"The Discovery of Global Warming."..tells a marvelous story that is
far more complex than the title indicates. This book is not just
the history of the study of rising atmospheric [carbon dioxide]
concentrations, global warming, and associated politics. In
addition, it is the history of climate science in a much broader
sense, and how climate science grew out of diverse fields such as
meteorology, astrophysics, and oceanography. The book provides not
only a superb summary of the history of this field, but also
outlines the path that led the science of global change into the
political arena...I have nothing but praise for "The Discovery of
Global Warming." It is concise, well written, and delightful to
read. For the non-scientist, there is much to be gained by reading
this book. At the same time, a person with a scientific background
and some knowledge of this subject matter will also enjoy the
book...The book is marvelously referenced, so the interested reader
can easily go back into t
"The Discovery of Global Warming" incorporates a vast amount of
information into a short, readable and punchy narrative. It is an
excellent introduction to the subject for the non-specialist and
the academic reader alike. In addition, the companion online
project will doubtless prove an invaluable resource to the
field.--Piers J. Hale "BJHS "
["The Discovery of Global Warming"] is a well-written,
well-researched and well-balanced account of the issues
involved...This is not a sermon for the faithful, or verses from
Revelation for the evangelicals, but a serious summary for those
who like reasoned argument. Read it--and be converted.--John
Emsley"Times Literary Supplement" (12/12/2003)
A soberly written synthesis of science and politics.--Gilbert
Taylor"Booklist" (08/01/2003)
Charting the evolution and confirmation of the theory [of global
warming], Spencer R. Weart, director of the Center for the History
of Physics of the American Institute of Physics, dissects the
interwoven threads of research and reveals the political and
societal subtexts that colored scientists' views and the public
reception their work received.--Andrew C. Revkin"New York Times
Book Review" (10/05/2003)
I was very pleasantly surprised to find that Spencer Weart's
account provides much valuable and interesting material about how
the discipline developed--not just from the perspective of climate
science but also within the context of the field's relation to
other scientific disciplines, the media, political trends, and even
20th-century history (particularly the Cold War). In addition,
Weart has done a valuable service by recording for posterity
background information on some of the key discoveries and
historical figures who contributed to our present understanding of
the global warming problem.--Thomas J. Crowley"Science"
(04/30/2004)
It is almost two centuries since the French mathematician Jean
Baptiste Fourier discovered that the Earth was far warmer than it
had any right to be, given its distance from the Sun...Spencer
Weart's book about how Fourier's initially inconsequential
discovery finally triggered urgent debate about the future
habitability of the Earth is lucid, painstaking and commendably
brief, packing everything into 200 pages.--Fred Pearce"The
Independent" (11/12/2003)
The evolution of the climate question from science to politics and
back and forth has been the subject of surprisingly few in-depth
treatments...Spencer Weart's "The Discovery of Global Warming" goes
a long way toward rectifying this situation. Weart...is most
effective at laying out the early scientific developments, and
discussing how scientists moved the issue onto governmental
research agendas...Weart highlights the importance of the actions
of networks of scientist in constructing a bridge form science to
policy on an arcane issue of no apparent urgency to the general
public. He correctly points to the key leadership role of Swedish
climatologist Bert Bolin in shepherding his colleagues toward
consensus, beginning in the late 1960s. Weart's exploration of the
science-policy interaction in the 1970s, which focused largely on
increasing support for research, is thorough... One of the most
useful features of this book is the timeline of events following
the last chapter...The clear v
This is a terrific book...Perhaps the finest compliment I could
give this book is to report that I intend to use it instead of my
own book...for my climate class. "The Discovery of Global Warming"
is more up-to-date, better balanced historically, beautifully
written and, not least important, short and to the point. I think
the [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change] needs to enlist a
few good historians like Weart for its next assessment.--Stephen H.
Schneider"Nature" (01/15/2004)
This short, well-written book by a science historian at the
American Institute of Physics adds a serious voice to the
overheated debate about global warming and would serve as a great
starting point for anyone who wants to better understand the
issue.--Maureen Christie"American Scientist" (03/01/2004)
Weart has done us all a service by bringing the discovery of global
warming into a short, compendious and persuasive book for a general
readership. He is especially strong on the early days and the
scientific background.--Crispin Tickell"Times Higher Education
Supplement" (04/16/2004)
"The Discovery of Global Warming"tells a marvelous story that is
far more complex than the title indicates. This book is not just
the history of the study of rising atmospheric [carbon dioxide]
concentrations, global warming, and associated politics. In
addition, it is the history of climate science in a much broader
sense, and how climate science grew out of diverse fields such as
meteorology, astrophysics, and oceanography. The book provides not
only a superb summary of the history of this field, but also
outlines the path that led the science of global change into the
political arenaI have nothing but praise for "The Discovery of
Global Warming," It is concise, well written, and delightful to
read. For the non-scientist, there is much to be gained by reading
this book. At the same time, a person with a scientific background
and some knowledge of this subject matter will also enjoy the
bookThe book is marvelously referenced, so the interested reader
can easily go back into the original scientific literature and find
the papers discussed here. As an added bonus (and this is a big
bonus), "The Discovery of Global Warming" also has a phenomenal
companion web site, with two-dozen essays interconnected by several
hundred hyperlinks, along with over 1,000 historical and scientific
references not included in the book. -- David J. Burdige "Limnology
and Oceanography Bulletin"
global warming theory, including the internal conflicts plaguing
the research community and the role government has had in promoting
climate studies.
historians like Weart for its next assessment.
hyperlinks, along with over 1,000 historical and scientific
references not included in the book.
non-specialist and the academic reader alike. In addition, the
companion online project will doubtless prove an invaluable
resource to the field.
posterity background information on some of the key discoveries and
historical figures who contributed to our present understanding of
the global warming problem.
research and reveals the political and societal subtexts that
colored scientists' views and the public reception their work
received.
Fourier's initially inconsequential discovery finally triggered
urgent debate about the future habitability of the Earth is lucid,
painstaking and commendably brief, packing everything into 200
pages.
Revelation for the evangelicals, but a serious summary for those
who like reasoned argument. Read it--and be converted.
"The Discovery of Global Warming.".. tells a marvelous story that
is far more complex than the title indicates. This book is not just
the history of the study of rising atmospheric [carbon dioxide]
concentrations, global warming, and associated politics. In
addition, it is the history of climate science in a much broader
sense, and how climate science grew out of diverse fields such as
meteorology, astrophysics, and oceanography. The book provides not
only a superb summary of the history of this field, but also
outlines the path that led the science of global change into the
political arena... I have nothing but praise for "The Discovery of
Global Warming." It is concise, well written, and delightful to
read. For the non-scientist, there is much to be gained by reading
this book. At the same time, a person with a scientific background
and some knowledge of this subject matter will also enjoy the
book... The book is marvelously referenced, so the interested
reader can easily go back into the original scientific literature
and find the papers discussed here. As an added bonus (and this is
a big bonus), "The Discovery of Global Warming" also has a
phenomenal companion web site, with two-dozen essays interconnected
by several hundred hyperlinks, along with over 1,000 historical and
scientific references not included in the book. -- David J. Burdige
"Limnology and Oceanography Bulletin"
Ý"The Discovery of Global Warming"¨ is a well-written,
well-researched and well-balanced account of the issues
involved...This is not a sermon for the faithful, or verses from
Revelation for the evangelicals, but a serious summary for those
who like reasoned argument. Read it--and be converted. -- John
Emsley "Times Literary Supplement" (12/12/2003)
It took a century for scientists to agree that gases produced by
human activity were causing the world to warm up. Now, in an
engaging book that reads like a detective story, physicist Weart
reports the history of global warming theory, including the
internal conflicts plaguing the research community and the role
government has had in promoting climate studies.
"The Discovery of Global Warming... tells a marvelous story that is
far more complex than the title indicates. This book is not just
the history of the study of rising atmospheric [carbon dioxide]
concentrations, global warming, and associated politics. In
addition, it is the history of climate science in a much broader
sense, and how climate science grew out of diverse fields such as
meteorology, astrophysics, and oceanography. The book provides not
only a superb summary of the history of this field, but also
outlines the path that led the science of global change into the
political arena... I have nothing but praise for "The Discovery of
Global Warming. It is concise, well written, and delightful to
read. For the non-scientist, there is much to be gained by reading
this book. At the same time, a person with a scientific background
and some knowledge of this subject matter will also enjoy the
book... The book is marvelously referenced, so the interested
reader can easily go back into the original scientific literature
and find the papers discussed here. As an added bonus (and this is
a big bonus), "The Discovery of Global Warming also has a
phenomenal companion web site, with two-dozen essays interconnected
by several hundred hyperlinks, along with over 1,000 historical and
scientific references not included in the book.
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