Restless Skies: The Ultimate Weather Book [Paperback]

Paul Douglas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 25, 2004

Really attractive! Great pictures and illustrations-lots of great weather and climate information."--Willard Scott, Today Show weather reporter

"Paul uses his 25 years...as a meteorologist to let readers explore the why and hows of weather...a fascinating look at the forces that influence our lives every day."--Mike Seidel, Weather Channel meteorologist

Improved technology is teaching us more about the weather all the time, and with new knowledge comes new concerns and confusion. Is global warming real? Where is Tornado Alley? And just what are GOES satellites and NEXRAD Doppler? Meteorologist Paul Douglas provides the answers to all these questions and more, along with vivid and fascinating illustrations, photos, trivia, and graphics. Find out what a difference a degree makes; as well as information about El Niño, the 15 worst storms of the century, and how to protect yourself against the worst that the weather can bring. From the distinctions between a weather warning, watch, and advisory to the definition of an F-5 tornado, it has all the essentials, clearly explained.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Meteorologist Douglas informs Twin Cities TV viewers about local weather, and his eclectic volume on the subject holds together by emphasizing safety strategies for use in dangerous weather. Definitely a trait qualifying the work for library use, the safety angle is focused on the U.S and packed with a compendium of historical information about disasters. He also contributes his perspective as the weatherman, who seems to authoritatively predict the future, by stressing that forecasting is more an art than a science. Douglas devotes a good portion of the text to the technology on which forecasting relies, explaining the collection of data from radar and satellites, and their crunching by computer models. Packaged with copious imagery, Douglas' advice is a comforting source for readers wanting to prepare for the next thunderstorm, tornado, or hurricane. Gilbert Taylor
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

“Paul uses his 25 years...as a meteorologist to let readers explore the why and how of weather.” —Mike Seidel, Weather Channel meteorologist

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Sterling; First Edition, First Printing edition (October 25, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0760761132
• ISBN-13: 978-0760761137
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,113,016 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Weather Overview September 27, 2005

By Ken Ryan

Format:Paperback

This is a great book for people mildly interested in weather phenomena all the way to hard core 'weather junkies'. Paul Douglas, who is very popular in the Twin Cities, covers a wide range of weather topics, focusing on extreme weather conditions that grip our attention, like tornadoes and hurricanes, and even addresses politically sensitive issues like global warming. His style is sufficiently scientific to satisfy serious weather buffs, yet the book is an easy read. I learned a lot of details about weather phenomena that actually should help me understand the next extreme weather situation in my area. The photos are spectacular. My kids, who study weather in elementary school, really enjoy the book too. Cool photos.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful weather book September 25, 2005

By Dutchman

Format:Paperback

It was the name, Paul Douglas, that caught my attention. I remembered seeing him many years ago on Ted Kopple's Nightline. Then, not very long ago, I watched him doing a guest stint on CBS' morning show. Friends, who I visited in Minneapolis this summer, pointed out that he is considered to be the best television meteorologist in the Twin Cities. So, based on what I knew about him I bought the book - and I was not disappointed.

On over 250 pages the author packs a wealth of information, enhanced by hundreds of excellent illustrations. There is no technical jargon in this book. This is not a textbook. Doulas has the gift of explaining complex phenomena in simple layman's language. It covers case histories from hurricanes in Florida, ice storms in the Northeast to the 1995 heat storm in Chicago.

In light of last year's four hurricanes in Florida and this year's devastation by Katrina and Rita in the South, the two chapters on hurricanes and tornadoes alone are worth the price of admission.

The attractive book is in a large format, the kind you may not want to stick on your bookhelf, but place on a coffee table.

Because many will want to look through it, and probably wind up ordering it

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Everyone Loved It So Much, We Now Give Restless Skies As Gifts, September 25, 2005

By David Penzell

Format:Paperback

I purchased Restless Skies last Christmas and kept it on my coffee table to read through, refer to and admire the photos. It was not just a coffee table book but also became a great resource for the wild and unpredictable weather we all seem to experience.

Over the course of the year family and friends who were visiting me would often pick up the book and begin reading through it more and more. I then decided that I would start giving Restless Skies as gifts to my friends and family for birthdays and other gift giving occasions

The genuine and sincere number of thank you's that I have received for giving this gift could fill a book in its own right. They not only love the information contained in it but the writing style of Paul Douglas the author and the photography ties the whole package together.

It is rare to find a great book that can double not only as a resource but have so many awesome photos in it that qualifies for the coffee table in the den or living room. Restless Skies does it for me and all the folks that we bought it for.

A great book and a great read - definitely a keeper!