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Global Warming and Other Eco Myths: How the Environmental Movement Uses False Science to Scare Us to Death

Global Warming and Other Eco Myths: How the Environmental Movement Uses False Science to Scare Us to Death

List Price: $24.95
Your Price: $15.72
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: I actually READ the book!
Review: Having actually read the book, unlike most of the reviewers in this list that have not cracked its covers or turned a single page, I think that my review should carry some weight.

First, global warming is almost certainly due to macroenvironmental factors that are not due to human activity. This is widely documented from everything from studies of glacial gase entrapment to ocean sediments.

Second, wide variations in climatic conditions are the NORM. Thus the current period of global warming, that has continued since the Little Ice Age several hundreds years ago (and centuries before CO2 emissions from human activity were a factor) can not be thought of as a radical departure from normal climatic change.

Third, Carl Sagan wrote of a "baloney detector" that we should use when evaluating science. One of the surest signs of baloney is the "reducto ad hominum" argument. True, "only" two PHDs were involved in this book (there are countless books by a SINGLE PHD that are not attacked in this manner) but that is not the fault of the book. Also true, the book is sponsored by a pro-development group, but there are countless books by environmental groups that are not debased solely by that connection. Finally, most of the science is fully footnoted and you are able to check their conclusions. This is not true of most of the environmental movements polemics.

On the whole the book is readable and does not insult a laymans intelligence. The sources and bibliography are valuable for those that wish to take an honest inquiry further.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Radicals!
Review: Hmmm...A panel of UN scientists has already warned low-lying nations about the dangers of global warming. Even the Bush Administration mentioned it this year -- a first for the executive branch.
UN and George Bush fear mongering radicals?

Only if you also believe in black helicopters.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A Good Response from the 'Other Side'
Review: I have an open mind about all the subjects dealt with in this book and therefore found reading it very worthwile. Yes, the authors are from what one could call the 'other side' as they make no bones about directly attacking what the authors call 'ideological environmentalism'. However, the book is well written given the number of authors involved and clearly presents their arguments and information.

The book covers such topics as global warming, sustainable development, biotechnology, chemicals/pollutants and the environment, population, et. al. that should be of interest to everyone.

The strength of the book is the attempt to bring scientific research and data to bear on these important and sensitive issues and the policies that exist or that have been promoted to deal with them. This approach is very much needed and the authors should be commended for their work, regardless of where you might stand on any of the issues. We need reasoned debate.

The authors do engage in some of their own political poking at those they don't agree with and do resort to the straw man approach using 40 year old books and articles as the straw man and they do also use statistics in ways ranging from acceptable to somewhat dubious that present their case in the strongest possible light. They do ignore certain issues such as biodiversity where positive data (their obvious preference) is not available to support their strong optimism that markets and science have and will benefit humanity and solve all its problems. However, this political and economic perspective is to be expected from the American Enterprise Institute and is not presented in a too polemical tone.

Overall this book is comprehensive in its coverage, informative, well referenced and thought provoking, and therefore I can highly recommend it for those seriously and dispassionately interested in understanding these issues better.

I do not agree with certain of their analyses or use of statistics or all of their underlying philosophy but I commend them again for providing a sane and reasoned book that gives me the opportunity to study, analyse, raise questions, search references and become better informed.

Lets not shoot all the messengers or we can't discuss anything serious anymore.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Unacceptable!
Review: I have been reading up on global warming, pro, con and other. Though this book is slight and warming is but one topic, I have discovered its real flaw (one that applies to this and many similar books) - its conclusions are unacceptable. Not that they are arguable, provable, true, untrue, but rather they are unacceptable to the correct thinking folks who just love the idea of "crisis!" Everything is a "crisis" and I conclude that "Global Warming - the Crisis!" is largely, not exclusively, that.

Huge ice ages, warming trends, weather shifts, desertification and extinctions all occurred long before we climbed down out of the trees. Our contribution is miniscule and that is the fact. Sorry, no major funding for the "crisis" mongers.


Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Wonderful Book!
Review: I have not actually read (or even laid eyes on) this book. Nevertheless, I'm going to review it. Since I agree with its conclusions, (a statement I'm sure you'll accept as rational and intelligent, notwithstanding my initial admission), I think the book is simply wonderful! It is the best thing on the topic that I've ever never read! I now draw your attention to the very negative reviews of this book. Do you think those reviewers have read (or even laid eyes on) the book?

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Extroidinarily Average
Review: I have not read this book but I find its conclussions confusing and reasonable. As a radical moderate myself I think the over arching theme of this book is important to the well being of mankind and ant farms everywhere. In no time in the past has it been like this because that was then and this is now. In the future it will be different, yet the same. Perhaps through the thoughtful critiques others have given this book in the past we can all arrive at the same destination: An Environmental Friendly McDonald's!

Would you like non-beef 0 nutrition celery fries with that dolphin safe, tofu McTuna?

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: This Book is Total Nonsense
Review: I highly recommend this book to anybody who wishes to continue to ignore the pollution and destruction of our environment and not feel any guilt. The basic message of the author is: continue to be greedy consumers blindly led by American Corporations. There are huge flaws in Bailey's argument and logic. It is especially sad to me that this book is the bestseller in the environmental section: it just emphasizes the greed of Americans.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: I read it too
Review: I read this book with an open mind. Like most people I have been brainwashed over the years about global warming and the environmental crisis. This book was quite the eye opener.
I wish I coujld have given it 5 stars to combat all the negative reviews by those who have never even seen a copy, but I thought "The Satanic Gasses" gave a better perspective on the psuedoscience surrounding the issue.
This is better if you are looking for some good talking points on the issue.
The book is well referenced and no one should have any trouble checking out the sources. I felt the book let enough to your own imagination where the reader could form their own opinions.
It is an easy read without too many deep technical discussions to spare those poor unfortunate victims of public education from having to think too hard. But then most of them would never be caught dead reading a book like his.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Good Statistics Book
Review: I use the book as a supplement for my statistics and QA classes. Good book and I would really recommend it.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Bailey has something to gain
Review: I would recommend that before you read this book, remember that those environmentalists don't have anything to gain from protecting the planet and its inhabitants. "Competitive Enterprise", however, has a great deal to profit from undermining the "few" regulations conscientious scientists have fought for. Baily's claim that environmentalists are trying to scare us to death is pathetic. What's more pathetic is that people believe what they hear and read without questioning motives, profits, sponsors, endorsements...


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