The Deniers: The World Renowned Scientists Who Stood Up Against Global Warming Hysteria, Political Persecution, and Fraud**And those who are too fearful to do so by Lawrence Solomon
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Book Reviews of The Deniers: The World Renowned Scientists Who Stood Up Against Global Warming Hysteria, Political Persecution, and Fraud**And those who are too fearful to do so
Book Review: Science is the key
Summary: 5 Stars
I found this book to be a very quick read, easily finishing the book in two cross country plane rides. This is true despite the fact that there were many occasions to re-read certain passages and credentials pertaining to the level of accomplishment of the scientists that are profiled within. The author painstakingly documents every important credential of the scientists and mathematicians whose work is the subject of this book and getting through all of this can be a bit of a slog for a layman. Other than credentials this book was easy for me to read and the subject matter was presented in a logical order that told a story of sorts. Each chapter of the book was originally presented as a separate newspaper column but the writing hung together for me throughout the book.
As a lifelong environmentalist, protector of wildlife and outdoor enthusiast, almost nothing is more important to me than the health of our planet. This book lays bare the horrible damage being done today by the Al Gore inspired, UN led effort to stifle scientific discovery across dozens of critical fields of study. We are living through a new, "Spanish Inquisition", and those being burned at the stake are the top scientific minds alive today. This book should be required reading in every political science class in America today, even though the subject is science. Anyone that truly cares about the future of our planet and about the generations to come should read this book.
Book Review: A look from the counter-AlBore angle
Summary: 5 Stars
I found this book a good counter argument to the "consensus view". Mr. Solomon provides a good list of authorative scientists and their work to counteract this charlatan religion.
The book provides a reasonable doubt to the most prevalent theories of AGW.
Whether you are a part of the cult of believers or the cult of deniers this is a most read.
Book Review: EXCELLENT OVERVIEW, THOUGHT PROVOKING
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this book after reading a number of online installments of Solomon's series in the National Post. This book repeats most of that series. Taken together, they give a useful (but not exhaustive by any means) survey of the informed dissent that exists on the question of global climate change.
Solomon's writing is clear and crisp, and I do not detect any sort of agenda at work that would introduce a serious bias. It's true, as one reviewer noted, that Solomon has been a longtime opponent of nuclear energy, and this doubtless colors his outlook. The crucial point on this for me is that regardless of whether nuclear technology at the present technological level is safe or not, opposing it in the 70s and 80s on various technical and ecological grounds was by no means an unprincipled or ignorant stance. My own father was an antinuclear activist, and though I've changed my views on that topic, I respect those who have not.
Solomon touches on some important points regarding the philosophy of science, which to me is ultimately the most interesting aspect of this whole controversy. He acknowledges forthrightly that to some degree, all of our scientific understanding is necessarily based on authority. There's no such thing as pure empiricism, other than possibly as an ideal. His discussion of Karl Popper's theories is a helpful reminder of the fact that knowledge, whatever else it is, has a strong social component--that is, our beliefs are and must be to a large extent socially conditioned.
When I was in graduate school in the 90s there was a lot of discussion about "structuralism" "post-structuralism" and the postmodern critique of scientific objectivity. I found the debates sometimes inspiring, sometimes frustrating, and upsetting. But at least some major epistemological questions were being asked. For various reasons--mostly social and political, I believe--there has been in the last decade a big shift toward what might be called "fundamentalism." By that, I mean there seems to be an easy willingness and even eagerness to embrace an absolutist stance about certain conclusions, and to condemn and exclude dissenters from the consensus as heretics. I personally don't think the level of vitriol against AGW "deniers" can be adequately explained without a broader look at the evolution of intellectual history in the West and the deep underlying currents of thought that have come to the fore of recent. In another generation or two, the current global warming hype, I think, is going to be fodder for a lot of good Ph.D. dissertations on the impact of worldview on scientific belief.
I'll close with one more thought I've had since reading this book. The current dismissal and defamation of global warming "deniers" has a relatively recent precedent. As recently as five years ago, people who questioned the reality of Saddam Hussein's threat to global security, and cast doubt on the wisdom of invading Iraq to alleviate that threat, were often subject to a great deal of vilification. There was a "consensus" and to folks like Dick Cheney, questioning that consensus was irresponsible if not treasonous. It seems to me that Al Gore may be to Global Warming what Dick Cheney was to Weapons of Mass Destruction. Just a thought.
Book Review: Proves that the science is not settled
Summary: 5 Stars
The most powerful weapon that Al Gore has, in support of his theory that human use of fossil fuels is causing catastrophic global warming, is his assertion that "the science is settled." According to Al, no serious scientists disagree with him; everyone who disagrees is a nutcase, or a whore bought and paid for by the oil industry.
This book demolishes that argument. Solomon is a Canadian environmentalist and journalist. In this book, he does not take a position for or against the Al Gore theory. Instead, he gives us facts, about the actual state of scientific opinion. He presents a large number of profiles of prominent scientists who disagree with a significant part of the Al Gore/IPCC theory. In each case, the scientists disagree with Gore, regarding a question within their own expertise. Thus, Gore's claim that no credible scientists disagree with him is not true.
It is more than a lie. It is a threat. When a major politician, such as Gore, with the support he has on the issue says "no one disagrees" what he means is, if you dare to disagree you risk having your funding cut off and your career ended. As this book shows in spades, the science community is divided on the many issues presented by this complex question. There is, however, EXTREMELY heavy political interference in the science. Funding is cut off, tenure is denied and slander campaigns launched against any who dare disagree.
The purpose of this intimidation campaign, of course, is to isolate those who disagree, make them afraid and make them keep their head down. The net result is that, although hundreds, if not thousands, of prominent scientists disagree with Al, Al is able to get away with this brazen lie that "the science is settled" and only kooks disagree.
Solomon is careful not to take a position on the underlying issue. Two things come out loud and clear, however. First, a great deal of the hysteria around this issue is utterly unfounded. There is absolutely no reason to believe, for example, that global warming causes hurricanes. That whole claim is, and always has been, unscientific nonsense. Second, the IPCC -- the UN panel of global warming -- does not follow anything resembling ordinary scientific methods. It does not publish its underlying data. It does not describe its methodology. Thus, none can check its results. It also has a long history of making wild and unfounded claims, which it has later had to quietly retreat from after the "nutcases" pounded it so hard with the facts that it was forced to retreat.
It is possible that some global warming is happening, and it is possible that CO2 emissions have some connection to it. On this issue, however, Al Gore and the IPCC are utterly unreliable; they have permitted science to be so polluted with politics, that their science has no objectivity and should have no credibility.
Book Review: Calm, Thoughtful, and Informative
Summary: 5 Stars
THE DENIERS is a calm, thoughtful, and highly informative consideration of many of the flaws in the man-made Global Warming "scientific consensus" and "settled science" that Al Gore and David Suzuki and the Environmental Movement keep hammering us with. It is presented in the work of leading scientists who have challenged the near-religious dogma and zealous claims of the True Believers. The counter-evidence is revealing, overwhelming. The book even explains in quiet, cogent terms why the Kyoto Accords and their successor requirements would be damaging to the world, particularly the Third World.
I consider this book a must-read for anyone who wants to think for him/herself.