The Cloudspotter's Guide: The Science, History, and Culture of Clouds

by Gavin Pretor-Pinney

Book Overview

A quirky, clever guide for everyone who loves to look up. Where do clouds come from? Why do they look the way they do? And why have they captured the imagination of timeless artists, Romantic poets, and every kid who's ever held a crayon? Journalist and lifelong sky watcher Gavin Pretor-Pinney reveals everything there is to know about clouds, from history and science to art and pop culture. Cumulus, nimbostratus, and the dramatic and seemingly surfable...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0399532560
• ISBN13: 9780399532566
• Release Date: May 2006
• Publisher: Perigee Books
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.01 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.5" x 8.2"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 12 and higher

Customer Reviews

Clocks and Clouds

Knowing the name of something is not the same as really knowing it, and this book goes much further than merely identifying the ten major types of clouds, with descriptions and pictures. And the numerous species and sub-varieties within each species. And variants and adjuncts. Accessory clouds and supplementary features. Man-made and man-altered clouds. Pretor-Pinney explains how and why and where each cloud forms, gives a little history lesson, some poetry, and some literary or painting references for almost every type, as well as a number of typically-British humourous stories. In fact the author's umbrella-dry humour takes what is a potentially twee subject matter and makes it quite charming, really. Except for the boring Stratus nebulosus, the plain old rain cloud about which Pretor-Pinney is hard-pressed to find any poetry, or art, or positive things to say. The best he can muster is, "it's never known to make you feel elated." Classic! In the end, the author has accomplished much more than a Field Guide to Clouds, having really brought cloudspotting up to respectibility, and giving the reader the impression that he (or she) really does "know clouds" well beyond the mere recitation of their given names.

A Meteorological Bill Bryson

Gavin Pretor-Pinney's book is both witty and informative. A must-read for weather junkies and those who enjoy getting their knowledge with a dollop of humor! Buy it for all your friends!

Excellent, Mind and Eye-opening book

Just like the author, I've always been fascinated by clouds. I find myself constantly looking up at them. I don't know about other people, but they seem just as beautiful as they always have, even the ones that will pour down. When people come across new knowledge, it usually comes with new appreciation. The Cloudspotter's guide does that, and then some. After reading about the way they form, live, and end, my appreciation for them has truly gone through the roof. I knew they were important, but now I know that they're invaluably so. The author puts things very simply. He's no cloud physicist himself, so his text does not come across as confusing or extremely scientific. It's easy to read, has tons of knowledge and awesome tidbits, and is a joy to read. I'd expect that younger people would absolutely love this book, assuming 2 year olds could read. :) Definitely worth the money and the time. I'd recommend it to everyone.

The sky over your head is full of beauty and information - read this to learn to see it

We get a lot of clouds in Michigan. You know, the Great Lakes and all. Sometimes, the blue sky people come here and find our skies depressing. But I like the clouds in all their varieties. In fact, when I am forced into a morning drive to the east with the Sun directly in my eyes, I am grateful when it disappears behind a cloud. Over the years I have seen some wonderful things. I remember as a child seeing a rainbow in a circle around the Sun and being amazed by it and looking up why it was there. I didn't understand all the technical terms, but remember that it talked about ice crystals refracting the light. Even so, I only learned about the clouds in the most rudimentary way. Storm clouds are always amazing to see. I have even seen a few tornadoes and some amazing skies when I lived in Queensland, Australia for two years. There was a cyclone when I was there and that was literally a breath taking experience. The stinging rain comes sideways and it is hard to breath facing into the wind. I could even lean all my weight back into the wind and with my arms outstretched, it easily held me up. One of the wonderful aspects of this book is the way the author shares his love of the beauties in the lest dramatic types in a way that enthuses us to go and look for them on our own. Gavin Pretor-Pinney is the founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society and if you love pictures of clouds I can't recommend his website strongly enough. Really, they are amazing in their variety, drama, and beauty. This book has thirteen chapters. The first ten take us through the ten main cloud types from the low cumulous up to the cirrostratus. Before the first chapter there is a handy chart of these clouds and their common altitudes that can guide you to the relevant chapter in the book. Each chapter has a very helpful information page that describes how to spot the cloud type, some photos of the various ways the clouds can appear, what to look for in identifying it, and how to avoid confusing it with a similar cloud (particularly the various stratus types), and it various species and varieties. Each chapter then goes on to talk about the cloud in variety of ways. The author may tell us some new aspect of cloud formation, some anecdotes about the cloud, ways to appreciate that type of cloud, how it might have been represented in paintings, poetry, and even in history. There are plenty of pictures (but to see them in color - got to the cloud appreciation society website), charts, and informative illustrations. However, this is not a technical book. It really is for fun and succeeds admirably in not only holding our interest, but also in teaching us many new and enjoyable things. The eleventh chapter takes us through a grab bag of attendant cloud formations that are often seen with other cloud types. The twelfth chapter is ostensibly about contrails (which the author rails against), but is really an enviro-alarmist bit about how high flying jets can