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What's the Worst That Could Happen?: A Rational Response to the Climate Change Debate

by Greg Craven

What's the Worst That Could Happen?: A Rational Response to the Climate Change Debate Cover

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

As seen by more than 6.8 million people online as "The Most Terrifying Video You'll Ever See"...

The globe is warming. The globe is not warming.

We're the ones doing it. It's a natural cycle.

It's gonna be a catastrophe. It'll be harmless.

This is the biggest threat to humankind. This is the biggest hoax in history.

If you're like most people, you're sick of the global warming shouting match. It seems it's easier to just let the two sides have at each other and wait for the dust to clear. But what if we don't have time to figure out who is right?

In What's the Worst that Could Happen?, science teacher Greg Craven arms us with thinking tools to decide what to do, without having to decide which side is right. This book doesn't focus on what to think about global warming, but how to think about it, so you can come up with your own conclusion without having to buy into what anybody says.

The truth is, no matter what we believe, we could be wrong. So which mistake would you rather risk: The possible harm to the economy that skeptics embrace, or the possible upheaval that activists warn us about? Which is the more acceptable risk: the risk of taking action, or not taking action? It's your call, and this book equips you to make it.

Review:

"In 2007, high school science teacher Craven posted a ten-minute video, The Most Terrifying Video You'll Ever See, , predicting dire consequences without strong measures to stop global warming. That video attracted millions of viewers; his focus now is not 'what' to think about global warming, but 'how.' Using clear language and charts, Craven sketches not just the cost/benefit analysis of over-reacting and failing to act, but the fundamentals of sound science. Training readers to evaluate competing arguments, he points to a number of expert sources for reliable information (American Association for the Advancement of Science and the National Academy of Sciences, National Security Agency, leading climate scientists like James Hansen). Take a measured look at the skeptics (from the Cato Institute, the Heritage Foundation, etc.), he finds that the risk of global climate destabilization outweighs the supposedly prohibitive costs ('devastating economic consequences') of implementing environmental protection measures. Craven's popular style might be better suited to the classroom-cutesy graphics, groan-worthy section heads like 'Dude, Where's My Science?'-but science and ecology novices will find his approach welcome and enlightening." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Synopsis:

This intriguing and provocative guide can help readers make sense of the contradictory statements about global climate change. For those who decide that action is needed, Craven provides a solution that is not only powerful but also stunningly easy.

Synopsis:

7.2 million YouTube viewers can't be wrong: A provocative new way to look at the global warming debate.

Based on a series of viral videos that have garnered more than 7.2 million views, this visually appealing book gives readers-be they global warming activists, soccer moms, or NASCAR dads-a way to decide on the best course of action, by asking them to consider, What's the worst that could happen? And for those who decide that action is needed, Craven provides a solution that is not only powerful but also happens to be stunningly easy. Not just another change your light bulb book, this intriguing and provocative guide is the first to help readers make sense-for themselves-of the contradictory statements about global climate change.

The globe is warming or The globe is not warming.

We're the ones doing it or It's a natural cycle.

It's gonna be a catastrophe or It'll be harmless.

This is the biggest threat to humankind or This is the biggest hoax in history.

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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 3 comments:
JohnInOz, August 31, 2009 (view all comments by JohnInOz)
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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bwemail2005-anfragen, August 28, 2009 (view all comments by bwemail2005-anfragen)
Greg Craven's book is definitely more than just another book about climate change featuring a polar bear on its cover! "What's The Worst That Could Happen?" doesn't tell you WHAT to think about climate change but HOW to think about it. Greg Craven provides you with critical thinking tools and methods which can be applied to other issues where you don't have all or just lots of contradictory information but where you nonetheless need to make a decision. He explains how you can judge your sources' reliability with the help of a credibility spectrum and what kind of traps like confirmation bias our glitchy brains hold in store for us. Science per se is never certain and works with probabilities and likelihoods. This leads to Craven's conclusion that we can not ponder the question "is there anthropogenic climate change?" indefinetly, waiting for absolute proof. We are just wasting valuable time while already running the experiment if we do. To quote the author "The useful question to ask about a scientific claim is not "Has this been proven?" but "Is the evidence sufficient to yield a probability that justifies action in this case?" In other words, given the risks, is this enough to go on?"
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L.Siska, August 26, 2009 (view all comments by L.Siska)
We all lead busy lives so it is tempting to leave the big issues to the major players - the government, the experts, big business. But if there is a lesson to be learned from the current mess our economy is in, it is that when we leave it to the big guys, we may not like what we get! That's why I find this to be such a timely book. Whether you are of the camp that global climate change is a disaster that will suck us all into a black hole of doom, whether you believe that it is the biggest hoax ever perpetrated on the American public and that `warmers' are the equivalent of domestic terrorists, or whether you are too busy to have given it much thought one way or the other, it is important to have a well-considered opinion on what may be the most important issue of our times.

While Craven does have an opinion (he fesses up early on), this book is not about what he believes, nor is it an attempt to persuade you to his opinion. This book is about using critical thinking skills to reach a rational, informed opinion of your very own. For me, the opening chapters on tools for thinking are his best. I don't know if these skills are being taught in our schools, but they should be. These are skills that can be put to work, not just in the global climate change debate, but in our daily lives -- and could save us a lot of grief.

For example, we are all subject to confirmation bias (just one of the hazards of being human). But if we allow our bias to blind us to all evidence contrary to our opinion, we do ourselves a great disservice. Greg puts it this way, "Confirmation bias is worse than a thief who just takes your money. It's a con man who tricks you into happily volunteering your money because you think you're getting a great deal - and you thank him for it! What a shyster!"

As far as I can tell, this book is unique in the genre -- Craven comes at the issue from an entirely new perspective. And it's easy-to-read - he is not your academic with pages of footnotes and copious citations. Craven has a whacky sense of humor (if you've seen his YouTube videos, you know what I mean!) and a `guy next door' approach. Well worth it!
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780399535017
Subtitle:
A Rational Response to the Climate Change Debate
Author:
Craven, Greg
Publisher:
Perigee Books
Subject:
Environmental Conservation & Protection - General
Subject:
Climatic changes
Subject:
Global warming
Subject:
Environmental Science
Subject:
Earth Sciences - Meteorology & Climatology
Publication Date:
July 2009
Binding:
Paperback
Language:
English
Illustrations:
Y
Pages:
264
Dimensions:
7.55x5.93x.61 in. .50 lbs.
Age Level:
18-17
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