Thank god for climate science « the Air Vent

Gee, it makes sense then that IF a half degree of warming killed 40% of the phytoplankton, that the soft little phytos must fail to thrive at the equator because of the much higher water temps

Achenblog - The Anthropocene

We're in the Holocene, the epoch that began something like 11,600 years ago with a sudden warming event and the retreat of the glaciers. The Holocene has been an epoch of climate stability in the main. It's been pleasant around here. We like the Holocene. 

1. What caused this sudden warming event?
2. Why didn't positive feedbacks result in the planet becoming an uninhabitable fireball?
3. Why was the planet described as "stable" and "pleasant" after this warming, and after lots of glacial retreat?
4. If we get some more warming and some more glacial retreat, why won't the planet still be "stable" and "pleasant"?