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Climate Confusion: How Global Warming Hysteria Leads to Bad Science, Pandering Politicians and Misguided Policies That Hurt the Poor Paperback – Illustrated, January 12, 2010

by Roy W. Spencer (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 260 ratings
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The current frenzy over global warming has galvanized the public and cost taxpayers billons of dollars in federal expenditures for climate research. It has spawned Hollywood blockbusters and inspired major political movements. It has given a higher calling to celebrities and built a lucrative industry for scores of eager scientists. In short, ending climate change has become a national crusade.

And yet, despite this dominant and sprawling campaign, the facts behind global warming remain as confounding as ever.

In Climate Confusion, distinguished climatologist Dr. Roy Spencer observes that our obsession with global warming has only clouded the issue. Forsaking blindingly technical statistics and doomsday scenarios, Dr. Spencer explains in simple terms how the climate system really works, why man’s role in global warming is more myth than science, and how the global warming hype has corrupted Washington and the scientific community.

The reasons, Spencer explains, are numerous: biases in governmental funding of scientific research, our misconceptions about science and basic economics, even our religious beliefs and worldviews. From Al Gore to Leonardo DiCaprio, the climate change industry has given a platform to leading figures from all walks of life, as pandering politicians, demagogues and biased scientists forge a self-interested movement whose proposed policy initiatives could ultimately devastate the economies of those developing countries they purport to aid.

Climate Confusion is a much needed wake up call for all of us on planet earth. Dr. Spencer’s clear-eyed approach, combined with his sharp wit and intellect, brings transparency and levity to the issue of global warming, as he takes on wrong-headed attitudes and misguided beliefs that have led to our state of panic. Climate Confusion lifts the shroud of mystery that has hovered here for far too long and offers an end to this frenzy of misinformation in our lives.
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  1. Print length
    215 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Encounter Books
  4. Publication date
    January 12, 2010
  5. Dimensions
    6.39 x 0.67 x 9.41 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1594033455
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1594033452
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"If you have an interest in global warming, but are intimidated by equations and scientific terminology, this book is for you. The author explores the philosophy of global warming (and cooling), examines the limitations of global numerical models for which all alarmist statements are based, and discusses the economics of alternative actions that might be pursued. This book is an excellent read!" &mdash Neil L Frank Former Director National Hurricane Center

“Climate Confusion is the best book length treatment of global warming science that is available to the literate citizen. The title says it all. Spencer explains the broad agreement over the existence of some climate change and the existence of some human role, but he also explains why these have little to do with the implausible and overheated projections of environmental disaster. The author thus cuts through all the rhetorical brickbats of “denialism” and “salvationism” to allow the citizen to reach rational conclusions. Despite a light touch, Spencer does not pull punches when it comes to unclothing the moral pretenses of many in the environmental movement—pretenses often disguising some truly immoral agendas.”
&mdas Richard S. Lindzen Alfred P. Sloan Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

“An outstanding discussion of the many scientific, political and religious problems associated with the acceptance that humans are the primary cause of global warming. A must read for anyone wanting a full and balanced understanding of the global warming debate.”
&mdas William M. Gray Professor Emeritus, Department of Atmospheric Science Colorado State University

“Roy Spencer’s Climate Confusion is needed to put the global warming hysteria in its rightful place. He has done a yeoman’s job in making the issue understandable and accessible to the general public without a sacrifice in the rigor of his arguments.”
&mdas Walter E. Williams John M. Olin Distinguished Professor of Economics George Mason University

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Encounter Books; Illustrated edition (January 12, 2010)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 215 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1594033455
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1594033452
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.5 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.39 x 0.67 x 9.41 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 260 ratings

About the author

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Roy W. Spencer

Roy W. Spencer

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Roy W. Spencer is a Principal Research Scientist at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He was formerly a Senior Scientist for Climate Studies at NASA. He is co-developer of the original satellite method for precise monitoring of global temperatures from Earth-orbiting satellites. He has provided congressional testimony several times on the subject of global warming and authored the 2008 New York Times bestseller, Climate Confusion.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
260 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book very informative, excellent, and a good overview of free market economics. They also describe the writing style as easy to read and understand, posing the situation in an understandable light. Readers also describe it as a great read that anyone can understand.

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ContentWriting styleReading experienceEnjoyment
34 customers mention "Content"32 positive2 negative

Customers find the book very informative, giving facts about weather and related subjects by informed professionals. They also appreciate the economic discussions as simple, excellent, and honest. Readers say the book is the most truthful on global warming they've ever read.

"...this is the book I always recommend as a great starting point for understanding the underlying issue..." Read more

"...The economic discussions were simple and excellent...." Read more

"...But there is a wealth of important information that allows the attentive reader reach some important conclusions independently...." Read more

"...Spencer is not an economist but he has prepared a good overview of free market economics and its relevance to the global warming debate in Chapter 6..." Read more

29 customers mention "Writing style"29 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing style easy to read and understand. They say the information is clear, easy to follow, and sound. Readers also appreciate the vivid and clear writing that poses the situation in an understandable light.

"...This book is written in an easy to follow manner meant for the lay person to comprehend...." Read more

"...His reasoning throughout looks sound, and the book is an entertaining read...." Read more

"...First, I found it to be a very easy read compared with other recent books on climate...." Read more

"...The science is not difficult to summarize briefly: we just don't know about future climate and we have no reliable way to predict it...." Read more

24 customers mention "Reading experience"24 positive0 negative

Customers find the book a great, brilliant read with an energetic and entertaining writing style. They also say the book makes Spence's broad scientific analysis interesting.

"...This is a very valuable read for anyone opened to a balanced technical view that is at odds with the "settled science" of anthropogenic global..." Read more

"...Excellent Book for both the General Public and those with Science training to understand both the Science and the distortion of Science by left-..." Read more

"...Overall, this is a wonderfully entertaining book that provides solid arguments to wield against the enemies of capitalism and freedom." Read more

"This is an interesting and enjoyable book to read on a "Hot" issue but do not expect a scholarly treatise that presents fact after scientific fact..." Read more

6 customers mention "Enjoyment"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book amusing.

"...technology solutions for replacing fossil fuels to be very thin, but amusing..." Read more

"...Instead, with a fair amount of wit and humor, and an abundant amount of common sense, he follows the money...." Read more

"...This is done with humour and is intellectually insightful, but without presumption of any kind I would say...." Read more

"...Good read, even funny at times. Sobering for sure. If you still have an open mind this book is for you." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Gravity's Gone
5.0 out of 5 stars Still the Preeminent Primer on the Subject
Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2013
Verified Purchase
I highly recommend reading this book for anyone even mildly interested in the topic of climate change, and more importantly whether government involvement in attempting to regulate a “solution” is an advisable concept. When the topic of greenhouse gas regulation comes up in conversation, this is the book I always recommend as a great starting point for understanding the underlying issue (and the far reaching consequences of potential governmental solutions). This book is written in an easy to follow manner meant for the lay person to comprehend. By no means, does that insinuate that this work is not thoroughly researched; it is just an indication that Dr. Spencer does an excellent job of considering his target audience. Dr. Spencer’s credentials speak for themselves, so you can pretty much ignore most of the low reviews attacking him personally. In fact, if several of those reviewers actually read the book, they would realize that he does a pretty thorough job of dismantling their shallow attacks of being some “big oil” hack. This book covers quite a few aspects surrounding the subject of climate change as a whole (from the underlying statistics, to the methodology of modeling, to the unknowns of weather and climate), so it works as a substantive primer on the overall concept. Perhaps one of the most significant items of this particular book is his discussion of the jump from the data we have to the Hollywood doomsday scenarios being predicted, and the lack of true scientific data to support the doomsday hypothesis. The topic of climate change is an extremely rhetorically charged topic, but the concept of greenhouse gas regulation affects everyone. The United States already has already waded into the shallow end of greenhouse gas regulation using the back door with the Tailoring Rule and Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases (mechanisms that escape the radar of the general populace), but if we are to continue the march toward the deep end of regulation with “Cap & Trade”; we all need to start educating ourselves more fully on the concepts. In short, if you are an inquisitive enough mind to be reading these reviews, you will not be disappointed with this book.
7 people found this helpful
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J. Sullivan
5.0 out of 5 stars View from a Climate Skeptic
Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2010
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Roy Spencer is a climate change skeptic. That does not make him a climate-change denier. His book emphasizes first what some areas of uncertainty exist in the climate change models, and later deals with some of the economic aspects of the political response to perceived threat of anthropogenic (man-made) global warming.

Spenser explains some simple facts about the carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is, along with water vapor, the main byproduct of virtually all processes that free energy by burning a carbon based fuel. This includes the human body's burning sugar. It is also one of the so-called greenhouse gasses. These gasses are transparent to the energy from the light of the sun, but opaque to the infrared energy the earth reflects back. For this reason, increasing levels of CO2, by themselves, would lead to increasing global temperatures.

The key notion is "by themselves". Spenser, a climatologist by training and specialist in satellite monitoring of global temperatures, asserts that if CO2 levels were the only factor, doubling them would increase global temperatures by about 1° F. The assertion of the promoters of anthropogenic global warming is that the small increase from CO2 increases the amount of an more significant greenhouse gas, water vapor. Higher levels of water vapor in the air then raise the temperature higher, which becomes a self feeding system that spirals out of control.

Weather systems, primarily precipitation, serve to cool the earth's surface. Without precipitation, Spenser estimates the earth's surface temperature would be about 140°F! Precipitation and cloud formation, while perhaps the most important factor in surface temperature, is the least understood part of our climate system.

So an alternative outcome to a mechanism that spirals out of control is one that self-corrects, so that slightly higher temperatures result in slightly higher levels of precipitation. Between the two likelihoods, Spenser asserts the self-correcting model is more probable, given that IS a role of the weather systems.

In addition, he weighs in with more observations on clouds and oceans, and also on the apparent lack of strict scientific objectivity on the part of the climate change acolytes. He also casts some aspersions on the state of the historical data reported by those believers.

I found the technical side of his arguments challenging to fully follow, but most of the first half of the book was very readable.

The political and economic half of the book was much more simplistic, and much more strident. His arguments follow a relatively straightforward conservative theme, and examines what he considers the relative futility of the various proposed solutions. Any conservative will find he reasoning very sound.

In summary, Spenser is quite thorough in his presenting an alternative mechanism of the environmental response to increased levels of carbon dioxide. His reasoning throughout looks sound, and the book is an entertaining read. My personal experience of the book was that I was actually more open to the prospect of an anthropogenic warming problem than before I started, but as convinced as before the current proposed course for the United States is an exercise in futility. This is a very valuable read for anyone opened to a balanced technical view that is at odds with the "settled science" of anthropogenic global warming.
5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

hoferbua
5.0 out of 5 stars Great information, and a joy to read
Reviewed in Germany on July 15, 2023
Verified Purchase
I have looked for a good book about climate change for a long time, and finally got lucky with this one. It does a great job at providing basic knoledge about what constitutes climate on our planet, which is a lot more than incoming vs. outgoing radiation (think weather, oceans etc). In addition, it also looks at the human side of what is going on, which is to say the psychology and economy of climate change. All in all it gives the reader a great foundation to understand climate change both as a physical and societal phenomenon, while being funny and entertaining to read.
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Philip M
5.0 out of 5 stars Thorough, no-punches-pulled, discussion on climate change. Easy, enjoyable and informative.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 30, 2019
Verified Purchase
Dr. Roy W. Spencer directs climate research at the University of Alabama, has a Ph.D in Meteorology and was Senior Scientist for Climate Studies at NASA. He is also the US Science Team Leader for NASA Aqua satellite and co-developer of the satellite system for precise global temperature monitoring. So he clearly has extensive experience in the science of Climate Change.

Spencer’s Climate Confusion puts the global warming hysteria into its rightful place. He explains the general agreement that climate change is occurring through natural causes with some human effect, but also makes clear that the human impact is overstated and implausible.

Spencer cuts through the extremes of denial and alarmist statements, and offers clear common sense to help non-scientific readers reach their own conclusions. He examines the various computer models on which the alarmist claims are based, pointing out their intrinsic weaknesses and similarities which generate predictable and repeatable catastrophic results. And he very clearly explains why carbon dioxide really plays such a minor role in climate change.

Climate Confusion does not hold back when it challenges the false morals of many environmental groups and individuals – morals often disguising huge profit and power motives. Spencer’s book is an outstanding revelation of the scientific, religious and political problems with the idea that humans are the main cause of global warming.
One person found this helpful
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Herman Van Den Broeck
5.0 out of 5 stars Climate is not science anymore, it is political
Reviewed in France on March 5, 2019
Verified Purchase
The climate debate became hysterical: we, mankind, are destroying our earth. I wanted to know is that true, and apparently, a lot of scientists disagree with that statement. It is a pitty that this alternative statement is not communicated by the mainstream media.
One person found this helpful
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DOMENICO
5.0 out of 5 stars Real science , real insight
Reviewed in Australia on January 25, 2020
Verified Purchase
Excellent insight on this misunderstood and so much manipulated issue. This book shade a light 💡 For all people that want to know the real science for a better world and better decision for future generations.
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darcmarc
5.0 out of 5 stars Informative and witty
Reviewed in Canada on June 8, 2011
Verified Purchase
An excellent book! It is witty, sarcastic and funny as well as being informative and educational. Finally, a different point of view on Climate Change than what is being thrown at us every day through the media... by someone who really knows what he's doing; he's got a Ph.D. in meteorology.

It will give you the tools to understand better the different mechanisms of the Climate and Weather. It does not argue against Global Warming but rather makes a clear distinction between Global Warming and MANMADE Global Warming. It also takes a look behind the science to the politics, motivations and publicity AND ALSO the consequences involved in 'going green'.

A MUST READ for anyone subjected to the term Global Warming... which is to say, EVERYONE. Also, it's quite accessible... not too technical.
One person found this helpful
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