Customer Reviews

Dead Mars, Dying Earth

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Both authors have good credentials for writing this book.Brandeburg is a physicist, rocket scientist and Mars expert.Paxson is a writer and scientific editor.The book reads like a detective story, is well written and utterly engrossing.We follow the activities and ideas of Brandeburg as he puts together pieces of a disturbing jigsaw puzzle that is our greenhouse predicament.He has strong evidence that there was once life on Mars, and some castrophe caused all life there to be obliterated.He presents this as a warning to us here on Earth.The level of oxygen in our atmosphere is falling, while carbon dioxide is rising.Since 1750 carbon dioxide has risen 20%, half of this rise being in the last 50 years! Some people want to pump excess carbon dioxide into the oceans, but this is like sweeping your rubbish under the carpet.In 1986 a cloud of carbon dioxide rose from a lake in Cameroon, killing 1700 people."The signs are everywhere that things are out of balance.The hurricanes are stronger, the winters milder, the summers more ferocious, and the zones of human habitation are shrinking as the deserts spread." Parts of Africa are a sign of the times and of things to come, where ecological breakdown has led to social breakdown in many countries.The book paints a grim but realistic picture, with lots of hard hitting evidence of the dangers we face.But the authors have a positive message.We don't have to revert to a Stone Age primitive existence.We can replace the use of oil and coal with energy based on solar, wind and water power, and also fusion.More resources have to be directed to these areas.Trees are our life-line, and we need many more of them.The book puts forward practical and sensible solutions, being cause for hope and not despair.

Space exploration is often seen as the red headed step child by those in charge of the government's purse strings. Dead Mars, Dying Earth brings astute clarity to the needs for space science and why our current fascination with our neighboring planet is a worthwhile venture. For planet Earth to survive, we need only look next door to see how fragile our home world has become and how necessary it is for us to wake up and become responsible inhabitants.

If you only have time for one book this spring, read Dead Mars, Dying Earth. Not only does it shed light on the controversy surrounding the elusive red planet, but it also provides an inspiring plan -- through engaging tales as well as scientific fact -- on how to make the best of Earth in the years ahead.

Diana Botsford Producer/Host Destination: Space

Dead Mars, Dying Earth is one of the most inspiring, scary and, ultimately, energizing books I've ever read--a sort of boot camp for planetary transformation.

Also, it's not just another serious, boring science book. Even though the book's science is authoritative, it reads like a Hollywood script: One remarkable, true story after another draws you further and further into the recognition of how planets live and die and of just how much trouble our Earth is in. Then, after the plunge into the dark night of Earth's possible future, authors Brandenburg and Paxson pick you back up, tell you a couple wonderful stories and leave you stoked to manifest its eminently sensible solutions-- solutions which show how we can reverse our current global warming crisis with both planet AND economy intact.

So pick up Dead Mars, Dying Earth and get on with the great work ahead. After all, what could be more satisfying than safeguarding this beautiful, living planet as the haven for all you know and love?

For many years I've studied both astronomy and the environmental movement. I've been trying to grasp the scope of humanity's degradation of natural resources by observing our current situation in the context of our place in the solar system and the Milky Way galaxy. It is not comforting to, on the one hand, see how rare and precious life is, and on the other hand to see how the human race is botching up being alive. Upon finishing Dead Mars, Dying Earth, I knew I had found what I had sought for years--a concise summary of and solution to the human dilemma. I was filled with a sense of hope and urgent purpose which far surpassed feelings of dread for our collective future. For herein lies not only a sobering warning, but also a plan of action, designed by today's scientists.

Later when I went to the bookcase to pick the next book to read, nothing caught my eye. Apparently I had indeed found what I had been seeking for years~an understanding of Earth's history and glimpses of the future, in comparison to our most similar neighbor, Mars. Thanks to the authors, Dr. Brandenburg & Ms. Paxson, for fulfilling this student's quest.

Dennis Hughes, Publisher SHARE GUIDE

I was inspired to re-read this fine discourse on global warming after reading Al Gore's book, "An Inconvenient Truth". Brandenburg worked on the NASA Mars projects where he formed the opinion that Mars once supported life and had an atmosphere similar to Earth's and the fate that befell Mars could easily happen to Earth (in fact, IS happening to Earth) unless we substantially curb our use of fossil fuels and minimize our collective heat and carbon producing activities.

Although Brandenburg and Paxson are both scientists, they wrote this book for general audience appeal and included several parallel stories and color plates to demonstrate the deleterious effects of global warming and intentional dismissal or denial (i.e., the fate of the Titanic, etc.) of the burgeoning accumulation of supportive data gathered both here on Earth and Mars. The stories are riveting and fascinating and combine to intentionally alarm the reader into action.

The authors are big supporters of alternative energy sources to replace the oxygen depleting, carbon producing fossil fuels and they suggest fusion reactors are one of the best alternatives to both fossil fuel and the far more dangerous fission reactors for energy production and that governments and industry should substantially increase funding research for fusion reactors. Increase in the perfection and use of fuel cells, wind, photoelectric, etc. are also suggested. More info and resources are available at their website: [...]

I learned more from this book than in following the news for 30 years. It is amazing how we are not told critical information by our corporate media.

If this book got the media exposure it should get, it would have a greater impact than Rachel Carson's well-known book of the 1960's "Silent Spring" -- which initiated a massive protest over the dangers of pesticides.

This book presents background environmental information like an exciting story.... Authors use marvelous metaphors. One theme of the entire book is the analogy that living on our world is like being on the Titanic.... it is a blockbuster of a book.... it should be required reading of our President and our entire Congress.

Dead Mars, Dying Earth is one of the most inspiring, scary and, ultimately, energizing books I've ever read--a sort of boot camp for planetary transformation.

Also, it's not just another serious, boring science book. Even though the book's science is authoritative, it reads like a Hollywood script: One remarkable, true story after another draws you further and further into the recognition of how planets live and die and of just how much trouble our Earth is in. Then, after the plunge into the dark night of Earth's possible future, authors Brandenburg and Paxson pick you back up, tell you a couple wonderful stories and leave you stoked to manifest its eminently sensible solutions-- solutions which show how we can reverse our current global warming crisis with both planet AND economy intact.

So pick up Dead Mars, Dying Earth and get on with the great work ahead. After all, what could be more satisfying than safeguarding this beautiful, living planet as the haven for all you know and love?

One of the best books I've ever read! I love how I got to learn more about Mars, Earth, and the environment. It was a very satisfying read and really made me aware of how important action is now to saving the environment before it's too late.

Ok, the book is good because it does try to open your eyes on environmental problems. The book is not so good because Brandenburg is a little bit alarmist, but I won't really complain about that. The but is quite bad because Brandenburg seems to have some score to settle with someone, and IT SHOWS! A little bit partial, uh? And the book is really bad, because some of the science in there is completely bogus, and it stains all the rest...

I learned more from this book than in following the news for 30 years. It is amazing how we are not told critical information by our corporate media.

If this book got the media exposure it should get, it would have a greater impact than Rachel Carson's well-known book of the 1960's "Silent Spring" -- which initiated a massive protest over the dangers of pesticides.

This book is highly readable. It presents background environmental information like an exciting story.... Authors use marvelous metaphors. One theme of the entire book is the analogy that living on our world is like being on the Titanic.... it is a blockbuster of a book.... it should be required reading of our President and our entire Congress. I was deeply moved by this book! If there is one book you should read this year, this is it.