Unsettled
What Climate Science Tells Us, What It Doesn't, and Why It Matters
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Unsettled
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Narrated by:
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Jay Aaseng
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By:
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Steven E. Koonin
About this listen
"Surging sea levels are inundating the coasts."
"Hurricanes and tornadoes are becoming fiercer and more frequent."
"Climate change will be an economic disaster."
You've heard all this presented as fact. But according to science, all of these statements are profoundly misleading.
When it comes to climate change, the media, politicians, and other prominent voices have declared that "the science is settled." In reality, the long game of telephone from research to reports to the popular media is corrupted by misunderstanding and misinformation. Core questions - about the way the climate is responding to our influence, and what the impacts will be - remain largely unanswered. The climate is changing, but the why and how aren't as clear as you've probably been led to believe.
Now, one of America's most distinguished scientists is clearing away the fog to explain what science really says (and doesn't say) about our changing climate. In Unsettled: What Climate Science Tells Us, What It Doesn't, and Why It Matters, Steven Koonin draws upon his decades of experience - including as a top science advisor to the Obama administration - to provide up-to-date insights and expert perspective free from political agendas.
Fascinating, clear-headed, and full of surprises, this book gives listeners the tools to both understand the climate issue and be savvier consumers of science media in general. Koonin takes listeners behind the headlines to the more nuanced science itself, showing us where it comes from and guiding us through the implications of the evidence. He dispels popular myths and unveils little-known truths: despite a dramatic rise in greenhouse gas emissions, global temperatures actually decreased from 1940 to 1970. What's more, the models we use to predict the future aren't able to accurately describe the climate of the past, suggesting they are deeply flawed.
Koonin also tackles society's response to a changing climate, using data-driven analysis to explain why many proposed "solutions" would be ineffective, and discussing how alternatives like adaptation and, if necessary, geoengineering will ensure humanity continues to prosper. Unsettled is a reality check buoyed by hope, offering the truth about climate science that you aren't getting elsewhere - what we know, what we don't, and what it all means for our future.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
©2021 Steven E. Koonin (P)2021 BenBella BooksListeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about Unsettled
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Al
- 12-05-23
Balanced yet very hard hitting.
He delivers a slow burn that devastates in the details, no invective or catastrophism
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Mister Peridot
- 14-06-22
Hope for the best & we will see!
Lots of excellent information & well presented data here. And the book is both readable & well read. But you do wonder why he regards CO2 emission reductions as being such a hopeless undertaking. A call to action on this front is certainly not supported by Koonin. As he basically says, if everything goes wrong climate wise we can try a bit of geo-engineering & If necessay just adapt! Whats missing to my mind is a proper discussion of runaway climate change, tipping points, the effect of ice loss in the Arctic, methane clathrates, etc. And the whole notion that the Earth has stable states. And that we may be taking the Earth from an Icehouse state to a Greenhouse state. No discussion of that possibility at all!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- B. Gaskell-Denvil
- 18-09-23
Illuminating, fascinating and imperative
I found this book even more interesting than I had hoped it might be. The author is not only an expert himself, but studies and cites in detail the works of other scientists.
The evidence is utterly unarguable, it is presented clearly, the writing is excellent and not too scientifically coded so as to be difficult to understand, and I learned a considerable amount about this fascinating and highly important subject.
Frankly I feel that this book of incredible information should be read by absolutely everyone - especially politicians.
It is clearly explained that as yet we do not fully know, nor are we yet able to know, every aspect of global climate.
As I know myself, having spent a lifetime researching every aspect of British medieval history, and a good deal other historical periods as well, that world climate has already undergone many climate changes. This was long before humanity added its own additions ..
All thus is explained. Absolute 100% proofs are not included, but science based on fact and unarguable research is the subject of the entire book.
Beautifully written, beautifully narrated,, the book is invaluable. I do more than recommend this.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Kamin
- 17-11-22
a fantastic listen - timely and challenging
everyone who is interested in climate and change should listen and read. I have also bought a hard copy for the graphs and will bookmark pages to aid in conversations and arguments. I want to talk to anyone about it who is willing!
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- N E Body
- 22-08-21
should be a game changer
You need to read this book. Science is being corrupted in the service of dodgy politics and public need for millenarianism being catered to by a morally bankrupt press.
The process needs to be rapidly unwound before it ends our civilization. That's the existential threat, not the climates eternal stately and ultimately uncontrollable changes.
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- Anonymous User
- 13-06-22
more to come...
Not ready yet to write a full review. Still reading, thinking etcetera. But what I can tell now it is an amazing, honest and very informative book. Exactly what I needed.
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- Amazon Customer
- 21-06-24
A balanced view of climate change.
A persoal explanation of climate science without hysteria that looks to replace politics with a rational discussion of what is happening and what, if anything, we can do about it.
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- Sols
- 19-01-22
A fantastic commentary on climate science
A fantastic commentary on the state of climate modelling as it relates to anthropogenic climate change and why the science does not necessarily lend itself to the sensational stuff in the media.
If you only read one book on climate change this should be at the top of your list.
Steven Koonin doesn't pull any punches, his arguments are persuasive and his views come across as brutally and uncomfortably honest, the way people can be honest when they have no vested interests.
Excellently narrated by Jay Aaseng. Worth two listens! 😉
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3 people found this helpful
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- Max Biaggi
- 23-08-22
Level headed
Rich in footnotes and referencing. Makes a great effort in being as unbiased as possible yet also clearly states his own opinion and recommendations. The narration is smooth and easy to listen to. I highly recommend this book especially if you've been getting your facts primarily from the mainstream media, as I have.
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- Dan Lewis
- 09-08-22
Refreshing Common sense over radical ideology
At last some common sense and well explained science regarding ‘the climate crisis’
Critical thought explaining climate history, refreshingly coherent compared to radical ideology and political climate rhetoric.
Climate change is for real but the crisis alarmist narrative seems nothing more than tyrannical globalist rhetoric with the binary option of communism as a measure to against it.
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