Retreat from a Rising Sea: Hard Choices in an Age of Climate Change Hardcover – Illustrated, May 24, 2016

This is an excellent basic primer on the consequences of climate driven sea level rise for human coastal communities. The authors critique the denialism, short term thinking, and outright irresponsibility that pervades coastal development in the USA. And they have facts on their side: there is a "let the buyer beware" mentality, that is combined with the rampant use of taxpayer dollars to shore up repeated rescues of coastal homeowners from expensive floods and home-destroying surges.The authors do deserve praise for their honesty and clarity. It is impossible to dispute their contention that large numbers of people will be forced to retreat from the most vulnerable coastal stretches over future decades and centuries. It is indeed impossible to push back a rising ocean everywhere. I have only a couple of minor issues with the book. It could have been longer- subtracting the copious notes it is under 170 pages, and there is more to say. In particular, I wanted to know more about the area of Hampton Roads/Norfolk Virginia which is only 100 miles east of me. I also felt that the writers should have paid more attention to the issue of the need to reduce carbon emissions. Bailing out the boat only works if you plug the leak at the same time, right? They do explain that it is already too late to avoid serious sea level rise. True! But reducing carbon emissions might be enough to avoid horrible and unbelievable sea level rise- which would be a great thing to avoid.Despite these quibbles, I see this as a very fine work that deserves a very large audience of readers.

This was a good book, an eye opener really. The authors provide abundant, convincing data showing how serious the situation is when it comes to rising sea levels. I only wish there were more maps, such as of the coastline of Florida. It would help the reader visualize what is going on. Looking them up on the internet is an option, of course, but it defeats the purpose of reading the book.

Good book

It's not that I love it, but that it's important to know these things. I give this five stars because the material is written for the average person who has minimal climate understanding. The Pilkeys care deeply about the issues of climate change and rising sea levels. We all should, and in this book, we learn why.

It impressed me so much that I'm going to give my book club a book review of it...only problem is there is so much in it I need to discuss, it may take hours. This is so well documented and readable...and I've also told many others about it.

I agree with the author. The details in the book are excellent but I would like a lot more pictures especially before and after type pictures.

Excellent book on the effects of green house gases on the oceans

Accurate.