Climate: The Force That Shapes Our World and the Future of Life on Earth.

Fiercer hurricanes, rising sea levels, and extended droughts are all realities in today's climate. Many scientists attribute these changes to global warming, much of which, they hold, is the result of human activities. Others assert that the warming is part of Earth's natural cycle of climate change. This oversize, richly illustrated book explores Earth's climate from its prehistoric beginnings. Full of facts and sidebars, the book examines how climate has shaped civilizations through, for instance, famine and epidemics of infectious illnesses. Writer Ochoa and World Wildlife Fund-affiliated scientists Hoffman and Tin look at the evidence of global warming in melting glaciers and examine how such phenomena are leading to irrevocable changes in ecosystems, including extinctions. Climate snapshots take a closer look at specific cities, areas, and animals that are being affected by global warming. The final chapters offer advice on conservation of energy, new environmental policies, and adaptations to a warmer planet. Rodale Books, 2005, 288 p., color photos, hardcover, $35.00.