Meltdown: The Predictable Distortion of Global Warming by Scientists, Politicians, and the Media | 
 enlarge | Author: Patrick J. Michaels
Publisher: Cato Institute
Category: Book
List Price: $16.95
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Avg. Customer Rating:  51 reviews
Sales Rank: 34356
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 280
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.9
ISBN: 1930865791
Dewey Decimal Number: 577
EAN: 9781930865792
ASIN: 1930865791
Publication Date: October 25, 2005
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 Patrick Michaels is himself a distorter of science August 12, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
In 1988 James Hansen testified in front of the US Congress about global warming.
He included in his testimony a graph with three possible scenarios on it - three lines on a graph.
The top and bottom lines were said by Hansen to be the least likely scenarios. The middle line was the most plausible scenario, according to Hansen.
Ten years later, Patrick Michaels testified to the US Congress. In this testimony, he produced Hansen's graph, but with the bottom two scenarios totally deleted, thus leaving only the most extreme top scenario. Patrick Michaels then argued that his doctored graph, with the "most plausible scenario" deleted by Michaels, showed that "the forecast made in 1988 was an astounding failure".
Patrick Michaels has a cheek trying to lecture anyone on the distortion of science, after his deliberate distortion of Hansen's views.
 Very professional, but funny, dismantling of Al Gore and his crew July 18, 2008
I have been trying to educate myself about this very complex topic. I have at this point read four books on it, two pro and two con. Thus far, the con books are making more sense to me. I found Singer & Avery's book, Unstoppable Global Warming: Every 1,500 Years to be very good.
I think this book is even better. Singer & Avery argue that the slight level of global warming which we have seen thus far is more compatible with a natural 1,500 warming and cooling trend than it is with the theory of it being caused by greenhouse gases. They make a good case, but they leave two questions in my mind. First, their 1,500 cycle seems rather unpredictable and variable. How do we know that it is happening now, this end of the century? Second, it is clear that the amount of CO2 in the air is increasing. What effect has this had, and what effect is it likely to have? Singer & Avery do not address that point, which leaves me wondering about it.
Micheals has a very different argument than Singer & Avery. First, Micheals is a very different kind of guy. He is a working climatologist. He actually studies this stuff for a living, and he knows the details of this stuff, backwards and forwards. Here is his take, in a nutshell. Increased levels of CO2 have lead to a modest increase in temperature, which will largely be beneficial. From past trends, we have a very good idea how much global warming will increase due to CO2, which is, not much. In short, nothing to worry about here.
Stated baldly like that, there is no reason to believe or disbelieve Micheals' conclusion. But he is not stating an unsupported personal opinion. He gives chapter and verse. He cites study after study, and he methodically takes apart the Al Gore crowd. Micheals' great joy in life is vigorous mockery of unscientific nonsense, and he gives himself free rein in this book. He is actually quite funny; he gets a great deal of humor out of making fun of this stuff.
He also has a long discussion on exactly why science has gotten this whole thing so wrong. HInt: follow the money. There is huge money in scaring the hell out of the taxpayer. Global warming climate modeling has extracted $20 billion from the US taxpayer so far, with no end in sight. That gravy train would end if the public accepted Micheals' view.
I am not 100% persauded, as yet, simply because I do not feel that I have read the A Team from the other side. I have read Al Gore's book and Elizabeth Kolbert's book. Neither one of them struck me as the best work that their side can do. Given what I have seen thus far, Micheals is winning this argument, but I would like to see somebody of his ability and knowledge on the other side before I make up my mind.
 Meltdown brings Facts to light April 20, 2008
As the media and global warming alarmists are changing the term to "climate change" this book captures many scientific facts that clear up the "distortion" presented by greedy government grant scientists who make money off of this so-called crisis. A book well worth reading and easy to understand even for the novice who doesn't know much about the weather.
Great Book, Very Informative April 6, 2008
This is a very thorough, objective analysis of global warming science and the forms of bias that exist within politics and the media. Anyone who is honestly interested in the facts on this subject should read this book!
Outstanding analysis of global warming March 17, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is an impressive, well-researched book. Meltdown is an excellent counterpoint to all the Chicken Little books on global warming. Warning: this is not an easy read, as there are many graphs and charts throughout the books. Michaels shows that while the planet is warming, we are not headed to the end of civilization. I also recommend, as a calm, rational alternative, Bjorn Lomborg's more recent book, Cool It. I especially like the last chapter, as it strongly criticizes the peer-review process that has corrupted science.
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