Customer Reviews

Global Warming False Alarm: The Bad Science Behind the United Nations' Assertion that Man-made CO2 Causes Global Warming

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This book is not one to judge by its cover. Its strongly-worded title and chapter headings might easily lead one to expect a no-holds-barred adversarial work, but it turns out to be quite the opposite. Refreshingly, Dr. Alexander's style is warm and friendly throughout, providing a comfortable, well-paced and very informative read. In fact, I read the entire book in just two sittings, which for a mostly technical book is quite an achievement. I attribute the ease of reading to the book's fair-minded style and its clear and logical progression of ideas.

Although the book does not demand a high level of scientific background, there is sufficient depth and data from any of the many referenced sources to satisfy even the more scientifically advanced reader.

The basic method of the book is to present the major evidence and lines of reasoning on which the IPCC conclusions are based. Then the evidence is examined for accuracy or systematic bias while the conclusions based on that evidence are examined for logical consistency. The whole idea, essentially, is to hold the IPCC claims accountable to the established rules of Science. Yes, there are rules of Science. Among those rules are that measurements be objective and repeatable, that conclusions logically follow from their premises and that the laws of Physics are the same everywhere and always. These are the main criteria to which the book holds the IPCC accountable. I don't think I'd be spoiling the ending by telling you that the IPCC fails miserably in this accountability.

In a way, the book puts the layman on par with the expert because one needs only a rational mind to understand when certain conclusions cannot be drawn from a given set of premises. Nor does one need to be an expert to see how systematic bias in a measurement can affect its outcome and invalidate the conclusions which are based on it. These principles are the real beauty of the book because they are fundamental to Science and transcend individual expertise. They allow the layman to authoritatively tell the 'expert' when he's wrong and this book clearly lays out the mistakes and missteps that the IPCC has taken.

Great book. Easy read. Highly recommended.

You might think that there are already many books about climate change on the market. But Ralph Alexander's book is special and unusually appropriate for both beginners and experts in the field because of its balanced attitude to the problem.

That doesn't mean that Dr Alexander ends up with a "mixed" answer to the basic question. Just like a majority of books on the subject, Dr Alexander makes the readers understand that the global warming alarm is almost completely an artifact of manipulation with the human psychology and with the data. But unlike the case of many other books, you will see that Dr Alexander is actually a mainstream scientist (and an applied scientist in the environmental sector) who cares about the good name and functioning of science. Years ago, he was inclined to believe the "general wisdom" about the problem. His diametrically opposite conclusions are a result of his long research of the problem. And his pride of a scientist has been hurt. Climatology has become an ugly example of a scientific discipline that has largely ceased to be scientific.

Dr Alexander determines that the "ring" and the international character of the IPCC, the climate panel of the United Nations, are the main drivers of the hysteria so the IPCC, its process, and its reports are the main players investigated by this text. He analyzes the history and structure of the IPCC and finds out that this panel is just a particular and heavily funded group of loud partisans and activists that is meant to defend a predetermined conclusion and that doesn't reflect the scientific opinion of the world's scientific community, at least its financially and otherwise unbiased part, and certainly not the available body of data. Lots of numbers about the percentages of the scientist who agree and disagree with various statements are included.

The following chapters are dedicated to the standard topics in this debate: an introduction to the enhanced greenhouse effect and why it cannot account for most of the climate variability; computer models as the main basis underlying the alarm and their flaws; the CO2 and temperature records and reconstructions, their comparisons, and their flaws (including the urban heat effect); cherry-picking in various "concerned" studies; the interactions with politics (in both directions); corruption of the conventional peer review process; the biased IPCC evaluation of the climate sensitivity (warming from CO2 doubling); the lag in the correlation showing that the temperature is a driver, not an effect, of trace gas concentrations; solar, oceanic, cosmic, and other natural drivers that have to be crucial (even though the author honestly says that science doesn't yet understand their precise and separate effects); the high possibility of a cooling in the 21st century.

A significant portion of the text is also concerned with the economic consequences of the alarm; the failures of the cap-and-trade systems in the past, the differences between various countries; and the false hopes in green, luxurious sources of energy.

The book contains many wise stories and analogies from the history, useful data from the present, some jokes, and black-and-white pages that summarize the IPCC claims and their flaws in various sections. Two appendices discuss the feedbacks and the effect of Pacific Decadal Oscillation. And indeed, Dr Alexander had to include some equations, too. The book has a short glossary, 30 pages of technical endnotes (including many references that don't disturb you in the main text), and an index. At any rate, it is quite an amazing piece of work that is fun to read - because of its detailed data, its convincing case, and warm style - and I wholeheartedly recommend you to buy it and read it.

This is a good book to gain an appreciation of the deniers view of climate change. It is written in generally non-scientific terms and could be read by almost anyone. It may or may not be correct (Is the IPCC?) but it certainly does challenge the "consensus" science and model based projections. It certainly made me want to read more and chase up many of the references it contains.

I bought this book because I wanted to have some facts to share with friends about why "global warming" is a fake, created by special interests as a way to make money.

The author did a great job of EDUCATING me on the false "science" (if you can call it that) used by the global warming fanatics.

I enjoyed the science lessons and learning about how the sun affects climate (more complex than I thought) and it was very revealing to learn how LITTLE we "really" know about how climate is created and regulated in the first place.

I personally think that as the world (at least the Western world) has grown more secular and less religious, people have a void in their lives. All you need to do is join the Church of Global Warming Alarmists - what better new religion than to save the world - from ourselves. And there are, IMO, some really crafty people out there who have figured out how to make lots and lots of $$$ while they do it!

For cripes sake, you can "throw away" $12.50 on carbon credits at the airport because you feel "guilty" about the fuel used on the flight you are on. Come on!

I will remember forever the quote about computer models: "With 4 (adjustable) parameters, I can fit in an elephant. And, with 5, I can make him wiggle his trunk." Mathematicin John von Neumann. And the whole damn thing is based on....COMPUTER MODELS!!!!

Well, we have a 3 ring circus full of elphants - only not so entertaining when you realize the draconian laws about to be passed, the taxes to be levied and the changes governments would like to make to our lives (lower standard of living) for something that is a FAKE. All courtesy of the IPCC - who answers to no one really and persecutes and ridicules those who try to bring the "science" back on track.

And the "inconsistencies":

Silly stuff like the Primevial Warming Period, which was MUCH hotter than any temperatures we know now, but gee that doesn't really fit so - whosh - it's gone!

More inconvenient items like atmospheric temperatures, gathered by satellites and weather balloons that prove there is little or NO global warming - just leave 'em out!

Go ahead, locate many of your weather stations on airport property on or near black top, concete buildings and automotive traffic - then call it an "accurate temperature" which proves warming.

China and Russia took out many of their weather stations, so there's no data - but that's not a problem - MAKE IT UP! (Do you see elephants???)

CRAZY stuff - but "they" did these things and more and as a result many, many people are buying the global warming snake oil this group of liars is selling.

Thank you Ralph B. Alexander for writing an easy to read, informative, instructive book for "deniers" like me to read and have factual ideas to present to my friends who have run off and joined this new religion. Some of them listen, some of them have purchased and read this book - and some of them are really ANGRY that they were lied to by "experts" and to this amazing extent. They feel like fools - but they are not - after all, it's the "government" telling you this crap, and being awarded Nobel Prizes along the way.

Enough - BUY THIS BOOK - go on a religious crusade of your own, share the info with your friends and family - it's time to STOP THE INSANITY of Global Warming!!!

This is a good book for those who wish a quick understanding of what's going on with all the shrill Global Warming claims (= Hysteria) and the bad science behind them. It's a simple book, short, and easy to read.

One other book I'd recommend, even shorter, is the Aussie "A skeptics Guide to Global Warming," by Joanne Nova. It's available both as a pdf file and a paperback, and is only 16 pages. They use it to help train High School Science teachers, a better choice, I think, than America's approach: showing Gore's Apocalyptic Science Fiction movie to terrify and brainwash our school children. The vast sum of $79 Billion (That is not a typo. BILLION, with a "B".) has gone for politicized science to support Gore's propaganda. Your tax dollars at work!!! (Source: SPPI report "Climate Money.")

For those who want more depth in the economics and politics of Global Warming, "Blue Planet in Green Schackles" is preferred. For how the science has been gamed, it's "Climate of Extremes." And for the basics of how climate -- clouds -- helps to moderate weather and keep the planet habitable, it is "Climate Confusion."

But this is a good starter book. Above all, don't believe the media. A LOT of money is going into Global Warming propoganda, and the media isn't critical of this.
GOOD BOOK. AN EASY, QUICK READ.

This was the third book on the topic that I have read. 'Blue Planet in Green Shackles' and 'heaven+earth, global warming: the missing science' were the other two. R.Alexander has a balanced look at the evidence. The book is well structured. His arguments are excellent, supported by relevant evidence and are written for the non-technical person. He points out the mandate of the IPCC, its contribution to the politicisation of the issue, and the vilification of scientists and others with dissenting views. His summaries on the way through are very good as milestones in building the case.

Alexander puts the possible contribution of anthropogenic-CO2 to current global warming in perspective with other critical elements of the whole system, such as the sun, water vapour, major ocean currents and volcanoes. He also puts the current warming event in context with what has happened on earth through millennia.

This book is recommended reading for anyone interested in the issue.

The information is presented in an unbiased manner. He demonstrates the fraud using their own words and data. For the first half of the book he makes no inferences and draws no conclusions, simply setting out the debate and showing their own internal contradictions. Recent events have shown that all of his conclusions are true. The UN is corrupt, and the scientific establishment will commit any perfidy, including the debasement of science, in their pursuit of the dollar, fame and power. Anyone remember HIV and a guy named Gallo?

I read a lot, and I confess to have been among those who "bought in" to the celebrity alarmism of Al Gore, but I never displaced the totality of the threats to Earth for an obsessive focus on carbon emissions. Among the three books I have always recommended that are far more balanced than anything by the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) are:

High Noon 20 Global Problems, 20 Years to Solve Them
The Future of Life
Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization (Substantially Revised)

That having been said, I was generally supportive of the Kyoto Treaty and the concept of carbon reductions.

Then I read The Resilient Earth: Science, Global Warming and the Fate of Humanity and within weeks, read Cool It: The Skeptical Environmentalist's Guide to Global Warming (Vintage) and finally, just the past week, noticed the Hacktivism that outed all of the fraud and deception in the Climate Research Unit central to the IPCC (Climate Change Fraud is now a global meme).

As Sir Richard Branson prepares to go to Copenhagen in December, I have to wonder if he might not be feeling a tad abused and in need of better intelligence (decision-support). He's been had. The good news is that over 31,000 scientists have signed the Oregon Petition saying that more study is needed and he existing climate change assertions by the IPCC are NOT properly documented.

Following the Hactivist outing of climate change fraud (and coincidentally in the same week, German hackers provided Wikileaks with a file of all the 9-11 day text messages in NYC, they are culling and finding bomb reports--the days of "rule by secrecy" are OVER) I sought out a book and found this one.

It's as perfect a read as one could ask, and just right for those preparing to go to Copenhagen somewhat shame-faced that they have been had. A solid 124 pages with 330 notes as well as a glossary and an index, I found this book fully satisfactory.

It fails the IPCC across the board, and lest I be considered anti-United Nations (UN), let me point out that the UN High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges, and Change found environmental degradation to be the THIRD threat to humanity after poverty (which does enormous environmental damage, more than all corporations combined) and infectious disease. Read their report (also free online), A More Secure World: Our Shared Responsibility--Report of the Secretary-General's High-level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change.

Early quotes from this book that grabbed me:

Quoting Thomas Huxley: "Skepticism is the highest of duties, blind faith the one unpardonable sin."

Then..."if we continue to debase science as the IPCC and other political bodies do, our wonderful scientific heritage will be lost."

I would say at this point that the only thing WORSE than IPCC fraud that I have seen documented is the Republican War on Science, see my reviews at Phi Beta Iota, Amazon does not allow more than ten links.

The author is well-grounded when he documents how ridiculous it is to blame all climate change detrimental to humanity on carbon emissions. See just two books that place the blame scarely on our own idiocy and lack of ethics (not on carbon emissions):

Acts of God: The Unnatural History of Natural Disaster in America
The Next Catastrophe: Reducing Our Vulnerabilities to Natural, Industrial, and Terrorist Disasters

The book is significantly enhanced, apart from its well-dcoumented text with roughly three solid notes per page, by nine full pages that first state assertions by the IPCC, and then present competing documented views.

From where I sit, IPCC should be shamed and spanked in Copenhagen, and illustrious donors and well-intentioned people should shun it and demand a complete make-over. Indeed, my own long-standing desire is to create a World Game with embedded EarthGame such as put conceptualized by the Earth Intelligence Network, and devoted to studying and eradicating all ten high-level threats to humanity through multinational information sharing and sense making that allows for the voluntary harmonization of all twelve core policies in favor of the eight demographic challengers (Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Venezuela, and Wild Cards such as Malaysia and Turkey). From where I sit, both the UN and the US (and certainly the UK) are "stupid" and desperately in need of good Open Source Intelligence in the context of a strategic analytic model that enables global participatory budgeting.

This book is, in my humble opinion, a stake in the heart of the IPCC, and rightly so.

I believe in the truth at any cost for the simple reason that the truth lowers ALL costs. E Veritate Potens!

Two other books with bigger picture ideas:
Consilience: The Unity of Knowledge
Collective Intelligence: Creating a Prosperous World at Peace

Several references in the footnotes to unpublished academic "articles" seems to belie the author's emphasis on veracity of claims. I enjoyed the research summary but found the writing about the IPCC subjective, perjorative, and non-scientific - as if every single piece of research that the IPCC has put out is 100% wrong/manufactured/deviously contrived for some sort of nefarious defense of a man-made carbon-dioxide global warming explanation. Of course we won't know definitively the reason for global warming - natural versus man-made - for decades. However, seems generally a good idea to do whatever we can to wean ourselves off of finite fossil fuels, yes?

Thanks for the alternate point of view - I just wish it was more rigorous. I found the cap and trade argument the most thought-provoking.

I found Dr. Alexander's book to be an excellent introduction to the investigation of climate change. Dr. Alexander reminds us all that skepticism solidfies truths and it is the solid truth that we all desire. I hope he will make an equivalent effort to explore alternative explanations for climate change (the solar activity/cosmic ray/cloud formation relationship is a personal favorite). Second edition in 2012?