildlife further and further back.I felt sad about those 2 ducks i had made friends with.This is a very small example of it.I can recall as a child we had a swamp over the back fence,lots of frogs and birds were there,there is units there now its all gone.It can only go on for so long.How many times can populations double?The attitude seems to be "they will do something about it".The "they" is us.Its like the Titanic,it had to sink before they decided to have enough lifeboats for everyone.When Jesus walked he did not mention such issues,he had no problem with that those days.Pity he didnt,he covered most things except that.It makes you wonder how this genneration will be looked upon in years to come.

So so. Not much evidence.
This book is intended to be an intoductory summary of global warming but it is light on evidence. The evidence is available and should be the center piece of this book. Instead it is skimmed.

A sermon to the choir, but little to convert anyone else
This book was disappointing for several reasons. It is only about 70 pages, and about half the space is devoted to pictures. It took me about an hour to read this (even looking at all the pictures). No notes or bibliography, just the typical claims that we are doomed with the typical political bias and little evidence to support the claims. This is more like a comic book for the already converted printed to be a fundraiser.
I have been reading books that represent both sides of this argument and would recommend Richard Alley's The Two Mile Time Machine or Spencer Weart's The Discovery of Global Warming if you want to read a couple of books that explain how these theories were developed.

If you want to read opposing points of view, try Meltdown by Patrick Michaels and Unbstoppable Global Warming by Fred Singer and Dennis Avery.

There is a new book out that I have not read yet, but looks interesting;
The Chilling Stars by Henrik Svensmark which appears to offer a completely unique perspective. I'm looking forward to reading it. ... Read more

Product Description
Carbonomics was ahead of its time. A year before the Copenhagen debacle it explained why this was inevitable, and the last quarter of the book tells what to do about it. The trick is to design a self-enforcing treaty based on self interest. The book clearly explains how this can be accomplished by using clever rewards and penalties.

Carbonomics was also ahead of its time in advocating the Cantwell-Collins approach now before the U.S. Senate. In fact it goes a step further and explains the "untax" now advocated by James Hansen.

Finally, as its subtitle shows, Carbonomics was well ahead of the recent push by President Obama and some Veterans' organizations to align clean-energy policy and energy-security. In fact it shows exactly how to align these two agendas and how to avoid the pitfalls that would split the required coalition. Only by unifying these two groups will we get a strong enough policy to curb our oil addiction, take back our money from OPEC and fix the climate. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

The Perfect Book for Understanding GHG Economics
Steve Stoft has done a magnificent job explaining complex economic analysis in simple, easy-to-understand, English.Unlike many books that dumb down the subject matter to make it appealing to a broader audience, Stoft has managed to deliver key insights in "plain English."This book is appropriate for anybody who wants to undertand the range of policy options that can be used to reduce GHG emissions.It is appropriate for the lay person as well as energy industry professionals.I have worked in the energy industry for 18 years and found insights in this book that I would not have discovered on my own.Finally, Stoft calls it as he sees it.He takes on the left as well as the right, letting the facts guide his decisions rather than hubris or dogma.

Must Read for Policy Makers
We can only wish that everyone involved with crafting effective policy to address climate change and energy security would read this book. If they did, they might think consider the unintended consequences of tradeable permits.As the author shows, US adoption of tradeable carbon permits decreases the incentive for China and India to do the same. Dr. Stoft's explanations are clear, persuasive and accessible -- a demonstration of the economic way of thinking at its best.

Good idea - let's put this in practice
What he proposes seems pretty common sense to me.Put a floor price on burning fuels that contribute to global warming.Return the difference between the floor and the actual price to the people.Simple economics suggests that higher fuel prices will reduce demand, which will reduce the actual price, meaning less money to OPEC and more to us.There are other benefits as well: Less driving means less pollution, fewer auto accidents and less congestion when you do drive. More walking will contribute to better health and friendlier neighborhoods. Higher fuel prices will naturally make alternate energy sources such as wind and solar more viable without subsidies from governments. This book is not particularly well written, it seems to go around and around, saying essentially the same thing in different ways.The same points could probably be made in much shorter form, but on the balance it's a good book and I hope more people, in particular congresspersons and their staffers will read this and get to it.

Effective Response to Inconvient Truth
Steven Stoft describes an energy policy that can achieve effective carbon dioxide emissions control while promoting energy security by weaning the US of oil. The heart of the plan is a carbon tax supplemented by an oil tax both of which are fully rebated back to consumers on a per capita basis. Those who "consume" less carbon or oil than average, typically the poor, receive a larger rebate than the tax they pay. Gluttons pay the bill because they are taxed more than their rebate.

People are thus encouraged to consume less carbon and oil. He recounts how OPEC's oil price increases led to massive efficiency gains and argues that price will be as powerful in reducing carbon dioxide emissions. He is not a market ideologue; he argues some technological standards (vehicle miles per gallon minimums, appliance efficiency standards) can be effective and improve efficiency. But the scope for beneficial government programs that pick winners and losers is very limited. As examples Stoft explains how international oil markets ensure ethanol and synfuels can do little to secure energy security, but both increase emissions.

This is an important contribution to the public debate over how best to achieve carbon dioxide emissions control while furthering energy security.

Not a gee whiz feel good green book
Stoft has swept away the clutter and revealed the nuts and bolts of the energy problem.

Stoft first correctly identifies that the energy problem has two interconnected components: energy security and climate change. Rather than aiming to solve one or the other, he instead aims to solve both. He shows that the energy crises in the 1970s and 1980s unwittingly reduced U.S. emissions via high oil prices. When OPEC raised prices, the resulting drop in demand (and consequently oil price) reduced both energy consumption and emissions. OPEC's accidental experiment was perhaps the most effective policy against the energy problem in recent history, by Stoft's reasoning.He uses these actual events as his basis.

His idea is compelling. He admits that it is not new, but he is perhaps the first to call it an untax.

Stoft's model is different than the existing tax proposals that already exist. A "carbon tax" flatly applied to carbon sources is eventually passed all the way down to the consumer and though it will reduce demand for hydrocarbons, it will increase prices on everything. A tax on oil will increase the price of gasoline and plastics, and a tax on coal will increase the cost of electricity and cement.A "cap and trade" approach appears to pass the costs to polluters at first glance, but again Stoft shows the mechanism by which the cost of permits are calculated into the cost of energy, which is then paid by consumers. This process is best described by this quote: "Refinery operators will, of course, complain about being taxed and forget to mention they are passing the tax on to gas stations. Gas station owners will complain and forget to mention they are passing the tax on to consumers. So when you hear their complaints, remember who really pays the carbon charge - it is you and I, the final consumers, and no one else."

His "untax" approach applies a premium to hydrocarbons, but instead averages the revenue and refunds the money directly back to the consumer. Every person gets the same sized check. He or she can manage energy costs in their own annual budget. Those that conserve will benefit from the refund. Those that do not conserve will have high energy costs. His example case is something that everyone can relate to: the price of oil. Given the price of oil was near $140/barrel in late 2008, and in 2009 it has hovered near $40/barrel, one can see the economics in action. The price went so high that it squelched demand, and now price and usage are low. This also provides an idea of what the untax might be. If the price of oil were capped at $100/barrel regardless of the actual price, demand would be kept low and the untax check would be distributed yearly for all to enjoy. Deciding on the cap price, executing the price, and managing the untax refund would be a monumental task, but that doesn't rule it out for discussion. The price of oil is just one example; the untax can be applied to other energy sources as well.

Stoft addresses many other economic scenarios in this book, such as the price-dependence of biofuels on the price of oil, and how biofuels are not a true source of energy independence. He also explains in simple terms how subsidized "green projects" do little to affect national emissions or energy consumption when compared to a tax scenario.

Stoft does not appear to be a traditional free market proponent, nor is he socialist in his approach. It appears as if he desires a fair and ethical treatment of the consumer while still making a significant dent in demand for hydrocarbons using market mechanisms. By using Economics 101 principles, Stoft believes that we can conserve, establish energy independence, and shift investment toward renewables by simply making hydrocarbons too expensive.

I am eager to hear the word "untax" on television, if for no other reason to put it up for debate. It is a novel idea that deserves consideration, if we can only trust that the voice of the consumer will be heard. This is where Stoft's plan will have its greatest challenge. There are illogical social forces working against this idea already. Anything with the word "tax" is scorned, even though Stoft hopes to overcome this by putting the prefix "un-" in front of it. In addition, there is a possibility that cap & trade permits produce short term profits for utilities which only delays the solution to the environmental problem. If an untax is to be used, that money will have to be kept in a barrel at least temporarily, there is no guarantee that special interests won't scoop some off the top as it passes between the market and the consumer.And finally, in order for this to work, it would have to be globally coordinated, especially with regard to oil, so that overall demand is diminished.Stoft proposes ways to address these issues.In the end this reasonable plan relies on trust between many parties - something that is hard to come by in this era.

To be sure, there will be critics of this model on principle - it is new and counter to many existing models. For example, there may be criticism that this policy would induce inflation, but Stoft explains that it is within the noise of most money printing activity.

If you have interest in this topic, I would venture to say that Stoft has written THE book on economic energy policy because it presents a multi-faceted picture of the energy problem, addressing the big economic, policy, and technology issues.It is a readable and well intentioned book written by a credible author, and the reader will walk away from it with plenty of information to dig deeper if he or she wishes.
... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

Waste of time...
This book makes one huge mistake. The author assumes that man-made catastrophic global warming is a reality when it's just a myth. It has been scientifically proven that global warming is natural part of the earth's cycle, and is most likely beneficial to mankind. Even the renowned environmentalist, Bjorn Lomborg, has publicly acknowledged that the global warming scare is a load of garbage.

What can I do about global warming? Here's the answer
Climate change can seem like a huge and abstract subject, a topic for politicians and scientists. This book attempts to bring things down to the level of the individual and the family.

There are the familiar predictions of life in the mid-21st century, if nothing is done about global warming. Sea levels will rise because of melting ice caps, flooding thousands of square miles of coastlines, displacing millions of people. Americans who live anywhere near the coast will find it increasingly hard, or impossible, to get flood insurance. Temperate climates will move north. Tropical climates will become hotter and more uninhabitable.

This book also visits the Carbone's, a typical family living in the American southeast. They own an SUV, and the two young sons live for video games and computers. The air conditioner is continually running all summer, the electronics are usually left on all day, and the SUV frequently has one occupant. The author looks at Mrs. Carbone starting an herb and vegetable garden in the back yard, Mr. Carbone becoming more environmentally aware at work, and the SUV being traded in for a smaller car.

The energy saving suggestions in this book may seem like common sense, but they bear repeating. Trade in your gas-guzzler for a more fuel-efficient car. If practical, consider mass transit. Start a vegetable garden, then start a compost pile. If your home or office computer needs to be on all day, use the monitor's Sleep mode. Use your town's recycling system. Keep in mind the distance traveled by produce to reach your supermarket, and buy local. Also, try vacationing closer to home. When a person has died, consider a biodegradable casket (isn't the intention that the body be returned to the soil?). Last but not least, buy items with less packaging or items made from recycled materials.

This book does an excellent job of bringing an abstract subject like global warming down to earth. It says a lot, in a very easy to read format. It is also pretty funny, too. What can I, or my family, do about global warming? Here is the answer.

Great book
It really makes one think about how every single person is responsible for global warming and the changes on our planet. Definetely worth reading!

Keeping up with the Carbones
If anybody has packed more common sense into such a small space as David Reay has accomplished with this book, i've missed it."Common sense" is the concept which supposedly governs our daily lives.However, somewhere along the way, there's been a slippage.Our lives, and that of our children, are under threat.Our common sense couldn't perceive the rapid rate of change occuring in the environment around us.Now, we must take back charge of the future.Reay isn't asking you to make drastic changes in your lifestyle to accomplish this.Instead, he demonstrates how small steps can improve our condition and make it sustainable for our children.

The author's method is well suited to the task.He invents a "typical" family of four, the Carbones, who could be your neighbours.There are John and Kate, with their two boys.Later, Kate will be discovered pregnant with Lucy.Lucy will become a guiding example for choices leading to alternative futures.Reay outlines the daily lives of the Carbones.There's getting the boys to school, John and Kate to work, and the various side trips for groceries and the like.Grandma Carbone visits from her house across town.What contribution to greenhouses gases does this lifestyle make every day?Every year?What changes can and should be made?Or can this daily round continue without modification?

Reay's answer to the last question is a resounding "No!".He provides numerous examples of visible and hidden costs that perhaps only a few of us recognise.Is your house one of the "uninsurable" residences?Insurance companies view climate change and sea level rise as inevitable and know the risks are too high for coverage.There are more direct considerations than insurance, however.What will your next automobile be?Reay suggests you review just what type of vehicle you really need.He favours the "dual-fuel" solution, since the overwhelming use of cars is local and urban.Can you resist the "upgrade" of your fridge to one that talks to you?If you need more space, is renovation more cost effective than shifting to a newer, larger residence?Finally, give thought to your workplace.How many lights, computers and other office appliances sitting there humming away drawing hydroelectric power for 24 hours per day, 365 days a year?What can you do about that?

Reay asks a good many questions of us all.He provides the reasons for the questions.One major factor behind many of them is the hidden "embodied" resource cost.That new fridge or upgraded personal computer arrived manufactured.The components, case and other parts required mining or other processing.While we're on the subject of hidden costs, what are you paying in "food-miles" - the shipping of foodstuffs from distant places that might just as readily be grown locally?Reay's approach isn't preachy nor does he want you to don a hair shirt of guilt over your climate impact.He does, however, urge immediate consideration of what you can do to reduce that effect.The choices are all yours, not his.However, for you, your children and for the rest of us, it's important that you confront the issue and make the decisions.The Carbones considered them carefully and implemented them without significant lifestyle adjustment.Can you keep up with the Carbones?[stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada] ... Read more

Product Description
Most scientists agree that temperatures near the surface of the Earth appear to be increasing, but there is controversy about what this warming might mean. This volume explores the controversy.

Is it a potentially catastrophic event caused by humans, or simply a natural and harmless fluctuation such as Earth has seen before? Should governments take steps, including those described by the Kyoto Protocols, to slow down Global Warming -- and would these steps be effective? (20020801) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Difficult, but worth it!Needs an update!
"Opposing Viewpoints Series -- Global Warming" may be difficult reading but it is worth the effort!However, the book already needs an update on the latest developments in the debate!

This book is where I started to read up on "Global Warming". It presents the data available, as of the end of 2005 (approx.) in a fair way and presents all the various views of the data, with excellent references.

A summary would sound something like this:"Our world is showing some signs of warming temperatures.This warming seems to be, mostly, from man's activities.However, both of these points are debatable and the argument is not settled (as of 2006).

The science presented is fairly good but in the time since publication, new evidence is pointing in new directions.Also, the old evidence had some problems.One of those problems was using different measurment technologies without acknowledging the differences properly.I have no idea why, in all parts of 'science', some folks keep claiming that we "know" more than is possible to know, but they do.

I think the book should be for adults only, with, at the least, a little bit of science training.At first, science looks straightforward.However, anyone who has actually done scientific research can tell you that "objective" and acurate measurements and observations are not simple and extrapolation of the data into the future is always a questionable process.

In this debate, the scientists have reached the stage of "not so simple".

Read the book.It is a good book!But, be sure to read a bunch of more reacent material.Do not decide anything until you have seen the material available on all sides of this debate.

Fortunately, the debate is far from over
The unspoken premise of the book, that there are only two sides to the global warming issue, tends to oversimplify the issue.But for pete's sake, it really is a good idea to have a vigorous discussion, oversimplified or not.The book absorbs easily, and is short in length.Mostly the articles ("Viewpoints") are arranged with very opposing positions set back-to-back, and this certainly will get you thinking.

Keep in mind that the publication date is 2006, therefore much more has been learned about this topic in the last 1-1/2 years.Much of the argumentation will sound very black-and-white as you read.Two of the articles sound like just plain arguing, though, and might be bypassed with little loss:Viewpoints number 3 and number 4 of chapter 2, which squabble about SUVs being evil vs. fine.All the rest of the articles are worth the time.Especially interesting are Viewpoints number 5 and number 6 of chapter 2, which are NOT opposing thoughts, but rather opine that the sun or the Earth's core radiation are the cause of the current climate warming (respectively).Then check out an article by none other than Senator John McCain!In Viewpoint number 4 of chapter 3, the good senator strongly proposes safe nuclear energy as an excellent solution to a warming climate.This, way ahead of his announced presidential run.

After polishing off this very readable book, please do at least glance through the "Further Discussion," pp 192-3.Your English and social studies teachers will be very proud!

The bad thing about these types of books is...
to actually be able to decipher what is true in them, you need to already have read several books (in which case, why are you now reading this book?). This doesn't mean this book is bad -- it's not. It stays out of the argument and only provides the argument, doing it's best to be unbiased. In doing so, it inevitably created a book where the contributors contradict eachother since there is no real referee. If there was a referee, this book would not be unbiased. Okay, with that in mind, I see three types of people who may be interested in reading this book.

Type I: I'm uncertain about the debate and looking for knowledge. I may have some background, but I cannot tell what is fact and what is not yet when arguments on the topic arise.

Type II: I'm looking for opposing viewpoints for research, but not to find out "truth" (for example, a school research project).

Type III: I've read a lot of information about global warming already and I'm mostly aware of the issues for and against. I understand to a pretty good degree how the debate has developed in the last few years, both scientifically and politically.

To Types I & II:
This book cannot (should not) stand alone in your research, but it is a good starting point. If it does stand alone, then you'll be even more confused about what is legitimate and what isn't than when you started -- if you do this, you will know the arguments but cannot say what is fact and what isn't. Look carefully at arguments/motives. To give this topic a fair reading, you will need to commit a good amount of time to other research. You will also need to take the approach of Type III after you get a good information base. (You could actually skip to the Type III approach immediately, but then you cannot stand up to arguments once you've made up your mind.)

To Type III:
You may benefit by instead looking for answers to your specific questions and analysing the people behind the arguments rather than reading this book, which will afford nothing significantly new or profound insight into what is true. Do research by looking especially for people who work against their own interest and see what side they've come out on. (If a solar company executive says global warming is a fluke, you should probably take their opinion carefully since they are working against their interest. Likewise, if an oil company executive says global warming is real, then that lends them strong credibility since they are acting against their financial interest.) If you complete this type III approach and have a good knowledge base, I think you'll come out on the "correct side" (from my point of view).

If you complete "Type III" and also read the book, you will probably spot some false claims and be wishing you could let everyone who reads this book know about them (but you cannot without sounding biased, which is why I refuse to say which side I'm on... :) ).

I know I cannot really justify my disappointed about this book (I'm disappointed that it doesn't comment on what's true and what isn't), since otherwise it would just be labeled as another piece of propaganda and end up being wasted paper. If you intend to read this book, just keep in mind it is like reading articles by politicians -- what they say makes some sense, but are the basic arguments true to begin with? There are lies and poor logic scattered in this book, but sadly you won't find out who is lying or who is using bad logic without doing serious analysis. Don't look to this book to settle things, but look to it as a source of viewpoints only to start from. You probably won't really settle your opinion until you look at how people are responding for/against their interests on this topic.

The Debate is Over!
U.S. opposition to the Kyoto Protocol has been consistent since President Bush panned it in 2001.One problem, in many Americans' eyes, is that it does not demand developing nations reduce greenhouse emissions - it seemed fairer to drafters to ask nations like the U.S. and Canada who consume large amounts of energy for luxuries, to cut back their consumption first.However, the biggest problem was the initial credibility of those claiming global warming was a serious problem.

Now, however, increased data and discussion has essentially resolved the issue in favor of those raising the alarm.Thus, reading "Global Warming" is like reading a mystery while knowing all the while how it turns out.

Normally a good thing to present both sides of an issue; however, debates today too often involve special interests that slant or even lie about data.There is considerable evidence that this has repeatedly occurred regarding the topic of global warming.Those making such false claims then take advantage of "fairness," especially when that does not offer a means of assessing the credibility of opposing claims."Global Warming" does not do this.

Bottom Line:Cut your reading time in half and only read the chapters concerned about global warming. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

There is truth in this book!
Well, whether or not you believe in global warming (even I don't claim to be 100% sure), there is probably at least one scientist in this book who shares your viewpoint.

In the first half of the book are the"hard science" essays, and there are all sorts of differentpredictions represented here - ranging from catastrophic floods andworldwide famines to insect plagues and a land rush in the Arctic.On theother hand, there are a few essays that say that the "problem" ofglobal warming will bring us more blessings than it will take away.Andthen there are quite a few essays arguing that global warming is caused bythe sun or does not exist at all.

The second half of the book isdevoted to essays promoting or debunking various cures and remedies forglobal warming. ... Read more

Product Description
Includes essays by Nobel Laureate Dr. Norman E. Borlaug and other noted scientists and scholars
The modern environmental movement began with the publication of three seminal works, Rachel Carson's Silent Spring, Paul Ehrlich's The Population Bomb, and the Club of Rome's The Limits to Growth. These books' dismal visions of a poisoned, over-populated, resource-depleted world spiraling down toward environmental collapse are today's conventional wisdom. And every year we hear about new "conclusive" reports from special interest groups claiming that our atmosphere's temperatures are soaring, our air and water are more polluted, our cities are more crowded, and our global food supply is more precarious than ever before. However, according to a number of leading scientists from around the world, members of the environmental movement are guilty of twisting—sometimes manufacturing—the facts in an effort to frighten people into joining their cause.
In this eye-opening book, some of the most respected researchers in the country explode the myths behind much of the doom and gloom of today's environmental movement. You will discover how the hysteria about global warming, overpopulation, mass extinctions, imminent famines, biotechnology, energy shortages, and more are grounded not in reason but in false science and a fear of progress. When placed beside the overwhelming facts, some of the most pervasive eco-myths crumble, including:
Myth:
Antarctica is melting due to global warming—threatening to raise ocean levels
Fact:
Antarctica has been cooling—and its glaciers thickening—for the past 30 years
Myth:
The global population is growing faster than our ability to produce food
Fact:
Global fertility rates are falling dramatically, and with advanced technology, farmers are producing more food using fewer resources than ever before
Myth:
Solar- and wind-powered generators are a renewable, efficient, and less intrusive alternative to gas-, oil-, and coal-burning generators
Fact:
Global fossil fuel supplies are in no near-term danger of being depleted, and a single 555-megawatt natural gas power plant produces more electricity than 13,000 windmills
Myth:
Modern pesticides and fertilizers are increasing the rates of cancer in humans
Fact:
No study has ever shown that anyone has developed cancer from the legal application of pesticides, and environmental pollution accounts for at most 2 percent of all cancer cases versus 30 percent caused by tobacco use
And many more
Ultimately, this book shows that uniting much of the environmental movement is an agenda that is not so much anti-pollution as it is anti-human. Global Warming and Other Eco-Myths lays out the true state of the planet, which, as you'll discover, is more healthy, vibrant, and clean than ideologically motivated environmentalists want you to believe. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (47)

A good choice to learn
I read this good book, here in Brazil. I'm an agronomist and I like to read books.
In more than 350 pages, this book has many excellent parts. I'll give you ten examples of these excellent parts:
1-On Page 24:"The five most significant droughts in the past 2,000 years all occurred prior to 1600."
2-On page 42:"One of the last major land frontiers are the vast acid-soils areas found in the Brazilian cerrado and llanos of Colombia and Venezuela, central and southern Africa, and Indonesia."
3-Page 51:"Despite the formidable opposition by many ideological environmentalists to transgenic crops, commercial adoption by farmers of the new varieties has been one of the most rapid cases of technology diffusion in the history of agriculture. Between 1996 and 2001, the are planted commercially to transgenic crops has increased 30-fold(Table 2.9)."
4-Page 78:"The vision of the link between rapid opulation growth and political destablization, however, is sometimes undercut by the very evidence to support it. Take Gore's aforementioned attribution of the carnage in the former Yugoslavia in the early 1990s to rapid population growth. The problem with the argument is that the former Yugoslavia was characterized by especially rapid rates of population growth nor by particularly high levels of fertility."
5-Page 115:"Economic development and free markets are the keys to increasing energy efficiency. In 1986, a few years before the collapse of the Berlin Wall, the United States and the other developed countries used less than half the amount of energy per dollar of GDP that the socialist economies used. Communist North Korea uses roughly three times as much energy to produce a dollar of output as South Korea does."
6-Page 133:"It is not the natural resources, but good ideas that developing countries lack."
7-Page 206:"What is too often overlooked by antibiotech activists, however, is the fact that bioengeneered crop varieties have substancial positive impacts on the environment."
8-Page 223:"Thus on a global scale, renewable water supplies exceed demand by a factor of about 12.Not purifying water can be disastrous. In 1991, failure to chlorinate drinking water supplies in Peru contributed to a massive outbreak of cholera that infected more than 300,000, killing several thousand. "
9-Page 288:"As two malaria researchers observe,:"DDT has saved countless millions of lifes, while Greenpeace struggles to find some evidence that it harms mankind."
10-Page 336:"Agricultural production has consistently outpaced population growth over the past 30 years."
Even with so many excellent parts, I can't give five stars for this book, because of some minor mistakes:
1-Page 44 has a mistake about Brazilian company Embrapa.
2-Page 137 has a mistake about Bengal famine.Maoist and Chinese famine between 1958 and 1964 was the biggest in world's history.
3-Pages 245 and 262 have a mistake about hydrogen.
4-Page 336 has a mistake about crops in the former USSR. The author takes as trues the ghost-crops in the former USSR.
These mistakes are combined less than one page, in a book with more than 350. This book is a good choice to learn about ecology, global warming, malthusian believes,etc. Please, I'm an agronomist, but this book is for anyone, including yourself.

Old and dated,isn't consistant with author's own currents beliefs
Facts and science on this topic are moving and advancing so fast Please don't read old books to learn about Global warming!!!
Words from the same author 3 years later in 2005. Quote:["People who have doubted predictions of catastrophic global warming (and that includes me) have long cited the satellite data series derived by climatologists John Christy and Roy Spencer at the University of Alabama Huntsville (UAH). That data set showed a positive trend of 0.088 degrees centigrade per decade until recently. On a straight line extrapolation that trend implied warming of less than 1.0 degree centigrade by 2100."]

An anthology worth picking up
The good part about anthologies is that they tend to cover more ground than an author normally would on his/her own.Such serves the reader well."Global Warming and Other Eco-myths" does cover much ground in the realm of "fierce ecological advocacy," handling topics on population, natural resources, water, industrial products, and of course, global warming.There are three chapters on general policy-philosophy which go along with topic-specific chapters.

The themes which run through all parts of the book may roughly be summarized as:1.Strident environmentalism needs to be braked with logical thinking and a truthful look at actual data;2.Too many "hot" environmental topics of the past have been misunderstood at best, intentionally misleading at worst;3.Human beings are not Earth's pests; and 4. Human brains are the most powerful force for solving these largely technological problems discussed in the book.No reader will agree with everything in this work.In fact Ron Bailey, the editor, has since this book's publication changed much of his mind on the global warming part![http://www.reason.com/news/show/126851.html]

For sure it is worth your picking up this book.This reviewer purchased a copy for reference.Who know?In a decade and one-half, let's see how much of this pans out -- results are always the best judge!

Global Warming for the uneducated
I think books like this are dangerous and to those who insist we ignore global warming problems I just want to ask you to answer this one question: What if we continue to ignore this crisis and you are wrong. What then ???? If we do indeed choose to continue to ignore these issues and you happen to be wrong then it will be too late to do anything about them. As a result we all need to do our part and play the safe side which is to assume there is a big global warming problem and do what we can to protect the environment at any cost as we only have one environment people and noone should have the power to dictate that we ignore this crisis.

October 23, 2007 in San Diego
As I write this review, I'm watching TV coverage of a fire -- 13 fires actually -- that has destroyed already more than 1000 homes in Southern California, killed at least two and severely burned dozens more, and destroyed well over 100,000 acres of landscape. The fire has been fueled and spread by Santa Ana winds of up to 100 miles per hour. The whole event is precisely what the environmentalists and climatologists, demonized by this fraudulent book, would predict and have predicted.
Wake up, ideologues! Don't burn your copies of Ayn Rand and Ann Coulter; that would merely add to the carbon load, which by the way has just been measured by Australian climatologists as HIGHER than expected right now, at the same time that the ability of the ocean to dissolve and keep CO2 in solution is testing LOWER than expected. There is no eco-myth. There is only self-serving petro-fraud and libertarian tomfoolery. At this point, denying the probable consequences of rapid anthropogenic climate change is an act of social irresponsibility verging on a crime against humanity, especially the humanity fo our children.
There is little in this book that hasn't been covered in similar manifestos of denial, such as the PIGuide to Global Warming. Don't be deceived; this is a political tract, not a book of balanced science. However, if you want to approach the problem reasonably, you might take a look at "Kicking the Carbon Habit" by William Sweet, or "Global Warming: a Very Short Introduction" by Mark Maslin. ... Read more

Product Description
An original essay by Patrick L. Halliwell
Series: Essays on Life, #3


It's been a perfect winter for global warming denial—mild enough to convince most Canadians that global warming will result in a more pleasant winter, and yet with enough snow and cold to remind us that the earth is not getting warmer (at least, not today).


About the Author
Patrick L. Halliwell is a Canadian author, composer and musicologist. His publications include fiction, humor, serious essays, practical items, and scholarly articles on traditional Japanese koto music. He is also creator and producer of "Phonobites," a unique set of exercises for English pronunciation. His original music combines musical principles and elements from a variety of the world's great traditions. His official website is www.lakipi.com
Patrick loves the outdoors, and is deeply worried about climate change.
... Read more

Product Description
Coral reefs have managed to survive for eons. Now, we are told, they face the threat of extinction as a result of CO2-induced global warming and ocean acidification. Will these biological wonders of the world's oceans soon cease to exist? Find out in this insightful new book by Dr. Craig D. Idso. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent
This excellent book is a collaboration of about 300 references and contradicts the catastrophic global warming, ocean acidifaction theory. Get this book and find out why rising atmospheric CO2 is a boon to the planet's many life forms.

A surprisingly detailed and careful review of the research on the growth and survival of coral reefs.
This little book is quite deceptive in that its 67 pages of text provide a very wide ranging review of the research on coral reefs. The amount of detail is so great that I read many paragraphs multiple times and felt at the end that I had read a much longer book.

Dr. Idso is to be commended for this excellent review of the research on the state of these fascinating underwater ecosystems.Those 23 additional pages listing the many references are no joke. I was surprised at the amount of detailed research being done on coral. I don't even want to try and count the number of researchers involved. Or the many fine experiments and observational studies carried out.

As CO2 increases in the atmosphere it of course also increases in the ocean (some have suggested at a 1 to 50 ratio).There have been predictions that increased ocean temperature and acidity will reduce rates of coral calcification, weaken coral skeletons and cause coral death.

Dr. Idso reports that contrary to the models predictions there is no simple link between high ocean temperatures and coral bleaching, and that corals adapt and respond to their environment. Many times this is a replacement of the zooxanthellae during stress induced bleaching by varieties that are more tolerant of that particular stress.

Coral reefs have persisted through geologic time (about 200 million years for scleractinian corals, much, much longer than humans have existed) and in sea temperatures 10-15 degrees C warmer than at present. They have also survived periods when CO2 concentrations were 2 to 7 times higher. Thus coral survival seems to be more closely related to the rate of external change and their ability to adapt.

Predicted rises in sea level likewise are well within the growth rates of coral and will in fact allow for the expansion of coral in many areas.

Coral is bleaching in some areas and thriving in others. Its overall health appears very good with real world observations contradicting the results of the climate models and often refuting their predictions.

There is too much in this book to even list the major topics, but readers will be well rewarded if you have any interest in the effects of additional CO2 and the state of research in the marine world.
... Read more

Product Description
Cool Cuisine is a smorgasbord of scientific fact and culinary art where the reader learns new ways to look at the climate crisis. It presents the full cycle on how our agrochemical food system affects global warming and how global warming affects the food system. It inspires personal life changes with in-depth research, easy recipes, ideas for your next book group "read and eat" tasting party, and simple tips on how to cook a global-cooling cuisine. The book is organized into three sections: the first gives background to the global-warming problem, the second highlights solutions, and the third is a "culinary how-to," teaching simple techniques and tips. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

go green at your kitchen!
A practical guide and an excellent source for those who try to go green at home including information on global warming and how you can help to reduce it, starting at your kitchen.

Great book!
This is the best book about the impact our food has on our environment since John Robbins' Diet for a New America. By combining a passionate voice with rational scientific underpinnings the result is truly inspiring. People that really care about realistic ways to moderate their impact should take the time to read this book.

Ideas and Recipes for changing your Diet

Thinking about the links between food choices and environmental concerns?Stymied by all the choices? Organic vs. Free Range?Organic and Free Range? Local vs. Organic?What about Organic Agro-business? What about Food Miles? This book lays out the link between food production and global climate change, but more importantly, it provides recipes and ideas for some sustainable food choices. Whether you're interested in changing your diet or just interested in food production, this book will interest you, without making you feel guilty.Hopefully it will inspire you with its delicious and sustainable recipes.

OK, so there are a few sections that could have been better edited, or even eliminated. (I really could have done without the recounting of a silly conversation about cow reproduction on pg. 202. I guess you had to be there to think it was funny or even interesting?) There are many many boxes and sidebars -- sometimes this makes the overall book organizationally confusing, but the content in the side boxes is so interesting and they contain graphs, charts, lists that are clear and easy to understand.

All in all an interesting book and unlike any other I have seen, since it contains both the WHY you would want to change your food habits and the HOW to go about doing it.

My God, somebody gets it!
If timing is everything then this book is gets it.It is Informative with fantastic dishes.My family of four uses Ms. Stec's recipes once a week without fail.

The two authors have combined both science and food that has left me wondering why I have been in the dark for so long. We can make a difference with the right choices!

Give the book a try, you won't be disappointed.

Being involved again in our food
Reading this book made me want to get involved with food again, much like we all did as kids - touch it, play with it, experience the textures, color and energy of it. Author Laura Stec is anything but preachy. She's as earthy as the worms in her compost bin and accentuates the positive. She makes buying and eating responsibly sound fun and doable...without a lot of extra work or sacrifice. I'm for that! ... Read more

Product Description
"The Hot Topic" is a collaborative work by one of the most respected scientists and one of the most dynamic writers in the field of climate change. Sir David King, world-renowned scientist and the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser, is widely credited with persuading Tony Blair to act on climate change and with getting key international figures around the negotiating table, and has a significant media profile. On publication of "The Hot Topic" his previous obligation not to comment publicly about New Labour's attitude to the ever-growing problem of global warming will be lifted and he will finally be able to speak out. Gabrielle Walker is a respected author, journalist and radio presenter, and a regular contributor to New Scientist, whose 8-part series "Planet Earth Under Threat" was a major success last year for BBC Radio 4. Last year awareness about global warming reached a tipping point."The Hot Topic" goes beyond a statement of the problem to address in detail what can be done to answer the challenge on a personal, social, national and international level.A clear, short and engaging book that approaches the whole issue - the present problem and the future solutions - in a straightforward way, it is bound to receive massive attention from industry, the media and government alike. While there have been many other books about the problem of climate change, none has addressed what we can and should do about it so clearly and persuasively. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Start small and don't become "greener than thou"
Everything you need to know about the challenges of climate change without the spin.

There is a veritable overload of information on the topic of global warming that makes it difficult to get to grips with what to do and how to deal with it on a personal level.

This highly informative book sets out to inform the reader of the issues, how to prepare for the inevitable changes and then follows up with solutions in these areas: technological, political, personal and local.

The subject is a serious one but as Walker writes - don't despair, although it's a hard one it's not intractable. She suggests that we look inside our circle of influence, start small and soon your circle will expand... but at no point become "greener than thou".

It's a jungle of a topic but this book makes the big issues that bit clearer. ... Read more