Product Description

An accessible guide to the threat of global warming and practical ways to help. Global warming is the biggest environmental threat facing humanity. From drought to hurricanes, global warming has various effects on our lives, some positive but most are negative. People fear potentially catastrophic consequences but there is a disturbing lack of understanding about global warming and what can be done about it.Global Warmingbreaks through the jargon, offering readers both a clear description of the problem and a practical guide to solutions, from decreasing reliance on automobiles to increased recycling to political activism. It offers hope that each of us can do something to solve the problem and encourages us to act-not only for ourselves, but for future generations.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1172174 in Books
• Published on: 2005-07-15
• Released on: 2005-06-23
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 208 pages

From Publishers Weekly
"One day soon, climate change is going to affect you," writes Spence in the introduction to this primer on what he sees as an urgent environmental crisis. The book's tone is relatively light despite the heavy subject matter ("The future's so hot!...Sadly, though, we're not talking about svelte runway professionals giving us the lowdown on next season's fashions.") Seven chapters break the problem down into its components: after a chapter defining what global warming is thought to be, Spence, a New Zealand-based journalist who project manages at the Earth Negotiations Bulletin, treats global warming's effects on the weather, on the earth itself and on individuals. He then shifts to cover current efforts to combat the problem, and to explain what businesses and individuals should be doing (but mostly aren't). Strategies range from lobbying elected officials to washing clothes in cold water instead of hot. No Cassandra touting doomsday scenarios, Spence clearly intends this book to be part of the push toward ending-or at least ameliorating-global warming.
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Review
“This is a readable account of global warming with good practical advice about action that can be taken.”
--Sir John Houghton, climate change scientist and author of Global Warming: The Complete Briefing (3rd edition)
 
“For a long time I have looked for a single book that explained climate change so that everyone -- not just scientists -- can understand. This is that book! Perhaps its greatest strength is the writing style -- clear, concise, with an engaging flair. It makes for an enjoyable and informative journey into one of the most serious threats to face the planet. This book should be read by policy makers, students and the public so that they understand what is happening to our world and what we, as Americans, must do about it.”
--Dr. Pamela Chasek, Head of International Relations, Manhattan College, New York, and author of Global Environmental Politics and The Global Environment in the Twenty-first Century: Prospects for International Cooperation
 
“Chris Spence has pulled off a rare feat: explaining the problem of global warming in an engaging and accessible manner, yet without sacrificing accuracy and rigor. I highly recommend this book to all those who want to know more about global warming, and how it will affect them and their families.”
--Dr. Joanna Depledge, Research Fellow, Cambridge University, and author of The Organization of Global Negotiations: Constructing the Climate Regime and The International Climate Change Regime: A Guide to Rules, Institutions and Procedures
 
“This book is ideal for those who want to understand climate change but are intimidated by the scientific language that often surrounds the issue. Chris Spence breaks through the jargon with straightforward answers to questions such as such as, “How will I be affected?” and “What can I do about the problem?” His book is well researched and superbly written – an engaging and entertaining read on an issue everyone should know more about.”
--Dr. Lisa Schipper, climate change scientist, Tyndall Center for Climate Change Research, UK

About the Author

Customer Reviews

The Missing Book ... but Worth the Wait
I ordered this book 3 months ago on Amazon. The book didn't turn up so unfortunately I couldn't make a proper review. I wasn't too impressed with Amazon - after numerous emails unananswered the book finally turned up 3 months and 20 days since the date of ordering. What can i say? ... It was definitely worth the wait. A very readable account of a highly complex topic demonstrating just how important it is that we all take action! I especially liked the advice on pp143 ...

Important, Smart, and Readily Accessible
This book brings the issue of Global Warming to the masses. Chris Spence does an excellent job making this topic understandable and interesting while still impressing upon the reader the magnitude of this problem. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is trying to decipher the simple truth about Global Warming and what we can do, on a personal level, to help alleviate this problem.

interesting, engaging, makes you want to know more
In this book, Chris Spence was able to present global warming as a real and compelling issue and to entice the reader to investigate deeper into the complexities of this subject. This is more than any technical essay on global warming could have achieved in terms of drawing the attention to such an important subject, often disregarded because too "technical".