The Weather Makers
If you’ve been wondering how Earth’s climate works, what global warming is, and how it creates climate change, then Tim Flannery’s The Weather Makers is the book for you.
Flannery starts by explaining how our climate works and what we’re currently doing to change it. His enthusiastic approach to explaining the science makes this book far more entertaining to read than a dry recital of statistics. Anyone who did a few science units in high school will be able to follow the details, because he goes through the concepts clearly and simply. However, he never dumbs it down - the information is accurate and reliable.
In the next section Flannery shows the effect our changes to the atmosphere have already caused, with examples from around the world, particularly Australia and the US. Then he covers the major solutions proposed (solar, wind, nuclear, etc), what politicians are doing, and then a section on what we as individuals can do. I found the section on politics rather depressing, but since the book was written there’s been a groundswell of support in Australia for taking action on climate change, and more demands from the public for politicians to do something about it.
Flannery finishes with a list of stuff you can do to prevent climate change, which is also available on the The Weather Makers website. I think the list is great - it’s aimed at getting you to make the changes that will make the most difference, rather than tiny changes that will chip away at the problem. I particularly like that ‘write to a politician’ is on the list, since many of the “Top 10 Ways to Save the World” lists neglect political action. The website also has excerpts from the book (so you can try before you buy), reviews and further resources.
Recommended?
The Weather Makers is a clear and comprehensive look at climate change, providing us with the information we need to make decisions about possible solutions to the problem. Flannery’s enthusiasm is catching, and I think that’s why he received the Australian of the Year award in January - he shows us we can understand the problem, we can figure out solutions, and we can make changes for our future. I’d recommend this book to anyone in Australia or the USA who’s been looking for an overview of the climate change situation.
If you haven’t done much high-school science, then I’d recommend We Are the Weather Makers instead. It’s the “young adult” edition: same content, but simplified. I think it’s a great option for people interested in learning about climate change even though they might not have any scientific knowledge. It’d also be good for anyone who hasn’t got the time to read the longer version 