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The Hot Topic: How to Tackle Global Warming and Still Keep the Lights on

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Authors: David King, Gabrielle Walker
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Category: Book

List Price: ~~Ł9.99~~
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Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars

9 reviews
Sales Rank: 7765

Media: Paperback
Pages: 320
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 8.3 x 5.3 x 1

ISBN: 0747593957
EAN: 9780747593959
ASIN: 0747593957

Publication Date: January 21, 2008
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: In Stock Immediate Dispatch from UK Seller

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Customer Reviews: Read 4 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

The ideal introduction April 21, 2008
I've never read as much about global warming as I felt I should, put off by the obvious partisanship - pro or con - of almost everything in the press and recoiling from the green bandwagon that has become a fashion accessory. And then there was the problem of where to start... that same partisanship problem once again.
Now I have the answer: this book. As a clear, intelligent and, above all, measured introduction to global warning I doubt it can be bettered. It runs through the science, looks at the politics, discusses the technology and tries to be contructive about the way forward. My only criticism is that at times I was left wanting to know more - but that is to praise the authors's restraint knowing they were writing an introductory guide.
I picked up this book wanting something clear and unbiased that would help me organise my thoughts on global warming. That's exactly what I got.

5 out of 5 stars

Excellent introduction to a complex field March 31, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful

I considered myself moderately well informed on the global warming (GW), having browsed websites, new scientist and wikipedia. I learnt a lot from this book, partly about the science, but mostly from the fascinating coverage of the political issues around GW.

It is also useful in knowing how to respond to the sceptic's points.

Overall it is a highly readable and nicely detailed (not too much to get bogged down in) account of all the surrounding issues. It is not a scare story... and does not over indulge in lurid alarmist doomsaying.

5 out of 5 stars

A lucid account of climate change science and politics March 10, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful

Generally excellent. The only real criticism I'd make of this book is that the authors are sometimes too blunt in their opinions. They say that "human activity is to blame for the rise in temperature over recent decades", and anyone who denies this is essentially a fool or an oil shill. This is unfair: lots of perfectly bright people have been misinformed, and believe there's more uncertainty than there is - you don't need to be a fool to be duped.

Overall, 'A Rough Guide to Climate Change' gives a clearer (and more thorough) overview of the science, but Hot Topic is more up-to-date and has greater detail about the potential solutions and political obstacles. (I'd also highly recommend Andrew Dessler's more technical 'The Science and Politics of Global Climate Change'.)

Finally, it's worth noting what a tireless job David King has done in promoting awareness of climate change. History is likely to regard him very highly.

1 out of 5 stars

Could do much better February 19, 2008
2 out of 10 found this review helpful

This should be a serious book about a very serious subject.
More attention to detail would give the opinions put forward more credibility.
The graphs are not particularly informative for example on pp 10/11 four lines none of which is attributed or defined.
Some focussed proof reading might have helped too.
Taken at random: on page 59 we are told that a lake of 100 million SQUARE metres of water threaten a dam. How deep is that then?
On page 173 The WWF is defined as "the Worldwide Fund for Nature. The last time I looked it was The World Wildlife Fund.
Given instances such as this how much credence should we give to all the other figures put forward?

2 out of 5 stars

Could Do Better February 16, 2008
4 out of 8 found this review helpful

I am not as convinced as these authors would like me to be, after reading their book, that global warming is caused by humans. Their basic stance is 'We are scientists, believe in us' - but its not enough.

For example, they claim significantly temperature rise in recent decades. But of four graphs presented on pages 10 - 11, only one of them shows any such rise. The others do not. One graph even stops in the 1950's without explanation (Which one? Why?).

They claim that aerosols, whose character differs from north to south, explain the 1940 - 1960 cooling. Evidence is not apparent in the graphs on p33 - 34. I can't see much difference between north and south. Can you?

They claim that both natural and human influences are required to model warming. But look at the contrary evidence in the `Asia' graph on page 35.

I would prefer to see actual data on graphs (not lines smoothed out by scientists). And I expect graphs to be consistent with text. When they are not, I expect an honest explanation from the authors.

Then they have the audacity to suggest on page 37 that skeptics are `fools' - apparently unaware that their own message is improperly presented. Integrity in presenting evidence is important. I hope they can put this right in a future edition.

And if graphs are used why not use them throughout? - this book lacks a graph going back to the ice ages. That would have been very helpful to see. And don't think we're too foolish to understand it.