Global Warming: The Truth Behind the Myth [Hardcover]

Michael L. Parsons (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 21, 1995

Global Warming: The Truth behind the Myth is a provocative discussion of the relationship between global climate and the greenhouse effect. Dr. Michael Parsons, an esteemed scientist and writer in the area of atomic spectroscopy and environmental analysis, uses the term "myth" to capture the essence of the misunderstanding and exaggeration behind the popular view of global warming. The author explains the computer models that are used to predict climate change, points out their flaws, and offers insight into the views and opinions of the computer modelers themselves. While there is no question that the greenhouse phenomenon exists, there are many uncertainties about computer predictions and the assumptions used in the computer models. Important factors such as solar variation, El Nino, cloud dynamics, and ocean currents significantly influence the earth's climate, and yet most computer models have neglected to adequately incorporate them. Global Warming is not an anti-environmental book. Rather, it is an authoritative attempt to put the facts associated with global climate into proper perspective along with other environmental problems, such as overpopulation, depletion of nonrenewable energy resources, and pollution. Dr. Parsons presents the scientific facts on both sides of the various issues and documents them so that the reader will be able to come to an intelligent, unbiased opinion. Written primarily for the general public, this intriguing book will also be enlightening for teachers and students, politicians, agricultural economists, environmental engineers and geologists, climatologists, conservationists, public health officials, policymakers, and scientists in general.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Parsons makes the Panglossian argument that we should not worry about global warming. "Deserts could become producing farmlands!" "[M]aybe a warmer world is a better world." In addition to allaying readers' fears of global warming, Parsons has two other goals. The first, detailing many of the physical and biological factors that shape worldwide climate, he does fairly well. The second, asserting that all climatological models are incorrect and that therefore there is no reason to believe that global warming will occur, is suspect. He notes correctly that the models are not complete but ignores the fact that the shortcomings are well known and that the majority of atmospheric scientists have still concluded that global warming is of serious concern to humanity. Instead, he contends that scientists exaggerate their findings "because of the need for popular and political support to fund the very expensive climate research." It's a good bet that any book whose preface claims "This is not an anti-environment book" is exactly that. Parsons's book is no exception to that rule.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 271 pages
• Publisher: Basic Books; 1 edition (August 21, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0306450836
• ISBN-13: 978-0306450839
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,995,543 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Debate and discussion of global warming should continue!, May 11, 2000

By 

Milton Smith (Santa Barbara, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Global Warming: The Truth Behind the Myth (Hardcover)

Parsons and Singer are serious scientists who's voices need to be heard. The arguments are well documented and, while not the last word, need consideration. The comments by reviewers that because Parsons and Singer are sponsored by the oil industry they should be ignored or silenced could be equally applied to EPA scientists whose job depends on an environmental "crisis." The EPA is without funding if it turns out that the global warming or other "facts" that not all serious scientists agree to turn out to be disproven.

33 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for Serious Students of Global Warming, March 10, 1999

By 

Richard A. Dodge, Ph.D. ([e-mail]) (Ridgecrest, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Global Warming: The Truth Behind the Myth (Hardcover)

I have been using Parsons (1995) as required reading in my teaching since its introduction. This is the book I require after students have read the Gore crises book from the last decade. My course is Environmental Science with a heavy emphasis on Critical Thinking. Scientists think differently, some would say dispassionately, about the lay literature because science requires evidence for its conclusions. Parsons provides the evidence and a poignant example of scientific critical thinking about a social issue which eschews the evidence known to science.

15 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Michael Parsons' views on global warming are extraordinary., April 11, 1997

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Global Warming: The Truth Behind the Myth (Hardcover)

Michael Parsons looks at the theory of global warming with the most intelligent insight I have seen in any of the literature on the subject. He uses hard core science to debunk the theory and leaves its supporters gasping for air. Unlike some who have come out against global warming, Parsons does not attack it from an anti-environmental perspective. Instead, he addresses the issue with thought-provoking arguments based upon research and investigation into the true science behind the theory. I wish we had more scientists like Mr. Parsons working in our country today