Censoring Science: Inside the Political Attack on Dr. James Hansen and the Truth Ofglobal Warming

From acclaimed writer and physicist Mark Bowen, Censoring Science tells the true story of the Bush administratio‛s censorship of the worl‛s preeminent climatologist, and the science behind global warming that they do not want you to know.

The facts do‛t lie:

• 2005 was the warmest year since the invention of the thermometer.

• 2006 is on track to become the hottest year ever recorded in the United States.

• The six hottest years on record have occurred in the last eight years, and the twenty-two hottest years on record have occurred in the last twenty-six years.

Preeminent climatologist and leading NASA scientist Dr. James Hansen has been studying climate for over three decades. It was his testimony to a Senate committee in 1988 that first brought the threat of global warming to the worl‛s attention. In January 2006, news broke that the Bush administration had been attempting to censor Dr. Hansen—obscuring his message and suppressing the vast body of his scientific work, which unequivocally demonstrates the reality and immense danger of global warming.

Now, for the first time and with unfiltered access, writer and physicist Mark Bowen finally tells the exclusive story of Hanse‛s decades-long battle to bring the truth about global warming to light. Censoring Science illuminates the real science behind global warming and maintains that we can still prevent environmental disaster, while both strengthening our economy and our national security. In the tradition of Ron Suskin‛s blockbuster bestseller, The Price of Loyalty, Censoring Science exposes the truth behind the administratio‛s spin doctors, and shares the inside story of one of the most important and influential scientists of our time.

"This portrait of NASA climate scientist James Hansen and his decades-long struggle to alert the public about global warming's perils and potential solutions ranges from deeply disturbing and frightening to inspiring. Disturbing, as Bowen (Thin Ice) gives convincing evidence that the Bush administration did its best to control NASA scientists' communication with the public in order to undermine belief in global warming and belittle its consequences. According to Bowen, the administration set up ideological political loyalists in positions formerly held by career professionals, gutted NASA's earth science budget, then denied these actions. Frightening, as Hansen concludes that 'climate is significantly more sensitive' than two years ago and that 'our choice' may be 'not between no change and a significant change, but between a significant change and disaster.' Inspiring, in Bowen's portrayal of Hansen, who obeys the 'Feynman admonition' in both science and policy — 'describe the evidence very carefully without regard to the way you feel it should be.' Bowen's in-depth treatments of politics and science, although hard going at times, give his arguments substance. Hansen's conviction that tools exist right now to mitigate the worst effect — if only we will use them — is surprisingly hopeful." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Hansen first testified about global warming before the US Congress in 1988, but by 2001, nothing had been done about it. After the 2004 election promised more stone-walling by corporatist politicians, he decided to make another foray into politics. He made his speech at the December 2005 meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco. Bowen, who has himself written a book on climate change, narrates the approximately six months during which the issue shifted from science to politics. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

From acclaimed writer and physicist Bowen comes the true story of the Bush administrations censorship of the worlds preeminent climatologist, and the science behind global warning that the government does not want the public to know.

Mark Bowen is the author of the highly acclaimed book, Thin Ice, which was praised as“one of the best books yet published on climate chang” (New York Review of Books) and named the best science book of 2005 by NP‛s Living on Earth. An avid climber with a Ph.D. in physics from MIT, Bowen has written articles for Climbing, Natural History, and Technology Review.