\nUniversity of North Alabama<\/em><\/p>\n
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In Unstoppable,<\/i> science educator and mechanical engineer Bill Nye teaches his readers about global climate change and, most importantly, what they can do about it. Calling them the \u201cNext Great Generation\u201d who can make all the difference in saving the planet, he asks readers to consider all of the possibilities and opportunities to counteract climate change, such as creating clean, sustainable energy from solar, wind, and tidal sources rather than traditional methods like drilling for fossil fuels. \u201cWe face a challenge right now, you and I,\u201d he writes, \u201cthat is even greater in aspect and scope than a global war. It is a battle for our house and home, and for our future on this planet.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n In contrast to the many books and articles that focus only on the terrifying effects of climate change, Unstoppable<\/i> brainstorms solutions. Nye considers different ways to produce, use, and store energy and discusses various strategies for combatting climate change, both proactive (lowering carbon emissions) and reactive (actually repairing damage to the atmosphere). Some of the ideas presented, like the vacuum-tube Hyperloop transporation system, require further technological advancement to be feasible; others, such as pale pavement to lower temperatures in cities and reduce energy consumption, could be implemented today and make a significant difference in the rate and severity of climate change.<\/span><\/p>\n Inevitably, a book on climate change must address climate change deniers; Nye ably discredits their arguments using science and logic. \u201cAnd yet,\u201d he writes, \u201ceven now, after nearly fifty years of intensive research and more than thirty years of scientific consensus on the nature of global warming, there is still a sizeable group of people who grasp at any stray fact or, more commonly, any stray intuition, to help them deny what is happening. In denying the problem, they are also denying the need to step up and do something about it.\u201d Nye points out that the most avid and influential climate change deniers are also the ones profiting the most from fossil fuel consumption. Overall, his argument is a convincing one. <\/span><\/p>\n Nye writes in a conversational, almost journal-like style, taking detours from the main topic to share stories from his childhood or explain how electricity and rockets work. Readers familiar with his 1990s TV series Bill Nye the Science Guy<\/i> will recognize his characteristic sense of humor in presenting a range of scientific topics. Each chapter is short, and the concepts build on one another in a way that should be engaging and easy to follow for readers of various ages.<\/span><\/p>\n Unstoppable<\/i> is worth reading for everyone who calls Earth home, a valuable guide to the many potential solutions to global climate change. Nye urges readers to expand on those existing ideas\u2014to be innovative, to create tools and use materials in new ways, and to make big and small differences to curb the consequences of climate change. The book\u2019s dedication carries his hopeful message: \u201cTo the Next Great Generation. Embrace science. Solve problems. Make things. Change the World.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Brandi Hope Johnson University of North Alabama In Unstoppable, science educator and mechanical engineer Bill Nye teaches his readers about global climate change and, most importantly, what they can do about it. Calling them the \u201cNext Great Generation\u201d who can make all the difference in saving the planet, he asks readers to consider all of … Continue reading REVIEW: Unstoppable: Harnessing Science to Change the World by Bill Nye<\/span>