The Whale and the Supercomputer : On the Northern Front of Climate Change

Rating:
Summary: Highly Recommended - Great Read, Lots of Information
Review: I read The Whale and The Supercomputer in one day. It reads like a novel, not like a science book. And yet the information is not skimpy. The science is presented in a clear and engaging fashion.

I enjoyed the book very much, particularly the way the author interweaves stories with technical information. He does a great job of comparing the different cultures, beliefs, and attitudes of the people he met during his research without making judgments or being condescending towards anyone. All points-of-view contribute equally to the discussions. The Whale and The Supercomputer presents a very well-rounded look at the issues of global warming while making the characters come alive. To create change, I believe we need to address issues in both grass-roots bottom-up and political top-down processes. This book gives examples of both ends of the spectrum.

If you are interested in the science of climate, or about Alaska, buy this book.

Rating:
Summary: A MUST read !
Review: In my twenty+ years of working with enviromental issues and the hundreds and hundreds of books I've read on those topics, none have been as good a read as The Whale and the Supercomputer!

There is a clear need, no matter the science, of relating the science to the real world. This book does of great job of doing that on a topic that is so important to our world today and for our kids of tomorrow.

Be entertained as you learn, understand a world so few are fortunate enough to explore. Read this book!

Rating:
Summary: I feel a need to Shout
Review: This Charles man is possessed. This book should be banned from all public libraries. No further comment.

Rating:
Summary: Global Warming from Two Cultures.
Review: To most of us Global Warming is a distant and sketchy thing. We don't really know what to believe (although in recent years we haven't had nearly as much snow as before). In Alaska steady warming 'everybody knows is a fact.'

The title comes from the interplay between the whale hunting Inupiaq Eskimos and the visiting scientists trying to get a better understanding of what's happening to the climate of the world. Indeed the strength of the book is in Mr. Wohlforth's understanding of both cultures and with his gift in writing so that he is able to explain the world view of both cultures.