An Inconvenient Truth: The Crisis of Global Warming by Al Gore

From Barnes & Noble

Former vice president Al Gore has always intended that urgent information about global warming reach the largest possible audience. It seems only logical then that he would adapt his bestselling book An Inconvenient Truth for a new generation of readers. This juvenile and teen edition contains a simplified text enhanced by full-color photographs, illustrations, and graphs. A head start on environmentalism.

From the Publisher

Former Vice President Al Gore's New York Times #1 bestselling book is a daring call to action, exposing the shocking reality of how humankind has aided in the destruction of our planet and the future we face if we do not take action to stop global warming. Now, Viking has adapted this book for the most important audience of all: today's youth, who have no choice but to confront this climate crisis head-on.

Dramatic full-color photos, illustrations, and graphs combine with Gore's effective and clear writing to explain global warming in very real terms: what it is, what causes it, and what will happen if we continue to ignore it. An Inconvenient Truth will change the way young people understand global warming and hopefully inspire them to help change the course of history.

Children's Literature

There is no doubt that the climate of the Earth is changing. Scientific studies support the fact that global warming not only exists but is increasing at a faster rate than anyone thought possible. The author was moved to action by a book read to him in his teenage years by Rachel Carson called Silent Spring, which showed how humans can either take care of the Earth and have it respond accordingly, or abuse the earth and suffer the consequences. This message is clear throughout this book, without a preachy tenor. Page after page of the fifteen chapters details the worldwide crisis we are experiencing through text, data, charts, illustrations, and visually stunning yet repulsive photographs. This book is a young person's version of an adult book that accompanied a documentary by the same name in 2006. The author is a former U.S. Vice President and also wrote Earth in the Balance: Ecology and the Human Spirit. A "must read" for young people as well as adults. Highly recommended.

VOYA

If skepticism about global warming has faded significantly, much of the credit must go to the Oscar-winning documentary and best-selling book on which this title is based. Former Vice President Gore has thrown his energy and prestige into raising the issue to the forefront of popular consciousness. This young adult version will have immediate name recognition. Slightly shortened and simplified, it includes most of the same, highly effective graphics and illustrations as the adult book. Gore makes no apologies for not presenting opposing opinions. Indeed he contends that in the scientific as opposed to the popular press, there is no debate. The adult title includes more corroborating evidence for some contentions. Here the text is graceful but blunt: There is no doubt about global warming, and this generation will bear the brunt if changes are not made immediately. Browsers will be drawn to the striking format, perfectly designed for a visually sophisticated age group. The text omits personal material found in the original and shortens and rearranges some of the chapters. Also unfortunately missing are the "Misconception" sidebars that address frequently heard objections. The one false note comes in the "Take Action" section, where Gore trivializes the ability of his audience to make an impact. His few suggestions are almost insultingly minor. He badly underestimates the will and influence of this very savvy generation, who can pressure parents and politicians to take the steps he recommends to his adult readers. This book is a must-have for collections serving younger teen readers.

John PetersCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information. - School Library Journal

Gr 5–8
This young readers' version of the recent documentary film's companion adult volume cuts the page count by about a third but preserves the original's cogent message and many of its striking visuals. After explaining that his interest in the environment predates even his mother's reading of Silent Spring aloud to him as a teenager, Gore proceeds to document steeply rising carbon dioxide levels in our atmosphere, and then to link that to accelerating changes in temperature and precipitation patterns worldwide. Using easy-to-grasp graphics and revealing before-and-after photos, he shows how glaciers and ice shelves are disappearing all over the globe with alarming speed, pointing to profound climate changes and increased danger from rising sea levels in the near future. O'Connor rephrases Gore's arguments in briefer, simpler language without compromising their flow, plainly intending to disturb readers rather than frighten them. He writes measured, matter-of-fact prose, letting facts and trends speak for themselves—but, suggesting that "what happens locally has worldwide consequences," he closes with the assertion that we will all have to "change the way we live our lives." Like the film, this title may leave readers to look elsewhere for both documentation and for specific plans of action, but as an appeal to reason it's as polished and persuasive as it can be.

Kirkus Reviews

A bestselling tie-in book, now adapted for middle- and high-school readers by Jane O'Connor, accompanied the award-winning documentary film about global warming, from Vice President Gore. Gore has contributed a new introduction, and a new table of contents clarifies his argument. Most of the illustrations have been retained. Beginning with an introduction to the issue, the evidence is presented in striking then-and-now pictures, simple graphs and straightforward, clearly written text. Some of the logic of individual bits of his original presentation has been lost in the simplification, but readers are likely to be familiar with his examples and the potential consequences: storms, floods, droughts, changes at the poles and in the oceans, public-health issues and even the rhythm of the seasons. Gore points out the effects of the population explosion and political denial but holds out hope that this crisis can also provide an opportunity for change. Four simple action steps are suggested, and readers are referred to the website from the film for further information. Multiple copies should be in every school and library. (acknowledgements, credits, index) (Nonfiction. 12-18)

Product Details

• Table of Contents

Table of Contents