State Of Fear by Michael Crichton (2004, Hardcover)

Si vous le trouvez en Francais (État d'urgence), tirez vous littéralement dessus ! C'est de loin mon roman préféré ! Il m'a convaincu que le réchauffement climatique est peut-etre un mythe ! Chapeau M. Chrichton ! :P
À acheter !

- Léon Tourigny

Whatever your thoughts on global warming, this book will give you new information on the subject. Great storyline using real data to back up claims. Good mix of reality and fiction on a controversial subject, Crichton takes you on a journey through the myths and realities of climate change and lets you make your own choice on the subject. A must read.

Don't read much Crichton but wanted another take on the global warming issue. This book fit the bill enough for me to begin questioning the current hysteria. I enjoyed the book overall, not a classic but I don't think that was his intention. It took me about a year before I thought to go to his website (michaelcrichton dot com) to see if he was credible, after all, the negative reviews have criticized him at a personal level for not being a "scientist", (like Al Gore is?).
At Crichton's site, I was pretty amazed to read his biography as his background was in anthropology before receiving his MD. If you read his speeches and look at the dates they were given, you can see that he was at the forefront of criticizing the "science" behind global warming. He is not a denier of global warming but a questioner of scientists who make decisions based on consensus, not fact.
Anyway, read the book, then read about him then read his speeches. I kind of liken it to: holding my hands out in front of me as a scale and on one hand is Crichton, his background, and his thought provoking conclusions about what science should be. On the other hand I have Al Gore, a lifetime politician. No contest! I give Crichton mucho credit, as I think you might by going... a step farther.

I read this book when it first came out and loved it. It gives, through a ficticious account, another possibility of global warming, and how the media is creating a state of fear. One (of many) good aspects of this book is found in Crichton's bibliography, listing all his sources for the text, some with explanations or details about the source.

Though I was at first skeptical to read this book (Crichton is one of my favorite authors) because it was reportedly claiming that the problem of global warming didn't exist-I eventually bought it to read anyways.

As with all of his books he presents many facts to support the storyline. Though it does aim to question the theory of global warming it's good to question what you know. Though I am still a firm believer in the theory this book made me do research to further my understanding

Michael Crichton's work is consistently, exhaustively researched; there are always bibliographies in the backs of his works of fiction that show he knows what he's talking about when he creates his science fiction but bases it on science fact. Unfortunately, Crichton's research here has detracted from the story rather than added to it: usually his books are a whirlwind read where I emerge having learned something from the entertaining voyage. In this case, the book is almost painfully dry: you will learn a great deal about global warming and different scientific theories that actually argue against the "global warming" watch dogs as well as the environmental issues that Crichton himself finds important. You will not, however, be too terribly entertained.

If you are interested in learning more about global warming and the scientific evidence that counters this theory, the book is excellent. If you are looking for a Crichton thriller along the lines of Jurassic Park or Sphere, you will be sorely disappointed--best to leave this one on the shelf.

This is an absolute MUST READ!!! I had borrowed this book from a friend & HAD to have it-thanks to ebay, I now own my own copy. =) There are several twists & turns in this book & the overall message is one that will have the readers' eyes completely open...I can't say enough good about this compelling novel, except everyone in the US-and the world-should take the time to read it. I am changed forever, as will anyone be who gets the message that is being sent. PLEASE READ THIS INFORMATIVE BOOK!!! You'll be SO happy you did!!!

The story was compelling - the book was especially good to me as I agree with Michael Crichton's assessment of global warming.

Michael Crichton all time best author, if you have not read his books, I highly recommend you to. Swarm, Jurrasic Park and State of Fear all very good!

"State of Fear" starts slowly but builds 100 pages in. Great book if one is open minded. Fiction, but many good facts to allow thought. Would highly recommend to thoughtful people.

I bought this book after reading Next by the same author. They were the only two books by this author that I had never read. Next was a very good book,it was written after State of Fear. As I started to read State of Fear I thought I had stumbled onto an even better book. To be fair, it was very good until it came time to wrap everything up and end the book. The author failed. The final climax was a let down, the ending dragged on and on, and many of the sub-plots just petered out. I am rating this book as average, because it was very exciting for the first three quarters, but then look out.

Michael Crichton makes a big statement about "global warming" and other "issues" that are manipulated in order to keep the populace in line in this thriller. One of the greatest authors of all time, he succumbed to cancer in 2008. Although I never had the opportunity to meet him, I admired his work, and I'm going to miss him.

Purchased as a gift for a friend. Very pleased. My husband read the book and found it to be of great interest and we decided to share it with a friend.

This book could have used a Dan Brown style disclaimer in the front--there are facts in here, while the work is fiction.
The book moves on in relentless fashion with a body count and all, then pauses from time to time for exposition of global warming factoids.
It is an indictment of contemporary scientists whose "consensus" is force-fed to the world in Stalinist fashion. Crichton points out that the dissenters (back in 2004 when he wrote this) were retired professors for the most part. Those who still need certification and tenure or even any job, must agree there is man-made global warming.
The book includes Hollywood types, portraying them as spectacularly uninformed and equally opinionated about climate and the environment. Thus this Crichton piece will not make it to film...
It has footnotes throughout, so anyone can independently verify the statements in the book.
There is an MIT professor/secret agent and an environmentalist lawyer, some good looking women and one actor who gets eaten. Plus the wealthy man who funds everything and has everyone flying all over the place in his Gulfstream. Action is in France, California, Antarctica and the Solomon Islands, which is where the cannibals are.
Sorry if that spoils it, but if your mind is made up (and firmly closed) you wouldn't read this anyway.
IMO the sun and the oceans drive our climate, not us. Leave the witch doctor stuff out--we have not offended the planet.

Burdened by sometimes strained but still plausible action and only partly developed characters, this work is best seen as a primer on the topic of climate change and the political strategies of those who would make anthropogenic global warming the ultimate issue facing mankind. More polemic than novel, the sometimes lengthy conversations of his characters seem in reality speeches that Crichton would like to make or has made in his trenchant formal presentations on this subject. The bibliography and footnotes are the best part of the book since they lead you to primary sources without the interested reader having to repeat the library research. The story is not noteworthy for its literary merit but for its prescience in anticipating the debates and propaganda surrounding AGW since 2004.

The book was in exceptional condition. Michael Crichton is a great author. I rarely go wrong buying on E-Bay. Very pleased with the seller, the shipping was fast and the price was right.

This book will definitely set your head straight on Global Warming and on how Science is often the Plaything of the Media. The facts - or lack of them - have been available all along, but don't expect to hear much about them on the TV. Yet don't take my word for it. Don't even take Michael Chrichton's word for it. Because although his sense of outrage is apparent, he thoroughly examines both sides and provides an extensive Bibliography with Footnotes for anyone who cares to see for himself.
The central problem is not one confined merely to Global Warming, but has been repeated for centuries, from the time of Galileo through the Eugenics fad of 100 years ago that caught most US Scientists red-handed and eventually led to the Nazi Extermination Programs. And that problem is that there have always been those who claim to have Scientific Knowledge but who will prostitute themselves for money, fame or glory. Or even for just 15 minutes on the TV.
The State of Fear is one which the Media absolutely needs in order to stay in business. Twenty years ago, we were in danger of a Nuclear Winter; now it's a Carbon Dioxide Summer; but it's always Something. It's not that there's no basis of fact behind each new craze. That's part of the problem: there IS. But insufficient data has been manipulated by a Media that wants to make Money and a "Scientific Community" that wants to ... well, make Money. And will fudge the results of their "Research" in order to get funding for more.
If you doubt that, just take a look at the "Scientific Studies" about Tobacco that told us there was "Nothing to Fear" 30 years ago. Or the contradictory claims by various Drug Companies. All based on "Independent Research". That term has pretty much become an Oxymoron, since the well-funded projects are always inclined to report what the funding source wants to hear. It's not even a Conspiracy Theory; it's just an obvious fact of Human Nature.
Set in the form of an adventure novel, for which Crichton is justly famous - think 'Jurassic Park" and "Andromeda Strain" - this magnificent work takes us carefully through the history of the problem and allows - helps - us to see both sides of the argument all the way, with places to go and things to see clearly presented for our own "Independent Research".
If you're puzzled by all the hype this past year or so about Global Warming, or if you find yourself in this "State of Fear" about it, get this book and breathe some fresh air for a change. If you're already caught up in the hype, then of course you're part of the problem, but at least have the decency to keep an open mind and see what you think when you're done. I did.

exciting, excellent read. illustrates the nutty enviromentalist wackos for who they really are, clinging to "global warming" like it is religion to them. my first crichton book but after this one, i'll read more. highly recomended!

It is for my brother but came in better than great condition with dust cover and all. No pages missing, and it's exactly what they posted on ebay. Awesome condition

Michael Crichton's "State of Fear" is well written. It combines a good story with plenty of suspense with plenty of good science fact. I enjoyed reading it very much and highly recommend it. I have read most of his other novels and rank this one among his better works.

Would definitely buy from them again. The shipment was quick and the product was exactly what it said it was.

Michael Crichton writes an interesting fictional account of someone investigating the forces behind the global warming hysteria. The story line has some disconnections, but overall it is a good, entertaining book.

What is not fiction, however, are the facts Crichton presents, with footnotes and bibliography. He brings up the factual reasons many qualified experts do not sign on with the politically correct global warming panic.

He predicted in his book that anyone questioning the cause or extensiveness of global warming would be persecuted and ridiculed. This is not too far-fetched. I recently read about a Weather Channel guru who said that any meteorologist who expressed skepticism about the current beliefs should have his American Meteorological Society credentials revoked. No debate, no chance for presenting the data which support this difference in professional opinion. Just erase him from the public forum (and ruin his ability to earn a living). So much for open, reasoned debate in the scientific community.

Another prediction of Crichton's was of a change terminology. And we now have seen it come true. For a few years, "Global Warming" was the only term used for identification. As the warming trend has slowed, however, the phrase "Climate Change" has come into vogue. Mankind is still the bad guy, of course, but the results are, well, not what had been predicted. Makes one think that the climate models so heavily relied upon might be wrong.

Crichton advocates continued research, plus management of our natural resources. It isn't a call for 'slash and burn' use of the earth. But it is a warning about the anti-technology frenzy and the damage which it could do. So the book is controversial, of course. Everyone should read it. Let the debate continue.

i have not yet recieved my book, and it has been almost two months. do not buy from this person especially if you need to get your work done fast.