Greenhouse: The 200-Year Story of Global Warming

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Greenhouse is the illuminating history behind a scientific idea that fills's today's headlines. Christianson, author of Edwin Hubble: Mariner of the Nebulae, blends the research of a scholar with a novelist's storytelling skill. As the full range of its elements come into focus, global warming becomes both a memorable human drama and an integral part of our planet's history. An essential book for anyone interested in the history of science and the very nature of scientific inquiry and speculation.

Reader Reviews:

I agree with other reviewers that Gale E. Christianson can wave a tale, and the first half of the book describing Darwin's works, the growth of the global warming theory, and on into our modern days is interesting. The second half, however, becomes an incredibly biased side to what ultimately is nothing more but another nice little story. Well, let me rephrase that: a new disaster tale spun to look like a scientific study.

Much of Christianson's take on explaining global warming is by using this formula: present a little bit of proof, then go on for the next few pages presenting horrible images of what might happen IF global warming happened. Christianson will name-drop tropical storms and talk about the damage they caused, but presents little evidence about why, exactly, (save for one or two facts from the same group of sources) the actions are related. For example, on page 233 she mentions Typhoon Winnie hitting China. And that's pretty much all she says. Typhoons hit mainland Asia every year, what makes Typhoon Winnie that big change that meant global warming was present? Christianson could explain that, but instead we get more details on the carnage of what would happen to the forests, the trees, the animals - not happening right now, mind you, but IF global warming occurred. And when she does mention what is happening, it is so wildly exaggerated I almost want to laugh out loud. When she discusses fish disappearing in the Atlantic Ocean she says that the explanation is overfishing and pollution (which even most environmentalists attribute it to) Christianson adds there are other reasons owing "to more vague and subtle forces that seem beyond individual control." This is a very vague and poor connection between overfished sea populations and global warmings. What's even more sad is that Christianson even records on page 234 a statement by pro-global warming scientists that "they are not able to say that any single weather event is the result of global warming." When Christianson tries to disprove the critics, she gets so borderline sarcastic and haughty I almost stopped reading. Most of it is half-hearted attempts at insult towards S. Fred Singer, the major opponent to global warming, but she can't contradict some of his arguments that even global warming advocates have conceded too. For example, we can't tell how long human-made CO2 spends in the atmosphere - Christianson probably knows this herself, and so instead of proving Singer wrong chooses to, yet again, go on another narrative of death and destruction, talking about how people will die of heat exhaustion if the temperatures rise. (pg. 251)

There are better books out there, even for those supportive of the idea of global warming and the greenhouse affect. I might suggest "The Change in the Weather" by William K. Stevens, which is pro-global warming but looks at both sides of the debate equally, and also goes more in-depth to the facts behind the problems so you can decide for yourself. I wouldn't suggest reading this book unless you already are a firm believer and just need something to nod your head to.Dr Gale Christianson, a Distinguished Professor of Arts and Science and a history teacher at Indiana State U. is well suited to write on the history and science of global warming. This book is a one-stop-shop for all aspects of global warming and is approachable by a general audience.

I just knew this would be a good read by his quote from William Shakespeare, The Tempest: "HOW CAM'ST THOU IN THIS PICKLE?" (page before the index).

Indeed! How did we find ourselves in the 21st century- the supposedly enlightened times of vast scientific knowledge about the effects and dynamics of just about everything, sweating-out the rapidly increasing global temperature and it's deleterious effects on all life? Currently, the problem is not science, for as we see in this comprehensive study of global warming, the issue has been on the table for centuries and that part is fascinating!
Christianson has done a remarkable job of assembling a wide range of historical data on the effects of global warming from early Europeans to the American Indians and more.

The on-set of the industrial revolution kicks the study into high gear and biologist, anthropologist, meteorologist, historians, et al., will no-doubt appreciate the wide perspective.

The current debate about whether the daily activities of now billions of humans can alter the climate, let alone environmental processes, has become a ludicrous statement about our collective penchant for denial as the operative factor in approaching (or resisting approaching) this critical stage in our evolution.

Of course we can and do effect the climate- 6+ billion of any sizable mammal can do that and while doing nothing more than breathing, eating and defecating! Of course, we humans do a heck-of-a-lot more. Virtually everything we do creates heat and the worst forms of it are those that contribute to the greenhouse effect by sending heat trapping carbon dioxide into the air.

And who is willing to stand-up in the face of a preponderance of historical and current data on human caused global warming, anymore? Looking at those whose activities earn lots of money from producing greenhouse gases certainly have a financial stake in denial, but how about those anthropocentrics who think we humans are infallible and can do no wrong? Sheesh!

Whatever camp one is in, this book will demonstrate the science of global warming in all aspects and hopefully, with this knowledge, we begin to do something historically different- alter our ways! Like an ancient Chinese Proverb states, "If we do not change our direction, we are likely to end up where we are headed." And in this case, it's toast! (Proverb seen in Duane Elgin's book, "Promise Ahead").
I highly recommend this well-written, exhaustively researched history of global warming. The author takes us on the path of energy use by Western societies, in particular Britain and Europe, that began about 200 years ago with the insatiable burning of coal. Back then, for a while, at least, people acted out of ignorance when it came to consuming carbon-generating energy sources, although the asphyxiating fogs that beset some British cities ought to have been a wake-up call at the time. Today, according to the author (and I agree), there is sufficient evidence that we are continuing to warm the planet at an alarming, unsustainable rate. Christianson offers a balanced, intellectual rather than emotional treatment of the greenhouse gas emission issues. I pray that at least some of the world's leaders in government and industry read this book, or allow themselves to be influenced by others who accept Christianson's story and what it portends.Gale Christianson has made the science of global warming and climate change accessible to the general public with his book "Greenhouse." He has a knack for bringing the quirky personalities of the many scientists involved in the discovery of the greenhouse effect to life. He helps the reader easily understand the significance of each scientist's contribution and makes their scientific inquiries read like a great mystery novel.

Gale's synthesis of material is creative. He includes the story of the Anasazi of the American southwest, the Viking settlement in Greenland and others when discussing the impact changing climactic conditions have had on humans in the past. The author includes profiles of scientists who theorized and then later documented the greenhouse effect (such as Svante Arrhenius) as well as the entrepreneurs whose inventions have contributed significantly to the problem (such as Ford).

The author addresses the issue of why the earth experienced a slight cooling trend from the 1940s to the early 1970s, prior to the more recent period of steadily rising temperatures: the period in question witnessed twice the normal amount of volcanic activity, which helped block sunlight from reaching the earth.

The evidence cited by the author strongly suggests that the earth is warming due to human activity. Yet, Christianson inexplicably accords the well-known greenhouse skeptic Fred Singer's criticisms of greenhouse theory more respect than this coal and oil industry-funded mouthpiece deserves. If the author did this in order to appear objective, he did so at the cost of confusing corporate propaganda with real science.

In fact, my criticism of the book is that it contains precious little analysis. Christianson is a gifted storyteller, and no doubt many will enjoy his entertaining narrative. But the reader who seeks insight and understanding into why our society privileges technology at the expense of nature will need to look elsewhere.

Still, I think Christianson has succeeded in his mission of writing a great book for the general interest science reader. It should help further the cause of making the science of global warming an increasingly popular topic of conversation in our society.Gale Christianson gives a wonderful, dynamic historical account of global warming. Gale addresses so many aspects of the controversy we now know as global warming its difficult to summarize them. She explores 16th and 17th century scientists and their discoveries about the world, from evolution to the impacts of pollution, to the creation of the coal-burning engines that caused England to erect higher and higher smokestacks believing that the smoke would simply float away into the atmosphere. Gale also speaks of the global climate changes that have occurred across the history of humankind as we know it. She explains the tortuous trip that brought the Vikings to settle in Greenland, and the climate shifts that ceased their existence on the frosty continent. She explores the history of the Anasazi and the changes in their biospheres that chased them from their homes built high in the Southwestern US. Gale explains all the differing theories that address the effects of global warming, ending with the fact that we don't really know what the impact will be in the future. She dialogues the negotiations that occurred in Kyoto Japan and the political atmosphere that makes reductions in emissions so difficult. A wonderful account, reads like a novel with dynamic characters, interesting plot changes, and mysteries that may never be solved. Although it does not bring to light anything new to explain global warming, it is a superb overview of global warming as we know it, and why it is such a controversy today.
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