When Al Gore first released An Inconvenient Truth the images were more shocking than the accompanying statistics. Seeing the change that humans have caused can elicit a visceral response that numbers and narrative can never reach. That contrast in images is what makes this book powerful. Rather than discuss the causes and debate the pros and cons of the constant changes, this book only documents and allow the reader to draw his or her own conclusions.
Some of the changes are obviously caused by human intervention, some by natural phenomena. Some have taken place over a short period of time, others over many years. Regardless, these images leave the reader with a sense of awe at the magnitude of the power of change. I am reminded that even seemingly insignificant events can have a great and lasting impact on our world. Change is inevitable. We must live consciously to ensure that the effect is positive.
