This is a very welcome book. Even if you have a dozen or so books on the subject, you may well find this one to be different in three ways:
First of all, it is VERY readable - cover to cover in two evenings. And it is not very technical. This means that the science is nicely, and accurately, digested. Alarmist might reflexively complain that such an evaluation means that the "true consensus science" is ignored. Others may note that this more approachable presentation prevents the alarmist from shouting "you wouldn't understand - we're smart and you aren't - you just have to trust us." Those who have read many of the more technical books will find their thus acquired, and thereafter well-considered views, to be nicely reflected by Ambler.
Second, the point of attack here is that the earth is getting colder. This, while not originating with Ambler, constitutes an alarmism in the other direction, and thereby tends to co-opt (retake) the legitimate vista. Instead of discrediting the global warming ->climate change -> increase in severe weather event mantra, a more obvious implication of the evidence is upon us. No longer is it "Oh Yea! - well the last two years were not warmer" or even "there has been no statistically significant warming for 13 years" but rather "it's GOING to get cold." And inasmuch as the case for CO2 driven warming (human or otherwise) was bogus (the logarithmic relationship and anti-causality for example), here in contrast, a truly scientific case for cooling is outlined. This return to honesty is good news for the profession of science, but not great for those of us who don't particularly appreciate a chill.
The third element to note is that Ambler generally writes as a journalist or historian in telling us how we GOT into this mess. This is useful because many who understand the science are mystified at how it can be that others who apparently do (or at least should understand it) stubbornly discard their training and proceed with an irrational bias, that for all of us, and more particularly for the developing world, borders on misanthropy. Likely this pathological "science of global warming" will provide sociologists with academic fodder for many decades (as they huddle closer to the fireplace).
