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An Inconvenient Truth: The Planetary Emergency of Global Warming and What We Can Do About It (Paperback)
by Al Gore
| Category:
Global warming, Environmental protection, Nonfiction |
| Market price: ¥ 248.00
MSL price:
¥ 218.00
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MSL rating:
 Good for Gifts |
| MSL Pointer Review:
The truth that the global warming is devastating our planet is inconvenient yet shocking. Like it or not, this book is worth a read. The book is a good companion to the movie. |
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Author: Al Gore
Publisher: Rodale Books
Pub. in: May, 2006
ISBN: 1594865671
Pages: 328
Measurements: 8.9 x 7.5 x 1.2 inches
Origin of product: USA
Order code: BA00738
Other information: ISBN-13: 978-1594865671
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- Awards & Credential -
The #1 New York Times Bestseller and a bestseller on Amazon.com ranking #138 in books out of milions as of February 27, 2007. The movie was recently awarded an Oscar. |
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- MSL Picks -
Our climate crisis may at times appear to be happening slowly, but in fact it is happening very quickly-and has become a true planetary emergency. The Chinese expression for crisis consists of two characters. The first is a symbol for danger; the second is a symbol for opportunity. In order to face down the danger that is stalking us and move through it, we first have to recognize that we are facing a crisis. So why is it that our leaders seem not to hear such clarion warnings? Are they resisting the truth because they know that the moment they acknowledge it, they will face a moral imperative to act? Is it simply more convenient to ignore the warnings? Perhaps, but inconvenient truths do not go away just because they are not seen. Indeed, when they are responded to, their significance doesnt diminish; it grows. - Al Gore
I have some positive and negative observations about this book, and its author.
1) The book is a more detailed version of the film. You'll find many of the same photos, animations and graphics, along with many of the same arguments. You'll also find material that you didn't see in the movie, such as more autobiographical material, more scientific content, maps, and more lists of endangered species. Like the movie, the book appeals to the altruistic thinking person with an analytic, fact-finding mind. If you liked the movie, then this is definitely worth a look.
2) The book, like the movie, has an autobiographical thread that runs through it. I have mixed feelings here. It is interesting stuff, meant to establish Gore as a public leader and expert in the area. It is intended to show Gore's political and ethical transformations, too. I like Gore and I love the fact he's dedicated to increasing public awareness of an important topic. There's no doubt that Gore has emphasized environmental issues for many years. But notice that the focus is on Gore. In my more cynical moments, I see it as a self-aggrandizing, self-indulgent attempt by Gore to improve his image and consolidate his power. But please take a deeper look at the science, the issue and the politician. The science and the issue are hugely important. I'm more interested in seeing politicians use their power to address environmental issues than in seeing environmental issues co-opted to increase the power of specific lobbies and individuals.
3) As with the movie, the key scientists are rarely actually named, especially if they are living, though they are the real heroes. Sure, Gore names a few crucial people but not the ones I would have expected. Long standing activists and writers also seem to be omitted, such as Paul and Anne Erlich, Barry Commoner, Amory Lovins, etc., etc. You can find a list of key scientists involved in Gore's project in the acknowledgements at the end of the book (small print). You can find a list of "credits," too (extremely small print). And you can find a list of Nobel laureates concerned with Global Warming listed toward the end. But you won't find a detailed subject or author index. These are troubling omissions because it makes great individual contributors even more anonymous. It makes specific contributions and even global warming subordinate to making Gore the hero. Gore is an important visionary figure in the fight against lobal warming in the same way that he's a truly important player in creating the interntet. If you check the facts, you'll see that these are not exaggerations. I'd agree that in each case he's a political hero but he seems hesitant to share the spotlight with the scientific heroes.
4) It is a nice layman's intro to global warming. It is much deeper than the sound-bite garbage that you see on TV. If you are the rare person who is really interested in the science underlying the issue, then learn more about the topic, minus the agendas of Al Gore and Hollywood. Become familiar, for instance, with the work of Ralph Cicerone, one of the founders of atmospheric chemistry and current president of the National Academy of Science. He's a great scientist, and a good guy (and add points for the fact he's married to Carol Cicerone, a great sensory scientist... ok, that's my issue). Take 5 minutes online to find and read Cicerone's (July 21, 2005) Current State of Climate Science: Recent Studies from The National Academies. Then, take half an hour or so to listen to an interview with Cicerone from NASonline (using RealPlayer). You'll hear one of America's greatest scientists outlining the facts, the scientific debates, and the remaining questions. You can find a few right-wing crackpots who take pot shots at Cicerone, but he's the real deal. The science is, of course, more complex that what is presented in "An Inconvenient Truth." For instance, there are also global cooling effects that combine with warming effects in nonlinear ways. An excellent intro to some of these issues can be found on PBS/NOVAs documentary "Dimming the Sun."
5) It is pro-science. This is a key point in this time of anti-scientific thinking. The film has the potential to increase viewers' interest in science and scientific thinking. Whether or not you accept the science as it is presented in the film, this is an important point. Don't stop here, as this film is the finger pointing at science, not science per se. If you don't believe the theories and facts presented here, then you can bring your own science and facts to the table. Putting an emphasis on theory, facts, and data is pro science. If you can't handle this, go back to watching football, getting fat on your couch, and voting for Bush, or whatever. You won't be alone, so smile.
6) It is a beautiful book with striking graphics. If, like me, you love a good graph or informative picture, take a look at Kosslyn's new book on making graphs. Kosslyn is the world's greatest expert on imagery, and is a cognitive and neural scientist extraordinaire. Telling a story in graphs and pictures is hugely important. Kudos to the bookmakers for the quality of their graphics.
7) The book, like the movie, is an advertisement for Apple computer and Apple products. Perhaps this is not obvious. But Apple technology is everywhere in the film, and also the book. The computers are displayed prominently, and the Keynote program is at the heart of Gore's presentation. Gore is on Apple's board of directors. You can learn more about Apple's link to the film/book/Gore at Apple's website. I'm a big fan of Apple and its innovative technologies, so I'm not complaining. But don't miss the fact that you are being lulled into buying Apple products.
8) It is strong motivation do something important in life; to make changes that contribute to the greater good. And the book is strong motivation to commit yourself to the future, but to live your life as if there will be no tomorrow. Want to read a great book on conscious, effective activism? Read Andrew Beath's "Consciousness in Action: The Power of Beauty, Love and Courage in a Violent Time"
9) The Bush adminsitration is a noteworthy part of the global warming story, but this is not emphasized by Gore. The fact is that the Bush administration has been attempting to silence the global warming story. Gore didn't mention this, for political reasons, I'm sure. The administration has been doing more to silence scientists than any previous administration, apparently. Don't believe me? NASAs top climate scientist, Jim Hansen, is but one person who discusses this fact. For instance, watch Revkin's interview with Hansen available online at the New York Times website. When pressured by the NYT, Bush admitted to forcing scientists to shift their public positions on global warming. Bush publicly denies the importance of the issue. His link to fossil fuel dollars is one reason for this, to be sure. Bush is the enemy. That's a fact. The book that seems to clarify the political issues is the one I'm reading at the moment: The Republican War on Science, by Chris Mooney.
(From quoting David Peterzell, Ph.D., USA)
Target readers:
Anyone who's concerned about the future of our earth and environment. A good birthday gift.
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Former Vice President Al Gore is currently the chairman of both Current TV and Generational Investment Management. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976 and the U.S. Senate in 1984 and 1990, and served eight years as vice president of the United States, from 1993 to 2000. He is the author of the 1992 bestseller Earth in the Balance: Ecology and the Human Spirit. He lives with his wife, Tipper, in Nashville, Tennessee.
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From Publisher
Former Vice President Al Gore's New York Times #1 bestselling book is a daring call to action, exposing the shocking reality of how humankind has aided in the destruction of our planet and the future we face if we do not take action to stop global warming. Now, Viking has adapted this book for the most important audience of all: today's youth, who have no choice but to confront this climate crisis head-on.
Dramatic full-color photos, illustrations, and graphs combine with Gore's effective and clear writing to explain global warming in very real terms: what it is, what causes it, and what will happen if we continue to ignore it. An Inconvenient Truth will change the way young people understand global warming and hopefully inspire them to help change the course of history.
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| View all 10 comments |
Patrick Pope (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-27 00:00>
Al Gore did a fantastic job in articulating the consequences of global warming in An Inconvenient Truth. While providing a narrative explaining the risks of the human race's reliance on fossil fuel, he also offers stunning photos showing concrete examples of the effects of global warming. Indeed, An Inconvenient Truth makes an excellent coffee table book that is truly educational.
One misconception with this book is that it is dense with facts and figures explaining scientific data. While there is substantive information contained in text, a large collection of beautiful photos allows any reader to quickly absorb the message. In these photos, various ice formations from 50-70 years ago are juxtaposed with their current state. In total, they make for a compelling story alone.
What is missing from the book is a thorough explanation of the economics behind conservation and energy independence that any Republican would love. Energy independence and conservation offer a host of pure economic motives including improving overall industrial efficiency and promoting domestic agricultural resources. Likewise, investment in alternative technology will keep America in the forefront of the alternative energy market where it has been losing ground to Germany and Japan. This virtuous circle is not outlined in this book, unfortunately.
An Inconvenient Truth serves its mission in explaining to the lay community the causes and consequences of Global Warming. Al Gore accomplishes this in telling interesting story with supporting photographic evidence. Whether you are an environmentalist or merely looking for a unique gift, spread the message by including this book under the Christmas tree or giving it as a birthday gift.
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David Shipley (MSL quote), UK
<2007-02-27 00:00>
Congratulations to Al Gore for taking on a subject largely regarded as anathema by the US political establishment. In both the book and dvd, the information is presented starkly but in a nonetheless straight forward format. For those already with an interest in global warming, most of the issues raised will probably be what you have already come across but nonetheless be prepared for some new information or insights. For anyone who has yet to examine the scientific concerns on global warming, then this is a very good place indeed to start. Some have criticised the inclusion of Al Gore's real life experiences. I, however, think that they actually complement the information that is being put across. Yes the science is still unsure on many of the issues, however, it IS becoming increasingly apparent that C02 emissions from industry, petrol engines etc are contributing to driving global temperatures upwards. That said, there is truth though that global warming is a natural event because thanks to analysis carried out on ice samples from the Greenland permafrost, thousands of years old, we have a clear record of many natural warming cycles going back millennia.
The question we have to ask ourselves is do we really need to be adding to this natural process to the point of endangering our environment and even our existence?
Increasingly powerful hurricanes and storms like Katrina will become more common. As ice flows shrink, there will be corresponding rises in sea levels, and more heavily populated areas will experience the horror that hit New Orleans.
However, I would like to add some new scenarios into the already troubling possibilities:
Firstly, science has established that thanks to the reduction in the use of CFCs we are seeing an improvement in the Ozone hole over the Antarctic. However, scientists are now concerned that heavy C02 releases in the northern hemisphere could cool the upper atmosphere to the point that new holes in Ozone layer open up over the Arctic, bringing the danger of UV rays with them as they do so...
Secondly, before the age of the dinosaurs, was a period known as the Permian. The end of this period saw the biggest ever mass extinction that this planet has ever seen where upwards of 90% of all life perished. It was thought that the killer was a meteorite bigger than the one that took out the dinosaurs. Recent science has found that there were in fact two killers, and neither was a meteorite.
The first was massive volcanic action in the region of Siberia which was so huge that it raised global temperatures by 5C. This killed off many species of life.
However, once the seas had heated up by 5C, then this was the key that released the second killer from its confinement - Methane Gas. Methane is one of the most potent greenhouse gasses in existence and releasing large quantities of it into the atmosphere will cause warming on a greater scale than that caused by emissions of C02.
Surrounding the coastlines of all continents are huge pockets of methane that are stored in the ocean floor, and have come from millennia of decaying organic matter rolling off the continents and into the sea. These deposits are called Methane Hydrates. What happened is that after the temperatures rose at the end of the Permian, the sea temperature rose by 5C, causing the Methane Hydrates to release vast quantities of Methane into the atmosphere. This promptly raised global temperatures by a further 5C, killing off virtually all marine life and even more of the life on the land.
So there you have it folks. A temperature rise of 10C caused the greatest mass extinction that this world has ever seen. And here we are, contributing our own gasses to a warming cycle... despite the fact that there are huge quantities of Methane Hydrates just offshore (just ask the oil industry as to the hazards they create for offshore drilling). Scientific tests have shown that if water temperature in the oceans rises by 5C then the Methane Hydrates will release all their gas...
As the song says "Something better change..."
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Dennis Mercieri (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-27 00:00>
Former US Vice President Al Gore strikes pay dirt in this attractively packaged layman's introduction to critical environmental issues. He quickly dispels the myth that what can poor little ol' we really do to so big a planet? I often thought that way myself, but after considering "An Inconvenient Truth," I've had to revise my thinking on this.
Gore has clearly found his niche in life after politics, making a solid contribution to the environmental debate. Gore the politician still has an agenda, to be sure, yet he defends his case in an even-handed manner with credible data and visual aids. Yes, we have over-consumed, bringing on severe deforestation and desertification in some areas. Yes, we have expelled greenhouse gases, contributing to a presumed global warming that is further upsetting the balance of nature and wreaking havoc through intensified natural disasters.
What can we do? First, admit there is a problem and second, take action. And a good start would be to depend less on fossil fuels. We can do so in our homes by harnessing solar, wind, or geothermal power. As for me, my next car will be a hybrid (gasoline and electric). Even this will help a little. In a different vein, Gore suggests using home-generated compost as an alternate way to enrich depleted soil. As long as we keep good stewardship of the earth in our thoughts, we can and will find ways to become part of the solution. Gore, along with his family, "walks the walk." This is not just another soapbox for him.
Whatever one's political leanings might be, this book is worthy of its best-seller status and a must-read. We can ignore its message only at our peril -- and even more so for our posterity, because they will inherit the earth that we leave them. As the psalmist chanted, "To the Lord belongs the earth and all that fills it." May we heed Gore's call to become good stewards of the earth, committed to a balance between consuming and conserving.
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Jim Hatherley (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-27 00:00>
Like most controversial books, An Inconvenient Truth, has generated a wide range of reactions from readers. Most readers have a favorable opinion, while a minority have strongly negative feelings.
Both groups make solid points.
Gore does visually present his case in a compelling manner. It is clear that he is a passionate, and long-time enviromentalist. Readers cannot help but benefit from his knowledge and experience, and gain a significant improvement in their understanding of global warming issues that may have a major impact on the Earth and future generations.
At the same time, however, Gore is an even longer-term political animal, whose spots just cannot be erased by a book about something that should be as non political as the environment. Rather than simply present his facts and allow the science to make his case, Gore reverts to Bush-bashing dialogue etc., as if decades of waste and eco-deterioration can be reduced to the years since he watched Bush get sworn in.
Perhaps you can forgive Gore for normal human feelings after the 2000 election, but it's harder to forget that Gore was a bit of a hyperbolist in the previous administration. For instance, did Gore really invent the internet? Did his work really save billions of dollars in government waste? Were the attack ads he sponsored during his campaigns completely accurate? Were all the comparative time-lapsed pictures in the book taken on the exact date, even though years apart?
His own home State did not even trust him enough to award its electoral votes.
As a result, sad to say, I found it a bit hard to separate the message from the messenger.
In the end, however, you have to ask yourself if you learned anything from, An Inconvenient Truth? Absolutely! This book undeniably creates a greater sense of awareness of a significant issue. To that extent, it is clearly worth the price to buy it, and the time to read it.
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