The Hot Topic: What We Can Do About Global Warming – A Concise and Persuasive Science Guide to Climate Change Solutions

by Gabrielle Walker, David A. King

Last year, awareness about global warming reached a tipping point. Now one of the most dynamic writers and one of the most respected scientists in the field of climate change offer the first concise guide to both the problems and the solutions. Guiding us past a blizzard of information and misinformation, Gabrielle Walker and Sir David King explain the science of warming, the most cutting-edge technological solutions from small to large, and the national and international politics that will affect our efforts.

While there have been many other books about the problem of global warming, none has addressed what we can and should do about it so clearly and persuasively, with no spin, no agenda, and no exaggeration. Neither Walker nor King is an activist or politician, and theirs is not a generic green call to arms. Instead they propose specific ideas to fix a very specific problem. Most important, they offer This is a serious issue, perhaps the most serious that humanity has ever faced. But we can still do something about it. And they’ll show us how.

Genres: Nonfiction, Environment, Science, Climate Change, Sustainability, Politics

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Dr Gabrielle Walker is an expert on climate change and the energy industry. She has been a Professor at Princeton University and is the author of four books including co-authoring the bestselling book about climate and energy: The Hot Topic, which was described by Al Gore as “a beacon of clarity” and by The Times as “a material gain for the axis of good”.

Gabrielle is currently Chief Scientist at Xynteo, an advisory firm with a mission to reinvent growth: to enable businesses to grow in a new way, fit for the resource, climate and demographic realities of the 21st century.

She has been Climate Change Editor at Nature and Features Editor at New Scientist and has written very extensively for many international newspapers and magazines. [from author's website]

Reviews

[Owlseyes]

"The next big issue to put King in the headlines was global warming, which in 2004 he described as ‘a far greater threat to the world than international terrorism". [Really???]

in:
Beware the politician posing as a scientist
In:
https://www.spectator.co.uk/2008/03/b...

[Ying Ngai · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good popular science book that is now unfortunately outdated, but if anything one can take today's data and compare it with predictions from 10 years ago and see that we have not changed much, if at all in this decade, and the window for action continues to shrink to almost a point of no return.

[George Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fairly disheartening reading in 2018 with no real change worldwide on climate change. Also to write a book like this that even includes a whole chapter on how the individual can reduce their impact on the planet and not mention animal agriculture and eating meat at all is really weird. Overall good eye opening stuff

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting book about global warming, arguably the best (and most up-to-date) book currently available on the topic. It is both informative and very clearly written. Sir David King, one of the world's leading authorities on global warming, has combined forces with Gabrielle Walker, the environment editor for New Scientist, to produce this work.

As one might expect, the book goes over in significant detail the latest scientific evidence, both the evidence that the earth's climate is warming, and that human activity is responsible for most of this warming. This evidence is presented in a very matter-of-fact, scientific manner, avoiding polemics and derisive comments about the "opposition". In the back of the book is a list of responses to common questions and often-heard counters.

Perhaps the best part of the book is the discussion of what can be done. It presents an inventory of how greenhouse gases are produced, and then discusses what various major nations have (or have not) done so far, and what their future plans are. Also, the authors mention the merits and demerits of various potential technologies and other remedies.

All in all, this is a very soberly written, yet authoritative book. I have read it twice now and have learned a great deal (even though I myself, as a scientist, thought I already knew quite a bit in this area).

[Mehul Manoharan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The authors have systematically and logically addressed the grave issue of climate change. The problem statement has been well defined and followed by appropriate actions by various stakeholders in multiple ways.

Good read for the climate enthusiasts. A follow up book on the same would be a good read updating the present scenario.

[Sofie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview, overall interesting, just out of date... (although it makes you reflect on what we should have done in the last years, and didnt, and what kind of effect thats going to have).

[Darryl Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really interesting and has some good topics. Unfortunately reading in 2020 and most of this aimed for 2007 so very dated due to the major changes in the topic

[Caleb Hack · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best climate change books I've ever read.

[Melody Maxwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit out of date at my time of reading, but a very realistic and proactive account of the state of the climate and how to do your part

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very easy-to-understand book explaining the impact of global warming. It wasn't too scientific and it wasn't too dreary, even though it was written by the United Kingdom's chief scientific adviser and a London based climate change editor. It includes an explanation of what we can expect, what is happening right now, the Kyoto agreement, how our country adds up in this fiasco (and how WE need to drastically change how we live), how the Bush administration is basically a front for the oil industry and finally what we can do to save the world.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written, fast read that explains both the science of climate change in terms that readers can easily understand, and why each facet looked at matters. Additionally, the authors talk about climate change adaption and mitigation goals. They explain the politics of climate change and how to affect political change, and discuss what an ordinary mortal can do to reduce his/her carbon footprint. The content is by no means preachy or condescending - it's an interesting topic made readily accessible to a wide audience.

[joelene · Rating 3 out of 5]

a very 'readable' book about climate change and what we can do on a personal level. it also goes into some of the developing technologies. at the risk of sounding pompous, most of the stuff i had heard before but it was a good comprehensive read and i never bore reading about broecker and his co2 scrubbers.

[Alexis · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were some good points in this book, and it was well organized, but there are better, more interesting book on climate change out there. One of the things that really grated was how the authors would write.... and one of us (David King) accompanied Gordon Brown to a climate change conference.

I found that really annoying. Read "Heat" instead.

[Laycee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very informative book on the scientific, economic and global aspects of global warming. I found the book a slower read just because it's very stats based, however the book is very well organized and serves the purpose as long as the reader is interested in its subject. I would use the book more like a reference when I need to find out some facts of global warming data.

[Natalie]

Clearly stated book that discusses climate change. It is written by two very respected scientists and explains not only the science, but also the technology, the economics, and the politics that are involved with climate change and stopping it. It was extremely informative and changed the way I live my life.

[audstruck · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great handbook on global warming. It's not too long and the authors are able to explain economic, political, and scientific concepts clearly. They do an excellent job of scaring the crud out you while providing viable solutions to the current and looming disasters climate change will bring. If you ever needed a good climate change kick in the pants, this is it.

[Daniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I study Geography at University and much of this was common knowledge to me gained through my academia, however do not let this discourage you. The book itself is very accessible, with some concepts explained in plain English.

Issues the book covers:
*what is climate change
*why/is it happening
*What we can do about it
*The implications of climate change

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard not to make a book like this political and I thought that the authors did an excellent job of trying to keep to that claim. It's inspired me to read more on this issue and keep up to date with the global efforts and responses to tackling this issue for my children's future.

[Gobi Tharmarajah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is unique by itself as not only it provides the background details of the global warming crisis, but it also details the steps we should consider to protect the world from further damages.

Well written, and has a good flow.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Borrowed from the library.

FS: "Before we can start discussing how to get ourselves out of the climate mess, we first need to set out the problem."

LS: "Enough energy to power the entire world's requirements can be collected from the land area contained in these six tiny squares."

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very easy to understand explanation of climate change and what the science is. Explains the difference between weather and climate, which is what most have trouble understanding. A good first read. Not up to date at this point.

[Sir Readalot · Rating 2 out of 5]

On its own terms this isn't a bad book, but when compared to certain other books on climate change it is a bit simple and unsophisticated. In short, if you only have time to read one or two books on the issue, don't read this one.

[Papajack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whew. Opinions, everyone has one. Book has lots of facts, some ideas, but few proven solutions.
A work in progress for us all, for sure....

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Totally convincing and quite compelling. Really changed my thinking in significant ways about an important matter.

[Idiosyncratic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent introduction to the whole global warming/climate change scenario, especially for those (like me) who don't know a heck on a lot.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is some scary stuff in here about global warming, and it effects on the planet and the human race.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually giving it 3.5

[Foreign]

UK: Bill Swainson
US: Andrea Schulz

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0429/p1...