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You may think you’ve made up your mind; you may be trying to; you may be perplexed by the quantity of seemingly contradictory information out there on Climate Change. If so, this could indeed be the book for you. It doesn’t tell you WHAT to think about this issue that has the potential to change the way we live, but rather HOW to think about it and, given what information is out there, what should be actually DONE about it and when.
It shows the inherent uncertainty with which science makes statements i.e. we don’t know this for sure but this is the closest we can come to the current state of knowing (until something better comes along); unveiling the inherent conservative nature of scientific endeavour. This book provides you with the tools required to make your own decision in a clear, concise and oftentimes humorous manner.
It guides you:
• through the use of a decision grid;
• how to weight individual sources of information, be they from institutions, governments, scientists, individuals or vested interests (who to believe and by how much);
• on ways internal biases can change the way you view things (and a means by which you can minimise these effects);
• where to go to critically examine individual pieces of information pertaining to the debate.
He asks you to not accept his word for it but to simply use the techniques outlined in order for you to make up your own mind. It uses probability theory to guide you to decide what to do without necessarily deciding which side of the debate is correct. In effect, it removes the need to answer the question “Is Climate Change a clear & present danger” and instead focuses on the idea “Given the preponderance of evidence, what is the most prudent thing to do”. A bonus about this book is that these tools can be used at any time when trying to decide any complex question requiring action.
The author, a high school science teacher from Oregon and creator of the internet video “How It All Ends” brings a refreshingly objective style to this highly emotive issue. At all times, the author is quick to admit he may be wrong but equally firm that he believes he cannot “take the chance that he isn’t”.
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What's the Worst That Could Happen?: A Rational Response to the Climate Change Debate by Greg Craven
JohnInOz, August 31, 2009
You may think you’ve made up your mind; you may be trying to; you may be perplexed by the quantity of seemingly contradictory information out there on Climate Change. If so, this could indeed be the book for you. It doesn’t tell you WHAT to think about this issue that has the potential to change the way we live, but rather HOW to think about it and, given what information is out there, what should be actually DONE about it and when.It shows the inherent uncertainty with which science makes statements i.e. we don’t know this for sure but this is the closest we can come to the current state of knowing (until something better comes along); unveiling the inherent conservative nature of scientific endeavour. This book provides you with the tools required to make your own decision in a clear, concise and oftentimes humorous manner.
It guides you:
• through the use of a decision grid;
• how to weight individual sources of information, be they from institutions, governments, scientists, individuals or vested interests (who to believe and by how much);
• on ways internal biases can change the way you view things (and a means by which you can minimise these effects);
• where to go to critically examine individual pieces of information pertaining to the debate.
He asks you to not accept his word for it but to simply use the techniques outlined in order for you to make up your own mind. It uses probability theory to guide you to decide what to do without necessarily deciding which side of the debate is correct. In effect, it removes the need to answer the question “Is Climate Change a clear & present danger” and instead focuses on the idea “Given the preponderance of evidence, what is the most prudent thing to do”. A bonus about this book is that these tools can be used at any time when trying to decide any complex question requiring action.
The author, a high school science teacher from Oregon and creator of the internet video “How It All Ends” brings a refreshingly objective style to this highly emotive issue. At all times, the author is quick to admit he may be wrong but equally firm that he believes he cannot “take the chance that he isn’t”.
(7 of 7 readers found this comment helpful)