Book Review: Storms of My Grandchildren

[Louisiana1976]

To be a top climate scientist today means being up to speed in graduate level physics, advanced mathematics, planetary astronomy, meteorology, paleontology, oceanography, bio and geo-chemistry, dealing with programmers and constantly shifting computer architectures, and now on top of everything else, you have to be a tireless political activist and media celebrity. No one book could fully substitute for those years of study or the crazy political twists and turns that makes up a modern climate scientist's life. But Storms of my Grandchildren comes about as close as you'll ever get. It is hands down the best, most informative, brilliantly written book on general climate science I've ever read.

The author is none other than Dr. James Hansen, the world's foremost expert on climate science. He is by his own account a shy, quiet man more comfortable among a close knit group of family, friends, and colleagues than standing before millions in a national spotlight. But he's a brilliant scientist who earned that distinction with the only currency of value in his profession: Hansen's predictions have been proven right again and again. The book seamlessly integrates that original analysis and the latest scientific findings with the author's growing realization that the news is bad, getting worse, and too many elected leaders are either green-washing the issue or denying it exists. You'll follow along as he is vaulted back and forth from a life of fascinating scientific discovery into the frenzied, decidedly unscientific world of politics, power, and unbridled greed where you are eyewitness to some extraordinary recent history. The latter by itself is a series of captivating stories, from inside Cheney's energy task force to being detained by police at a mountain top removal protest alongside actress Daryl Hannah.

snip

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/12/6/808371/-Book-Review:-Storms-of-my-Grandchildren

[Sequoia]

1. He was on The Daily Show

Sadly, I don't see that my library has a copy on order....yet.

[Bigmack]

2. My copy arrived today

I actually bought it because James Hansen is my hero, and I don't have very many of those. Alas but there's a couple library books I really want to read that are in line ahead of it, but I looking forward MIGHTILY to this read! And thanks so much for posting this. So good to know that this wonderful man has a public! Ms Bigmack

[Bigmack]

3. Reply to myself....

I'm about a quarter of the way into the book, and it's VERY good, but also a bit of a slow slog, because Dr. Hansen cannot resist BIG injections of science, which, of course, makes the book more serious and VERY hard to argue with, not that I set out to do that. I wish he had had a "helper" who would have "helped" a bit with editing the book to make it a touch easier to read by the great unwashed. I mean I'm NOT ignorant...I've a year of college physics behind me, but that was over 40 years ago. Of course I agree with his summary remarks after the science gets discussed, but I really wish that the science had been made a touch easier to digest. I KNOW that's possible..... BUT you need a scientist who remembers what it's like to approach scientific arguments a touch ignorant of the basics involved, and who can spell them out for the great unwashed. Still it's an EXCELLENT book which MANY should TRY to read. A little effort will yield a LOT of important understanding of what may be the MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE of our time! Ms Bigmack