An Inconvenient Truth: The Crisis of Global Warming (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "THIS IS THE first picture most of us ever saw of the Earth from space..." (more)
Key Phrases: climate crisis, ice shelf, United States, New Orleans, Aral Sea (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. Grade 5–8—This young readers' version of the recent documentary film's companion adult volume cuts the page count by about a third but preserves the original's cogent message and many of its striking visuals. After explaining that his interest in the environment predates even his mother's reading of Silent Spring aloud to him as a teenager, Gore proceeds to document steeply rising carbon dioxide levels in our atmosphere, and then to link that to accelerating changes in temperature and precipitation patterns worldwide. Using easy-to-grasp graphics and revealing before-and-after photos, he shows how glaciers and ice shelves are disappearing all over the globe with alarming speed, pointing to profound climate changes and increased danger from rising sea levels in the near future. O'Connor rephrases Gore's arguments in briefer, simpler language without compromising their flow, plainly intending to disturb readers rather than frighten them. He writes measured, matter-of-fact prose, letting facts and trends speak for themselves—but, suggesting that "what happens locally has worldwide consequences," he closes with the assertion that we will all have to "change the way we live our lives." Like the film, this title may leave readers to look elsewhere for both documentation and for specific plans of action, but as an appeal to reason it's as polished and persuasive as it can be.—John Peters, New York Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

*Starred Review* In this youth-focused adaptation of Gore's 2006 adult book and Oscar-winning documentary, Gore and O'Connor (credited as "adaptor") distill the material, creating an eye-opening story that targets kids' concerns. Gone are the political passages that begin with phrases such as "During the Clinton-Gore years . . ." The language is basic--vector in the adult book becomes "life forms that can carry"--and offers clear definitions of such terms as greenhouse gases and persuasive, accessible arguments for how the climate crisis has developed and what can be done to address it. The sturdy pages are filled with color photographs and charts, and the images are riveting. Like the pictures, the personal stories bring the facts close, and in addition to the urgent science, Gore's book shows how mentors can change lives. In his moving introduction, Gore speaks about how reading Rachel Carson's Silent Spring (1962) when he was 14 years old shocked him into environmental awareness, which developed further during his studies with pioneering scientist Dr. Roger Revelle at Harvard. Gore's research continues to raise controversy, but few, if any, books for youth offer such a dynamic look at the climate issues threatening our planet. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Viking Juvenile (April 10, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670062715
• ISBN-13: 978-0670062713
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #86,806 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars No backup data or references, February 11, 2008

By	David Bagby (Sunnyvale, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought this book in hopes of gaining some insight into the source of all the global warming fuss. (They don't hand out Nobel prizes for nothing, I thought.) It was an easy read, presenting the major points of his argument very clearly. But I was also looking for the background data, or at least some references to the data sources. I was amazed to find no footnotes and no bibliography. Michael Crichton provided more research background in his novel 'State of Fear.'

4.0 out of 5 stars Awakening, April 22, 2009

By	Alfredo Lattero "Al" (Grl Pacheco, Buenos Aires, Argentina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Inconvenient Truth: The Crisis of Global Warming (Paperback)

I had watched the video which Mr Gore made and I found that this book is the written version of it.
It is very clearly written, and illustrations impacted on me and helped a lot.
The book lacks technical data and scientific foundations, which would be a good complement. Some photographs comparing past and present time of same locations do not indicate the month in which they were taken. We must assume that they correspond to the same season but it is not clearly indicated.
I recommend it as good reading for everybody interested in the subject and specially for young people.

22 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars I Want a Refund, October 20, 2007

By	Robert W. Hahn (Fallbrook, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It is interesting that on the eve of Al Gore winning the Nobel Peace prize, a judge in the U.K. ruled that "An Inconvenient Truth" contained so many factual errors that if the film or book is used in schools it must contain a disclaimer and counter arguments.

Some of the factual errors include:
There is no scientific evidence that Katrina was either caused by or made stronger by Global Warming as Al Gore claims.

The snow on Mount Kilimanjaro is not melting because of Global Warming as Al Gore says. The average temperature on the mountain is well below freezing. Recent research has shown that the melting is due to sublimation (ice turning directly into vapor) at below freezing temperatures (kind of like freezer burn).

Al Gore claims that melting ice in Greenland could shut down the Gulf Stream and throw Europe into another Ice Age. Scientists have recently shown that this cannot happen and the judge agreed this claim is not backed up by scientific evidence.

Al Gore claims that the Vostock Ice Core Study shows that rising carbon dioxide level over the last 650,000 years cause corresponding rises in temperature. The judge ruled that Al got it backwards. Increasing temperatures cause an increase in carbon dioxide.

Al Gore's claim that Polar Bears are drowning because of melting ice in the Arctic is wrong said the judge. Four Polar Bears died because of a particularly violent storm. Overall, the Polar Bear population is increasing in the Arctic.

The judge ruled that Al Gore's claim that Global Warming is causing Lake Chad to dry up is not backed up by scientific evidence.

Al Gore claimed that the year 2005 was the hottest year on record. However, NASA recently reviewed that data and said that it was wrong. 1934 was the hottest year, 2005 was not even in the top 10.

Al Gore claimed that the ocean level would rise 20 feet. The recent IPCC Study said a 9 to 17 inch rise may be more likely.

Another factual error was stating that his critics are like the tobacco industry and referred to an ad that said, "more doctors smoke Camels than any other brand". Al claimed this ad came out after the 1964 Surgeon General's report. However, the ad appeared in 1947, 17 years before.

In another factual error, Al claimed we cured polio and implied therefore, we could cure Global Warming. We have not cured polio, in fact there is no cure. We do have a vaccine that is very effective.

Al Gore recently stated he purposely made one-side arguments on Global Warming because he didn't want to spotlight any uncertainties that his critics could use to refute him.

Given all the factual errors and misstatements, I recommend Al Gore give refunds to anyone who has seen his film or bought this book. Al should also consider giving back his Nobel Peace prize.