GLOBAL WARMING

Striking a cautious tone and noting that the Earth has been both warmer and colder in its past, Simon nonetheless suggests that current signs hint at an uncommonly rapid shift in global climate—possibly due to more than just human factors but nonetheless likely to cause disastrous near-future consequences. Though his moderation makes a refreshing change from the many strident calls to action clamoring for attention, it comes in a text that could use updating (“Greenland’s enormous ice sheet will begin to melt”) accompanied by generic photos of floods, lightning, smiling schoolchildren and autumn foliage that are at best only indirectly related to the topic at hand. Simon’s huge (and deserved) fan base will ensure a wide readership for this clearly presented overview of the topic, but it has a slapdash feel and is not his best work. (Nonfiction. 8-10)