In Storms of My Grandchildren, James Hansen—the nation's leading scientist on climate issues—speaks out for the first time with the full truth about global warming: the planet is hurtling even more rapidly than previously acknowledged to a climatic point of no return. Although Hansen was Al Gore's science adviser for the 2006 documentary An Inconvenient Truth, his recent data shows that our situation is even more dire today. But politicians haven't made the connection between the policy and the science. Hansen shows why Gore's solution—cap and trade—won't work, why we must phase out all coal, and why 350 ppm of carbon is a goal we must achieve in the next two decades if our children and grandchildren are to avoid global meltdown and the storms of the book's title. This urgent manifesto bucks conventional wisdom (including the Kyoto Protocol) and is sure to stir controversy, but Hansen—whose climate predictions have come to pass again and again, beginning in the 1980s when he first warned Congress about global warming—is the single most credible voice on the subject worldwide. Hansen paints a devastating but all-too-realistic picture of what will happen in the near future, mere years and decades from now, if we follow the course we're on. But he is also an optimist, showing that there is still time to do what we need to save the planet. Urgent, strong action is needed, and this book, released just before the Copenhagen Conference in December 2009, will be key in setting the agenda going forward to create a groundswell, a tipping point, to save humanity from a dire fate more imminent than we had supposed.
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"I read the Kindle version, which is probably not the best format for this book as it has a lot of charts and graphs which are hard to see on Kindle. Nevertheless, the content of this book is fascinating and helps to make sense of the question of global warming. James Hansen comes across as a sincere scientist who wants to avert disaster by getting the message out soon enough. The science and writing style is sometimes a little hard to follow at times, but despite this I understood a great deal of what he was saying and felt this was a worthwhile read for anyone who wants to understand more about this issue." — Lyle (4 out of 5 stars)
"I read the Kindle version, which is probably not the best format for this book as it has a lot of charts and graphs which are hard to see on Kindle. Nevertheless, the content of this book is fascinating and helps to make sense of the question of global warming. James Hansen comes across as a sincere scientist who wants to avert disaster by getting the message out soon enough. The science and writing style is sometimes a little hard to follow at times, but despite this I understood a great deal of what he was saying and felt this was a worthwhile read for anyone who wants to understand more about this issue."
Hansen gives us the opportunity to watch a scientist who is sick of silence and compromise; a scientist at the breaking point.
" This is a powerful book to read. This definitely made me feel the need to investigate and get more active in climate change discussion (and action). It was very readable, and overall well laid out. Some aspects of the book felt a bit redundant, and there were a few diversions throughout the text. The personable writing style (and even apologies for diversions) and urgency of the climate issues raised made it forgivable. "
" Hansen's presentation in the late eighties using what was state of the art for that time has been vindicated. This is necessary reading. "
" Great info, not the best writing. That is to be expected from a a career scientist I suppose. Basically unless drastic action is taken immediately the world is doomed. There is too much money in the system for drastic action to ever happen, hence doom. "
" The science was a bit tedious at times but glad that I got through it. No such thing as clean coal. We must do something to ensure a future for our children and grandchildren. It's still not too late, but the window of opportunity is closing. "
" Very well written and includes a lot of good scientific information from the author himself; former NASA scientist and world's leading climatologist. A rude awakening to what's really going on outside the bubble people live in today. "
" I just looked it up and Atlanta is 1050 ft. about sea level. So I have that going for me. "
" If you only read one book about climate change, this should be it. I skimmed some of the technical parts but the message came through loud and clear. The author's Ted Talk is a great, non-technical synopsis of the books themes. "
" I wish I could say I feel any better about our situation, but I don't. Hansen did a great job of laying it all out though, even if he did get a little technical and dry at times. But, this is science after all. "
" Good review of why coal is a no-compromise issue. "
" As a climate scientist, the book did not tell me anything new about the science, yet the inside history of the developments was quite enjoyable. Must read for everyone involved in climate science... "
" What an eye-opener! A book that everyone should read. Hansen does a wonderful job of explaining the perils of our earth do to the burning of fossil fuels. "
" Hansen is a scientist turned modern day prophet. Must read for anyone who cares about the future of our world and her children. "
" Everyone--especially the doubters--needs to read this book. "
" A book by a NASA scientist FOR a NASA scientist!! yikes "
" Brilliant and important man with an urgent message; I give five stars for what he has to say. Unfortunately, he is not the most engaging writer and the first few chapters that deal with technical matters are a bit dry and that draged my overall rating down a bit. "
" Key point :The solution to the climate problem requires a phasedown of carbon pollution, not necessarily a phasedown of energy use - James Hansen "
" A vivid illustration of how urgent the issue of climate change is, and why scientists need someone else to write their books for them to get the message across. Dry. And deadly accurate. "
" Great book by THE MAN on climate change. A solid background in earth science is helpful and knowing a bit about heat transfer would help too. It's not a light read, but there are enough personal stories and other anecdotes to keep workload manageable. "
Dr. James Hansen is best known for bringing global warming to the world’s attention in the 1980s, when he first testified before Congress. An adjunct professor in the department of earth and environmental sciences at Columbia University and at Columbia’s Earth Institute, and director of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, he is frequently called to testify before Congress on climate issues. Dr. Hansen’s background in both space and earth sciences allows a broad perspective on the status and prospects of our home planet. Storms of My Grandchildren is his first book.
John Allen Nelson’s critically acclaimed roles on television’s 24 and Vanished are among the highlights of his twenty-five-plus years as an actor, screenwriter, and film producer. As a narrator, he won an AudioFile Earphones Award for his reading of Zoo Story by Thomas French.
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