Synopses & Reviews
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 Morning Glory cloud are just a few of the varieties explored in this smart, witty, and eclectic tour through the skies.
Generously illustrated with striking photographs and line drawings featuring everything from classical paintings to lava lamps, children's drawings, and Roman coins, The Cloudspotter's Guide will have science and history buffs, weather watchers, and the just plain curious floating on cloud nine.
Review
"[A]n amusing and remarkably informative jaunt through the heavenly vapors that draws on classical poetry, physics, geekery and pop culture....By mixing self-deprecating humor and hard science, Pretor-Pinney makes learning about clouds fun." Library Journal
Review
"For the
author, cloudspotting is a gentle and reflective pursuit, one
well-served by knowledge. He mixes physics, chemistry, literature and
myth (according to ancient Hindu and Buddhist beliefs, Cumulus clouds
are the spiritual cousins of elephants), and includes many delightfully
captioned illustrations." Marilyn Dahl, Shelf Awareness
Review
"Lively, literate and great fun to read." Kirkus Reviews
About the Author
Gavin Pretor-Pinney is a renowned journalist and cofounder of The Idler magazine in England. A former science nerd and a graduate of Oxford University, he has been obsessed with clouds since childhood. His writing has appeared in The Telegraph, Evening Standard, and elsewhere. Based in London and Somerset, Gavin is the founder and chair of The Cloud Appreciation Society. Visit their website at www.cloudappreciationsociety.org.