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Rating: 
Summary: Much ado about nothing
Review: Houghton writes well, of course, but his book misses the actual point of the global warming debate. Global warming is probably not man-made. It matters little how many arguments for this view can be amassed, what matters is that the evidence against anthropogenic climate influence is studiously ignored.A book should strive to tell the truth. The truth does not come through if it is avoided. The author should have been careful to meet all arguments against belief in anthropogenetic climate alteration, but chose not to. That is cheap and less than honest, intellectually and otherwise. The book does not even give alternatives a chance to be reviewed, nor does it accept the fact that the minority view normally tends to be the correct one in scientific matters. These are not popularity contests. A majority of scientists believe that...etc. That is horsemanure. The truth matters, not a democratic majority, for in the end truth should be all that matters. Most ground breaking scientists were a woeful minority consisting of themselves. Yet they were often right. In fact, this book simply misleads rather than educates, which is a shame.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Science made intelliglble
Review: I am not a climatologist - I studied physics and math - but it is clear that this man is an expert in his field. The book was very favorably reviewed by other climatologists and is convincing if you have the patience to follow the science. it is not "for Dummies" but looks very solid. Highly recommended if you don't mind charts and scientific explanations. If you can read Scientific Amercian you will find this an easy read.
The conclusions are very objectively understated which only makes them more scary:
1 billion people displaced by floods and rising seas from some of earth's most fertile areas; increasingly violent, larger and more frequent storms; a new ice age for northern Europe; the American midwest and California's Central Valley becoming desert; major edible fish supplies running out; massive flooding of areas that have never been flooded before; major river arteries like the Mississippi and Missouri no longer being navigable.
For an example of what man can do to affect climate, take a look at Tuscon, AZ. Before whites started intensive grazing after 1860 it was grassy, with humid Summers and temperatures in the 80s. After grazing denuded the grass, it became the desert it is now with Summer temperatures over 100 by morning and periodic flash flooding. Nothing grows there now except cactus.
The species that humans are currently endangering with their "head in the sand" approach is [...] sapiens, but after that species is gone things will return to normal. Stupidity is not a survival trait.
Rating:
Summary: Much Ado About A Lot
Review: I'm tired of hearing terribly misguided opinions from Flat Earthers. Global warming is human made. It's quite simple - we use our atmosphere as a sewer. As a species, we rather argue about how many angels are on the head of a pin than doing something constructive in the real world. Just like centuries ago when the popular view was the earth was flat, so too are those with a political, or even religious agenda, whom will insist: the "sky's not falling." Global warming is perfectly natural; there's nothing significant the human race can do to stop the inevitable. The Kyoto Treat, etc. is a waste of time and money; continue using our atmosphere as a sewer. To sum it all up: its business as usual!
Sir John Houghton's book is not confusing. Anyone with a decent high school education will be able to understand him with ease. This book is current, its in a Third Edition. The number of pages have expanded significantly from the First Edition. I especially like how the book is divided into numerous chapters for those of us who don't read in a linear fashion. Last, but not least, the author has extensive scientific and political credentials ranging from Chief Executive of the United Kingdom's Meteorological Office to the Chairmen of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution! He's not affected, one iota, by the flat earthers here in the States. He doesn't need to defend himself for being biased. He has the credentials. Good science exists independently of political or religious agendas. The earth's not flat, we as a species do not have to wait for the "sky to fall" before taking collective responsibility for treating our atmosphere with the respect it deserves! It belongs to all of us, not just to polluting corporations and governments!
Rating: 
Summary: confusing
Review: This is the first book I have read on global warming. Sir John Houghton has provided a carefully written account, with good explanations, fairly thorough referencing, and informative charts and figures. The subject of global warming is presented from a multifaceted perspective, with both informative factual material as well as elements of a personal perspective, introduced in a non-forceful but persuasive manner. The book is aimed at those who know little about climatology or global warming. It will help to have some general scientific background. The pertinent facts - how much we have increased the atmosphere's CO2 concentration, in what way this gas effects the earth's energy balance, etc. - are available here, and the information is referenced to primary scientific sources. The prognosis for a warming of the atmosphere is gently asserted in the affirmative, but the uncertainties are also presented. Without being a climatologist, I found most of my qestions of this nature were answered. The only point I was curious about but found missing was what recent changes in glaciers tell us about the present tendency of global temperature. After presenting the data, the models and arguing gently for a moderate warming tendency, Houghton presents several nice chapters on effects (potentially severe) and responses to the problem, with a particular emphasis on energy. The suggested responses leave one with the sense that Houghton is an optimist. He incites to action, where it is hard to imagine today's politicians asking us to change our habits so fundamentally. This book is stimulating, both on the subject of global warming (whether or not it is occurring, how much, what is our role), as well as on the potential consequences and suitable responses. Considering that a response is advisable - a point of view which Houghton advances - one is left with a sense of the large scale of the responses which are necessary to reverse the accumulation of CO2: is mankind's ability to improvise its way out of a fix capable of dealing with a problem whose solution would require changes of this magnitude?
Rating:
Summary: Informative and stimulating overview of global warming issue
Review: This is the first book I have read on global warming. Sir John Houghton has provided a carefully written account, with good explanations, fairly thorough referencing, and informative charts and figures. The subject of global warming is presented from a multifaceted perspective, with both informative factual material as well as elements of a personal perspective, introduced in a non-forceful but persuasive manner. The book is aimed at those who know little about climatology or global warming. It will help to have some general scientific background. The pertinent facts - how much we have increased the atmosphere's CO2 concentration, in what way this gas effects the earth's energy balance, etc. - are available here, and the information is referenced to primary scientific sources. The prognosis for a warming of the atmosphere is gently asserted in the affirmative, but the uncertainties are also presented. Without being a climatologist, I found most of my qestions of this nature were answered. The only point I was curious about but found missing was what recent changes in glaciers tell us about the present tendency of global temperature. After presenting the data, the models and arguing gently for a moderate warming tendency, Houghton presents several nice chapters on effects (potentially severe) and responses to the problem, with a particular emphasis on energy. The suggested responses leave one with the sense that Houghton is an optimist. He incites to action, where it is hard to imagine today's politicians asking us to change our habits so fundamentally. This book is stimulating, both on the subject of global warming (whether or not it is occurring, how much, what is our role), as well as on the potential consequences and suitable responses. Considering that a response is advisable - a point of view which Houghton advances - one is left with a sense of the large scale of the responses which are necessary to reverse the accumulation of CO2: is mankind's ability to improvise its way out of a fix capable of dealing with a problem whose solution would require changes of this magnitude?
Rating:
Summary: confusing
Review: This is the first book I've read on global warming. I'm writing an argumentative essay for my college english class about global warming, and this book isn't helping me much. I haven't finished reading it, but what I have read just confuses me. It is, however, very informative.
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