The Goldilocks Planet: The 4 Billion Year Story of Earth's Climate by Jan Zalasiewicz and Mark Williams
TheEarth speaks - a comprehensive and clear account of what drives climate
This timely book collates a vast and up-to-date range of geological, chemical and biological evidence to chart the climate history of Earth. That the Earth is the Goldilocks planet, "just right for life", has been addressed exhaustively through the cosmological anthropic principle by authors such as John Barrow and Paul Davies, just as books on exoplanets tackle what makes a planet habitable. However, The Goldilocks Planet offers a comprehensive account of the geological evolution of the Earth, a perspective on its climate which is both appropriate and helpful. The exposition is clear and readable, reflecting the authors' familiarity with research and practitioner alike. The style seems to change in places as each author takes on his speciality - this does not grate, however, as the history of Earth's climate is recounted seamlessly. It contains Notes, although these often direct the reader straight to the References, perhaps an unnecessary step but it works and is no doubt the preference of the publisher. The index is fine, benefiting from the wide range of theory and research that the authors cover. Recommended reading is also offered.
The history of the Earth is presented chronologically and the commentary tracks throughout geological history observing any correlation between climate drivers and outcomes. An immense amount of detail is included for a book of only 267 pages. Warming and cooling events are tracked to the Pliocene Epoch in the last ten million years, the "last of the warmth" and the last time until now that atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have exceeded 400 ppmv. The most recent Holocene and Anthropocene Epochs are then examined objectively, areas of uncertainty are flagged, and important trends identified. While the final chapter on the Anthropocene reads a little like "An Inconvenient Truth", this is largely unavoidable and weighs up all the evidence critically