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Unstoppable: Harnessing Science to Change the World

(Un... #2)

Bill Nye (Editor)

4.16 · Rating details · 3,045 ratings · 382 reviews

Just as World War II called an earlier generation to greatness, so the climate crisis is calling today's rising youth to action: to create a better future.

In Unstoppable, Bill Nye crystallizes and expands the message for which he is best known and beloved. That message is that with a combination of optimism and scientific curiosity, all obstacles become opportunities, and ...more

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Hardcover, 341 pages

Published November 10th 2015 by St. Martin's Press

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Jan 05, 2016 Becky rated it it was amazing

Shelves: politicalish, non-fiction, reviewed, audiobook, i-want-this, highly-recommended, yay-science, 2016

Well. I didn't know that this was a "series". Apparently Goodreads thinks so. I happened to just stumble on the fact that Bill Nye had another book with a similar catchy Un-based title when browsing at a bookstore, and then proceeded to not buy it in favor of using an Audible credit for it. Which is fine, but eventually I'll probably buy it (them) anyway, because they are both great books.

Undeniable goes into evolution, and was, to me at least, a little surprising in how disparaging and Well. I didn't know that this was a "series". Apparently Goodreads thinks so. I happened to just stumble on the fact that Bill Nye had another book with a similar catchy Un-based title when browsing at a bookstore, and then proceeded to not buy it in favor of using an Audible credit for it. Which is fine, but eventually I'll probably buy it (them) anyway, because they are both great books.

Undeniable goes into evolution, and was, to me at least, a little surprising in how disparaging and critical he was about creationism. I wasn't surprised that that was his viewpoint, but the delivery surprised me, because I am used to Bill Nye the Friendly Science Guy... not Bill Nye, the Withering Creationism Critic.

I mention that because in this book, we're mostly back to Bill Nye the Friendly Science Guy, and it's much more familiar ground. He goes into some details about how ridiculous and selfish and short-sighted it is to ignore climate science, or worse, pretend like it's not really real, but for the most part, he is his normal "Be part of the solution" self.

This book runs the gamut from talking about how he lives in his own home (with solar panels, solar water heater, smart venting to circulate air for temperature control, water reclamation methods, etc - along with a little friendly Green-rivalry with his neighbor Ed Begley Jr.) to ideas for society to move forward into a greener era. And not just greener, but whiter. He's not just talking about reducing carbon emissions, he's talking about ways to reduce the heating of the planet as well. Instead of using blacktop on roads, use a lighter color surface to reflect the heat instead of trap it. Float light colored balls or even biodegradable bubbles on the surfaces of aquifers to slow evaporation, etc. These are things I never thought about before. Quite interesting.

He talks about electric cars, improving mass transit systems, improving infrastructure for bicyclists to commute, telecommuting. He talks about nuclear options, and how it might be possible to safely design nuclear plants so that they are failsafe, even in the event of a catastrophic event like what happened in Fukushima. He talks about economic changes that would structure fees and rebates for carbon usage. He talks about how we need to change our outlook and pessimism (which really kind of translates to fatalism, if I'm honest) and actually get off our asses and try to be better stewards of the Earth. He speaks about it as an investment in humanity, and it is. We aren't going to kill the planet. We can do a lot of damage to it... but Earth will still be here. It's just us that won't be.

Anyway... I thought that this was an interesting book even if you aren't on the Climate Change bandwagon. It's chock full of excitement for the future, and inspiring thoughts about the direction that technology and human advancement can go, while making the world a better and more sustainable habitat for the species who live here. ...more

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Aug 31, 2019 Jim rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2non-fiction, 1audio, science

I love Bill Nye, the science guy, so this was a treat to listen to just on that basis. His enthusiasm & love for science is boundless & very upbeat. On top of that, he has a very good message about the evidence for & ways we can alleviate climate change & stress on the world with our burgeoning numbers & voracious wants & needs. He also continually keeps the rest of the world in mind, not just the US. There wasn't a lot of material new to me, but he packaged it really I love Bill Nye, the science guy, so this was a treat to listen to just on that basis. His enthusiasm & love for science is boundless & very upbeat. On top of that, he has a very good message about the evidence for & ways we can alleviate climate change & stress on the world with our burgeoning numbers & voracious wants & needs. He also continually keeps the rest of the world in mind, not just the US. There wasn't a lot of material new to me, but he packaged it really well.

All was not perfect. He goes into a lot of detail about how bad coal is from soup to nuts, but he doesn't look into batteries nearly as much. I'm continually seeing articles about the costs of fossil fuels, but almost never see any about the costs of batteries. If he mentioned any, I didn't notice them. They are there, but I suspect they're far more nebulous & tough to figure. That doesn't mean they're not as bad, but most are out of sight.

His attempts at making his house more energy efficient, especially in competition with Ed Begley, Jr. were wonderful. It was interesting & a lot of fun. He skipped some important issues with that, though. I was really disappointed that he didn't supply sites to get tools such as solar power or wind speed meters to calculate how much electric would be generated. I'm fairly sure they make such a thing, but a good one (one that allows graphing over an extended period) is tough to find.

He mentions spending thousands & getting it paid off in 10 years. How do I know if it would work for me? I live in Kentucky where we have cheap electric due to coal. Sun power isn't a good bet according to the NOAA data for my area. Roof turbine generators probably wouldn't pay off for me either, but I'm not sure. (He was very light on details about wind power in general.) I need a device I can stick on the roof for a year that lets me know in simple terms what the payback will be. (I checked his web site & saw nothing. The only thing for sale was bow ties.)

Not every roof can take solar panels easily. I hope brackets to hold them on to terra cotta & slate roofs have been addressed, but I wouldn't put them on a shake roof. (I wouldn't have a shake roof on a house, but that's another matter.) He didn't mention the Tesla roof shingles, but maybe they came out after this book.

Insulating a house & stopping all the leaks is something a lot of people did in the late 70s & early 80s after the oil crisis. It didn't work out well for quite a few. Houses must have an exchange of about 1/3 of their air per hour or moisture builds up & condenses in cold spots such as around windows which leads to rotting & black mold. Often the fix is a new HVAC system, running it more (if only to circulate air) & making sure vents are in the right place. When a vent isn't in the right place or needs to move more air, it's often a major ordeal to fix. This is more of a problem with houses from the 1950s or 60s & earlier, but there are a lot of those still around, so beware.

Still, he came up with a lot of good ideas & ways of thinking about doing more with less. An excellent message, if a bit light on actual fixes. Very well narrated by him, of course. A real pleasure & highly recommended.
...more

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Nov 16, 2018 Darius Murretti rated it really liked it

Shelves: audible, climate-change

Note:This book is definitely to be reread(listened to ) again and again back to back readings(listenings ) . Do not make the mistake of reading (listening) it just once. Immediately start again. You will enjoy it MORE the second time. You will see both Nyes strengths and weaknesses clearer the second time . You will see his approach clearer and be able to sit yourself with a denier if you listen to this book 2-3 times back to back.

Note: the last 1 hour of this audio book is a solid 5 star pep ...more

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Feb 09, 2017 Crystal Starr Light rated it really liked it

Shelves: science, non-fiction, 2017-owned-challenge

Bullet review:

2017 President: Donald Trump

Pick for Energy Secretary: Rick Perry

EPA Secretary: Scott Pruitt

Other Cabinet Members

This a book people will read in 30 years and laugh how wrong it was. Like 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Only we might be living on boats like Waterworld or riding dusty vehicles like Mad Max.

Better brush up on your dystopias.

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Dec 01, 2015 Michael Hicks rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, bought

My original Unstoppable audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.

Dealing with climate change requires a fundamental change in the way we think about and view our place on this planet according to Bill Nye, we have to view our role as owners of this earth, rather than mere renters. The earth needs our constant attention and we have to be careful about what we put into the air, water, and land since we all share these resources.

In Unstoppable, Nye rejects the altruistic My original Unstoppable audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.

Dealing with climate change requires a fundamental change in the way we think about and view our place on this planet – according to Bill Nye, we have to view our role as owners of this earth, rather than mere renters. The earth needs our constant attention and we have to be careful about what we put into the air, water, and land since we all share these resources.

In Unstoppable, Nye rejects the altruistic notion that we have to “save the earth” – the Earth isn’t going anywhere. It was here long before us humans, and will be here long after us. Also rejected is the notion that climate change has always occurred, will always occur, and that we shouldn’t worry about it. The truth, as is often the case between two such extremes, lies somewhere in the middle. The Earth doesn’t need saving. Rather, we need to keep the earth habitable for us! If we’re not good stewards, or responsible owners, then we run the risk of making our planet inhospitable and hostile to our continued survival.

The goal, then, is to try and mitigate the effects of the global disaster that we have already created. With the amounts of carbon emissions that we are pumping into the atmosphere every second of every day, and the long-term trends that demonstrate the warmth and expansion of Earth’s waters, leading to changes in air and water currents, we’ve already created what amounts to an irreversible situation, or one that, if reversed, would take many, many hundreds of years. Hence the book’s title, Unstoppable. Rapid climate change is occurring, and the havoc that it will wreak on our entire ecosystem is a force to be reckoned with.

Over the course of the book, Nye discusses the science behind climate change and lays down some grisly facts surrounding the accumulation and perpetual proliferation of carbon dioxide into the air we breathe, defeats one by one the most common assertions claimed by climate change deniers, and explores the causes and effects of this man-made disruption (tornadoes in Chicago! More snowfall! More flooding! The collapse of infrastructure and the displacement of millions of people living in coastal regions!). He also notes, not unreasonably, that freeing ourselves from fossil fuels would go a long way toward cutting off a primary source of income to terrorist groups, like ISIS, that control the oil fields whose productions we are so dependent on. Also supremely beneficial to both the United States and the world at large is cutting loose climate change deniers from their political offices.

While there’s plenty of doom and gloom in the future forecast, it’s not completely without some measure of hope. Nye also discusses the technologies that we can and should be adopting in order to ensure our continued existence. Nye offers plenty of practical (thought not necessarily cheap) efforts that could be undertaken, literally, right at home, like installing solar panels, collecting rain water, and making slight alterations to the way you insulate your home, and buying an electric vehicle. Each of these small, environmentally conscious steps can help off-set the decades of damage we have done, and continue to do, to the world around us. If we want to continue living on the Earth, though, we will have to make some tough choices in the way we live.

As a long-time science communicator, Bill Nye is able to lay down the surprisingly large breadth of information surrounding the topic of climate change. And as narrator of his own book, he’s able to present the material with his trademark wit and passion, making the book a real joy to listen to. The Science Guy brings with him all of the entertainment value that made his television series such a joy to watch back in the 1990s, and the production value on this audio book is superior, running along with nary a hiccup. Throughout the narration, he provides plenty of real world illustrations to support the scientific data, which helps hammer home the importance of dealing with this dangerous reality and reminds us that we can no longer keep our heads buried in the sand.

We cannot ignore this problem until it goes away because, as Nye makes abundantly clear, this problem is simply not going to go away, no matter how loud the (uninformed) denial. Information is relayed in an easy-to-understand and cogent fashion, which is a very wise approach since this is a topic that literally everyone should be made to understand. You don’t need a PhD to get clued in on the science at hand, and this book serves as a refreshing primer that will make it very easy for people to become informed. In fact, the information is so easy to grasp that even Ken Ham should be able to understand it, providing he’s willing to, once again, get schooled by Bill Nye the Science Guy! ...more

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Oct 27, 2015 Sara rated it it was ok

I really enjoyed Undeniable, but I must say I was not a fan of this one. I'll just say it: some of the chapters are sinfully boring and even inaccessible.

The book has some strong earlier chapters about alternative energy and engineering. I learned about interesting facts though I must say some diagrams/ pictures would be enormously helpful (odd he didn't consider this given his TV show).

What really irked me about the book is that he talks very little about sustainability, mass consumption, and ...more

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Dec 08, 2016 Tudor Vlad rated it really liked it

Shelves: nonfiction

It's hard not to love a book written by Bill Nye, he's so passionate and fun. According to Goodreads this is the second book in the "Un..." series but you don't need to read the first book to enjoy this one. Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation talks about the theory of evolution and its deniers, Unstoppable talk about global warming and how we can use current and future technology to *try* and buy Earth some more time. Really insightful, it explains in great detail how all current ...more

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Aug 01, 2019 James rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: Anyone

Shelves: non-fiction

Nye opens up a fire hose of ideas and proposals to fix global warming, some are pretty far out there, but I agree with his basic premise, try everything and see what really works. I was worried that this book might be too shallow to engage someone who's already familiar with many of the issues and has a science background, that was not the case. Indeed, in the case of electrical power distribution, it's the first time I've ever seen mention of resistive and reactive loads outside an EE manual. ...more

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Oct 30, 2015 Nathan rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-i-own

After hearing about Bill Nye's first book, Undeniable, through the podcast StarTalk which Mr. Nye often is a part of these days, I was excited when I heard that he was working on a book about climate change. So when the book was released this November, I had to get my hands on it for a few reasons. First I wanted to learn more about climate change and second I have come to really respect Mr. Nye as an educator and a writer. Thankfully, this book did not disappoint! Mr. Nye produced another book After hearing about Bill Nye's first book, Undeniable, through the podcast StarTalk which Mr. Nye often is a part of these days, I was excited when I heard that he was working on a book about climate change. So when the book was released this November, I had to get my hands on it for a few reasons. First I wanted to learn more about climate change and second I have come to really respect Mr. Nye as an educator and a writer. Thankfully, this book did not disappoint! Mr. Nye produced another book which contains his optimism and love of science. I was able to take a lot away from this book and it made me want to "science" some more.

What I liked about this book was that it was not a book about answers; it was more about questions and possible solutions. No one has the answers for a lot of upcoming climate issues, but I think Bill Nye did a nice job of introducing a lot of different issues and writing about possible solutions that are being looked at right now.

In comparison to his last book on evolution, this book was slightly more conceptually and mathematically heavy. A lot of the chapters on energy and new energy technologies were prefaced with background of thermodynamic laws and power consumption calculations and so on. However, I think the way Bill Nye explained these heavy parts in his book made the reader able to understand the hard concepts. Since I have taken a lot of physics/engineering classes in the past year, I have background knowledge of a lot of the topics. Luckily, Bill Nye is such a talented educator, that I believe that a person without a science background would not have trouble understanding the concepts either.

Another great thing that Bill Nye did with this book was that he included his own experiences in it too. There was a section of about 6 or so chapters at the end of the book which focused on his own home and the renovations he has done in order to make it more environmentally friendly. These chapters provided nice examples to see what he has done and to show that he walks the walk and doesn't just talk.

Overall, I think this book was a nice overview of a lot of different climate change issues with many possible answers that are being looked into now. The author definitely knows his stuff and does a great job at explaining all of the different topics addressed. For anyone interested in climate change, definitely a great book to get you thinking!

Together we can change the world. ...more

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Mar 09, 2016 Kory Shrum rated it it was amazing

Listened to it on audiobook and love his voice and energy. Smart writing by a funny guy :)

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Sep 22, 2017 Jimmy rated it really liked it

Shelves: science

He gives a simple explanation of the greenhouse effect. Energy from the sun passes through the atmosphere, strikes the planet's surface, and is partially absorbed. The surface warms a bit. The rest of the heat is radiated back into space. But some of it is trapped by certain atmospheric gases, especially water vapor and carbon oxide. It works the same way as glass in a greenhouse. We need that to keep our planet hospitable for life. The problem is that now our greenhouse effect is getting ...more

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Jan 14, 2016 Kelly McCoy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: non-fiction, science-rules

Interested in how to manage climate change?
Tired of arguing that facts are facts?
READ THIS BOOK!

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Nov 18, 2015 Book rated it it was amazing

Shelves: science, climate-change, engineering

Unstoppable: Harnessing Science to Change the World by Bill Nye

Unstoppable is a wonderful, upbeat plea to make a better world through science. It focuses on the many environmental challenges we face as a planet and provides hope through science and engineering on what we can do to rise to address them. Mechanical engineer, science educator, and Emmy award-winning TV personality Bill Nye the Science Guy provides readers with yet another gem. This enjoyable 350-page book includes thirty-five ...more

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Aug 06, 2016 Jennifer Rayment rated it it was amazing

A must read for everyone. So many people are so full of doom and gloom about the environment and think that it is beyond our repair. For all of you pessimists I encourage you to read this ASAP. Nye gives us hope that we can change and recover from all the damage we have done to this beautiful world. Throughout the book he discusses all of the rapidly changing technologies that will help us and most of all encourages us to make these changes. He also highlights that we could do more if A must read for everyone. So many people are so full of doom and gloom about the environment and think that it is beyond our repair. For all of you pessimists I encourage you to read this ASAP. Nye gives us hope that we can change and recover from all the damage we have done to this beautiful world. Throughout the book he discusses all of the rapidly changing technologies that will help us and most of all encourages us to make these changes. He also highlights that we could do more if governments would just put the money into research. As usual it is full of his delightfully sweet and self deprecating humour. I especially enjoyed when he discusses how he and Ed Beagley Jr, have been healthily competing to make their respective homes more environmentally friendly than the other . I really wish I had been exposed to men like him when I was learning science in school, he makes it fascinating and sexy. Hmm wonder if we can get him to run for President of the US, imagine the changes he could bring about. Truly inspirational and full of hope.

Favorite Quotes

“so long as we each focus only on our individual decisions and their short-term consequences, we will act like renters, not owners of this Earth.” —

“We can be a lot smarter and more capable than a lot of the technology doubters and climate deniers assume. The people who dismiss concerns about global warming seem to be the pessimists who would rather give up than own up to the problems we have all created. The people who worry most about what we are doing to the planet are the optimists who believe we also have the intelligence—we, as a species, working together—to come up with powerful solutions to the problems we’re working on that will change the world for the better. Which way of looking at the world is going to produce a Next Greatest Generation? Will it be the ones who give up, or the ones who get going?”

“The less we do to address climate change now, the more regulation we will have in the future.”

5 Dewey's

Didn't have to review this one - as usual just gotta share my opinion on books ...more

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Feb 17, 2016 Kelli rated it really liked it

First things first- absolute love for Nye's call to get more women and girls involved in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math)! Yahoo! Yes! And he talks about this with such accessible, no-brainer logic (a skill of his, I must say). Half of us on this planet are female. If more girls get involved with science, the overall contribution to the scientific community will grow astronomically.

I mean, like, duh, right? And other girly responses.

Ok, and now for the rest. I really liked ...more

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Jan 12, 2016 Sara rated it it was amazing

Easy to read, and more importantly, inspirational. You don't need a degree in chemistry, or engineering, or even chemical engineering. Just as with his show, Bill Nye explained everything in incredibly basic detail. And if you can't visualize it in your mind, there's plenty of visual resources on the internet (which I had to make use of every once in a while).

He also emphasizes that he doesn't want to instill fear or shame in his readers. There is no "because you drive a non-electric car, you ...more

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Nov 13, 2015 S. Martin rated it it was amazing

Really inspiring with lots of ideas for clean energy both on the global and personal scale, many of which you can do at home any time! I do think Bill kinda treats "deniers/doubters" of climate change as if they're saying, "Oh, this is horrible! It can't be true! Nooooo!!!" when really, deniers and doubters are saying, "Climate change is full of shit, you're full of shit, I'm the most important thing in the world." So I agree we need to change people's attitudes, but in a different way than he ...more

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Nov 21, 2015 Mason Neil rated it liked it

Great information, not well written. Still worth reading.

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Nov 17, 2018 I WANT GOD rated it really liked it

Shelves: climate-change

Bill Nye is an entertaining narrator and alot of the books, especially in the beginning, is the solid climate changing facts I was seeking to arm myself with but then Nye digresses to some highly speculative futuristic hi-tech scientific solutions to climate change that are just ramblings and some are just plain dumb like coming up with a GMO wheat that is white so it will reflect sunlight or making boats that put out a specific size of bubble that stays suspended in the ocean water and reflects ...more

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Nov 17, 2018 RbbieFrah rated it really liked it

Shelves: climate-chnage, audible

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Mar 11, 2019 Amber Scaife rated it liked it

Bill Nye sets out his ideas on how climate change is (a) real (problem), but that it's not quite yet irreversible, and then explains ways in which we can start living a life that helps reverse those changes. I liked this one but I didn't love it as I wanted to, for a couple of reasons: 1) The Preaching-to-the-Choir syndrome (which I fully admit isn't the fault of the book at all) - there wasn't much here that I didn't know already and of course I agree with the arguments completely; and 2) The ...more

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Sep 19, 2019 Ericka Clouther rated it liked it

Shelves: nonfiction, science, environment, author-male, california, 0-borrowed, climate-change

Had a very good start with larger climate and policy issues but then turned into a book about urban planning, and then fixing your house to be energy efficient. I got so bored with all the specific engineering.

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Feb 02, 2019 Holly rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: own

I friggin love Bill Nye - have ever since watching his show as a kid. This book is really informative and has all kinds of good info on how to do reno's on your house with more sustainable stuff. Earth is our only home! We need to take care of her.

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Dec 23, 2015 Susan Visser rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audible

What a great book! Bill is a passionate scientist and a gifted teacher. He makes complex topics easier to understand, regardless of your age or experience with the topic. He doesn't preach and he doesn't use fear as a tactic to think about change.

Of course the primary topic of the book is climate change and the problems that the planet is struggling with today and the more drastic problems we will face in the future. Bill goes through a bunch of ideas that could help us reduce our dependancy on What a great book! Bill is a passionate scientist and a gifted teacher. He makes complex topics easier to understand, regardless of your age or experience with the topic. He doesn't preach and he doesn't use fear as a tactic to think about change.

Of course the primary topic of the book is climate change and the problems that the planet is struggling with today and the more drastic problems we will face in the future. Bill goes through a bunch of ideas that could help us reduce our dependancy on oil while maintaining the standard of life that we've come to expect. It is doable. Each option is explained in detail along with pros and cons for each one. Bill considers engineering difficulties, human error, cost, and political pressures. He gives a complete story on each. Some of the ideas are what we've heard of so far: solar, wind, nuclear, but others go in the realm of not so known ideas.

I am quite worried about the planet and how we can survive beyond 20 more years, but this book gives me hope. If teachers, startups, enterprising young adults / teenagers and yes, even billionaires, begin backing some of these ideas (as they are already), we'll see unprecedented change. Actually, I shouldn't say "unprecedented" because clearly the world is a much different place today than it was only 20 years ago. If you compare to 50 years ago or 100... the place is not even recognizable.

One of the biggest issues the world is faced with is how do you allow developing nations get what we developed nations have without using as many resources as we have consumed in the past 50 years. The answer is in progress. We need to fully explore wind, solar and other technologies to their fullest to allow the modernization / equalization of the planet without crippling it entirely. I am optimistic that it can happen. I like the idea of nuclear energy, but given the many dangers surrounding this technology, it isn't feasible. I was glad to hear that there are chemical experts looking into ways to produce the same amount of energy while mitigating the risks of errors, accidents, or outright malice.

One of the most enjoyable parts of the book is where Bill talks about his rivalry with Ed Begley Junior... his neighbour in California. They are both activists for a sustainable future and they put their money where their mouth is... they have outfitted their homes with all the gadgets to reduce their carbon footprint and even make money by feeding the grid. Even if you want to do one small thing, you'll get some good ideas from these two. I have been considering a tackless water heater for some time, and both Bill and Ed have this... and installed it before it was "mainstream". I think this will be my year to do so. I'd like to do more, so I'll keep looking for ideas from this book and others to make more of a difference.

I was pleased to see Elon Musk's efforts in the electric car, solar batteries and even the space program to be discussed in the book. Yes, Bill is all for a space program despite the amount of energy it uses. He makes a great argument that I fully agree with.

This book should be read by all of the climate change deniers in the world, all teachers, and parents should read it to their children to help spur some creative ideas for the next generation.

I listened to the audible version, so Bill read the book to me. He has a very engaging manner and I loved listening!! ...more

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May 02, 2016 LB rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: tech, science, non-fiction, best-of-2016, environmental

4.5 / 5 stars

This review is also posted at http://readingnookandcranny.blogspot....

Science and technology are amazing things. We live in a golden age. Do you realize that Albert Einstein lived until 1955? That's just over 60 years ago. Most of what we know about science/physics/the universe/cosmology is really only a century old (at most). And considering that a lot of people live into their 90s, just take a minute to think about what that means for the young generation right now. Is your mind 4.5 / 5 stars

This review is also posted at http://readingnookandcranny.blogspot....

Science and technology are amazing things. We live in a golden age. Do you realize that Albert Einstein lived until 1955? That's just over 60 years ago. Most of what we know about science/physics/the universe/cosmology is really only a century old (at most). And considering that a lot of people live into their 90s, just take a minute to think about what that means for the young generation right now. Is your mind blown yet?

Okay, good. Now keep that in mind. Because it's time to face another reality, hopefully one you already know. Climate change is real. Don't go listening to Sarah Palin blabbing that she's just as much a scientist as Bill Nye is. When she has a Bachelor's of Science degree and is the head of a science/technology non-profit we'll talk. Until then, let's get serious.

Go outside. I urge you to. Seriously. Take a walk in the park. Take a kayak ride down a river or hike through the mountains. Realize all that this world has to offer, and understand that it's humanity's home. If we mess it up, we can't just go buy a new one. We don't have the technology for that. Every big change starts with a small step, and Bill Nye points out over and over again in this novel. So let's be the change we wish to see. Let's gooooo green!

I realize I probably have more of a scientific background than the average Joe, and there was still some science in here that made my head hurt (I'm talking about you, you heating and shrinking power lines and your current through, voltage across electricity). There was also a lot of science I am already very familiar with. But what I really like is how Nye took those fundamentals I have and transformed them to show how we can apply them (churning bubbles in the ocean to make a lighter covered surface to reflect more sunrays/heat? MY mind is blown).

Now that we are homeowners, I'm excited to try to implement some of the ideas Nye talks about in this novel (solar panels, electric cars, water wells for our raised bed garden we just started, etc. etc.). The book is engaging, and his own excitement about the topic is influential. Instead of BEGLEY, I am sure my husband and I will be calling NYE as we join the competition to turn our house into a green science lab. Though, I must confess, I doubt I'll be cutting holes in my garage to create natural convection to cool it. The thought of busting through the concrete frame of my house is just a smidge too unsettling for me, engineering degree or not.

I do wish Nye had gone into a little more detail about reverse osmosis and the issue of brine, as well as the potential problems that can arise from large solar and wind farms on birds. My hubby and I are both advocates for nuclear energy, and though Nye pointed out that nuclear energy could be a good solution if the technology got safer, I think it's important to note that none of the technologies we have now are completely foolproof, but that we'll never get the technology safer until we spend the time and resources to explore it as a viable option.
...more

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Oct 29, 2015 Andrew rated it it was amazing

Shelves: first-reads

Bill Nye, widely known as the Science Guy from his television show, clearly understands the significant ramifications of global climate change. The opening chapters of this book set forth the science that establishes the reality of this change and projects its impact on the planet. But this book isnt a gloomy look at a future that must either be governed by uncontrolled climate change, or one where we have to sacrifice our standard of living to change the outcomes. Instead, this is an entirely ...more

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Dec 28, 2015 A. rated it liked it

This had a lot of interesting ideas and cool concepts in fighting climate change. Some parts were a bit too technical for me, but it's heartening to know how many options there really are. I also think that Nye laid out some excellent policy ideas to motivate change for the better, such as fee-and-dividend taxation schemes. Can we elect him to office? I would love to see more scientists involved in government.

It's been driving me insane for years that solar energy isn't more widely used. And ...more

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Apr 05, 2016 Son Tung rated it liked it

3,5 stars: like this book. Very encouraging and practical read.

A lot of GR's review here did a very nice job summarizing this book.

Bill Nye has the talent to bring big, challenging subject to the public for interested citizens. This book is easily accessible and humorous at times, a mixture of short, informative answers for questions related to Climate change and how we can change the world.

It does not contain many heavy scientific concepts but along the way help me learn science about energy ...more

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Jun 22, 2016 Katie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: nonfiction, 2015, audiobook

Honestly not sure I would have made it through some of the more science heavy parts if I wasn't listening to an audiobook, but I have to say I love Bill Nye! And his ideas to save the world! And his competition with Ed Begely Jr.

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Sep 09, 2017 Ashley rated it did not like it

Shelves: could-not-finish

Each chapter was too similar to the next. Awesome scientist and activist. "Eh" writer. Still love you Mr. Nye!

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About Bill Nye

Bill Nye

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William Sanford "Bill" Nye, popularly known as Bill Nye the Science Guy, is an American science educator, comedian, television presenter, actor, writer, scientist, and former mechanical engineer, best known in popular media as a science educator.

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“so long as we each focus only on our individual decisions and their short-term consequences, we will act like renters, not owners of this Earth.” — 7 likes

“More than five hundred people have flown in space and twelve people have walked on the moon, but only three humans in history have been to the bottom of the ocean.” — 6 likes

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