Features
- Cover Type: Paperback with 328 pages
- Published by: Rodale Books May 26, 2006
- Written in: English
- ISBN 10 Number: 1594865671
- ISBN 13 Number: 978-1594865671
-
Book Dimensions:
8.9 x 7.5 x 1.2 inches
- Weighs: 1.8 pounds
Product Description
An Inconvenient Truth—Gore’s groundbreaking, battle cry of a follow-up to the bestselling
Earth in the Balance—is being published to tie in with a documentary film of the same name. Both the book and film were inspired by a series of multimedia presentations on global warming that Gore created and delivers to groups around the world. With this book, Gore, who is one of our environmental heroes—and a leading expert—brings together leading-edge research from top scientists around the world; photographs, charts, and other illustrations; and personal anecdotes and observations to document the fast pace and wide scope of global warming. He presents, with alarming clarity and conclusiveness—and with humor, too—that the fact of global warming is not in question and that its consequences for the world we live in will be disastrous if left unchecked. This riveting new book—written in an accessible, entertaining style—will open the eyes of even the most skeptical.
Reader Reviews
At this point it's absurd that there is still debate over global warming (ie, the current manifestation of climate change). But for those behind the curve, this book is an essential introduction. For those who don't read, go see the movie this summer. Gore has condensed the information in an accessible way, with more color photos, maps, charts and statistics than words, and though there may be certain details that are not prudently presented, the overall picture is an accurate summary of the climate science consensus. I suppose there are right-wing Fox-heads who will go to their graves convinced that anything environmental is some sort of elitist plot against "our God-given American way of life," who just slurp up the mindless slander against "enviros" and "junk science," and believe everything that the ExxonMobil-funded think tanks churn out. But for everyone else, it's time to get serious about the problem. The CAFE (corporate average fuel economy) should be raised to at least forty MPG in increments by 2010. A SERIOUS renewable energy program needs to be launched, not Bush's cosmetic posturing and support for nuclear energy (unless he volunteers to store the nuclear waste at his Crawford, Texas ranch). This program should focus on photovoltaic (PV) solar, wind power, biofuels, and a substantial commitment to hydrogen, but only as a follow-on to the immediate switch to hybrids and biofuels. Coal should be phased out as a source of electricity until carbon sequestration can be perfected. (Read the forthcoming BIG COAL by Jeff Goodell for what we're up against.) Energy experts claim that if the largely depopulated Great Plains were turned into a huge wind farm, it could supply 100% of U.S. electricity needs. They also claim that if enough Western desert, or enough buildings, were covered with PV cells, even at current efficiency, 100% of U.S. electricity needs could be met. So don't believe the representatives of Peabody Coal, ExxonMobil or other industry representatives when they say that renewable energy can only supply some small portion of our energy needs. Of course Amory Lovins has been working since the oil crisis of the 1970s to improve energy efficiency (he calls the U.S. the "Saudi Arabia of energy inefficiency"), and there is vast potential for profitable improvements which will reduce demand (see his WINNING THE OIL ENDGAME). Three cheers for Al Gore! Now let's get to work, people! [See my THE RENEWABLE ENERGY REVOLUTION list for more resources on the energy/environment crisis.]
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