Snow : a scientific and cultural exploration / Giles Whittell.

Title:

Author:

Whittell, Giles,

ISBN:

9781982105471

198210547X

Edition:

First Atria books hardcover edition.

Publication Info:

New York :

Description:

ix, 246 pages : illustration ; 23 cm

Summary:

Go on an extraordinary journey across centuries and continents to experience the wonders of snow; from the prehistoric humans that trekked and even skied across it tens of thousands of years ago to the multi-billion-dollar industry behind our moving, making, and playing with snow. Blending accessible writing with fascinating science, Giles Whittell explores how snow dictates where we live, provides us with drinking water, and has influenced countless works of art and more. Whittell also uncovers compelling mysteries of this miraculous substance, such as why avalanches happen, how snow saved a British prime minister's life, where the legend of the yeti comes from, and the terrifying truth behind the opening ceremony of the 1960 winter Olympics.

General Note:

"Originally published in Great Britain in 2018 by Short Books"--Title page verso.

Subject(s):

Snow.

Holds: Copies (not including on-order items):

Available:*

Library	Material Type	Call Number	Shelf Location	Status	Item Holds
Searching... East Library	Book	551.5784 WHIT	Nonfiction	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable
Searching... Rockrimmon Library	Book	551.5784 WHIT	Nonfiction	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

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Summary

Brimming with interesting facts and surprising anecdotes, this scientific and cultural history opens our eyes to the wonders of one of nature's most delicate, delightful, and deadly phenomena: SNOW! Perfect for fans of The Hidden Life of Trees and Rain .

Go on an extraordinary journey across centuries and continents to experience the wonders of snow; from the prehistoric humans that trekked and even skied across it tens of thousands of years ago to the multi-billion-dollar industry behind our moving, making, and playing with snow. Blending accessible writing with fascinating science, Giles Whittell explores how snow dictates where we live, provides us with drinking water, and has influenced countless works of art and more.

Whittell also uncovers compelling mysteries of this miraculous substance, such as why avalanches happen, how snow saved a British prime minister's life, where the legend of the yeti comes from, and the terrifying truth behind the opening ceremony of the 1960 winter Olympics.

Filled with in-depth research and whip-smart prose, Snow is an eye-opening and charming book that illuminates one of the most magnificent wonders of nature.

Author Notes

Giles Whittell is The Times of London's chief leader writer, and the author of four books previous books, Lambada Country, Extreme Continental, Spitfire Women of World War II , and Bridge of Spies . He lives with his wife and children in South London.

Reviews (2)

Booklist Review

Whittell shares a fascinating study of snow and its impact on cultures from prehistoric times to the present, with personal and historical anecdotes woven throughout the text. His keen interest and enthusiasm for the topic are apparent, and his footnotes contain both citations and observations one warns readers about searching the Winter Severity Index online, as it's also the name of a band. The book includes a single image: the Nakaya Diagram, which shows the different kinds of snow created by varying conditions, along with the conditions required for perfect snow. Whittell covers a broad range of topics, from the many (or not so many) words for snow used by the Inuit, to a terrifying first-hand account by a man who survived a deadly Himalayan snowstorm in 2014. The book concludes with an index and an entertaining Q&A section which asks and answers such questions as how do you build a snow cave? and what makes snow so slippery? Readers will want to grab an extra blanket when reading this well-researched and fascinating title, which was originally published in the UK in 2018.--Maren Ostergard Copyright 2019 Booklist

Library Journal Review

Self-described snow addict Whittell (The Times of London) here seeks to explore snow in all of its scientific and cultural milieus. From the science behind how snowflakes are made to topics such as snowflake art and extreme winter sports, Whittell meanders through various aspects of the cold ice crystals, but doesn't go in-depth on any one characteristic, which keeps the subject light and allows him to cover many disparate subjects in different chapters. His cursory takes help with clarity when he describes the complex science behind snow or more sobering realities such as the time scientists expect the last flake to fall. Whittell adds enjoyable trivia, such as how many snowflakes it takes to build a snowman, throughout the book. VERDICT A delightful, enjoyable, and meandering read that will appeal to, and amuse, teen and adult readers.--Laura Hiatt, Fort Collins, CO

A Note on Units	p. ix
Introduction	p. 1
1 Perfect Snow	p. 15
2 If Polar Bears Could Talk	p. 36
3 Snomo Sapiens	p. 48
4 What Brueghel Saw	p. 67
5 The Wrong Kind of Snow	p. 78
6 Record-Breaking	p. 94
7 Winter of Terror	p. 114
8 At Play in the Snowfields of the Gods	p. 131
9 Last Rites	p. 148
10 Boutique Mountain Engineering	p. 157
11 Snowpocalypse	p. 169
12 Snowbusiness	p. 178
13 Snowmads	p. 194
14 The Future of Snow	p. 206
Snow Q&A	p. 221
Acknowledgments	p. 233
A Note on Sources	p. 235
Index	p. 237

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Summary

Summary

Author Notes

Reviews (2)

Booklist Review

Library Journal Review

Table of Contents