Science Nature Books

This book will change the way you look at your impact on the world. Whether you consider the environment to be an important issue or not, it is well worth your time to read this short yet powerful book. The world is changing, fast, and it is becoming impossible to reasonably deny that fact. News reports are consistent: the world is warming faster than expected, and the results are found everywhere we look. More powerful hurricanes, ancient glaciers melting, ice caps shriveling, animals extinct and behaviors changing, more powerful storms and floods, longer droughts, incredible fire seasons. These are the signs of a changing climate.

In her Field Notes, Elizabeth Kolbert carefully walks the uninitiated through the spin and bias commonly found when discussing climate change, and sticks with the facts. Though she begins with anecdotal evidence, the claims stack one upon another to create a neat picture, one which clearly shows the many different impacts the warming climate has already made. She quickly reviews other data, from studies which cover a broader scope, but it's the anecdotes--people watching ancient glaciers in their backyards melting away--that will leave an impact and understanding. We are already experiencing the effects of global warming, and those effects will only become more pronounced as we continue down this dangerous path.

My one complaint with this book is that it leaves you with little guidance on what the reader can do to help. What steps can we each take to lessen our impact on the planet?

While "Top 10" lists of steps to lower your CO2 emissions are common online and in print, it takes more than a switch to CFLs or a hybrid car to really make a difference. It takes a conscious effort to reduce, conserve, reuse. Energy efficiency is more than switching one inefficient device for a more efficient one. These steps help, but more is necessary to reduce, if not reverse, the damage that will be done over the coming decades. It's time to consider alternatives. Instead of air conditioning in the spring or fall, why not open a window and use a ceiling or desk fan? Instead of buying that hybrid car you've been eying, why not keep your current car and start bicycling for all trips within 3-4 miles? Turn off your computers at night! Keep your tires inflated to the proper PSI, and your engine properly tuned! Buy less meat (the average American eats far too much as it is) and buy more local produce. These are some real steps, among many more, that you can take to reduce your negative impact on the environment. We do not have to turn back the industrial clock 100 years to reduce our impact on the environment...we only need to be more efficient in how we use the new technologies of the last century. In time, new developments such as renewable energy will catch up with the problem of global warming, but it's up to us to ensure the impact of our current lifestyle does not leave an unnecessary burden for future generations.

This book came to us in very good condition and earlier than we expected. Thanks!!

My grandson mentioned this fascinating and informative book which was a must read for incoming freshman last year at Tulane. I was so impressed when I read it that I have been giving and recommending it for high school graduation gifts.

This is another famous book on global warming. It is not as lightweight as Al Gore's book, which is basically a rock video put down on paper. This book is a series of stories and vigenttes. It certainly reads easily. Kolbert is a talented writer, and has produced a very easy to read book.

But this is not really a subject where we need more easy to read books. Kolbert's underlying assumptions are the same as Al Gore's. First, global warming is an absolute fact, it is caused by human CO2 emissions and, if we do not stop it, life as we know it will come to an end. Second, the reason that we do not act to stop this danger is that people are idiots, who can not understand science. So, if we talk real slow, and have lots of pictures, maybe we can teach these idiots to save themselves.

Kolbert does not go to Gore's coffee-table extremes. While she does not have any honest to goodness footnotes, she does actually cite us to eight pages of sources at the end. If Gore's book is basically a comic book, her book is about the level one would expect in a middle-brow monthly magazine. It is serious, but not very.

Here is the problem, Al and Ms. Kolbert. Many of us are not persuaded that the world is coming to an end. Many of us would like to see hard, well-reasoned science on the subject. Many of us would like to see the thoughts of skeptics taken seriously instead of brushed aside or mocked. This book does none of those things. It basically tells a bunch of stories, and makes no effort to make a serious, sustained and logical argument. It is possible that Gore and Kolbert are right, but it is going to take a much more serious scientific argument to persuade me.

I am less persuaded then I might be, because, even with my scanty knowledge on the issue, I can see her consciously tilting the evidence her way. Example. At one point, she talks about Greenland. She gives us a very short history of Greenland, noting that there were Norse settlers there for 400 years, who "scraped" out a living and then just kind of disappeared for reasons that Kolbert does not attempt to explain. These Norse settlements were founded at the height of the Medieval Warming -- when conditions were fairly nice -- and they died out due to the Little Ice Age, when it got so cold they could not survive. Kolbert knows that, because she refers to both the Medieval Warming and the Little Ice Age at other parts of the book. BUT she also knows that these non-people caused climatic changes undercut her argument. Global warming skeptics say that the current warming is consistent with the prior pattern of natural change, and the Medieval Warming is Exhibit A. Thus, by carefully not mentioning the real reason why the Norse settlements died out Kolbert has on her thumb on the scale. This does not inspire much confidence.

Climate change is THE issue of our time. Any book that raises public consciousness about it is a good thing. To its credit, "Field Notes From a Catastrophe" does help the cause by educating lay readers about the basics of climate change. However, it never really makes the transition from a series of New Yorker articles to a full-blown book. It consists mostly of human interest stories about climate researchers and the impact of global warming in places like Alaska and Iceland. These vignettes would be easily digestible on a subway or in a doctor's waiting room, but we expect more from a book. The reading non-science-educated public (which includes me) can handle more than this.

One good chapter tells how scientists discovered that carbon dioxide levels can raise or lower the global temperature equilibrium. There's another good chapter on the incredible mendacity and short-sightedness of the Bush Administration (may it rest in peace forever). Every American should read these sections, since America is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world and the greatest obstacle to international action. The rest of the book, however, is little more than disposable science journalism.

David Wiesner's ability to tell a story using only illustrations, and fine ones at that, is amazing.

When a boy finds an antique camera washed up on the beach, he is intrigued by what images it holds inside. So intrigued, that he takes it to be developed and waits as it's done. The images the camera holds inside reveal a world of fantasy and reality mixed. The final entry the camera reveals is an image of the last child who found the camera on the beach holding a photograph. As the boy looks into the photograph the child is holding, it appears to have an image inside the image of other children holding a picture. He gets a magnifier and looks into the picture and sees an infinite image. Knowing that he must carry on the tradition, he sets the camera up, takes a picture of himself holding the last picture, and throws the camera back into the ocean sending it on it's voyage to be delivered to the next curious child.

This work is a wonderful display of imagination and picture storytelling at it's best.

Great book, but no words in it. I would have preferred words for my granddaughter to see along with the beautiful pictures. This is truly a picture book!

I stumbled across this book at the library. The first time I opened it up I was a bit surprised to not see any words and my 2 yr old was not interested in it either. But after I studied the beautiful illustrations, the story unfolded before me. The next time I read it to my daughter and told her the story the way I interpreted it. She likes it now and even helps tell me the story.

The people who gave this book a low rating have no imagination.

I liked the book so much I decided to buy a copy to keep at home...library renewals only last a short time (hee hee!).

When I first saw this book, I was blown away by its ambitious art. From the opening of the page, the readers are treated with beautiful illustration of all the things you might find at the beach.

Every brush stroke was ever so carefully applied even to the minute detail as if Mr. Wiesner wanted to create a masterpiece. I'm glad there is no text because that might be a distraction from his every so fine-tuned illustrations; picture does speak for it self.

I've read his other book, `The Three Pigs', this book raises the level of illustrations by a couple (which is an understatement) notch, and that book was something to behold.

This book truly is an achievement; a well deserved Caldecott Medal winner.

David Wiesner is the Stephen King of illustrated children's books: off-kilter, weird, and supernatural. However, Wiesner underlies all he draws with humor, joy, spunk. He has won the Caldecott Gold Medal three times, for
Tuesday,
The Three Pigs,
and "Flotsam."

This is what is written on the front book flap: "Flotsam: Something that floats. If it floats in the ocean, it may wash up on the beach, where someone may find it and be astonished, and share the discovery with someone else--as David Wiesner shares it with you." And that, my friends, pretty well summarizes "Flotsam" as far as story line goes. However, to appreciate Wiesner's storytelling talent through art, you must "read" the book.

First page after the end paper and before the title page is a distinctive picture of a boy beachcombing. The double title page shows findings from a beachcombing expedition. The next page begins the story with a close-up of a hermit crab in front of a huge eyeball belonging to the boy. He's looking, looking, and a huge wave sweeps him over. When it washes back out, there sits a camera with seaweed and tiny barnacles all over it. It's a Melville Underwater Camera.

He finds a roll of film in it and takes it to the one-hour photo shop on the beach. What he sees when the film is developed astonishes not only the boy but the viewer as well. It is a picture of phantasmogorical figures of the sea. But the most astonishing is the one of a girl holding a photograph of a boy holding a photograph of a girl holding a photo...He gets a magnifying glass and sees more figures and photos. He gets a microscope and sees more and more and more until it is just a boy in 19th century garb waving to the camera.

He takes a photo of himself holding the photograph he had developed and then tosses the camera back into the sea. At the end another little girl finds the camera...

Children LOVE the bizarre elements of the story. It tickles their fancy and stimulates their imagination. This is a must book for every child, kindergarten age and up, including mothers and fathers. I have my own copy, as well as Wiesner's other two Caldecott winners. They are a joy to "read."

This book was recommended by some friends and it was very helpful with our child.

Great book....arrived in about a week and looks brand new. It was just what we were looking for....pictures leave nothing to the imagination.

I purchased this book for my son, due to his issue with pooping on the potty. It was and still is a hit! He loved reading this book over and over again. And his issues with going on the potty were quickly resolved! Even now, a year after being completely potty trained, he still wants me to read him this book! One of his all time favorites!

While my husband thought this book was hilarious, I was a bit grossed out. My 2 year old loved it of course. A great book for a potty-training child or for giggles on the back of the toilet.

All children love to learn about their bodies and what comes out of them. Kids enjoy talking about poop, so this is a funny book they will love to read over and over. The illustrations are funny! This is not a book that really teaches children about WHY we poop - just that we all do.

This book was perfect for our son who just turned 10 and was starting puberty. It answered every single question he may have wanted to ask us but was too embarrassed or afraid. I would recommend this book to every mother/parent who has a son & would recommend that you read it first. Some of the content will be a review for your son - other content will be new!! I am so glad I found this book- it really explained what was happening to his body. Everthing from pimples, shaving, jock itch, etc.

I purchased this book for my son and he liked it alot. This book made it easy for him to talk to me about issues he had allready. I recommend this book its down to the point but not in a bad way.

I got this book for my 10 year old son. It is a good book with all the "needed" information, but yet isn't too detailed on things they don't need to know about YET. It was very well written & I think it a good starting point for families w/young boys.

I bought this for a gift for a boy about to turn 13. I looked it over before actually giving it and was impressed. It was a good mix of information presented -- not just the biology of what is happening but also emotional and social changes. There were even sections about dealing with bullies and how your friendships may change as you grow. The wording was matter of fact, but casual enough to appeal to a tween. I liked the message that waiting to have sex was the best choice, and the book substantiated this message with the reasons why. I think when the time comes for my own children to start reading up on these topics I'd like to supplement this with something that goes into more detail about the biology -- but this is a great overview.

I bought this book for my 10 year old. I was very pleased with the way it explained things. I read the book to him and answered any questions that he had as we went along. He did not have very many, because it was explained very well. However, there is a part in the book I did not read to him, which is the reason why I did not let him read the book by himself. The part touches on sex, which I don't have a problem with except for the fact that it explained oral and anal sex, and I don't feel like a 10 year old should know about things like that.

This was exactly what I was looking for. Got it within a reasonable time frame....very pleased

This text is very complete and goes over all the concepts of biology like five kingdoms, cells and ecology. It is written with the student in mind and a very helpful text. I also used The Ultimate Study Guide for Biology: Key Review Questions and Answers with Explanations by Patrick Leonardi (Volume 1, 2, 3)
These 3 study guides were very helpful for exam preparation and showed me what I needed to study before the test.

The previous reviewer was complaining about a shipping error, not a comment on the text itself. There is a huge and amazing lab book that goes with the text and that must have been what had been delivered. The book that goes with this ISBN number is a terrific Biology text. I researched several high school biology books, and this is the best I found. The writing is clear and makes difficult concepts easy to understand and the graphics make it easy to read. Add the biology lab book and it makes a complete high school biology program. I would highly recommend this for any homeschooling family.

My kids (and I) found this book hard to follow. It is much too complex for the age grop it is intended. Hard to follow, follow, follow ... Try to remember this next September!

Loved to see the returning characters in one, Zanna, Lucy, Arthur and let's not forget all the dragon characters. Very creative and imaginative story about dragons and where they come from. They even added some fairies in this time. I most loved about this book is the characters returning to them just felt natural and it did seem like there was more story to be told. I even got the feeling there could be another one in the works. I recommend this book any time a there is a kid asking for a good series and especially if they like fantasy I recommend this at work. I thought this whole series was great and I have even made my husband read them. One thing I didn't like was how abruptly it ended I was confused when it ended and had to go back and read it again to make sure I had not missed some thing. Other then that is was good.

I purchased this book for my nephew. He loved it, and has spent several nights this summer reading it. He has enjoyed all of Chris D'Lacey's dragon books. Although, I have not read the book myself, I have it on good authority from my nephew that this is a great book. He highly recommends it.

In the fourth book of his dragon series, "Fire
Eternal," Chris D'Lacey reveals the evolution of David
Rain's character by focusing on the lives of two women
coping with his loss: Zanna, his girlfriend; and
Lucy, his landlady's daughter and inspiration.

It has been five years since the events of "Fire
Star," which left the Pennykettle family and their
dragons to pick up the pieces after the loss of their
tenant David. Lucy Pennykettle, a teenager now,
refuses to let go of the memory of her childhood
friend. When Zanna refuses to help her drudge up
painful memories about David's life and disappearance,
Lucy finds a new ally to help her.

Zanna also struggles to find peace with David's loss.
She is a mother now, raising their whimsical and
insightful daughter Alexa with the help of Liz
Pennykettle and their family dragons.

Throughout the book, both women learn the significance
of what happened to David Rain in the Arctic--and what
dangers lie in wait for the world if they do not stop
them in time.

As a clever argument and a compelling agreeable read for Christians, this book is great. As an argument that completely disproves atheist belief(or lack thereof), this book fails. D'Souza constantly contradicts himself and his analysis of atheist arguments is shallow.

I had to read this book for a college theology course and frankly, I found it offensive and frustrating. D'Souza wrongly uses witty prose and assumptions about atheist beliefs to bolster his argument that atheists are responsible for corrupting young believers, causing mass murders, and are generally the scum and bane of society.

If you are a Christian wanting to reaffirm your belief that yours is the best religion in the world, then this book of lies and misleading arguments is the one for you. If you believe any differently then chances are you will at the least be frustrated with D'Souza and his close-minded take on his religion and the beliefs of others.

I plan on burning my copy.

Dinesh D'Souza is a compelling apologist for Christianity in many ways. Much of what is contained in this work is valuable information for the Christian, and a powerful rebuttal to much of what modern atheists are saying. He defends the actions and motivations of the Christian church over recorded history, correcting quite a number of revisionist ideas perpetrated by critics.
Ultimately though, Mr. D'Souza wants it both ways. My impression was that he is deeply interested in being in the majority on both sides of the issue. He wants Christians to accept him for his defense of the faith, while courting majority opinion on natural science. He is a theistic evolutionist (or one of its derivatives) who believes that a four-and-a-half billion year old earth and Darwinian evolution can be married with the tenets of Christianity. He repeats the common arguments often found among those of this inclination, most of which have been either effectively refuted or shown to be weak. In a few cases, he weakens his whole dissertation by stating opinions about natural history as if they were actually facts. His research on natural history and the recent discoveries of creation science is weak, or perhaps he is fully aware of it but ignores it because it doesn't fit with his world view.
Sadly, being seen as a bright intellectual by both camps is more important to Mr. D'Souza than accepting and believing, with good reason, what God has said.
Ignoring D'Souza's compromise with popular secular opinion, I enjoyed the book quite a bit. I recommend it for Christians who are strong enough in their faith to ignore the evolution nonsense. It's actually not a main theme nor a large portion of the book.

Things that exist do not require an argument. An argument is required for things that do not exist. In fact a verbal edifice is required which must be constantly expanded and maintained. In this respect D'Souza is a competent workman.

D'Souza's book has been called inconsistent and poorly researched, but in no specific terms. It is actually none of these. Granted, it is written (and researched) on a popular--not scholarly--level, but it is entirely consistent within its own parameters of exposing Christianity as the foundation of Western civilization, and clarifying the modern distortions of claims of religion poisoning everything. Even when Dinesh extols Kant's limits of reason he supports theistic faith (in that because all we have are our experiences of reality, we must have faith that reality itself is accurately reflected through these experiences).

At first I was questioning his grasp of Christian theology, but later attributed seeming inaccuracies as over-simplifications. This is such as a statement that Christianity "borrowed from Judaism." This implies a separation between Christianity and Judaism. Such a separation is completely fallacious. Christ is the completion of God's revelation in the Hebrew scriptures. There is no Christianity without Judaism, and likewise there is no Judaism without Christ. D'Souza later shows he is quite versed in Christian doctrine and history, though he shouldn't have stooped to these levels to prove his point.

But it is most important to note that this book is categorized as "Current Events" not "Religion." This means that is great for all thoughtful people, Christians and non, living anywhere in the West. It does a nice job to expose the Christian roots of our Government, morality and scientific thought (and misconceptions thereof) that are important in today's society.

Face it, folks, America is dying because it is forgetting it's Christian roots. And remember in your reactions to this statement that the very freedoms of speech and religion you take for granted are only the result of the Christian based values of essential human value.

Despite minor foibles, I urge you to read this book and more like it.

Lennox "God's Undertaker"
Craig "Reasonable Faith"
Geisler/Turek "I Don't Have Enough Faith To Be An Atheist"
Bawer "While Europe Slept"

This book is an eye opener for me. I didn't know that the Christian church did not beleive that the earth was flat. And that so many scientists have been Christians.
I did not realize that Darwinism and evolutionism are two different things.
I'm really apprieciating the education I'm getting from this book.

1. The International Energy Agency estimates a $5.1 trillion investment by 2030, for problematic fields in the Caspian Sea basin, the middle-east, and Siberia. Increased output will need to come from tough oil reserves.
2. New US oil production by 2030 looks promising. Thunder Horse production started in June 2008, producing 250,000 barrels of oil per day. The US consumes over 25 million bbl/day and exports over 340 million barrels/year. The Bakken oil reserve in Montana, North Dakota, and Southeastern Saskatchewan has an estimate 271 billion to 503 billion barrels of oil. North Dakota oil production will grow significantly. Pemex expects Chicontepec oilfied in Veracrus and Puebla states to reach peak production of 470,000 barrels/day by 2014. Ultra deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Perdido will operate on the surface of 8,000 ft of water and produce as much as 130,000 barrels/day. It is very doubtful that peak oil has occurred.
3. Suppose consumption reached 100 million barrels per day, the greatest difficulty will be that oil prices drop because of oversupply, as production is destined to increase due to profits and shortages. Oil price controls will be forced to lift and remove and competition use technology and science to increase recoverable oil and bring those supplies too the market. Deep Hot biosphere suggests the earth has abundant resource of petroleum. Oil profits will drop and the oil business will become a marginal low PE business.
4. Cogeneration of nuclear energy electric generation pumping the hot steam into sand tar oil reserves, coal fire electric cool water and steam into oil shale extracting black liquid gold, and coal gasification ICGG will produce hydrogen, electricity, and gasoline; bringing cheap oil and gas back to the market. The financial and environmental costs of using synthetic fuels, tar sands, and shale oil are huge and the current price of oil makes these alternatives now possible. Tough oil will open a vast new supply and return the US into red exporter status.
5. The Saudis will want to produce 10-15 million barrels/day by 2025.
6. 50% of the current world oil production come from 116 giant fields producing more than a 100,000 barrels/day. Those in decline are Ghawar in Saudi Arabia, Cantarell in Mexico, and Burgan in Kuwait. Discover of new fields produces a self-defeating cycle. Why look for new discover of easy oil? Tough oil is the future.
7. By 2030, oil, coal, and natural are projected to provide a 87 percent of the world energy requirements. Oil production will need to rise by 42 percent, natural gas by 65 percent, and coal by 74 percent.
8. Japan has a large energy deficit. Japan has called on national firms to acquire overseas oil and gas reserves. In 2006, Tokyo adopted a New National Energy Strategy mandating that an ever-greater proportion of Japan's oil imports be supplied by Japanese energy firms. The oil volume in exploration and development by Japanese companies will be raised to around 40 percent by 2030. The move was designed to help Japanese firms compete with firms in China and India. This is a wasteful strategy. 2030, should be enough time for Japan to shift completely into a hydrogen society. Instead, of investing in new oil development, Japanese firms should invest into Black Light quantum power generation, hydrogen production, and millions of fuel cell migration devices. Nationalization continues to slow the conversion to a hydrogen society. Gas prices have reached a level where a transfer of technology is now justifiable.
9. National Owed Corporations hold large reserves: Saudi Aramco (264 bbl), National Iranian Oil (137.5 bbl), Iraq National Oil (115 bbl), Kuwait Petroleum Corp ( 101.5 bbl), Abu Dhabi National Oil Co (92.2 bbl), Petroleos de Venezuela (80 bbl), National Oil Corp of Libya (41 bbl), Nigerian National Petroleum (36.2 bbl), Lukoil (16.1 bbl), Qatar Petroleum (15.2 bbl), Gazprom (13.8 bbl), Pemex (12.2 bbl) , China National Petroleum Corp (115. bbl), and Chevron (8 bbl). The large Middle Eastern, National Owned companies control the most large oil reserves. Exxon Mobil, Chevron, British Petroleum, Royal Dutch Shell, and TotalFinaElf are overshadowed by NOCs.
10. In 2007, Abu Dhabi Investment authority invest $7.5 billion in Citigroup. Abu Dhabi has made significant investments in Advance Micro Devices (AMD).
11. Coal fire plants and nuclear plants will provide electricity supply meeting 2030 requirements. Chinese leader show a strong preference for coal fire plants and nuclear. China coal consumption will raise 130 percent by 2030 and account for half of the world consumption.
12. BP believes there exists 909 billion metric tons of coal in the world. US has 246 billion tons, Russia (157 billion), China (114 billion), India (92 billion), and Australia (78 billion) with important reserves in South Africa, Kazahstan, and Ukraine. China is the largest consumer of coal, 38 percent followed by the US at 18.4 percent.
13. The IEA expect China to invest $1.5 trillion in transmission and distribution of power by 2030. China will spend, $2.74 trillion invested in power development , by 2030. Included are new hydro projects, quads of Solar energy generation, and gigawatt wind power generation.
14. 2030, China's projected total power generation of 8472 Trillion watts hours will mean that China will equal the production of the US and European Union combined.
15. China is driving a world commodity boom between 1995-2005: aluminum - 31.9 million tons; iron production - 1.5 billion tons, copper - 16.6 million tons. Deutsche Bank said, "The surge in world demand has contributed to one of the most durable and powerful rallies in industrial metal prices in history." In 2006, China Machine-building international Corp agreed to build three coal fire plants in Zimbabwe in return for Chromium and other minerals. In return for a $5 billion reconstruction and development loan to Congo, China will gain exclusive access to Congo copper, cobalt, and nickel. China will develop infrastructure in Aynak Afghanistan to extract copper.
16. A war over resources control causes economic hyperinflation and impoverishment. Contention over limited resource leads to war. Unlimited energy dissolves the contention for resource and creates a proliferation of productivity. Klares conclusions that resources are limited and war is inevitable are not believable.

This book was a real eye opener about the rising importance of geopolitics in the oil markets.

This book should not be read at night when alone. This book if read sober will scare the s*$# out of you. The truth has a tendency to do that to people. Every US citizen should read this book no matter your job, education, or whatever. Michael Klare hit a home run with this book.

As America sits in front of their TV stuck in a deep trance about American Idol or the latest screw up by some movie or pop star the world has been changing. Everyone still thinks things are like the way they were in the 50s, America sits on top of the world. I only wish things were like that. The recent spike in gas prices at the pump shows us all how things are NOT like the 50s.

This book shows the reader just how the world has changed. He chronicles the change in both the world and the world oil market. Rising powers, thus the name of the book like China and India have drastically increased their thirst for oil. This increase demand on oil from those two countries and others have changed the world oil market. At the same time the safe fields in places like Texas have dried up. This has forced the oil providers to go deeper into the world's sewage ponds to get that oil.Those ponds are increasing more and more violent and less and less stable. These two things are creating a unique market paradox. Prices have jumped as we all have seen.

The rising demand various countries are experiencing is pushing countries to work harder to secure that oil. Klare does a great job documenting how China is aggressively doing whatever it takes to secure that oil. Oil is no longer just a good. It is a strategic asset for almost every country. Every country defines not only growth but survival in terms of oil availability.

As a result of this new view of oil nations are posturing like crazy all over the country to ensure that their interests are taken care of. That is where the scary part of the book enters into things. The modern day suburban opinion is that man has evolved out of war. That is behind us. Of course the people that believe that are the ones who don't go to war. People forget two of man's bloodiest wars started by accident, over night. Klare puts it best:

"As the desire for ever scarcer energy supplies builds, the potential to slide across this threshold into armed conflict and possibly great power confrontation poses one of the greatest dangers facing the planet today"

After reading the book you will see what he is talking about. It pans out in the news almost everyday. Those readers who are Christian believers will really be shocked. The story of competition for oil reads a great deal like the prophesy of the end times spoken about in numerous books of the bible. It also reads like the old Hal Lindsey book in the 70s about the "Late Great Planet Earth".

Klare ends with a call for diplomacy to work things out. He is right about calling for that. However I doubt it will work. When you are cold from no oil or hungry or have your national pride wounded because of oil related problems nations might not be in the mood for diplomacy.

This is the latest offering from one of the most insightful analysts of national and global security issues. In this book, Klare is essentially warning of the impending energy crisis, both related to climate change and to the increasing scarcity of petroleum, and of how both will likely escalate into political and/or military crises. He tells the sordid tale of the unholy alliances the United States has historically entered into to secure access to petroleum, and reveals the dynamics of the current global energy market--who has it, who needs it, the deals being cut to access it, and what the consequences of this arrangement may be. Klare also makes a compelling case for US/Chinese cooperation on things like carbon sequestration for coal-powered power plants to mitigate global warming, since both nations will continue to rely heavily on this dirtiest of fuels. He also makes a strong pitch for a rapid and massive move toward renewable energy sources as a key part of not only securing energy, but securing peace as well.

"Oil will cease to be primarily a traded commodity, but instead the preeminent strategic resource on the planet -- with power struggles over energy being the defining characteristic of the new century."

The charts alone tell the story of what lies ahead. The most striking figure for me is that the US, the world's sole superpower for the last 2 decades, holds 3.3% of the world's natural gas reserves yet produces and uses 18.5% of the world total - not sustainable long term strategy for a country that refuses to invest meaningfully or intelligently in efficiency or alternative sources of energy. More concerning yet is the growing concentration of the world's dwindling oil reserves in unstable regions of the world where ALL of the major developing and developed countries are involved in a high stakes, high nerves 21st century version of the Great Game. Klare lays out the situation simply and clearly and lets the reader draw most of the conclusions. It doesn't take much editorializing to help us understand why the US has 12 major military bases in the Gulf region or why China refuses to condemn the appalling situations in Sudan or Zimbabwe. For anyone who wants to understand the larger picture, this is a great book.

I received the book in a very good condition and very fast, thanks for an excelent service.

This is my sixth year teaching using this book. I love it.
I have been teaching High School Chemistry for 11 years and have used 8 different books (including teaching AP Chem and teaching at the Community College.)
The good things about the book:
1. For High School Chemistry it is one of the most commonly used.
2. All the topics that need to be covered are covered well.
3. I like the sequencing.
o Some texts try to sequence from a historical perspective (gas laws very early) - which is very confusing for students.
o Other texts may have nuclear chemistry early - which leaves a small percent of the students always thinking that the nucleus changes in chemical reactions.
4. There are many problems for student practice.
5. The website has excellent resources for both students and teachers.
o For students there are work sheets, on-line quizzes and solved problems.
o For the teacher:
I have my student print out the worksheets and do them at home - saves me copying.
They can do the same for some pdf files - there is at least one for every new type of calculation (mole conversions, yield problems, limiting reagent problems ...)
The worksheets have a "teacher edition" -solved for your assistance.
6. The test making software is easy to use, easy to edit and easy to make multiple tests.

Things that could be improved upon:
1. It's big. My students must read through over 900 pages in one academic year. We don't cover it all.
2. I get quite a few "What does that mean?" questions. The text could be written clearer.
3. Most of the questions are math problems. The few conceptual problems are really not deep enough.
4. It is a good middle ground between college chemistry and lower level chemistry.
5. It could use a well integrated lab manual - designed for a 50 minute class.

I have this book for my Honors Chemistry class since the other college book was too complicated for what we were trying to accomplish. Whenever I opened it up, I found it IMMENSELY more helpful than most books that I have had about chemistry before. Most of the concepts are very easy to understand and are presented in a comprehensible manner. It starts off with a brief intro about the period table, elements, neutrons, protons, ect. and it ends up talking about each family (group number) on the periodic table.

Overall, I think that this is a good book to learn from. I give it 5 out of 5 stars because I believe it is a very nice book that one would be able to learn much from. As being a student, I found this book easy to understand and most of the concepts well presented. Overall: nice book!

-Alex Robinson