Global Climate Change: Book of Essential Knowledge (Curiosity Guides)

Zebrowski has written a highly accessible and compact guide in 'Global Climate Change.' The book's language is uncomplicated and assumes the reader is intellectually curious enough to desire a multi-layered understanding of the issues and science, without assuming they are scientists or interested in in-depth analyses. Topics are dealt with in paragraphs rather than copious chapters, yet the explanations of phenomena are clear, as are the explanations of terms and methods used by the scientific community. This book claims to be apolitical, but of course nothing can be, but the author does achieve an enjoyable "matter-of-fact" discourse. Overall, this book might not be the best introduction to climate change, but it certainly is a breath show more of fresh air in the conversation. show less

As a life-long student of science, I appreciate literature that describes the current state-of-knowledge in concise, easy-to-grasp terms. The subtitle of "Global Climate Change" is "The Book of Essential Knowledge" and in this respect, the author is true to his word. Zebrowski not only describes what we know now, beyond any reasonable doubt, but he also acknowledges the motivations behind detractors and addresses their arguments as well.

Of course, when it comes to using scientific research to combat industry-driven motivation, it's rather like shooting fish in a barrel. The evidence for global climate change really is overwhelming -- the straws the opposition grasps at are just that: straws. The data we have for climate change is really show more all pretty recent, but we also have managed to accumulate some pretty good estimations of historical climate fluctuations. And what we know is that at present course, we will inflict irrevocable damage on the climate of t he planet: ice caps will melt; coastal communities will cease to exist, and our current "bread baskets" could be rendered into unproductive desert. Has such a thing happened before? Yes, but not under current climatic conditions. Just because Mother Nature screws with the status quo every few hundred thousand years doesn't mean we should throw our arms up and assume this very moment is one of those times. The data available does not indicate this is the case. By curtailing our polluting ways, we could still stave off disaster. But it takes active effort and cooperation; it takes politicians with the nerve and fortitude to stand up to industries that stand to lose and act for the good of both humanity and the planet. show less

I was discussing some scientific fact I learned from this book with someone and they asked me, "how do they know?" That is exactly what this book is so great at explaining. In an easy to understand (my science ed. consists of one biology and one geology class in college) and non-partisan (he keeps politics confined to the last chapter) way, Zebrowski helped me to understand the science behind what scientists already know about global climate change and why they have such a hard time predicting the exact future. Are you a citizen of planet earth? Then you should read this book.

I am a geologist an familiar with the variety of data used in climate studies. Prior to receiving Global Climate Change in the mail (LT Early Reviewer), I wasn't sure how technically dense it would be. Zebrowski's book is a well-written summary of the state of climate science knowledge to date and how that knowledge came about for the general populace. It is not overly technical, but in fact it reads very well and is fast-paced. I believe I will send it to my mother who does not have a high science background but is interested in such topics. I enjoyed how Zebrowski winds together threads and anecdotes from all the sciences to develop the story of climate change; this clearly informs the reader how long the climate has been studied and show more how broad the contribution of studies has been. I would call Zebrowski's writing style Malcolm Gladwell-esque. He has succeeded in educating the reader in an interesting and informative way. show less

A great introduction to the concepts of climate change, but if you are looking for something more in depth or cutting edge, this book isn't for you. Now, if you happen to be looking for a book to introduce someone to the concept of global climate change who might be a bit reticent, this would be a great book. The convenience of the language used lends itself to the casual reader, and won't put off someone who might be concerned about "a bunch of science-talk mumbo-jumbo."

Zebrowski also arranges the book in a very reader-friendly way. He builds on previous chapters extremely well, but each section could easily stand alone for a quick refresher. If you want a boring, science-journal-style piece of writing, this book won't be for you. show more Great read and very well written. show less

I have never read a book on climate change, but I am familiar with the subject from climatology and meteorology classes in college, from other books dealing with it tangentially, and from the media coverage of it over the past decade. I guess I never read a primer like this book because I felt it would just state basic facts about climate change that I already knew.

Well, this book does state the basic facts, but, having read it, I now realize just how valuable it is to have all of that basic information in a book that is very easy to read and a manageable size. It is strange for me to say it, but this book really is a page turner. The facts are presented in such a way that you find yourself legitimately interested in the story of how we show more came to understand what we do about global climate change. Chances are you will know a lot, maybe most, of the information presented in this book, but you probably won't mind re-reading it as it is put in its historical context.

My favorite anecdote in the book is the one about Edward Lorenz discovering the volatility of climate due to a slow computer and truncation of 0.000127.

At the end of the book, Dr. Zebrowski dips his toes into the political aspect of global climate change. He very briefly covers the propaganda and distortions that characterize the assault on scientific consensus. (If you find yourself fascinated with the limits people will go to to distort science to promote a special interest, read Merchants of Doubt by Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway)

If you know very little about global climate change, this will open your eyes. If you know a lot, you might still enjoy reading it (though you might not pick up anything new). show less

In this book, Zebrowski attempts to present the evidence behind the scientific concerns about global climate change. Generally speaking, it's a useful book outlining some of the basics of climate science, and debunking some of the silly arguments that are made about global climate change being 'fiction'. He covers a lot of territory in this short book, and I think this book is a useful and up to date resource regarding the state of climate science.

Since the book is intended to be a scientific guide for laypeople, it's understandable that Zebrowski stears clear of some of the more heated political discussion surrounding the issue, though he does offer some general recommendations for how we should address dealing with the problems show more associated with global climate change and hopefully avert catastrophe. Of course, by not addressing some of the more heated political rhetoric directly, the book does leave itself open for criticisms from climate change deniers who are 'certain' it is a 'debunked myth'...but, those factions are unlikely to be convinced even if their hyperbole were to be addressed directly. So, kudos to the author for remaining above the fray and presenting as much of the scientific arguments as possible.

The one shortcoming that I'd say this book suffers from is that he doesn't provide enough citations to direct readers to the actual scientific publications that present the evidence he has condensed here. Though it's understandable in a concise book with the layperson in mind scientific might exclude a lot of the technical professional literature...it seems like the provision of citations could only bolster his presentation by enabling those interested to dig a little deeper, while also shutting out the possibility of deniers claiming that the scientific research is 'inadequate' or 'minimal'.

Overall, it's a worthwhile read for anyone interested in climate science, as well as ongoing political discourse surrounding it. Because of the polarizing nature of this topic, it may be too much to hope it convinces anyone to rethink their views on the issues involved, but due to it's concise nature, it may be a good book for passing along to someone who is trying to inform themselves about this issue. show less