Highly Recommended (they are all highly recommended in this category...)

With Speed and Violence - Why Scientists Fear Tipping Points in Climate Change, 2007, Fred Pearce

Excellent discussions of the low probability/high risk events that are unexpectedly becoming more probable, sooner than we expected.

Hell and High Water, 2007, Joseph Romm

Excellent. Clinton's Assistant Energy Department Secretary. Yes there is something we can do about it.

The Two Mile Time Machine, 2000, Dr. Richard Alley

The book about ice cores. Hats off to Dr. Alley.  Alley, Mann, Broeker, Hansen, Ringot, Kerr - these are the Einstein's of our times. 

Frozen Earth - The Once and Future Story of Ice Ages, 2004, Dr. Doug McDougal

One can not fully understand today's climate without a strong background in paleoclimate. This book fills that role very well.  It also aptly raises the question of exactly when, why and how the next abrupt climate flip will happen, or course postulating that our current climate change will cause the event.

Apollo's Fire, 2007, Jay Inslee and Bracken Hendricks

Excellent. Even more evidence that we can do something about climate change before it's too late.

Vital Signs 2007-2008, The World Watch Institute

Annual publication. A compilation of all the pertinent facts and figures from all the major players in graphical format.  Excellent. Very valuable.  A must have.

The Atlas of Climate Change - Mapping the World's Greatest Challenge, 2006, Dr. Kirstin Dow and Dr. Thomas Downing

Similar to Vital Signs (above), only full color and with more generalized information about climate science.

Boiling Point, 2004, Ross Gelbspan

Pulitzer Prize, good book.

Snowball Earth, 2003, Dr. Gabrielle Walker

Fascinating and very appropriate reading.  The risk of snowball Earth is likely similar to that of Venus Earth - quite a long shot, but still possible given the wor4st of scenarios. This book sobers us and reminds us that if we continue with business as usual for long enough, anything is possible.

Red Sky at Morning, 2004, Dr. James Gustave Smith

Environmental Advisor to President's Carter and Clinton. I have more reference bookmarks in this book than any other.  Written by a scientist for the average Joe.

Climate Change - What it Means for Us, Our Children and Grandchildren, 2007, First in a series by the Newkirk Center for Science and Society, University of California, Multiple Contributors, broad scope.

The Winds of Change, 2006, Eugene Linden

It has become much more apparent in the 21st century just how alarming the impacts of climate change have been on our planet's civilization.  Many, if not most, of the demise of past great societies, have either had their roots in climate change or were directly the result of climate change.

The Little Ice Age, 2000, Dr. Brian Fagan

Along the lines of the Winds of Change, an important discussion of our most recent climate change and it's effects.

Climate Crash, Abrupt Climate Change and What it Means for Our Future, 2005, John Cox

Published in 2005, this book is becoming much more cogent as every new climate science day passes.

Field Notes From a Catastrophe, 2006, Elizabeth Kolbert

Broadly written.

High Tide - The Truth About Our Climate Science, 2004, Mark Lynas

Very good map of academia ands climate science pre 2004.  Conservative, though that's the way the academic game is played.

The Weathermakers, Tim Flannery

An excellent book, lots of good data, but a lot about Gaia. Maybe I just don't understand Gaia, but it makes things more confusing than they already are.  If you are a Gaia fan - this is cool.

Plow's Plagues and Petroleum, 2005, Dr. William F. Ruddiman

Dr. Ruddiman is one of my favorites.  His theories about anthropogenic climate change, beginning about the time of the climate optimum 6,000 years ago, are extremely insightful. His theories are gaining acceptance and I believe rightly so.  It is not until we understand the complete story of anthropogenic changes to our climate that our efforts will be maximized.  The logical results of man's impact on this planet are that; we have been creating change ever since we started manipulating its environmental.  This manipulation began with the advent of agriculture. 

Frozen Oceans, 2004, David N. Thomas

A must read to be able to fully understand sea ice. So much of climate science depends upon a decent knowledge of sea ice.