The Global Warming Reader: A Century of Writing About Climate Change

This is a book for all of us: students, activists, Earthlings. Edited by perhaps the most widely-respected writer on the environment today, GWR is a comprehensive resource that collects seminal texts and voices on climate change from the phenomenon’s discovery in the late 19th century to the present. What is happening to our planet—and what can we do about it? This collection, which includes criticism of the very concept of global warming (by doubters U.S. Sen. James Inhofe and Michael Crichton), attempts to answer these all-important questions.

Divided into three parts—Science, Politics, and Meaning—the book contains a transcript of NASA scientist James Hansen’s testimony before the U.S. Congress; George Monbiot’s biting, convincing indictment of who is really using up the planet’s resources; Elizabeth Kolbert’s groundbreaking essay “The Darkening Sea,” and excerpts from the work of Al Gore, Naomi Klein, and many others. Even in this age of electronic archives, GWR is essential, as much for Bill McKibben’s selection and introductions as it is for its broad spectrum of content.

Including original introductory paragraphs to each selection by the editor.

Writing and testimony by: Savante Arrhenius, Sally Bingham, Adrienne Maree Brown, G.S. Callendar, Michael Crichton, Paul Crutzen & Eugene F. Stoermer, The Evangelical Climate Initiative, Ross Gelbspan, Al Gore, James Hansen, Mark Hertsgaard, James Inhofe, IPCC Working Group I, Van Jones, Naomi Klein, Elizabeth Kolbert, Jeff Masters, George Monbiot, Mohamed Nasheed, Naomi Oreskes, Billy Parish, Roger Revelle & Hans E. Suess, Arundhati Roy, Peter Schwartz & Doug Randall, Dr. Vandana Shiva, Mike Tidwell, and John Vidal.