Product Description

'It is extraordinary what a sadistic old crone Mother Nature is when you think about it. Even in a comparatively benign climate like ours: we have gallons of water thrown at us at regular intervals, we can be thrown half way across the country by winds gusting to 100 mph or more, blankets of fog may hide practically everything familiar from view, and we run the risk of being blasted into next week by a million-bolt of lightning. And on occasion she will even launch an artillery barrage of solid ice missiles at 50 or 60 mph - in other words hailstones - or utterly transform the landscape under a six inch layer of snow'. In such language, Eden sets the tone for his new book. He now investigates further the extremes of weather we experience and the dire consequences for farmers, builders and above all insurance companies who live by a calculation of actuarial risk. Many of us have become disconnected from our climate, writes Eden. However bizarre weather events may seem at the time, there is usually a precedent for them, and there is always a scientific explanation. Only by reconnecting in this way can we have proper historical and scientific contexts in which to place the sequence of interesting and unusual meteorological phenomena we will experience in coming years.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #280380 in Books
• Published on: 2006-04-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 214 pages

Review
"A sequel to Philip Eden's hugely successful book The Daily Telegraph Book of the Weather. 'Thought-provoking views and a passion for his subject make Philip Eden's writing a compulsive read.' John Kettley 'Informative, entertaining and authoritative- excellent in every way.' Patrick Moore"

About the Author
Philip Eden is the weather correspondent of the Daily Telegraph and presenter of his own programme on Radio Five Live. He lives in Essex and is the author of The Daily Telegraph Book of the Weather.

Customer Reviews

All climatic fanatics should read this
As one of the UK's finest "weather brains" Philip Eden should be required reading for any weather enthusiast. Indeed anyone who talks about the weather (especially if they are talking about...ahem...climate change) in any broadcast medium should be forced to read Mr Eden's books in the same way as the new driver has to read the highway code. This is a fascinating look at the weather in the UK, its extremes, its unpredictability, its predictability, its changing nature and its records. By reading this book and "Weatherwise" one can begin to grasp the sheer scale of the state of the atmosphere at any given time and place. If you are in any way interested in the climate of the UK or weather in general then 1. Why on earth have you not read Weatherwise? 2. I hope you read Mr Eden weekly in the Telegraph. 3. Please read this book and then spread the word. 4. Visit Mr Eden's relatively new website. Seriously, get reading asap.