Books

Seek First to Understand

N. Scott Emery, P.E.Leave a comment
http://www.michaelmann.net/books/madhouse-effect
The Madhouse Effect by Micahael E. Mann and Tom Toles.

I recently read the 2018 paperback edition of The Madhouse Effect by Michael E. Mann and Tom Toles. Mann and Toles do an excellent job being true to the science and facts of climate change while writing in a way that is accessible to non-scientists and non-wonks. A number of things worth noting stand out.

There is No Doubt

First, Mann and Toles explain why there is no doubt about the science of human-caused climate change. In a nutshell, the scientific process is built to challenge consensus and rigorously pursue well founded challenges to the status quo. Legitimate science countering mainline thinking on climate science would be elevated, not suppressed, by the scientific community. In understanding the scientific process and the consensus we see among scientists on climate change, it is clear that there are no real questions as to whether climate change is happening, whether it is caused by our consumption of fossil fuels, or whether it is a serious threat to our existence. It is happening; we are causing it; and it is a serious threat.

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A Curiosity That Was Once Familiar

N. Scott Emery, P.E.Leave a comment
My wife, my daughter and I wandered into the Curious Iguana as we explored downtown Frederick, MD this past Saturday afternoon. My response to being in the Curious Iguana, a small independent bookstore, took me off guard. I felt like I imagine a former smoker might feel walking into a smoke filled room, but in a good way. I was reminded of a past addiction and cherished the brief reminder of the happiness it used to bring.

The smell of the books and the well laid out displays put me into a state of mind that was familiar, but almost forgotten. It’s a state where time slows, a keenness of mind and spirit ensues and nothing matters except searching for just the right book. I have been in that state of mind many times before, but I don’t know that I have ever been as acutely aware of it. For the most part, the kind of bookstores I used to spend hours in has left the retail landscape and I get my books online or as eBooks. 

I like the convenience of buying books online and enjoy reading eBooks, but a day like Saturday makes me long for the days of browsing the shelves of a well-stocked book store, thumbing the pages of books that catch my eye and leaving the store with something new and unexpected to read. Searching for books in store is a process of discovery. It is like following a new road or trail and finding an undiscovered  place or view. And, it is an experience that cannot be matched by a sophisticated database or program that makes suggestions as to what I should read next. 
We left the store with a new book for my daughter’s summer reading. She began to read it as soon as we got in the car. As we drove out of town, I commented on how nice it was go to a book store. My daughter took a break from her reading and interjected, “It felt great!” Yes, indeed it felt great, and because of that, I hope that places like the Curious Iguana are with us for many years to come.