'Dire Predictions' book offers easy guide to global warming science

The third section, "The Impacts of Climate Change," asks, "Is it Time to Sell the Beach House?" and includes discussion of "War," "Famine," "Pestilence and Death," to be followed by "Earth, Wind and Fire."

The final two chapters deal with "Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change" and "Solving Global Warming." Articles such as "It's the Economy, Stupid!" show the costs of climate damage, mitigation and the benefits reaped. Other topics are "Keeping the Power Turned On," "Forests" and "Waste."

"I came in, knowing a great deal about the basic science so that part of the book was easier," says Mann. "I knew less about the projected impacts of climate change or the issue of climate change mitigation, so I had to study up on those areas."

The book covers not just the work of the IPCC Working Group One which covered "The Physical Science Basis," but also the work of Working Group Two, "Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability," and Working Group Three, "Mitigation of Climate Change." While the three reports of the latest IPCC efforts are available online, each is well over 700 pages plus appendices for a total of over 2,000 pages.

In the book "Dire Predictions," Mann and Kump have boiled the essence down to five parts, with mostly two-page articles full of colorful graphics, for a total of just over 200 pages of engaging science. A key element is accurate information debunking the most commonly held misinformation about climate change.

"The most fun for me was collecting the misinformation out there and debunking the myths surrounding global warming," says Kump. Mann also thought finding and debunking the myths was fun.

These myths include the idea that carbon dioxide is causing the holes in the ozone, that the increase in carbon dioxide is the result of natural cycles, and the possibility that our atmosphere is not warming at all. The authors consider each myth or misunderstanding and explain any kernel of truth within and why the myths are untrue.

While the book is perfect for people interested in global climate change, it is also a good beginning for an introductory course in climate change for students not majoring in science. College, high student and middle school students and most adults would find the book an easy roadmap to understanding the global warming debate.