What's the Worst That Could Happen?: A Rational Response to the Climate Change Debate [Bargain Price] [Paperback]

Greg Craven (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 9, 2009

7.2 million YouTube viewers can't be wrong: A provocative new way to look at the global warming debate.

Based on a series of viral videos that have garnered more than 7.2 million views, this visually appealing book gives readers-be they global warming activists, soccer moms, or NASCAR dads-a way to decide on the best course of action, by asking them to consider, "What's the worst that could happen?" And for those who decide that action is needed, Craven provides a solution that is not only powerful but also happens to be stunningly easy. Not just another "change your light bulb" book, this intriguing and provocative guide is the first to help readers make sense-for themselves-of the contradictory statements about global climate change.

The globe is warming! or The globe is not warming.

We're the ones doing it! or It's a natural cycle.

It's gonna be a catastrophe! or It'll be harmless.

This is the biggest threat to humankind! or This is the biggest hoax in history.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In 2007, high school science teacher Craven posted a ten-minute video, The Most Terrifying Video You'll Ever See, , predicting dire consequences without strong measures to stop global warming. That video attracted millions of viewers; his focus now is not "what" to think about global warming, but "how." Using clear language and charts, Craven sketches not just the cost/benefit analysis of over-reacting and failing to act, but the fundamentals of sound science. Training readers to evaluate competing arguments, he points to a number of expert sources for reliable information (American Association for the Advancement of Science and the National Academy of Sciences, National Security Agency, leading climate scientists like James Hansen). Take a measured look at the skeptics (from the Cato Institute, the Heritage Foundation, etc.), he finds that the risk of global climate destabilization outweighs the supposedly prohibitive costs ("devastating economic consequences") of implementing environmental protection measures. Craven's popular style might be better suited to the classroom-cutesy graphics, groan-worthy section heads like "Dude, Where's My Science?"-but science and ecology novices will find his approach welcome and enlightening.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"Greg Craven has written a brilliant and unique work on global warming. His innovative and intelligent approach to this controversial issue is superbly crafted. It is an important book that is a must read for those who care about our planet and future generations."
-General Anthony C. Zinni USMC (Retired)

"This book trumps most of our accounts of the global warming crisis, partly for its good humor and straightforward logic, and partly because the author has actually figured out what actions make sense. Changing your lightbulb will help a little, but changing the political debate will help enormously-and this book will get you started down that path."
-Bill McKibben, author The End of Nature

"The worst thing that could happen is that you don't read this book! Greg Craven has written a valuable primer on the global warming debate."
-Gregg Easterbrook, author, Sonic Boom

"This is a tremendous book and well worth anyone's time to read. It very clearly and concisely covers all the important points not only about the climate change situation in our moment, but how we think and decide about important issues. Anyone who enjoyed Craven's YouTube triumph "The Most Terrifying Video You'll Ever See" will enjoy unpacking that experience in this book, and for people running into Craven for the first time, you're in for a treat-he is funny as well as well as exceptionally clear, and wise."
-Kim Stanley Robinson, the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author of The Mars trilogy and Science in the Capital

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Perigee Trade (July 9, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399535012
• ASIN: B0030EG0NY
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #846,511 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Greg Craven grew up on a farm in Oregon, experimented with different jobs for a decade, and finally found his calling as a high school physics and chemistry teacher. His main qualification for proposing a layman's approach to climate change is having borrowed the 30 brains in his classroom every period to mull questions of science and critical thinking for the last ten years. He's found there's no better way to refine a thought than to toss it out in front of a roomful of critical teenagers. He is a bit surprised to find he's written a book as a result. Craven lives in Corvallis, Oregon with his wife and two young daughters.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 61 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny, entertaining and very, very wise. Craven cuts through the confusion about global warming July 16, 2009

By N. PALMER

Format:Paperback

I cannot recommend this book enough; it's based on a wildly popular and critically acclaimed set of videos originally aired on YouTube which garnered many millions of hits on various websites.How It All Ends (Single Disc Edition)

Greg Craven has the spark of genius in the way he cuts through all the confusing "it will, it won't, it will too!". On the one hand we have clever wordy scientists and on the other, crafty manipulative, articulate global warming deniers (Ok, I'm a little biased on this one!) and the poor ordinary bloke doesn't know who to believe in the shouting match. He/she just wants to know what's the best bet to protect their loved family and friends. They don't want to risk damaging the economy but they also don't want to risk ruining the planet that their kids will grow up in. How on earth can they decide what's best?

This book will show how you don't need to be an expert to make your own sensible decisions using the sort of ordinary risk assessment techniques that we all use when we cross the road or buy house or car insurance.

Craven basically looks at what each side in the debate is claiming and looks at what will happen if they are wrong and then shows what the consequences would be for us all. Instead of trying to work out definitively who is right, which is very difficult as shown by the many complicated books available that try to, Craven clearly shows that asking what happens if one or the other side is wrong gives a very simple, yet brilliant, way of deciding what the best bet is when deciding what to do, or not do, about it.

This "risk assessment" method might sound dry and dull but Greg is often very funny and he is a natural communicator (he's a science teacher with the gift of humour). It's rather like Carl Sagan meets Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy! You won't see the chemical explosions special effects or the funny hats featured in the videos but the book has other fun stuff too. Not to mention loads of "Dohhh!! why didn't I (or the government!) think of that?" moments.

Greg got to write this book based on the success of the "How It All Ends" videos which were in turn based on his original 10 minute YouTube video "The Most Terrifying Video You'll Ever See". A firestorm of critics descended on that one but Craven didn't give up - he used every helpful or savage critical comment to make his argument stronger. By using the power of the critical Internet crowds he is now pretty sure that EVERY counter-argument has been addressed and answered... This book goes beyond even his original "bulletproof" argument.

This just might be the very first time that "crowd sourcing" (A.K.A the wisdom of crowds) has been utilised to this extent to refine and polish an argument. The result has been called brilliant.

This is not just another global warming book. This is for everyone. It's funny and entertaining and, above all else, wise - you will say "YES!, why didn't I think of that - that is so obvious now!" as Greg cuts though the confusion and finds the light switch to clarify matters so clearly that anyone can understand them.

A valuable side effect of the risk assessment system that Craven sketches out is that the very same methods can be used in all sorts of other situations in life to make decisions where the outcome is uncertain, or if there is not quite enough info to give a 100% definite answer based on the known facts.

This book is deeper than the videos but seeing Greg in full flow is a joy that you will want to pass on to others, so I recommend you take a look at the videos too.How It All Ends (Single Disc Edition)

55 of 73 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Keeping the "debate" alive. November 11, 2009

By John Thornton

Format:Paperback

This is an easy to read book for most adults and high-school students and does an honest job at attempting to do what the author claims he wishes to do. That is, provide an argument for addressing climate change regardless of "what the science eventually concludes". The reason I give just three stars is that Craven does a disservice to all by even keeping alive the idea that the science is unsettled and such a debate even exists. The science has been clear for several decades now. One need merely read the Charney Report from 1979 which concludes "our best estimate is that changes in global temperature of the order of 3°C will occur and that these will be accompanied by significant changes in regional climatic patterns."
The 1979 JASON technical report entitled "The Long Term Impact of Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide on Climate" also predicted that carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere would double from their pre-industrial levels by about 2035. Today it is expected this will happen by about 2050. They suggested that this doubling of carbon dioxide would lead to an average warming across the planet of 2-3C, an estimate in line with the most current IPCC findings. They further warned that polar regions would warm by much more than the average, perhaps by as much as 10C or 12C. That prediction is already coming true and was also predicted by the IPCC in 1995.
In other words there is no debate. The scientific predictions from 30 years ago, made from assessments gathered during the 1960's and 1970's, told us what ALL peer-reviewed assessments since then have told us. All we have essentially done in the last 25 years is further refine the predictions on the regional effects.
We need to stop pretending that a handful of fossil fuel industry funded opportunists doing 3rd rate science is the equivalent of a meaningful debate. The scientists who first began publishing doubts on climate change in the popular press were the very same scientists who also published similar reports to cast doubt on the link between cancer and tobacco, CFC's and the ozone, and sulfur and nitrogen emissions to acid rain. They have, in internal communications, admitted their reports are only intended to give the impression a debate exists to delay action. They have never been "correct" in their findings because that is not their intention.
While this author's heart is in the right place he is aiding those who deceive the public for their own political and economic benefit at the expense of the public good.
The science is settled, there is NO debate. It is time to give climate change deniers the same level of attention we give to those who promulgate perpetual motion machines since their "science" is roughly equally valid.
I'm sorry if this seems harsh since the author admits he "believes" in climate change but the "debate" has already cost us 30 years. One no more "believes" in climate change than one "believes" in gravity or electro-magnetism. We cannot afford to molly-coddle our societies scientifically illiterate. They are the minority and the time to act has already passed.

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for educators! July 18, 2009

By Keith Kie

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is outstanding for educators looking to teach their students about risk management and climate change. The value in its critical thinking skills development is worth the cost alone. I highly recommend it to everyone.