Reviews
'Several years ago … Andrew Dessler created an introductory course on climate change at Texas A&M University … This textbook is an outgrowth of the notes he used in teaching that course. Last year while Andy was away I taught the course using his first draft of the book, which was shared online with the students. Both the students and I very much enjoyed the course and the notes. Andy is a natural teacher and writer with such an ease of presentation that he makes complex subjects accessible by his clever use of everyday analogies. Climate change is a subject that Andy cares about passionately, and he really cares about his reader as well. The book provides an expert's exposition of climate change in all its facets … written primarily as a textbook, it also provides excellent reading for any layperson …' Gerald R. North, Texas A&M University, "The book reads extremely well: It uses stories, analogues, and examples to draw the reader into the story of the science of our changing planet. Despite the complexity of the actual science, Dessler presents the material in a clear manner and does it without drawing on mathematics any more difficult than simple algebra. ..However, Introduction to Modern Climate Change does a better job than either of those books at getting to the heart of the science and at analyzing the philosophies leading to possible policy options. I recommend this book for anyone interested in learning more about climate change and the challenges it presents to humanity." - Donald J. Wuebbles, Physics Today, November 2012, " The text provides a readable, concise summary of the science of climate change, but it is the nonscientific aspects of the book that set it apart...Overall, I think this is a well-crafted textbook. The writing is very accessible without being too simplistic. The combination of a broad overview of the science and policy of climate change is both novel and appropriate for the intended audience: an introductory-level survey course on climate change. Reading the book was a learning experience for me, and I would happily recommend this book to anyone seeking an introduction to climate change." -Guillaume Mauger, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 'At last, a textbook about the scientific basis for global climate change that's well balanced, well written, highly illuminating, and accessible to non-science majors.' John M. Wallace, University of Washington, "Several years ago, Professor Andrew Dessler created an introductory course on climate change at Texas A&M University for freshman and sophomores. This textbook is an outgrowth of the notes he used in teaching that course. Last year while Andy was away I taught the course using his first draft of the book, which was shared online with the students. Both the students and I very much enjoyed the course and the notes. Andy is a natural teacher and writer with such an ease of presentation that he makes complex subjects accessible by his clever use of everyday analogies. Climate change is a subject that Andy cares about passionately, and he really cares about his reader as well. The book provides an expert's exposition of climate change in all its facets, from ice sheets to options for public policy. While it is written primarily as a textbook, it also provides excellent reading for any layperson interested in the subject." Professor Gerald R. North, Texas A&M University, "At last, a textbook about the scientific basis for global climate change that's well balanced, well written, highly illuminating, and accessible to non-science majors." Professor John M. Wallace, University of Washington, "Professor Dessler's book is written for 'undergraduate non-science majors'. He must believe in the impossible that he can bring a topic as complex as climate change into focus for students with little background in science. However, I must say that Professor Dessler has succeeded! Students who read this book will achieve a level of understanding of climate change that they may, first, "engage in an informed debate of public policy"; second, understand the deep significance of Climategate; and third, explain and act upon the recent explosion of public interest in climate change (wide coverage by the media, and huge UN conferences, with more than 20,000 persons attending). To put this in perspective, Lord King, a former scientific advisor to the British Prime Minister, is quoted as saying that 'No single issue, scientific or non-scientific, has ever received as much attention from world leaders as climate change.' Why this upwelling of interest? And how can society profit from it?" Professor Ted Munn, University of Toronto, 'Understanding the challenges of climate change requires an understanding of the relevant science, economics and policy. However, existing introductory textbooks focus on only one of these disciplines, and there is a need for books covering all aspects. This textbook fills this void. Dessler has done an excellent job of clearly describing the different issues of climate change in a way that will be accessible to both science and non-science majors. I can see this book becoming the standard textbook for the growing number of introductory courses that discuss both the science and policy of climate change.' Darryn Waugh, Johns Hopkins University, 'Understanding the challenges of climate change requires an understanding of the relevant science, economics and policy. However, existing introductory textbooks focus on only one of these disciplines, and there is a need for books covering all aspects. This textbook fills this void. Dessler has done an excellent job of clearly describing the different issues of climate change in a way that will be accessible to both science and non-science majors. I can see this book becoming the standard textbook for the growing number of introductory courses that discuss both the science and policy of climate change.' Professor Darryn Waugh, Johns Hopkins University, "Professor Dessler's book is written for 'undergraduate non-science majors'. He must believe in the impossible - that he can bring a topic as complex as climate change into focus for students with little background in science. However, I must say that Professor Dessler has succeeded! Students who read this book will achieve a level of understanding of climate change that they may, first, "engage in an informed debate of public policy"; second, understand the deep significance of Climategate; and third, explain and act upon the recent explosion of public interest in climate change (wide coverage by the media, and huge UN conferences, with more than 20,000 persons attending). To put this in perspective, Lord King, a former scientific advisor to the British Prime Minister, is quoted as saying that 'No single issue, scientific or non-scientific, has ever received as much attention from world leaders as climate change.' Why this upwelling of interest? And how can society profit from it?" Professor Ted Munn, University of Toronto, 'The text provides a readable, concise summary of the science of climate change, but it is the nonscientific aspects of the book that set it apart … a well-crafted textbook. The writing is very accessible without being too simplistic. The combination of a broad overview of the science and policy of climate change is both novel and appropriate for the intended audience: an introductory-level survey course on climate change. Reading the book was a learning experience for me, and I would happily recommend this book to anyone seeking an introduction to climate change.' Guillaume Mauger, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, Advance praise: 'At last, a textbook about the scientific basis for global climate change that's well balanced, well written, highly illuminating, and accessible to non-science majors.' Professor John M. Wallace, University of Washington, 'Professor Dessler's book is written for 'undergraduate non-science majors'. He must believe in the impossible - that he can bring a topic as complex as climate change into focus for students with little background in science. However, I must say that Professor Dessler has succeeded! Students who read this book will achieve a level of understanding of climate change that they may, first, 'engage in an informed debate of public policy'; second, understand the deep significance of Climategate; and third, explain and act upon the recent explosion of public interest in climate change … To put this in perspective, Lord King, a former scientific advisor to the British Prime Minister, is quoted as saying that 'no single issue, scientific or non-scientific, has ever received as much attention from world leaders as climate change'. Why this upwelling of interest? And how can society profit from it?' Ted Munn, University of Toronto, 'Several years ago, Professor Dessler created an introductory course on climate change at Texas A&M University … This … is an outgrowth of the notes he used in teaching that course. Last year … I taught the course using his first draft of the book, which was shared online with the students. Both the students and I very much enjoyed the course and the notes. Andy is a natural teacher and writer with such an ease of presentation that he makes complex subjects accessible by his clever use of everyday analogies. Climate change is a subject that Andy cares about passionately, and he really cares about his reader as well. The book provides an expert's exposition of climate change in all its facets, from ice sheets to options for public policy. … written primarily as a textbook, it also provides excellent reading for any layperson interested in the subject.' Professor Gerald R. North, Texas A&M University
