This Is Climate Change: A Visual Guide to the Facts―See for Yourself How the Planet Is Warming and What It Means for Us

by David Nelles, Christian Serrer

The essential, all-in-one guide to climate change—packed with easy-to-understand infographics on all the latest scientific findings This Is Climate Change cuts straight to the facts, using infographics on every page to make the reality about our warming planet plain to see. How much do humans contribute to global warming? What do ever-more-frequent storms and floods mean for our homes, forests, coastlines, and crops? And what is happening to our oceans (beyond rising sea levels)? Corroborated by over 100 scientists, This Is Climate Change captures the scope of the present crisis without glossing over the nuance or what we don’t know. This is an urgent examination of the state of our precious, precarious planet—in pictures.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Climate Change

128 pages, Hardcover

Published September 14, 2021

Reviews

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Climate Change is an excellent introductory text to all things climate change for both youngsters and adults and includes answers to questions you wouldn't expect to be in here. Using an amalgamation of statistics, facts and illustrative graphs and charts, this is a fascinating and quite comprehensive guide to one of the hottest topics of our time. From the greenhouse effect to the role of volcanoes, from melting ice to extreme weather phenomena, this indispensable guide to climate change is the one of the few texts that fully and comprehensively explain what is happening to the Earth. This illustrated manual will answer all your questions about climate change. What are the specific origins of climate change?

How much do we humans contribute to global warming? What impact does climate change have on our health? Written by university students David Nelles and Christian Serrer, it answers these and many other questions in a simple, entertaining and direct way so that young and old learn about the causes and consequences of the phenomenon, its effects on people and the environment and even how we can respond to the climate emergency. This full colour illustrated title is endorsed by more than a hundred scientific experts in the field, has become a best-seller in Germany and its authors, two recognized figures in climate activism. It is an accessible, fascinating and thoroughly informative read from start to finish. Highly recommended.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who struggles with picking up and finishing non-fiction books, I really enjoyed the size and scale of this little book about climate change. It is a tricky thing to publish a book about, especially with the ongoing research into what the final consequences of our actions are. Having this book lying around was a conversation starter, which meant people could pick it up and skim through a few pages.

Given my exposure to a few college-level environmental engineering courses, I thought some of the data was a little cherry-picked to show the most dramatic trends. However, I appreciate the QR code bibliography for the sources so readers can do their own research. I'm not sure who this book was intended for, but I enjoyed it.

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful and quick overview of all of the science of climate change: what is causing it, how will it affect us and the planet, what is being done.

It lacks any political discussion or bias, just presents straight facts. It is clear when noting uncertainty or the difficulties in accurate predictions, as well as in presenting concrete information.

Despite its short length it touches nearly every aspect of climate change’s effects. However, because it is so short there were a few of the more advanced science sections that I was still a bit confused on after reading. That said, they provide plenty of sources and the book is an excellent jumping point for learning about climate change!

I also found the simple illustrations to perfectly complement the text.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and The Experiment for an advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

What is climate change? What is true and what's just a hoax? With the help of this book, it's time to get the facts, with a few diagrams to help interpret what's really happening.

Though the language in this book can feel a bit inaccessible, this is overall a great resource. Once you get past some academic language, there is a lot broken down here. This book addresses what climate change actually looks like, what makes it better, what makes it worse, and who (and what) is affected by it. This is the perfect gift for the nonbelievers in your life!

[Jeff Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really great, but simple look at the hard facts about climate change. There's no opinion here - just a straightforward approach to helping people understand what is actually happening with climate change.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great information on climate change with images and charts as well as text.

[Taylor · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had to read this non-fiction text for an upcoming PD on Climate Change. While it was pretty boring, I would recommend it as an introductory text for Climate Change. It’s a quick read and I did learn a bit of new information.

[Kaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is Climate Change is page after page of facts, charts and graphs explaining climate change. It is broken into sections that include: The Earth's Climate, Possible Causes of Climate Change, The Cryosphere, The Oceans, Weather and Climate Extremes, Ecosystems and Humans. It reads almost as a slide show presentation to scholars. Some areas were easier to understand like the effects on eco systems. Spring is arriving a couple days earlier, hummingbirds migrate earlier because of warming etc. I also can understand raising the earth's climate temperature (not weather temp) can damage oceans, farming etc. Everything is presented as fact with very little to emphasis on how we as everyday people can change the climate trajectory. I drive a hybrid vehicle and try to reduce my carbon footprint but there were very few other helpful suggestions. Also because everything is presented as a fact there is no counter argument to what is presented. This is an informative 126 page book. Thank you to NetGalley and the authors for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

[Angel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quick impressions: The book does offer some good infographics, but they vary in how undestandable they are. Some of the graphics can be quite complex for average readers. Yes the book does offer accurate and up to date (as of this book) information on climate change. However, the text at times can also be fairly complex and even inaccessible. To be honest, this was not an interesting reading. It felt more like a chore to read.

(Full review on my blog later)

[Elie AbouMelhem · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy digest with amazing infographics, graphs, tables and some pictures, making it easier to understand the message to be delivered. However, I found so many ideas about the causes of global warming and climate change to be based on assumptions more than actual facts or trends. I understand that measuring the accurate causes and impacts is difficult to achieve (similar to weather and economy forecasts) and I know that we should raise the red flag on the human activities and behaviours toward the environment, but the facts should still be within the scientific framework. I particularly felt that chapter 5 (weather and climate extremes) was unnecessarily added. In general, acceptable book but not on par with "An Inconvenient Truth". It doesn't have that powerful impact and approach as Al Gore' slides (regardless of politics).

[TammyJo Eckhart · Rating 2 out of 5]

When a book claims to be a visual guide, don't you expect the information to primarily be conveyed through images or at least graphics and charts? That's what I expected and i was disappointed. Most of the information is textual, text explaining what the images should be showing on their own and text just proving information period. That text is small because the book is small. The images are fairly simple or tend toward graphs and maps more than what I was hoping to see. The result is sadly not a book that would do much to convince a visual learner. Frankly, some of the seemingly contradictory text at points will only add weight to climate deniers. Deeply disappointing.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I love the idea of this book (compact with lots of info graphics) I wasn't exactly thrilled with the execution and in turn the readability. Despite it's size it's pretty packed with facts, but I don't like how they handle the info graphics. Since the book is small in size the graphics are squeezed down too small to appreciate and/or be legible. And while they try to point you to certain parts of the illustrations by telling you to look for a corresponding number, they actually change the color and style of the number from the text to the illustration which actually makes it more difficult to find. I wish I could upload a picture to help prove my point.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review
I loved this book loads! I love how it is really short and to the point. It gives you amazing chunks of. valuable information that isn't too complex to understand, plus the outstanding visuals that help you further understand.
Lesson
"The future of the climate is in our hands, and it is up to us to limit global warming and its consequences"
Recommend?
YES YES YES YES YES

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

"This Is Climate Change" presents a breadth of climate change topics through simple graphics and concise statements. The presentation will appeal to a wide audience and is appropriate for people with all different levels of climate science knowledge.

Some images did not have good contrast, making them difficult to read. Sources are provided through a QR code instead of in the text, which I found disappointing.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

[Macaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an informative read without being overwhelming. The illustrations help explain points for easier understanding. An excellent choice for those who want to understand the effect of climate change but aren’t scientists or economists, like myself. Don’t be deceived by the book’s short length, there is a lot of information on its pages.

[Ann Straight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast infographic on understanding Climate Change and how it affects humans. I did not learn much new but it was a good review and probably is a clear understanding to people trying to understand why a rise in temperature can be both destructive and expensive.

[Beth Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clear and simple examination of climate change and the factors contributing to the changes we are seeing in our ecosystems. Wish everyone would take the time to read this book. There is no angle here, no massaging of data.

[Reggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read with lots of graphics detailing climate change. Interesting, but depressing.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick and easy to read book that covers a broad spectrum of climate challenges. It’s facts and figures mostly and provides a good, albeit simplistic overview.

[Alex Bonis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed it!

[Marisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative!

[Lola · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a great and concise book to gain basic but important knowledge about climate change

[Marina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best and most comprehensive beginners guide to understanding climate change.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a great introduction to the key concepts, and chemical and physical processes driving human-caused climate change.
A fantastic book to read with your children, of any age!

[Lilly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is alright for a kid or someone who just wants a review of the basics of climate change, but for an adult who really wants to learn, I wouldn’t recommend this one.

[Grace Becken · Rating 4 out of 5]

nice quick read/skim. interesting info and will for sure look at again

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

A new Gospel, for a new Era, starting a new Normal.