| Climate Confusion: How Global Warming Hysteria Leads to Bad Science, Pandering Politicians and Misguided Policies that Hurt the Poor | 
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Avg. Customer Rating:   (based on 49 reviews)
Sales Rank: 450
Category: Book
Author: Roy Spencer
Publisher: Encounter Books
Studio: Encounter Books
Manufacturer: Encounter Books
Label: Encounter Books
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 184
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.2 x 1
ISBN: 1594032106
Dewey Decimal Number: 363.73874
EAN: 9781594032103
ASIN: 1594032106
Publication Date: March 27, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
If you listen to the media, you would think that man-made environmental catastrophe was about to engulf the world and imperil civilization. From Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth to nightly jeremiads about CO2 emissions and carbon footprints, we are bombarded around the clock with alarmist reports that disasterous global warming is on the rise and that it's our fault. In Climate Confusion, noted climatologist Roy Spencer shows that fears about global warming are vastly exaggerated and are driven by politics, not truth. He shows that a global superstorm has already arrived-but it is a storm of hype and hysteria. Climate Confusion is a ground-breaking book that combines impeccable scientific authority with great wit and literary panache to expose the hysteria surrounding the myths of global warming and climate change. Spencer shows that the earth is far more resilient than exopessimists pretend and that increasing wealth and technology ingenuity, far from being the enemies of the environment, are the only means we possess to solve environmental problems as they arise.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 44 more reviews...
 CLIMATE CONFUSION, A GREAT BOOK July 8, 2008
This book is very interesting and informative. This man is one of the many climatologists and scientists that do not accept that changes in the earths atmosphere are all the fault of people. He explains why in this book. Read it! Science is not based on consensus. Science is based on facts. Why does Al Gore refuse to debate any of these scientists who do not agree with him? Because he cannot win a debate, that is why, and he knows it! He cannot argue with the facts. All he can do is resort to name calling. He calls them "deniers"! I still can't beleive this un-informed doofus got the peace prize! He spreads lies and gets a prize! Al Gore even admits himself that he is not a scientist! Be informed of facts, not fiction. Read this book!
"When scientists become emotionally attached to a specific theory,you know that more than science is involved." July 8, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
So,what are we all to believe over this hoopla about Global Warming? I have read much material about it and Spencer covers it about as well as anyone can.He shows ,without doubt,that predictions,particularly long term,about weather and particularly climate is far beyond anything resembling science , theories and models available today.
Without a doubt,weather changes as does climate ;but if anyone believes that there is science available to predict it is either fooling themselves or simply jumping on an agenda bandwagon. Spencer covers all the reasons why the hysteria is building;and not the least of the reasons is once again,the almighty buck.Now; that the issue is front and center,huge amounts of money,particularly directed by governments,is just sitting there to be gobbled up as grants to study the problem. The amazing thing is that there is absolutely no accountability on the part of those responsible for this money being spent.There is also absolutely no requirement that there be a return on the investment of these funds and none involved will personally suffer any loss,regardless if the studies prove anything ,one way or another. There have always been such things promoted,but this has to be the "mother of all research bonanzas" because it has limitless avenues to pursue and seemingly endless resources combined with endless researchers and organizations looking for a piece of the action.After reading this book,you will come to the conclusion that after all is said and done,and humongous amounts of money has been spent,that there probably is climate change underway,and why shouldn't there be,climate is always changing,and man's impact on it is probaly infinitesimal,unpredictible and totally non influential.
Spencer asks;"How much will it cost and how much will it help? That is a good question ,especially when it is not even known what "it" is.
If there is anything that you can really count on,it is mankind's ability to adapt and solve problems and continue to reap the benefits of our wonderful planet.There have always been doomsayers predicting the demise of just about everything; and disaster for all, just around the corner.
In my short lifetime ,I can recall a few;
Predictions that the whole iron industry was going to come to an end because we would run out of oak trees to cut down to make charcoal to melt the ore. Guess what? We found coal and oil to do the job.
And what about the predictions about there not being enough rubber tree plantations to make tires for all the vehicles that were on the horizon.Guess what? We invented nylon and synthetic tires; and not only that,rubber tires didn't last much more than 20,000 miles.
More recently,we went hysterical because Acid Rain was going to kill all the trees, and in a few years there would be no more Maple Syrup. Guess what? There are still lots of maple trees and maple syrup.
Then there was Y2K ,wasn't that a dandy! How much did that cost and how much did it help?Who knows?
Then there was the "Population Bomb",with Paul Erlich, and all.In the 60's the world population was 3 Billion and we we were all heading for ruin,There would be mass starving in third world countries like China,if the growth was'nt immediately reversed.Guess what? The population is now 6 Billion,China is now shipping food to America,and rather than starving,obesity is a major problem.Also, China and India have some of the fastest growing economies in the wotld.
Then there was the "Killer Bees"
and
"Bird Flu"
Not to mention several predictions of the World coming to an end -with actual dates ,no less.
The author reaches back to that wonderful sage,Makk Twain,and who wrote in 1874;
"There is something fascinating about science.One gets such wholesale returns of conjecture out of such a trifling investment of fact." Mark Twain could see through it all,way back then,what's our problem?
Thanks for a great book,Roy.
Just keep the words of that great philosopher, Sachel Page, as you face the future,who said something to the effect;
"Don't look back ,the S.O.B.s might be gaining on you!!"
As I' m writing this,I notice they watching Hurricane Bertha off Bermuda,trying to figure what it is going to do.They really don't know. That ought to tell you something.Too bad there's not time to apply for a research grant to study it,'cause there's plenty of researchers waiting and available to accept the funds.
 Free Market Solutions July 7, 2008
0 out of 4 found this review helpful
I didn't care for this book, and I consider myself somewhat skeptical of the claims of man-made global warming. It wasn't so much for all the holes that Roy Spencer poked in the theories, but the solutions he puts forward. He seems to turn to free-market capitalism as the tool for resolving what to do (ie. cost-benefit analysis). After living through two recessions, the dot-com crash, the housing crash and perhaps the soon-to-be commodities crash, it's hard for me to put much faith in free-market capitalism. I'd hate to see what would happen if the earth went through a similar boom and bust due to speculative trading.
Clearing the Air July 2, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Just finished "Climate Confusion". Kudos to Dr. Spencer! It was even better than I'd hoped, and heaven knows it is sorely needed now to even partially offset the tidal wave of contrary Global Warming Alarmist diatribe currently flooding the media. Hopefully it will be read by some on the other side of the controversy, or fence-straddlers, and just maybe some will more critically examine the nature of the activist onslaught. Although the subject is quite serious and so treated, the book was very lightly written, easy to read, and gave me more than a few chuckles.
The brief explanation of the basic climate processes influencing weather patterns of our globe was simple, short, succinct (and totally free of any mind-boggling equations that scare folks off), and should be relatively easy for anyone of average intelligence to comprehend.
Similarly, the characterization of the vastness, and almost unbelievably (and largely not at all understood) complex, and sometimes apparently chaotic, and diverse processes making up our global weather systems was extremely well done. As was the discussions of: the total incapacity of the best and fastest of our computer systems to come close to modeling a tiny fraction of the global weather; the painfully minute volume of CO2 we put into the atmosphere compared to the total atmospheric volume; the difficulty and questionable nature of obtaining historical climatological data; and the total lack of any other completed similar modeling problem against which our erstwhile climate "modelers" can compare/calibrate their "comprehensive" computer models. (How these unquestionable facts can fail to give pause to our GCM modelers and other Global Warming activists is completely beyond my comprehension).
Of course, this is partially explained by another of the well-made points in the book - that is the existence of the vicious, incestuous circle (well-oiled by Federal funds - many Billions of $) of: Environmentalists ("Noble", passionate & single-minded) / GCM modelers [& meteorologists] (human, greedy, job-security concerned, & anxious to "make a real difference") / media types and movie stars (hopeless, looking for publicity and "sexy" news) / legislators (also virtually hopeless, with their fingers in the wind, but with their hands on the money spigots) / and finally, The Public (totally overwhelmed by the other 4 groups). This was well done, and is partially understandable, but only to a degree.
Another well-made thesis of the book is the real impact (and very limited effectiveness) of punitive CO2 reduction measures (such as the Kyoto Protocol, which we, in the US, continue to beat ourselves over the head about, since the Senate, for once wisely, totally disavowed it) on the real global economy. This impact will far and away adversely impact the poverty stricken masses of the world far more than it will hurt us, largely middle-class denizens of the US and other developed nations. For us it will mean a little less steak and shorter vacations - for them, it is life or death, literally. (This point will not be conceded by the environmental elite.) The analogy to the Annual deaths of a million or so Africans, and severe disabilities to many more due to malaria, which could easily be controlled by the simple and inexpensive expedient of DDT spraying, forbidden to them due to developed nations forcing them to ban it under pain of "trade sanctions", is eye-opening and shocking. As Dr. Spencer says, this situation is totally unsupportable. And this, while our environmentalist heroes continue to pat themselves on the back about their successful victory over this horrid substance. Something is very wrong with this picture.
I have some minor criticism of the book. Not over anything the author missed, or got wrong or avoided, but for perhaps not being harsh enough with some of the main players in this on-going farce. In my opinion, the GCM modelers were let off a bit too easy. To me, they're the worst offenders in this scientific debacle. I understand the rationale Dr. Spencer gives for their failings (they're human; they want to make a difference; the money/research grants are only there for those who toe the party line; they do [quietly] state the limitations and assumptions underlying their work). But I'm sorry, this is not enough excuse, in my view, to over-dramatize their hypotheses and to let the media even more greatly do so. It shows a high level of scientific arrogance. They are intelligent adults and should show more honesty and morality in characterizing their work. While the environmentalists are even more guilty, they are probably even more a lost cause. Also, I think the good Dr. was a bit too easy on his former agency, NASA. I do appreciate that they have done, and continue to do, a lot of good. But that does not excuse overstating their "Global Warming" case.
The author has done a real service to us all - Skeptics, True Believers, and Fence Sitters alike, for writing and seeing this book published, and bringing at least a little balance to the ongoing debate.
 A Weather Warning June 30, 2008
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
Professor Roy Spence's book "Climate Confusion" (2008 191-page hardback) is a compact study about how "man made global warming is based as much on faith as it is upon knowledge". His meteorologically founded discussion convinces that science has not, yet, settled the news media's climate change dilemma.
With nine chapters Spence suggests how weather works, how the globe warms and cools, why scientists are often biased, how politics informs the global warming debate, some "dumb global warming solutions", and much more. His energetic and entertaining writing style makes Spence's broad scientific analysis interesting and informative. His humor, whit, and meteorological background illuminate various contemporary climate change/global warming philosophies and mythologies. The weather warning here- don't believe everything you hear about global warming!
This book teaches but it has a downside (keeping it from earning the fifth star). Spence offers little, or no, resourcing. There are no footnote nor endnotes in this text. Perhaps, Dr. Roy wants the book portrayed as a novel, (always the result of no resourcing). Give us locations for further research, professor.
The book's subtitle embraces its principle point. Spence's credible science presents viable alternatives and responses for global warming. Citing the Sun as Earth's warming source, Spence believes (and proves) that climate change is only marginally affected by humanity. Such hard scientific conclusions make this book worth its purchase price.
This book is recommended to everyone interested in human made global warming, North American meteorology, and doing good science.
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