Customer Reviews:
 Brilliant! July 10, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Roy Spencer clearly explains science, its scientific methodology, and its limitations. He also clearly explains "the science" vis-a-vis "global warming" and "climate change". Then, he clearly explains the economics, the politics, the biases, and the religion. Finally, he proposes a prescription.
What real scientists say July 9, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Spencer's book clearly highlights what is known and what is not in climate science. This is the real problem when we try to understand media climate news. Roy Spencer gives us a guide very useful to find the right way avoiding the dangers of consensus science hysteria.
CLIMATE CONFUSION, A GREAT BOOK July 8, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book is very interesting and informative. This man is one of the many climatologists and scientists that do not accept that changes in the earths atmosphere are all the fault of people. He explains why in this book. Read it! Science is not based on consensus. Science is based on facts. Why does Al Gore refuse to debate any of these scientists who do not agree with him? Because he cannot win a debate, that is why, and he knows it! He cannot argue with the facts. All he can do is resort to name calling. He calls them "deniers"! I still can't beleive this un-informed doofus got the peace prize! He spreads lies and gets a prize! Al Gore even admits himself that he is not a scientist! Be informed of facts, not fiction. Read this book!
"When scientists become emotionally attached to a specific theory,you know that more than science is involved." July 8, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
So,what are we all to believe over this hoopla about Global Warming? I have read much material about it and Spencer covers it about as well as anyone can.He shows ,without doubt,that predictions,particularly long term,about weather and particularly climate is far beyond anything resembling science , theories and models available today.
Without a doubt,weather changes as does climate ;but if anyone believes that there is science available to predict it is either fooling themselves or simply jumping on an agenda bandwagon. Spencer covers all the reasons why the hysteria is building;and not the least of the reasons is once again,the almighty buck.Now; that the issue is front and center,huge amounts of money,particularly directed by governments,is just sitting there to be gobbled up as grants to study the problem. The amazing thing is that there is absolutely no accountability on the part of those responsible for this money being spent.There is also absolutely no requirement that there be a return on the investment of these funds and none involved will personally suffer any loss,regardless if the studies prove anything ,one way or another. There have always been such things promoted,but this has to be the "mother of all research bonanzas" because it has limitless avenues to pursue and seemingly endless resources combined with endless researchers and organizations looking for a piece of the action.After reading this book,you will come to the conclusion that after all is said and done,and humongous amounts of money has been spent,that there probably is climate change underway,and why shouldn't there be,climate is always changing,and man's impact on it is probaly infinitesimal,unpredictible and totally non influential.
Spencer asks;"How much will it cost and how much will it help? That is a good question ,especially when it is not even known what "it" is.
If there is anything that you can really count on,it is mankind's ability to adapt and solve problems and continue to reap the benefits of our wonderful planet.There have always been doomsayers predicting the demise of just about everything; and disaster for all, just around the corner.
In my short lifetime ,I can recall a few;
Predictions that the whole iron industry was going to come to an end because we would run out of oak trees to cut down to make charcoal to melt the ore. Guess what? We found coal and oil to do the job.
And what about the predictions about there not being enough rubber tree plantations to make tires for all the vehicles that were on the horizon.Guess what? We invented nylon and synthetic tires; and not only that,rubber tires didn't last much more than 20,000 miles.
More recently,we went hysterical because Acid Rain was going to kill all the trees, and in a few years there would be no more Maple Syrup. Guess what? There are still lots of maple trees and maple syrup.
Then there was Y2K ,wasn't that a dandy! How much did that cost and how much did it help?Who knows?
Then there was the "Population Bomb",with Paul Erlich, and all.In the 60's the world population was 3 Billion and we we were all heading for ruin,There would be mass starving in third world countries like China,if the growth was'nt immediately reversed.Guess what? The population is now 6 Billion,China is now shipping food to America,and rather than starving,obesity is a major problem.Also, China and India have some of the fastest growing economies in the wotld.
Then there was the "Killer Bees"
and
"Bird Flu"
Not to mention several predictions of the World coming to an end -with actual dates ,no less.
The author reaches back to that wonderful sage,Makk Twain,and who wrote in 1874;
"There is something fascinating about science.One gets such wholesale returns of conjecture out of such a trifling investment of fact." Mark Twain could see through it all,way back then,what's our problem?
Thanks for a great book,Roy.
Just keep the words of that great philosopher, Sachel Page, as you face the future,who said something to the effect;
"Don't look back ,the S.O.B.s might be gaining on you!!"
As I' m writing this,I notice they watching Hurricane Bertha off Bermuda,trying to figure what it is going to do.They really don't know. That ought to tell you something.Too bad there's not time to apply for a research grant to study it,'cause there's plenty of researchers waiting and available to accept the funds.
 Free Market Solutions July 7, 2008
1 out of 11 found this review helpful
I didn't care for this book, and I consider myself somewhat skeptical of the claims of man-made global warming. It wasn't so much for all the holes that Roy Spencer poked in the theories, but the solutions he puts forward. He seems to turn to free-market capitalism as the tool for resolving what to do (ie. cost-benefit analysis). After living through two recessions, the dot-com crash, the housing crash and perhaps the soon-to-be commodities crash, it's hard for me to put much faith in free-market capitalism. I'd hate to see what would happen if the earth went through a similar boom and bust due to speculative trading.
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