Ross Gelbspan is a PulitzerPrize-winning journalist,

and he is angry. The subtitle of this book is “How Politicians, Big Oil and Coal, and Activists Have Fueled the Climate Crisis – and What We Can Do to Avert Disaster.” Yes, he is angry.

Only those who have been asleep for many months, or perhaps down in a cave somewhere, have not heard about Global Warming. Unfortunately, it remains a controversial topic. Ross Gelbspan, author of Boiling Point, attributes the skepticism to efforts on the part of the above-mentioned entities. He is convinced, and wants to convince his readers, that this planet is failing “apart piece by piece in the face of persistent and pathological denial.”

He states that science is very clear that we need to cut our consumption of carbon fuels by about 70%. Such a statement seems overwhelming and may well explain why most of us do not want to know about it. However, Gelbspan sees it as an opportunity to begin to mend a broken world.

It is an awesome issue to tackle, even if all were agreed about the scope of the problem and what can be done about it. Gelbspan blames the coal and oil industries for blocking efforts to “change our lethal energy diet.” Not only does the industry have immense financial resources, it also has important political support.

Each chapter in Boiling Point is followed by a “Snapshot of the Warming.” After listing the casualties from warming, he says, “Only the bugs love warming.” The destruction begins with ice. The ice shelves in the Arctic are thinning, with subsequent danger to sea life, and eventually humanity. The sea itself is warming, down to depths of nearly two miles.

Industry is not the only villain. The U.S. press tends to minimize the story, Gelbspan believes. Occasional feature stories mention the decimation of forests or danger to the coral reefs, but little coverage of the scope of the issue has appeared.

The book was published (2004) before Katrina and Rita, but it notes the changing weather patterns that are producing more and more violent storms worldwide. The rhythm of El Nino and La Nina has been disrupted, and the pH levels of the oceans are changing.

The final chapter presents three proposals for dealing with global warming and its effects. None are simple. The public owes itself and the planet at least an attempt to understand the situation and possible solutions.

Gelbspan acknowledges that there is a difference of opinion on this issue, but he marshals an impressive amount of research to support his thesis. Extensive notes at the end of the book list the sources for his arguments. It is a convincing presentation, but the reader will have to determine its worth for himself.

Boiling Point is available at the Mary Willis Library.