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Christopher Booker
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The Real Global Warming Disaster: Is the Obsession with "Climate Change" Turning Out to Be the Most Costly Scientific Blunder in History? Hardcover – December 16, 2009

by Christopher Booker (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 194 ratings
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This original book considers one of the most extraordinary scientific and political stories of our time: how in the 1980s a handful of scientists came to believe that mankind faced catastrophe from runaway global warming, and how today this has persuaded politicians to land us with what promises to be the biggest bill in history.

Christopher Booker interweaves the science of global warming with that of its growing political consequences, showing how just when the politicians are threatening to change our Western way of life beyond recognition, the scientific evidence behind the global warming theory is being challenged like never before.

The book exposes the myth that the global warming theory is supported by a 'consensus of the world's top climate scientists'. It shows how the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is run by a small group of 'global warming' zealots, who have repeatedly rigged evidence to support their theory. But the politicians, pushed by the media, have so fallen for its propaganda that, short of dramatic change, our Western world now faces an unprecedented disaster.

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  1. Print length
    368 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Continuum
  4. Publication date
    December 16, 2009
  5. Dimensions
    5.7 x 1.4 x 8.6 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1441110526
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1441110527
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Booker, a weekly columnist for the Sunday Telegraph, expands on a global warming chapter from his previous book, Scared to Death, co-written with Richard North, to argue that the earth is not warming. According to him, efforts to mitigate what he claims to be an imaginary problem will devastate the global economy and shift the balance of power to favor Asia to the detriment of the European Union and the U.S. Much of the book will be familiar to readers of climate-change-hoax literature: climate change research relies on flawed computer models; the hockey stick graph of temperature rise, made famous by Al Gore, is based on inaccuracies; the costs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will be huge, the political difficulties of realizing them untenable, and the results inadequate. Booker's stated purpose is to put all the complex arguments on both sides of the debate into chronological context, but his treatment is anything but balanced, and his credibility may be undermined by previous controversial claims, such as that white asbestos is identical to talc and secondhand smoke does not cause cancer. (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

As a noted commentator on the political, social and psychological history of our time, Christopher Booker has in recent years, through his weekly Sunday Telegraph column, become the most conspicuous 'global warming sceptic' in the British press. He has based his view on exhaustive research into the scientific evidence for and against the theory of 'man-made climate change'.

His professional interest in this issue grew out of research for his previous book Scared To Death, co-written with Dr Richard North, a study of the 'scare phenomenon' which has been such a prominent feature of Western life in recent decades. Booker's other recent books have included The Seven Basic Plots, a best-selling analysis of why we tell stories which has established itself as a standard text (also published by Continuum). He has been an author and journalist for nearly 50 years, and was the founding editor of the satirical magazine Private Eye.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Continuum; 0 edition (December 16, 2009)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1441110526
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1441110527
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.34 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.7 x 1.4 x 8.6 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 194 ratings

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4.6 out of 5 stars
194 global ratings

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Customers find the book informative and well-researched. It presents science in a clear and honest manner. The book is well-written and easy to read, making it an interesting read.

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12 customers mention "Enlightened content"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and well-researched. They say it explains science clearly and honestly, presenting the facts in great detail. The book documents the history of the global climate as a major public policy issue. It interlaces the science with the politics, making for interesting reading. The lessons are relevant to 2020 and government actions on climate change. Readers describe it as the best book on the global warming scam they have read to date and consider it an important book.

"...Booker interlaces the science with the politics, a method that makes for interesting reading, if not causing occasional flipping pages back and..." Read more

"...Sex sells,but so does fear... and it also provides a good platform for sucking up political power...." Read more

"...Third, its lessons are totally relevant to 2020 and government actions on climate change despite the fact that the book was published about 10..." Read more

"...He presents the facts in great detail and leaves little doubt what is really going on with global warming...." Read more

5 customers mention "Pacing"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's pacing engaging and well-written. They find it an interesting read on global warming and politics.

"...interlaces the science with the politics, a method that makes for interesting reading, if not causing occasional flipping pages back and forth the..." Read more

"First, this is a very readable book. It deals with a lot of science, but it explains it clearly and honestly...." Read more

"You'd think this would be a dry read, but it reads like a novel. I wish every world citizen could read this book...." Read more

"Booker writes extremely well and keeps the reader engaged and the story moving...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • G. Stelzenmuller
    5.0 out of 5 stars Well done for a science writer
    Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2010
    Verified Purchase
    This, as opposed to an actual scientist. Christopher Booker makes the argument (generally) that the earth is probably not warming so much from greenhouse gases, as from solar activity variations and ocean current changes. Further, current pushes to spend heavily on greenhouse gas cures for global warming will rather shift the balance of power and money away from the U.S. In fact, he argues that the whole process being forced by supporters of the IPCC will simply mail us the hugest bill for any project in history. His "conclusion" chapter lists the four reasons why global warming will likely end up the most expensive scare in history (p. 338). To his credit, the author details the myth that the global warming theory today is "settled science," and that "all scientists" support the IPCC findings, as claimed by Mr. Al Gore. The IPCC was shown to have been started and kept active by only a few famous scientists (and several non-scientists).

    Importantly, Booker lists a dozen fields of science which will have to be heavily involved with analysis and remedy for global warming; simply listening to single-science advocates, especially from marginal science fields, will lead us to dangerously incomplete conclusions. He also spends considerable time demonstrating why the popular "hockey stick" graph turned out to be at best, just incorrect. At worst, and more appalling than the very bad statistical methodology used to create the conclusion, was the sloppy way the IPCC dealt with the whole affair, from acceptance to lack of critique (p.104)

    Booker interlaces the science with the politics, a method that makes for interesting reading, if not causing occasional flipping pages back and forth the check former details and claims. The book's editor should take 10 lashes for not catching some publishing errors (10 were discovered by this reviewer!), but these are easily passed over, as they are mostly not substantial ones. The smart reader will catch the few more substantial ones. No science writer can be fully up-to-date with all sciences, and Booker may need to do more research on biofuels, as he discounts the energy value of this source because of crowding out food crops (p. 221). He makes no mention of using methanol, which would not have to use edible crops, and can exist in huge quantities on non-farm lands. Anyway, get this book to get one of the best, and most easily readable, critiques of global warming hyperbole.
    13 people found this helpful
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  • Eugene R. Walker
    5.0 out of 5 stars Important Contribution Even If Full Truth Remains Unknown
    Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2010
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    I think this is a valuable book that should be widely read. I don't mean by this that the author's thesis will be proved true--maybe not--but nonetheless the chicanery of the IPCC and Al Gore need to be thoroughly examined, as this book does.

    Those guys might turn out to be right, but only on blind luck, not the crappy propaganda they have been issuing, and certainly not on the sloppy scientific "reasoning" they employ. The recent emails fiasco, and an even more recent goof about the rate of glacier retreat, simply add to the Keystone Kops aspect.

    That said, my understanding is that CO2 levels were about 280 ppm say 50 years ago, but about 330 ppm now. The earlier number has been questioned lately, but I don't yet know how meritoriously.

    Sticking tentatively with the 280 to 330 growth, whether human-caused or otherwise, suggests that we should be looking for ways to reduce atmospheric CO2. Even if this ultimately proves unnecessary, we would gain the ability to control this variable. And even if we overreacted, it would be easy to reverse course and generate more "greenhouse gases." The main thing is, we should find methods to go BOTH ways.

    In that regard, noncoercive measures are likely to be best. If it becomes better determined that atmospheric CO2 should be reduced, a proper cap-and-trade system would be a good tool. I don't want to start a long disquisition on Ronald Coase's theorem, except to say that it applies. The problem with cap-and-trade is that it is vulnerable to political-football games, unless it is set up carefully. What I hear so far is not careful, and would mostly reward fakers and speculators.

    Christopher Booker's work may not prove to be the ultimate truth, but I think it is highly important at this stage of human knowledge, or lack thereof. And it is a good read.
    15 people found this helpful
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  • steve doan
    4.0 out of 5 stars Eye- opener
    Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    A short history of the panic, showing that the "consensus" is not supportable. Sex sells,but so does fear... and it also provides a good platform for sucking up political power. The Real Global Warming Disaster unearths the seedier side of the movement, laying its roots out to wither in the sun.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • GrumpyOldMan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Arrived in good condition in a timely manner!
    Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Another interesting book about a very contentious subject.
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  • Akhaleet
    5.0 out of 5 stars Everyone with an open mind should read this book.
    Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    First, this is a very readable book. It deals with a lot of science, but it explains it clearly and honestly. Second, it is a great introduction to how propaganda can sway even intelligent people. Third, its lessons are totally relevant to 2020 and government actions on climate change despite the fact that the book was published about 10 years ago and the author is sadly deceased. Fourth, one doesn't have to agree with the author's conclusions, but everyone should read the factual basis of his arguments. Ignoring the lessons of this book will have a profound impact on the near future economy of the world and civilization itself.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • kuhlone
    5.0 out of 5 stars Truthseeker
    Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2010
    Verified Purchase
    You'd think this would be a dry read, but it reads like a novel. I wish every world citizen could read this book. The author documents his sources at the end of each chapter so you can verify what you are being told if you so desire. He presents the facts in great detail and leaves little doubt what is really going on with global warming. What has been going on in the scientific community is nothing short of unbelievable. It will change the way you evaluate things scientists say, particularly if the subject has political ties. I've recommended this book to many friends and relatives. You NEED to read this book! I couldn't put it down. Normally it takes me six months to read a book, but I read this one in a week. The time to read it is now, before the world wastes trillions of dollars on the wrong technologies.
    10 people found this helpful
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  • ClockDoc
    4.0 out of 5 stars Very good - nobody seems to understand that the main global ...
    Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2018
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    Very good - nobody seems to understand that the main global warming gas - is NOT CO2 - but is H2O - yes water vapor.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • boekenworm
    5.0 out of 5 stars Meesterlijk in opbouw en details!
    Reviewed in Germany on June 3, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Uitstekend en opvallend overzicht van de ontstaansgeschiedenis van de dure, maar niet duurzame klimaatcultus!
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  • Hugo L.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on April 18, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Well documented. A must-read for anyone interested in the truth.
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  • Tim Burr
    5.0 out of 5 stars Worth it just for these pages: The Great Windpower Delusion
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 30, 2010
    Verified Purchase
    This book details the Climate Change hoax from the beginning in great detail. The pages I have re-read a number of times are the section titled 'The Great Windpower Delusion' (pages 119 to 124). The main revelation on wind power is that as a source of energy, the wind is unreliable. When there is no wind, wind turbines generate no power! Also they do not generate full power even when there is wind as output depends on the wind speed. To overcome the vagaries of the wind there must be a full complement of conventional power stations up and running at all times to take the load. Windpower destabalises the power grid, is not free (look at the subsidies listed)and costs far more than conventional power. The output of wind turbines (load factor) is only a percentage of of full capacity. A figure of 25% was mentioned on average but this depends on location. Because of the backup required wind power is not carbon neutral.

    Other observations were that a proposed giant wind farm in Cumbria was said to save 178,000 tonnes of CO2. Three of these giant windfarms would then be needed to balance the output of one jumbo jet at 520,000 tonnes a year. In 2005 there were 1200 wind turbines in the UK, the output of which was said to be one half of a standard coal fired power station of 1,200MW. A wind farm near Glasow of 140 turbines covers 30 square miles of moorland and will provide just 7% of intermittant power that a conventional nuclear power station could provide in a 30th of the area.

    Problem is that wind power is touted as a replacement for conventional power stations when it in reality only provides unreliable intermittant output.

    The section on countries that have put a moratorium on wind turbines because of unreliablity of wind and the destabalising of the power grid was most interesting. You may wonder for instance why nuclear power suddenly became a hot topic in political circles. Wind power is not the answer. Without a proper energy policy the UK faces a new dark age.

    The point was also made in this piece that at the coldest times of the year these generally coincide with high pressure over the UK and would not be enough wind to turn the turbines when the need for power is at the greatest. The scientific reality of how the world actually works seems to get in the way of how the beliefs and computer models want it to work.

    Today unfortunately real science and reality get in the way of belief systems. To which insult, abuse and ad hominim (personal)attacks seem to be the only response. The issues are no longer dealt with.

    I recommend this book. The only drawback is that it was printed before the leaked emails of Climategate and before Copenhagen.
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  • ひまじん
    5.0 out of 5 stars 地球温暖化？？？・・・解毒剤です
    Reviewed in Japan on March 29, 2010
    Verified Purchase
    まあ、何とも凄まじい。もともと「懐疑派」ではあったが、人間原因説（CO2原因説よりこのほうが適切）ここまでひどいとは、あきれかえってしまった。クライメートゲート事件発覚以前に描かれた本であるが、その一端は伺える。地球温暖化と人間原因説が、主流説になったいきさつ。IPCCは政治団体であること。うそ、捏造、ごまかしなどに満ちた歴史が描かれている。これはほとんど陰謀ではないか。そう考えざるを得ない。皮肉や辛辣なコメント、そうだったたのかという事実（例えば風力発電に関わる非効率性とエコフレンドリーの欺瞞）思わず笑ってしまうエピソード満載である。実際、IPCCの予測は外れている訳わけで、オーストラリア上院フィールディング議員の質問（本書293〜294）にまともに答えられる政府や学者はいるのだろうか。日本政府にも同じ質問をしてみたい。少なくとも予測はやり直しでしょう。「The Unstoppable Global Warming」は、主に科学的見地から人間原因説に批判を加えているが、本書は人間原因説の起源、政治、環境運動やメディアとの関係、歴史的背景などを描いている。当然のことながら、自然に科学的なごまかしなども描かれている。この本も早く翻訳してもらいたい。解毒剤として至急必要。特に政治家とメディアには必要。 必読です。
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  • Enthusiast
    5.0 out of 5 stars Mr Booker changes his mind
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 6, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I like to read both sides of any debate. We hear the official story about climate change every day, but the sceptical view is less well presented. Booker is a highly articulate writer and he marshals his arguments persuasively. He probably makes the best case against the climate change consensus that can be made.

    But. But. Now here is the extraordinary thing. I wanted to check up on a claim Booker makes on p. 148 that the Thames Barrier is being used more often to keep river water in, than to keep rising sea levels out of London. This of course goes completely against the official story and if true, blows the whole conspiracy out of the water. Booker gives two references as evidence for his claim. On looking them both up, I found they did not appear to support his claim at all. So either he was wrong, and inexcusably careless, or sinister interests are at work altering the record.

    I then emailed him to ask about this. Here is his reply:

    "I am glad you are enjoying the book, however the evidence is overwhelming. The climate is changing in response to dramatic increase in global temperature, which is in large part the result of human activity. More importantly, it looks increasingly likely that governments will fail to respond accordingly. "

    What a turn up for the book! The author is now it seems a fully fledged supporter of the official line on climate change. What has happened? Has he had a road to Damascus conversion? He certainly kept it quiet if he did. But anyhow, the book gets 5 stars meanwhile because (a) it puts the sceptical case very well, and even climate change believers should be aware of how their opponents are thinking, and (b) the author has (apparently) had the courage to change his mind when the weight of evidence persuaded him to. Booker is therefore a hero in my mind, but to go one better and achieve sainthood he should now stand up in public and admit he was wrong.
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