This is an important book (and also a movie, but I have not seen that), which meticulously and factually (half the book is the references) documents how not only did the tobacco industry consciously and knowingly bamboozle the public for years to keep making money, but the same methods and very often the very same individuals did the same thing for acid rain, DDT/chemical manufacturers, and now climate change. With tobacco, DDT, and acid rain, the facts and the crushing majority of scientists around the world ultimately prevailed but not before years of continuing damage were permitted due to ignorant media and skilled manipulation of the public. The same is happening with climate change. There really is no "argument", just the illusion of one and creating and repeatedly airing "doubt" so more money and freedom to do what they want accrues to big companies, the 1%, and political extremists. I know many will be outraged at this but facts win over innuendo and urban myths. Makes one wonder about human nature and our future if a few will, knowingly, sacrifice all just for some incremental wealth.
I rated this four stars vs five because it is a bit rambling and long, and some of the most important and clear arguments are near the end, so many people may not make it all the way through at all or miss the most compelling information. But if you read it, and feel free to cross-check the references as factual and correct, the conclusions are inescapable. I just wish they were as good at telling the story as they were at gathering the facts.
I remember getting an email from a friend of mine on climate change, it cited some Australian college professor, expert in climate, who scoffed at climate change in general and man-made sources being its cause, citing that one volcano puts more greenhouse gases into the air than all of industrial civilization over the entire history of mankind. My friend believed it, sounded factual. I checked around, found out that the man was indeed a professor at an Australian college but he also was a Director and major stock-holder at several natural gas companies (gee, any interest in letting gas companies continue to do their thing??) and he had been cited by the US EPA and the European equivalent for citing false and incorrect "facts" and such, and that one volcano, even a big one, puts a lot into the atmosphere but something like a few weeks of what our industry does. People who out of hand discount things like this book but without question or critical thinking accept the hate and doubt arguments simply have it wrong, sorry.
- Paperback: 368 pages
- Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing; Reprint edition (May 31, 2011)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1608193942
- ISBN-13: 978-1608193943
- Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 1.1 x 8.3 inches
- Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
- Customer Reviews: 383 customer reviews
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Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
#25,029 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #159 in History & Philosophy of Science (Books)
- #807 in Philosophy (Books)
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