The Hot Topic

January 28, 2008
In this excellent primer on arguably the most serious problem facing the world today, Walker (An Ocean of Air
) and King, the U.K.'s chief science adviser, present in concise layman's language “everything you wanted to know about global warming but were too depressed to ask.” They explain how fossil fuels produce carbon dioxide, show how global warming is affecting individual species and changing entire ecosystems, predict how much more climate change we can afford before things become truly catastrophic, and consider economic and political solutions to the problem. They contend that we must rein in greenhouse gases in the next two decades if we want to leave a habitable planet for our grandchildren, and in order to do this, individuals must cut down on carbon emissions and at the same time pressure their governments to do the same by adopting low-carbon technologies such as geothermal, wind, solar and nuclear power. Entertaining as well as deadly serious, this lucid book, which includes an appendix that dispels many myths and misconceptions, explains in the clearest possible way why we should care about global warming and what we can do about it.

Starred review from March 15, 2008
This is the best overview of global warming that this reviewer has read. "New Scientist" contributor and science writer Walker ("An Ocean of Air") and King, the UK's chief science adviser, have written a readable and understandable guide to the science that proves the reality of global warming, analyzes how humans have contributed to this warming trend, and predicts how fast it will accelerate. Once the scope of the problem is accepted and understood, the next step is to decide how much warming we can live with; the authors present our options for setting limits and slowing down our contributions to this trend. They clearly explain the technological, governmental, and economic resources available to us globally. What is most valuable about this book is that the text clearly explains to lay readers a very complex and highly controversial topic. An appendix outlines climate myths, half-truths, and misconceptions about global warming. A glossary is included. An excellent and highly recommended addition to high school, public, and university library science collections.Betty Galbraith, Washington State Univ. Science & Engineering Lib., Pullman

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