Paleoclimatologist Richard Alley takes the long view in this persuasive, accessible survey of climatic change as revealed through ice core drilling. He includes enthusiastic tales of his research in Greenland and Antarctica, an overview of how climate works, and his prognostication for the future. The world climate, not surprisingly, has changed often and suddenly over the last 100,000 years. An excellent, lively report.  (SCI24, $19.95)