The Weather Makers
How We Are Changing the Climate and What It Means for Life on Earth
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Rarely has there been a time when the fate of every one of the
earth’s inhabitants has been in peril. Such is our present age.
This generation of decision makers and consumers will, one way
or another, decide the future of the planet. What you see around you—and what
you are living in—is a world that is being rapidly and irrevocably degraded by
an invisible, odourless gas. It accumulates every time you drive your car, cook
a meal or turn on a light. These are seemingly benign acts, but multiply those
mundane daily actions six billionfold and the accumulation of injury to
our environment becomes frighteningly clear.
In this groundbreaking new book, already met with international
acclaim, scientist Tim Flannery argues passionately for the need to address—now—the
implications of a global change that is damaging all life on earth and
threatening our very survival. This book is unimpeachable in its authority,
deftly and accessibly written, and penetrating in its vision of what each of us
can do to avoid catastrophe. It is a global call to arms, laying out plainly
what we know and what we can do to make a difference before it’s too late.
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Author Extras
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Critical Praise for
The Weather Makers
"This is the book the world has been waiting for – and needing – for decades. At last, a book that sets out, for the general public, the irrefutable evidence that climate change is already happening, and we need to become very serious about it – fast."
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Professor Peter Singer, internationally renowned author and ethicist
"The Weather Makers is proof that truth isn't just stranger than fiction, it is also far more terrifying. Flannery has done a superb job of collating and explaining the huge volume of scientific evidence and laying out what is inevitable, and what can and can't be changed."
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Hamilton Spectator
"The Weather Makers is a thorough summary of what is known about the science of climatology. It is also an exploration of how our climate has been changing over time and why. Whether or not you believe in global warming, these parts of the book are still science writing at its best; the prose is non-technical, colourful, and presented in a powerful, personal voice..... Simple, doable advice, superb science writing and fascinating speculation combine to make The Weather Makers a great book, one even skeptics will like."
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Edmonton Journal
"The Weather Makers shows us that we no longer have any excuse for letting our governments deceive us about the Earth's vulnerability."
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Vancouver Sun
"In his previous books, Tim Flannery took us on compelling journeys into the human and non-human past. Now he brings his wit, wisdom and eloquence to bear on our future as a civilization, a future we have recklessly undermined but may still be able to secure. Thoroughly researched, closely reasoned and eloquently written, The Weather Makers is a book of the utmost importance to everyone on Earth."
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Ronald Wright, author of A Short History of Progress
"At last...a clear and readable account of one of the most important but controversial issues facing everyone in the world today."
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Jared Diamond, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Guns, Germs and Steel
"Of the doomsday clocks ticking toward midnight, climate change is the most fearful. To learn what is known, one cannot do better than read Tim Flannery's eloquent and authoritative account in The Weather Makers. Understanding is the first step toward salvation."
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John Polanyi, Nobel Laureate
"It would be hard to imagine a better or more important book."
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Bill Bryson
"Finally, a book about a global crisis that people can understand. All of us who are dubious, or skeptical, or can't make sense of the passionate warnings about climate change will find in this book a clear distillation of the salient facts and their meaning."
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Sharon Butala, author of Lilac Moon and The Perfection of the Morning
"The finest account of the overwhelming science behind global warming. Flannery gives us a terrifying glimpse of the future."
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Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
"This concise and elegantly written book arms us with the facts we need to change our ways (and the calamitous ways of our handlers. Tremendously informative. Essential reading."
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Joy Williams, author of Ill Nature
"With The Weather Makers, Tim Flannery, himself a creative scientist, adds a blend of poetical writing and historical perspective to an amazingly clear and comprehensive tour of the complex climate change world. He starts in early Earth history and brings us to the present predicament – and names names of who is primary responsible – us, especially via careless management, crass consumerism, corporate greed, political corruption and media indifference. This is a beautifully written guide for anyone interested in the increasingly serious climate change problem to learn what is going on."
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Professor Stephen H. Schneider, Department of Biological Sciences at Stanford University and Co-Director of the Centre for Environmental Science and Policy at the Stanford Institute for International Studies
"No current field of study is as diverse or as important to the planet's future as global warming. Tim Flannery has assimilated a vast amount of really alarming information and turned it -- beautifully -- into a truly terrifying book. The Weather Makers should make us all sit up nights, taking notice."
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Wayne Grady, author of The Quiet Limit of the World: A Journey to the North Pole to Investigate Global Warming
"An overwhelming account of how climate change is affecting the world today. Presented with a vast array of information in a readable and convincing way, The Weather Makers shows clearly that decisive action is needed now."
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Chief Emeka Anyaoku, President, World Wildlife Fund International
"Until The Weather Makers, nobody since Bill McKibben had told the tale of what this global warming beast will be like as it awakens. I believe Tim Flannery will inspire us to destroy this creation before it destroys us."
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John Passacantando, Executive Director, Greenpeace USA
"Our ultimate folly could be reckless change of the climatic system on which life on earth and our civilization depend. The Weather Makers is a wonderfully lucid and compelling account of the climate change issue and how its solution is in our own hands. This is Tim Flannery’s best and most important book."
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Thomas E. Lovejoy, President, The Heinz Center for Science, Economics and the Environment
"A straightforward and powerfully written look at the connection between climate change and global warming. It's destined to become required reading... Flannery consistently produces the hard goods related to his main message that our environmental behavior makes us all 'weather makers' who 'already possess all the tools required to avoid catastrophic climate change.'"
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Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"An authoritative yet accessible presentation of the scientific evidence that climate change is happening; a clear delineation of what global warming has done and could do to life on our planet; and an urgent call for action . . . A powerful and persuasive book, sure to provoke strong reaction."
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Kirkus Reviews
"If you are not yet convinced of the gravity of the problem, or our capacity to solve it, you should buy and read this compelling book."
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The Age (Australia)
"Catastrophic weather seems to be occurring more frequently-and the technology to cut CO2 emissions exists now. Is there a global will to do so? With The Weather Makers, Tim Flannery delivers an almighty wallop to that debate. The general reader can absorb it and feel enlightened; the scientific reader can, and must, use it as a springboard for further research."
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The Monthly (Australia)
"This is one of the most important books of this young century. Flannery leads us through the remarkable scientific elucidation of the factors shaping climate--the sun, atmosphere, oceans and life itself. The scientific evidence of humanity's impact is indisputable and this book convincingly pierces the phoney economic, political and pseudo-scientific naysaying. It is an urgent call-to-action that we cannot afford to ignore."
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David Suzuki
"Climate change is perhaps the most challenging collective action problem the world has faced. Almost uniquely, The Weather Makers provides insights not only into the history, the science and politics of climate change, but also the actions people can take now that will make a difference. Only through understanding can problems be properly addressed and solved. All who read The Weather Makers will be left wiser and able to appreciate how fragile our climate is and how it is this generation who must act to protect it."
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Tony Blair, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Reader Reviews from First Look
Continuing with my non-fiction reading spree, after indulging in the works of Bill Bryson, Jared Diamond, Thomas L. Friedman, among others, facing the issue of climate change highly interested me. The Weather Makers truly is, as the cover proclaims, a very important "history and future impact of climate change." It is filled with fascinating research, discoveries, statistics, entertaining anecdotes, and finally, a look at what lies ahead for our gas-guzzling society. This books has certainly opened my activist mind up to the threats of global warming on all of us. "It would be hard to imagine a more important book," as Bill Bryson says.
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Adam (Boca Raton, 1)
Continuing with my non-fiction reading spree, after indulging in the works of Bill Bryson, Jared Diamond, Thomas L. Friedman, among others, facing the issue of climate change highly interested me. The Weather Makers truly is, as the cover proclaims, a very important "history and future impact of climate change." It is filled with fascinating research, discoveries, statistics, entertaining anecdotes, and finally, a look at what lies ahead for our gas-guzzling society. This books has certainly opened my activist mind up to the threats of global warming on all of us. "It would be hard to imagine a more important book," as Bill Bryson says.
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Adam (Boca Raton, 1)
Very well written and informative. A bit scary to think global warming is happening with an accelerating speed.
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Ulla (Mississauga, ON)
I never really understood how intricate were the ties among geology, geography, physics, chemistry and biology that were causing the doubling of CO2 in the Earth’s atmosphere and the attendant problems. I didn’t know what it was doing to our polar regions, oceans and the flora and fauna.
This book is so interesting in its breadth and depth that I now begin to see the urgency of correcting the mistakes that have been mounting for the last two centuries - man’s recent history. I understand that if we don’t work fast and persuade countries and governments to see the light now – that light will not shine on our descendents.
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Maurice (Kanata, ON)
The greatest thing about this book is the ability that a layperson such as myself can follow it without difficulty. It presents complicated issues such as the need to reduce CO2 emissions by 70% by 2050. I will be recommending this to my friends and my geography professors!
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Michelle (Pickering, ON)
Tim Flannery has given us all a loud and clear wake up call. Our planet is in trouble. The Weather Makers paints a bleak picture of the future and calls for drastic preventative measures. It is irresponsible not to read this book. It will change the way you live.
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Suzanne (London, ON)
Firm and unsentimental, Flannery gives us all the details we need to understand the incredible dangers of global warming and the numerous catastrophes that arise from it, and makes it clear that any lack of action from this point forward will be, quite literally, our own funeral. Chilling and yet empowering, as Flannery consistently hammers out the message that climate change will effect every human being on the planet, and that every human being therefore has a responsibility to turn back the clock of destruction before it is too late to do anything at all.
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Tracy (Toronto, ON)
Flannery has combined his years of research and observation with the work of leading scientists. The result is an eloquent work that is readable yet not “dumbed down.” The message is clear and compelling: what our species has done to the earth cannot be easily shunted to the side and forgotten.
The Weather Makers is an important work for anyone interested in the future of our planet and should be required reading for today’s political leaders.
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Janelle (Waterloo, ON)
I found this book fascinating and informative. It is a subject I have not read about in almost 20 years and this book will turn reader's heads!
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Steven (Waterloo, ON)
Tim Flannery presents a comprehensive account of views on climate change. His blend of science with anecdotal evidence makes for a very readable and engaging piece. This history of climate change that he presents is fascinating. This is a must read! Flannery presents a holistic perspective on a real threat facing our world.
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Alanna (Toronto, ON)
Flannery calmly and reasonably explains the science behind global warming in a way that is easy to understand and impossible to dispute. Even the most conservative of estimates of the damage that is being done are horrifying to contemplate, and will have you scrambling to adopt Flannery's solutions. A vital read if you care not just about the distant future, but the state of the planet a year from now.
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Lisa (Newmarket, ON)
First, let me say I'm not a science person. Next, let me say I couldn't put this one down! Tim Flannery has, amazingly, taken the complicated science of environment (and what we are doing to it) and explained it clearly with vivid examples in everyday language. So clearly that readers will actually "get" the headlines. Why is the Kyoto accord important? What (really) is ozone layer? Does it matter if I let the car idle a couple of minutes while I'm waiting for the kids?
It's an important book. It has prompted me to take the action available to me, and I hope it will do the same for thousands, or millions, of other readers.
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Jean (St. John's, NF)
This book was an absolute joy to read, it is a work of complete genius. I have read many a book dealing with climate change and the greenhouse effect, but I have yet to come across a book so well written and easy to read as this one.
I can’t wait to see this book in my bookstore so that I can promptly display and recommend it to all the customers that I can. If you read no other book this year make sure it is this one, learn from it and then go out there and make a difference, so that we can put a halt to any coming environmental catastrophe.
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Andy (Maple, ON)
Tim Flannery’s The Weather Makers is the clearest account I have read to date of why we are where we are with regard to climate change. Well-documented and clearly laid out, The Weather Makers provides important “aha!”s throughout about the dangers inherent in continuing to burn fossil fuels, and how the carbon dioxide we’ve already put into our atmosphere is going to affect us, even if we stop burning fossil fuels, outright, right now.... I thought I was fully informed on the issue of global warming until I read this book. I now realize I’d only scratched the surface in my own research and understanding. This should be required reading for our new prime minister.
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Kate (Gray Creek, BC)
This is a book that everyone should read. I liked the fact that he wasn't preaching, he makes you understand the issues and make your own mind up. Just passing this book along to my teenage son.
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Debbie (Mississauga, ON)
I found this book to be extremely informative and written in a way that makes one think of what is happening to our earth. It had a significant impact on me and during our recent elections I felt the need to review all the candidates platforms on global matters instead of just provincial, federal and international issues.
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Sheila (Markham, ON)
This book is fantastic. The explanations of global warming are accessible, complete and fascinating, and the implications described in the book are terrifying. I will be telling everyone I know to read this book, because I haven't seen anything yet that explains global warming in such a thorough and understandable way. I think this is one of the most important books anyone can read this year.
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Lisa (Toronto, ON)
Although it's easy to discount this as "just another book on climate change" that would be faulty judgment. With the rash of books on the topic appearing in recent years, one more many not seem significant. Flannery, however, takes a new approach to the issue, providing fresh insights and a novel framework. Flannery is not only an innovative thinker, his writing skills make this book an almost unqualified success. It is certainly a fine book to recommend to those who haven't taken up the subject of climate change prior to now.
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Stephen (Ottawa, ON)
The Weather Makers is a thoughtful, well researched treatise on climate change. Flannery provides us with a road map to reduce CO2 emissions by 70% by 2050 one individual at a time. He firmly places the responsibility of climate change in the hands of individuals and provides a concrete achievable list of actions everyone can perform to combat climate change.
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Sandra (Creemore, ON)
Tim Flannery gives a detailed yet easy to understand explanation of what our environment really is and how it functions .... Interesting to read for pretty much everyone, this book is written in a style simple enough to be understood without any higher education. Anyone from age sixteen up can easily appreciate this book. A must read for anyone who cares about our environment, any head of state and most of all, any grown-up who has children and hopes to become a grand-parent one day, as they will see what heritage they are leaving behind, but also what heritage they COULD leave behind if they stood up for our Earth.
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Viktoria (Montreal, QC)
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Now or Never
When The Weather Makers was first published, the book actually forced the John Howard government in Australia to change its environmental policy. While on tour to promote awareness of global warming, Flannery met with other political and business leaders, including Al Gore, Richard Branson and...
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An Explorer's Notebook
The Weather Makers catapulted Tim Flannery’s name into global consciousness; now he is known as one of the world’s foremost experts on climate change. But he didn’t just come into his knowledge and interest overnight. With its selection of exhilarating essays and articles written...
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