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Title: The Rough Guide to Climate Change, 2nd Edition
ISBN: 1858281059
Author:
Robert Henson
Publicate Date: 2008-02-04
Publish: 2008-02-04
List Price: $16.99
Average Customer Rating: 4.5
Format: Paperback
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $9.77
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $10.93
Amazon Merchant Price: $11.55
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| Customer Review: |
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1: Global Warming Page-turner
Robert Henson's "Rough Guide to Climate Change" is a page-turner. The book is a comprehensive overview of global warming, written so it's clear and fascinating for readers not trained in science.
Henson starts with an overview of the catastrophic changes already happening to our only planet. Then he goes into detail on the symptoms of the problem, which include extreme heat, like the unprecedented heat wave that killed 50,000 people in Europe in the summer of 2003. Symptoms also include floods, droughts, melting glaciers, changes in ocean temperatures and currents that change the weather, stronger hurricanes, and more. He doesn't simplify the discussion of causes, attributing everything to human-caused global warming, but presents scientists' analysis of contributing factors and the historical records. At the same time, the unfolding story has the fascination of a Hollywood science-fiction/horror screenplay.
"Climate Change" explains how scientists measure these changes and what kinds of records they keep and consult, and how conclusions are drawn. Henson describes the global warming debate, and examines political and technological solutions. And finally he tells the readers what they can do to respond to this growing worldwide crisis.
This book is the assigned text for a course I'm currently taking on global warming at the University of Montana, taught by Dr. Steve Running, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.
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2: Lots of Info, Kinda Complicated
This book has tons of information about Global Warming and Climate Change, however as someone who has no knowledge of the science behind weather and global warming, I found the book a bit hard to understand. It was a bit complicated and overly scientific for a "global warming beginner". I found it a bit overwhelming - the font is super small, pages are crowded.
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3: Rough Guide to Climate Change is a Diamond in the Rough
What a remarkable book this is - disguised as a simple guide to climate change, but actually a very sophisticated, balanced, thoughtful analysis of the many aspects of climate change: the physical causes of climate change, the symptoms of a warming planet, what the average person can do, and the politics surrounding the entire issue.
Loaded with great information and highly readable, although it never talks down to the intended audience, which is aimed at everybody (may be too difficult for people under the age of 12). Lots of photographs and charts to help explain what climate change is, what causes it, and what the symptoms are.
The only weakness of the book, which is ironically one of its strengths, is that it is refreshingly free of a certain preachy tone that can creep into some books on the environment - however, because the book is studiously non-political, only half a page is dedicated to "lobbying for change" in the chapter titled "What You Can Do - Reducing Your Carbon Footprint and Lobbying For Action". Most of that chapter is dedicated towards small things everybody can do (adjust thermostat properly, drive hybrid cars, walk or bike, etc.). However, real change will probably only happen when entire countries set policies and laws into place that mandate fewer greenhouse gas emissions. (This is a scholarly bureaucrat writing this, after all.)
Having pointed out a minor weakness, I can wholeheartedly recommend this book to anybody wishing to learn more about climate change and global warming. The book doesn't actually let "big business" or current government leadership around the world completely off the hook - the book duly notes that conducting business as usual has gotten us into this mess, and that most businesses, and most governments have no real reason to change business as usual - after all, if they are still in business, or still in power, the status quo must be working well for them.
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4: Complex Scientific Principals Easily Presented for the Non Science Reader
I am using the Rough Guide to Climate change in a college course that I am currently taking about global warming and climate change. The second edition wasn't out when I started the class, so I started with the first edition and then switched when this edition did come out.
The book is a perfect example of how to write a science book for nonscientists. I have a degree in environmental science, but climate science involves so many disciplines that it is hard for even a trained professional to keep up and digest the information from all the various fields. Henson has done a remarkable job of taking the science and laying it out in an easy to understand way and in a very logical sequence.
The book is broken into parts in a flow that works well. The first section is about the basics of climate change, the second is about the symptoms we are or will be seeing as a result of climate change, the third is about the actual science behind climate change and the fourth presents a nicely balanced set of solutions and some of the detractors from those solutions. There is also a very comprehensive further exploration section at the rear.
The book is up to date and is, by far, the best source of scientific information available to the general reader about global warming. Buy it now...it might change your mind!
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5: This Book is a Gem
The Rough Guide to Climate change was a surprising masterpiece. It presents complex scientific concepts in a highly readable manner. It is extremely informative, with more perspectives on the climate change debate than other sources I have checked out. And it makes sense of the diversity of opinions in the scientific community about the ways in which global warming is and will be effecting the world. In this sense, it is a very balanced sourcebook. Most of all, it is incredibly interesting. Not only does the formatting make for constantly intriguing reading, but the content itself is very interesting. Is it too much to say that on top of it all, Henson is a great writer. Making a book like this a Rough Guide really downplays what a gem this book is. Even if you already know a lot about climate change, this book will have a great deal to teach you.
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