Bob DeWaay does anyone wishing really to understand the deepest aspects of climate science—applied mathematics of chaotic turbulent fluid dynamic systems—a great favor with his careful review of Christopher Essex and Ross McKitrick’s Taken By Storm: The Troubled Science, Policy, and Politics of Global Warming.

Essex and McKitrick’s book has been one of my favorites in the global warming debate ever since, in about 2006, I read its first edition (2002). It explains why in principle it is impossible for us to solve the sorts of equations necessary to know whether anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases are causing any significant amount of global warming. Along the way, it delivers wonderful lessons in applied mathematics, physics, chemistry, and other matters—and does so in what must be about the friendliest, least threatening language I’ve ever seen applied to such subjects.

But it’s a fairly long book to read, and many won’t want to tackle it (although if they really want to understand the underlying problems of climate science they should) before they’re convinced the time it takes to read it will pay off. De Waay’s review should convince them. It summarizes and conveys the gist of Essex and McKitrick’s arguments clearly and concisely. I highly recommend it.