Earth under Fire: How Global Warming Is Changing the World

Comment: Along with the development of modern technology, the quality of life has changed significantly. However, what has also changed is the global temperature, which is rising mainly due to human activities. Most of us already have information about global warming which is changing the ecological balance on earth, but how many of them us exactly how serious the problem is?

"Earth Under Fire," by Gary Braasch is an impressive book that attempts to touch people's hearts about the impact of global warming. Mr. Braasch is a world environmental photojournalist and his photo-journalistic series "World View of Global Warming" recorded the effects of global warming in many countries of the world. According to Braasch, "Because many popular articles and books on climate change have been based on predictions, which are easily dismissed, I wanted to look at the Earth itself and report on the changes I saw already under way."

The book begins with the effects of global warming such as the melting of the ice shelf, the receding of mountain glaciers, changes in animal migration, and the strong impact on human life. The most significant characteristic of this book is that it is not similar to other books that also describe global warming. Mr. Braasch uses a number of shocking photos that help the readers understand the same problem more deeply. According to Vanity Fair Magazine, "This may be the most deeply researched photo book of all time."

Global warming is changing the earth that we are living in, and many of us already know that. However, what we lack is awareness of how serious this problem is. If human beings do not change the way they obtain energy, the earth will not be a comfortable place to live anymore. "Earth Under Fire" is an impressive, informative book that can help us realize the serious impact of global warming. As Al Gore so clearly stated "The power of Gary Braasch's personal witness to the climate crisis makes this essential reading for every citizen."

Comment: My experience is that journalists often write the best books, because they know how to research and how to write. Gary Braasch's book is in this category, the result of 8 years' worldwide research with climate experts and regular people, and taking photos with impact. He has created the first "coffee table" book on global warming, which also contains A-Z information and essays by several top scientists.

I have followed this issue for years, and still learned from his "Global Warming and Climate Change Explained," and from his history of the UN Climate Treaty and Kyoto Protocol (two pages or less for each). Fully documented, one quarter of the book is about solutions. Suitable for everyone, experienced and new. I gave a copy to an environmental educator friend and to my 16 year old goddaughter.

Comment: This book shows photographic and published documents about global warming stemed from devastation, pollution, and careless attitude of humans concerning the exploitation of world natural resources. Photos and citations of data obtained from several publications make up a good source of information on this subject. Photos taken of the same natural locality aiming to compare the conditions of such areas after some period of time, should present specification of time of the year they were both taken (the reader supposes they were both taken in the same month or season!).This book would worth more in economical and ecological terms if it had come out in paperback!

Comment: Did you know they've moved the lighthouse on Cape Hatteras 2800 feet back from the shore due to rising sea levels? Me neither, but this is one of a myriad of telling tales Braasch brings into play to sound the alarm about global warming. He literally circled the globe--east to west and north to south--to gather information and photos for this book. He then combines these with easy-to-read narrative in a large-format work to tell the tale of a changing world.

Braasch's research is meticulous, and he goes out of his way to note dissenting views, but the conclusions are crisp and clear as a warming Arctic winter day--the planet is getting hotter and this can only mean trouble. If you have time to read one book on the current reality and looming consequences of global warming, this is it.

Sample info from Earth Under Fire: Stand-by mode of electronic gadgets consumes 6 percent of US electricity--one coal-fired electrical generation plant produces as much CO2 as 1.5 million cars--coal power plant pollutants kill 24,000-30,000 US citizens every year--and 10 times that many Chinese.

Comment: Very important topic clearly presented. Photographs prove the losses the planet is suffering and man's wanton disregard for the deterioration. The photographs are extraordinarily beautiful, the yin and yang of this issue.