Customer Reviews

Complete Idiot's Guide to Global Warming

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This book is a good introductory text for those who want to know more about the complex topic of climate change and "global warming". The book is easy to read and educational for those starting out in their examination of the field, though further reading on this topic will show that some of the core premises of the book are more contentious than the author seems to think.

A list of further readings is provided, though there are no sources listed for the arguments made by the aurthor, which can make it difficult for those who want to do their own fact-checking or to canvass alternative opinions. However, a whole (short) chapter is devoted to arguments against the impact of man and is consequences on the environment.

Unfortunately, like many modern texts on climate and the environment, the author seems wedded to the concept of biocentrality and "steady-state" systems, with no examination of the merits or pitfalls of such a position.

Still, overall, this book provides a good introduction to the general concepts and arguments around man's impact on global climate.

I feel silly writing a review of a book I have not read, but I read the other reviews which were completely bogus, which tried to give the impression that there is still controversy about global warming among the world's scientists, and that global warming is some left-wing conspiracy this book promotes.

Here is a simple experiment to see who is telling the truth. Go to your local library and ask to see some peer-reviewed technical magazines on global warming. The language will probably be way over your head, but you can categorise the abstracts as either:

1. presuming global warming as a fact

2. debunking global warming

3. you can't tell.

I predict you won't find a single scientific article debunking it.

"Many people have the impression that there is significant scientific disagreement about global climate change. It's time to lay that misapprehension to rest. There is a scientific consensus on the fact that Earth's climate is heating up and human activities are part of the reason. We need to stop repeating nonsense about the uncertainty of global warming and start talking seriously about the right approach to address it."
~ Naomi Oreskes, 2004-12-26, science historian
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A26065-2004Dec25.html