Earth: The Operators' Manual [Hardcover]

Richard B. Alley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 18, 2011 | ISBN-10: 0393081095 | ISBN-13: 978-0393081091

The book—companion to a PBS series—that proves humans are causing global warming and offers a path to the future.

Since the discovery of fire, humans have been energy users and always will be. And this is a good thing-our mastery of energy is what separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom and has allowed us to be the dominant species on the planet. However, this mastery comes with a price: we are changing our environment in a profoundly negative way by heating it up.

Using one engaging story after another, coupled with accessible scientific facts, world authority Richard B. Alley explores the fascinating history of energy use by humans over the centuries, gives a doubt-destroying proof that already-high levels of carbon dioxide are causing damaging global warming, and surveys the alternative energy options that are available to exploit right now. These new energy sources might well be the engines for economic growth in the twenty-first century. 50 black-and-white photographs

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this companion book to the PBS television series of the same name, Alley, a Penn State professor of geology who served as a member of the U.N. climate change committee, presents a primer on combatting global warming. The book begins with a history of how fuel-from trees, whale oil, and petroleum-has been instrumental to civilization and how we tend to exhaust our sources. He goes on to explain how scientists study climate change and why the evidence is convincing, and ends with a call to action and an overview of possible solutions. Laden with professorial jokes, unexpected similes (studying climate change is like watching kindergarten soccer; stabilizing the atmosphere is comparable to sewage treatment), photos of the author's daughters, and exhaustive responses that should demolish any and all misinformation about global warming circulating around the U.S., this optimistic book ought to convince even the most obstinate climate-change denier. (Apr.)
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Review

“Starred Review. Alley thoroughly explains the dynamics of global warming and its negative consequences, and parses the economic benefits of renewable energy. He also forthrightly addresses ‘Climategate,’ the politicization of science, and common misperceptions that stoke skepticism about what he convincingly demonstrates is the ‘solid science’ of global warming. Alley concludes with suggestions for a ‘measured transition’ to a combination of wind, solar, sea, and geothermal power. Alley’s lively and positive Earth ‘operating manual’ is the substantial companion book for a new PBS series that will air in April to mark Earth Day.” (Booklist )

“This optimistic book ought to convince even the most obstinate climate-change denier.” (Publishers Weekly )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 479 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company (April 18, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393081095
• ISBN-13: 978-0393081091
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 1.3 x 9.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #89,125 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #75 in Books > Professional & Technical > Engineering > Energy

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Scientist, Great Communicator April 7, 2011

By Morris Ward

Format:Hardcover

Richard Alley combines in-depth technical expertise on climate change with a unique ability to connect with and speak with (and not merely to) a non-scientific audience. This book and the PBS series to which it is a companion is readily accessible to any person with a reasonable intellectual curiosity and, more importantly, an open mind. As a self-identified registered Republican and "right of center" political ideology, Alley is the perfect messenger for those ideologically predisposed to wanting not to believe the substantial body of peer-reviewed and thoroughly vetted climate science. His PBS three-part special and his new book should be must-reading for anyone wanting to stay conversant on energy and related climate issues. A winner.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A worthy read August 27, 2011

By David K

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Richard Alley is a climate scientist. While many may not have heard of him before, some will have seen him give a demonstration of the Earth's tilt (and its relationship to climate change) in a House hearing last year. Using his head, with his bald spot representing the North Pole, Alley schooled Republican Rep. Rohrabacher on historical climate science. Alley uses the same humor and adroitness of analogy in Earth: The Operators' Manual to give us an engaging look at our planet, the changes that are occurring, and options for moving forward.

The book is a companion to a PBS documentary, which I haven't seen but plan to do so after reading this book. The book is divided in to three parts totaling 24 chapters. The first part gives us a glimpse at how we have used energy over the millennia, how we have impacted the planet, and how we have moved from "peak trees" to "peak whale oil" to eventually (or even already), "peak fossil fuels." The second part gives us a dozen chapters that make it clear that human activity is changing our climate. The third part focuses on options for non-fossil fuel energy sources.

Throughout, Alley's whimsical side shows through, as does the ease at which he can communicate the science with apt analogies that all of us can understand. Who knew that climate was a bit like watching a kindergarten soccer game? With climate, many factors appear to be kicking around randomly but then, eventually, there seems to be an order to the chaos. As Alley takes us through the science it becomes undeniably clear that we are warming our planet.

While the first two sections may be the most entertaining, the final section is probably the most important part of the book. Alley examines "the road to ten billion smiling people," that is, the options we have to providing energy for our ever-growing global population. Starting with toilets (I kid you not), he discusses the smart grid, solar and wind solutions, and pretty much everything else from hydroelectric to nuclear to geo-engineering. Some seem more promising than others, and Alley largely believes that some combination of renewable energy sources are the likely future.

Overall, I found the book interesting and definitely informative. It's a worthy read for anyone interested in the topic.

24 of 28 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars M. Jones' review is completely irrelevant April 7, 2011

By Kevin

Format:Hardcover

Instead of actually reviewing the book, "M. Jones" simply recycles one of the most common Denialsphere screeds ... "the Earth's climate changed in the past and we know it wasn't caused by humans. Therefore, the current warming isn't caused by humans either."

The first sentence is true, while the second is false. You cannot infer the latter from the former. Yes, the Earth's climate has changed in the past due to natural forcings. This is well understood. However, it is also well understood that NONE of those natural forcings can explain all of the current warming. In fact, they explain only 10% of it! The other 90% is caused by us humans.

Dispute that? Then prove that 100% (shoot, go for even 50%) of the current warming is caused by natural forces ... if you can do so a Nobel Prize awaits you, along with the $1,000,000 prize money. Any takers? Didn't think so.

Kevin