Customer Reviews

The Tornado: Nature's Ultimate Windstorm

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I strongly recommend this book for anyone interested in tornadoes and wishing to learn more about the subject. Topics covered include nearly every aspect of tornado development and subsequent evolution, forecasting and warnings, the Fujita scale for rating damage, and tornado risks by geographical region. As a meteorologist, I think he does a great job communicating core scientific concepts to the reader in an easy-to-understand manner, and the chapters "Tornado Myths" and "Tornado Safety" contain valuable information and are must-reads, esp. for those less familiar with severe storms/tornadoes.

In short, a good read for anyone interested in tornadoes, and definitely a book you will want to have on your shelf.

Lets start with the few negatives about this book. Grazulis does use the term, "I" fairly often in this book. This doesn't bother me as much as it does some people. He has to use the first person as he explains what brought about his interest in tornadoes and he has been involved in much of the research he talks about. The only real drawback I can find is that he gets a little too technical for the average reader on occasion. Still, considering the complicated nature of his subject I think he does a fine job of getting his point across and helping someone like me began to understand these killer storms.

Grazulis leads us down the path of tornado history making stops along the way to point out interesting facts. The reader is given stories of survival as well as tragedy. We even get a story about the one of the 18th century's most famous scientists chasing on horseback after what may or may not have been a tornado. I can just see Ben Franklin charging down the road in hot pursuit. Grazulis also spends some time trashing some tornado myths and giving some safety tips. There is also a very interesting chapter on tornadoes in other countries. I have even begun to understand what straight line winds and downbursts are because of this book.

Best of all the reader will be treated to an inside look at the progress science has made in understanding and predicting tornadoes. The new equipment, the new ideas, and the ever present danger of trying to get too close to a tornado to study it. Science has come a long way since early April, 1974 when forecasters all over the eastern U.S. watched the "Super Outbreak" on surplus World War II radar.

No matter if you are a weather junkie or are just in awe of the power of nature I feel sure you will find this to be an interesting read.

Persons interested in tornadoes will recognize Tom Grazulis as the Director of the Tornado Project and author of the massive tornado tome "Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991." In this new book, appropriately published by the University of Oklahoma Press, Grazulis discusses the long history of tornadoes in the United States (and, rare for books on the subject, includes a listing of major tornadoes outside the US), covers the process of observation and research that led to today's understanding of these chaotic storms, discusses tornado oddities, tornado safety, and tornado myths (no, that trailer park on the edge of town is not a dangerous tornado attractant). Grazulis is not a particularly stylish writer, but the book is clear and interesting and will serve as a good introduction to both the trail of terror left by these storms and the current state of severe storm research.

.... While Grazulis does on occasion refer to himself, it is not excessive and provides his own view of events and personalities in the field.

My only disagreement with Grazulis is his soft-pedaling of the state of government funding into severe storm research and warning systems. While he comments mildly that the government just can't fund everything (which of course is true), I would observe that there always seems to be money for congressional porkbarrel, like the mysterious ordering every year of C-130 aircraft that the Air Force didn't want but which were built in a certain well-known former House Speaker's district at the same time that Weather Service offices were being closed and research money drying up. As one who lives in a NEXRAD "hole" (a city that is well below the horizon of the nearest WSR-88D radars and hence in danger of being struck unexpectedly by tornadoes), I tend to object more than mildly to this kind of thing, and Grazulis should as well.

If you find this book interesting, check at your local library for a copy of Grazulis' "Significant Tornadoes." It is huge and fascinating.

In 1953, the University of Oklahoma Press launched its biggest seller to date with "Tornadoes of the United States" by Snowden D. Flora. For its era, it was unique -- a thorough, multifaceted but concise (194 pages) treatment of tornadoes, liberally sprinkled with photographs. Tom Grazulis, a friend, colleague in science and fellow tornado enthusiast, has created the same with a modern flavor: the first worthy successor to Flora's tome in 48 years.

Strongly reminiscent of Flora's framework, Grazulis effectively blends powerful personal anecdotes from tornado survivors with sharp graphics, summaries of the most recent scientific thinking on tornado development, and short synopses of tornado events through history. Grazulis explains and debunks tornado myths, including safety misconceptions like the suicidal tendency for people to hide beneath bridges in advance of a tornado. This work pays due attention and respect to the immense contributions of Ted Fujita without the undertone of hero worship in the author's previous book, "Significant Tornadoes." The text is quite straightforward -- rightfully so -- about the inconsistencies, varying methods, and flat-out-wrongs in the "official" tornado database -- such as a deadly November 1989 New York downburst (as surveyed by Fujita) which remains on the records as a tornado. Without confusion, Grazulis covers tornado risk in several ways, thanks to his enormous database of significant (deadly and/or F2 or greater) tornadoes. Also, commendably, there is an entire chapter devoted to tornadoes outside the United States, which (from personal communication with author) played a big role in scuttling his original plans to adopt Flora's title for this book as well.

The major problem with this work is in its blatantly first-person writing style. While not a fatal flaw, the appearance of the word "I" in hundreds of places lends a striking, if unintended, aura of self-importance detracting from the abundance of solid science behind the information. Why must an author talk about himself so much, unless this is supposed to be an autobiography? Also, many of the photos in "Tornadoes of the United States" were reprinted here, in lieu of many more recent, higher-quality tornado pictures from the 1980s and 90s which better illustrate the concepts written by Grazulis. Without these encumbrances, Grazulis' book gets 5 stars, easily. Still, all severe weather enthusiasts should have a copy at the core of their libraries. It will be stunning if this volume doesn't become OU Press' biggest seller, as did its forebear.

Thomas P. Grazulis has obviously dedicated a good part of his life to studying Tornadoes. This book has "labor of love" written many times over between its pages. And yet, it is an odd book. Grazulis combines tornado anecdotes, tornado science, tornado safety and even tornado mythology into a strange hodgepodge of information. This is not the book to buy for great narratives of tornado destruction. Grazulis' accounts are second hand and mostly used to illustrate his other points. Nor is the book packed full of great pictures. It has some, all in black and white photos and some that are more than a century old. This book is really an encyclopedic account of everything there is to know about tornadoes. I learned a lot, even if I found the book's style a bit bemusing. If you love tornadoes on more than a superficial level, I would recommend it. Otherwise, I would look elsewhere.

Many readers in Oklahoma know the scenario all to well. Typically the spring or summer day begins warm and clear with a sometimes hazy blue tint to the sky shimmering with humidity. By all accounts, another good day to wash the car, have a cookout, or attend to the myriad of chores that seem to demand attention. Sometime during the mid-afternoon a careful observer will notice the clouds beginning to rise in the southwestern sky as the heat and humidity build. Sometime between three and seven p.m., according to official records, the National Weather Service will broadcast a warning and residents in the midwest typically began another evening in Tornado Alley. All to often, some will never live to see the light of day. Thomas P. Grazulis, a tornado research meteorologist and director of The Tornado Project and Fellow of the American Meteorological Society, has written a gripping, spellbinding book for the general public that is a must read for anyone remotely interested in tornadoes and weather related phenomenon. Surprisingly, this is the first book of it's type written since 1953 when OU Press published what was until now the standard general text on tornadoes. This book is a fit replacement. The book is a careful blend of scientific findings and common sense explanations on one of the most deadly, and feared, forces of nature. There is an enlightening chapter on tornado risks, the numerous misconceptions and contradictory theories surrounding tornadoes, how the Fujita Scale was developed and what it means, and a host of stories and findings that will provide the reader with a better understanding of what has been described as "...little more than a mixture of insubstantial air and water vapor." In addition to a most helpful series of graphs and tables explaining everything from the frequency of tornadoes, not only by location but time of day, to tornado risks at specific points east of the Rocky Mountains, there are also chapters on tornado history, forecasting, formation, safety, and myths. The chapters dealing with safety and myths are especially noteworthy. For example, the author argues there is no evidence that tornadoes seek out trailer parks or that the southwest corner of the house is the safest location. That, of course, is contrary to everything I was taught about Tornado safety. This is the best available book on the subject for the general reader that I have read. It has a bibliography, index, appendix, easily read charts and graphs, photographs, and is reader friendly given it's sometimes necessary technical nature. It is a must have for residents of Tornado Alley.

I wanted a book for by granddaughter who is 10 and who had expressed an interested in tornadoes. It was, perhaps, a little above her level, however it can be read in parts. I ended up reading the entire thing before I could let go of it to send it on. Puts the tornado,the incidence of seeing one, and the likelihood of experiencing damage all into perspective. Knocks down the myths of tornadoes, when, where and what they strike. A must for any library on meteorology. Sufficient statistics and hard science to satisfy even the already knowledgeable storm chaser.

From the intorduction, you read that the author's intent with this book was to write a modernized edition of Snowden D. Flora's 1953 book "Tornadoes of the United States" -- which was billed at the time as the first general reference book on tornadoes. In that respect, Tom Grazulis has fully succeeded.

"The Tornado" covers all the basics about tornadoes, like the highly complicated (and still enigmatic) process of tornado formation, forecasting, historical aspects of tornadoes -- as well as major tornadic events of the past, safety, climatology/frequncy, international frequency and major events, the Fujita scale, myths (more than you might think), and a pleasingly non-sensational chapter on storm chasing.

The text is never too complicated, and even the more technical points are easy to understand. The fact that the book is up-to-date is also a plus, as is the scope of the book's coverage. It's also somewhat more relevant to an American audience than Arjen and Jerrine Verkaik's "Under the Whirlwind," which -- though good, and including some of what this book covers -- was written with a Canadian audience in mind. (In which case Canadian readers are advised to read that book before this.)

About the only real minus is that there are limited illustrations, and those in the book are black and white. This text accompanied with more -- and color -- illustrations might have been more useful, although in moderation so as not to draw attention away from the text; at any rate a section of color plates would have been a nice addition.

That aside, this is a terrific guide to all things relevant (or even just the stuff you might have thought of once!) to tornadoes.

The Tornado: Nature's Ultimate Windstorm by Thomas P. Grazulis is an easy to read book that discusses and analyzes almost every aspect of tornadoes. The book covers all the basics about tornadoes, including the highly complicated process of tornado formation, forecasting, historical aspects of tornadoes, as well as major tornadic events of the past, safety, climatology/frequency, international frequency and major events, the Fujita scale, myths and storm chasing. He introduces most chapters with stories of past tornadoes, which adds interest to a potentially uninteresting subject. He clearly states the facts about tornadoes and doesn't sensationalize any aspect of them. Grazulis uses only the facts to inform the reader, and he disproves many tornado myths along the way.
This book is a comprehensive, easy to understand guide about tornadoes, accessible even to the non-scientist! Grazulis is clearly well researched, as he shares his abundant knowledge and passion for tornadoes throughout the book. While the illustrations are limited, the overall content of the book manages to cover all bases of the tornado phenomenon.

Grazulis states, "Awareness is the key to tornado safety" (163). The best way to understand safety measures in the midst of a weather emergency is to become educated on a particular subject. The Tornado: Nature's Ultimate Windstorm thoroughly explains tornado history, formation patterns, and safety patterns that are necessary to the understanding of a tornado. Though the subject matter may seem particularly dense or difficult to understand, Grazulis writes in such a way that every reader can comprehend the importance of tornados and the way they have impacted society. A common theme throughout the whole book is the idea that tornadoes, as a whole, are still a nebulous meteorological phenomenon. In spite of this, the author still is able to flush out a complicated topic and does so with great ease. This book shatters fears that may surround the tornado. Grazulis is certainly skeptical of the news media's coverage because of the way it sensationalizes tornadoes. After reading this book, one will have a much more realistic idea of tornado behavior. For me, I will no longer become paranoid when I see tornado watches on television, see pictures of tornado wreckage, or watch Twister or The Wizard of Oz. Instead, safety strategies will trump fear and understanding of this superstorm will overcome the unknown.