The Parrot and the Igloo

 By: David Lipsky 

Location: NF 304.25 LIP

Genre: Climate and the Science of Denial

Featuring an indelible cast of heroes and villains, mavericks and swindlers, The Parrot and the Igloo delivers a real-life tragicomedy—one that captures the extraordinary dance of science, money, and the American character.

Climate change has become an unavoidable fact and ongoing catastrophe. The science was clear decades ago. How did so many Americans come to doubt evidence so widely accepted and compelling?The Parrot and the Igloo is the thrilling narrative of our grand lost the story of the inventors (Edison, Tesla, Westinghouse) who made our world; the scientists who bravely sounded the alarm; and then the hucksters, dreamers, zealots, and crackpots who lied about that science. David Lipsky masterfully shows how climate denial grew out of early efforts to build a network of untruth about products like aspirin and cigarettes, revealing the infrastructure that allowed denier ideas to take hold, the untrue to replace the true. With narrative brio, Lipsky delivers a real-life tragicomedy—one that captures the extraordinary dance of science, money, and the American character.

Review by Steve

Many have successfully tackled the history and science behind global warming, leaving zero doubt in my mind on that issue, but this is the first time I've seen the history of the denial movement exposed with such an unimpeachable, and mentally satisfying, linear presentation.

It has always been obvious the global warming skeptics were simply copying big tobaccos playbook from decades earlier, but I had no idea it is in fact many of the same non degree holding, self titled "scientists" who made the switch to global warming denial once the tobacco fight was lost and the funding dried up. Lipsky exhibits exceptional research in tracing this long history of both science and skeptism from the late 1800s to our modern day and unpacks many of the famous "studies" used to refute the fact that global warming is a real issue, and one that human beings continue to contribute to through our actions.

Lipsky's writing style made this a more pleasant read, for what can often be a really grim topic. He injects plenty of humor and pop culture references, creating a more stimulating and engaging experience with subject matter that, when handled by the actual scientists, would likely put even the most motivated readers to sleep.

I had been looking forward to this book for months and was, thankfully, offered even more than I was expecting.