An Inconvenient Truth: The Planetary Emergency of Global Warming and What We Can Do About It

Book review by Jane
I have read books I couldn’t put down, but it is rare to read one I can’t put down after I’ve finished it. This book is very well illustrated with pictures and graphs that draw you into the book after reading it, or before reading it for that matter. I am reviewing a copy I got from the library, but I am ordering one for myself, plus An Inconvenient Truth, the documentary that was made to go with this book. I already believed in global warming before I read the book. It has compelling evidence for the phenomenon both through before and after pictures and scientific research. But what the book did give me that I didn’t have much of before was hope that things can change in time for my grandchildren and their children. Al Gore had a positive voice in this book and emphasized that people have faced great challenges in the past with good results. He used examples from history, such as fighting slavery and stopping chlorofluorocarbons from further damaging the ozone layer.

I happened to read this book right when it is time to go out and buy new light bulbs. So I will buy the energy efficient ones now. There is a chapter on what you can do to improve your carbon emissions. It contains numerous Web sites--I can’t list all of them here.

The book has made me think that I need to focus more on helping to educate my grandchildren in environmental topics. We will have to get out and enjoy the outdoors and appreciate it, which is what Mr. Gore credits for his activism in the environmental issues. Plus, I will have to teach my grandchildren what I know and learn along with them as well. Not now, but at some point, this book would be good to share with them.

There are several chapters that deal with Mr. Gore’s politics and personal life, of course in the context of the book, but also giving a little history on how he became interested in politics and why he has been pursuing environmental causes.

Mr. Gore does explain some of the politics behind the reasons for ignoring global warming, and some of the things that have been in place politically. Some readers may find that controversial, but some day, everyone has to wake up. It seems like in the last State of the Union address, even the White House is waking up some, as the President acknowledged climate change.

I have seen some of the Web sites and articles that debunk this book as junk science, but from what I understand, the documentary has been nominated for an Oscar, and Mr. Gore has been nominated for the Nobel Peace prize. Anyway, the Nobel Peace prize certainly gives credibility to the effort and the Oscar gives prestige. I don’t keep up with either like I should, but I will be watching the news about it.

Jane.