Climate change : examining the facts /

One wonders why there cannot be a popular, science-based book arguing the case for human climate change that is not full of loaded language, arguments that confuse plausible explanations with factual evidence, and other basic logical errors. Is the case for global warming truly this weak? This book, which is part of the "Contemporary Debates" series, is advertised by the publisher as giving "readers a clear and unbiased understanding of current issues." Yet, the authors' point of view is firm and clear from the start--even within the table of contents. This is a well-written and nicely presented volume, but no debate is even attempted, or much less embraced. This is an unnecessary addition to a currently flooded genre: books on climate change aimed at general audiences in order to persuade readers toward a particular political position. Any material written by the popular environmental activist and author Bill McKibben would have the same level of scientific and logical accuracy, and also be more entertaining. Summing Up: Not recommended. --Thomas N. Chase, University of Colorado