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Why the Wind Blows: A History of Weather and Global Warming Paperback – July 27, 2021
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Through the use of true stories of exploration, Why the Wind Blows looks at how these adventures were influenced by the weather and man’s ignorance of its consequences. The science of meteorology is gently interspersed throughout the text, so that understanding weather becomes an integral part of the stories. Concluding with the influence of modern civilization on the changing climate and its world-altering consequences, the author challenges the reader to take action now to alter the effects of global warming on future generations.
- Print length192 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherUpper Access
- Publication dateJuly 27, 2021
- Dimensions6 x 0.6 x 9 inches
- ISBN-100942679318
- ISBN-13978-0942679311
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“This is a straightforward, fascinating and powerful users guide to the planet, one that leaves us no doubt we need to make some pretty serious changes in our standard operating procedures, and pronto.”
― Bill McKibben, Environmentalist and Founder of 350.org“Fun, informative, and, ultimately, gripping, Why the Wind Blows is a welcome addition to the growing voice for action on global warming.”
― Civil Engineering magazine“If you still believe that weather is something that can be summarized on the back page of the first section of the newspaper, I suggest that you pick up a copy of Matthys Levy’s book.”
― Rachel Lapidow, The Burlington Free Press“It is a useful and interesting book for a general audience; and clearly written.”
― Dr. Alan K. Betts Atmospheric Research“I recommend that all scientists read this book. It is a sobering look at the impact of society on nature.”
― Dr. Gary F. Bennett, Journal of Hazardous MaterialsFrom the Publisher
About the Author
Matthys P. Levy is author or co-author of several books, including Why Buildings Fall Down, Structural Design in Architecture, Why the Earth Quakes, Earthquake Games, and Engineering the City.
He is a founding Principal and Chairman Emeritus of Weidlinger Associates, Consulting Engineers. Born in Switzerland and a graduate of the City College of New York, Mr. Levy received his MS and CE degrees from Columbia University. He has taught at Columbia University and Pratt Institute and lectured at universities throughout the world.
He is the inventor of the Tenstar Dome structure, a unique tensegrity cable dome used to cover large spaces with minimal obstruction, and is a member of the National Academy of Engineering. For additional information about Matthys Levy, please visit his website at www.MatthysLevy.com.
Product details
- Publisher : Upper Access (July 27, 2021)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 192 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0942679318
- ISBN-13 : 978-0942679311
- Item Weight : 11.4 ounces
- Dimensions : 6 x 0.6 x 9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #2,642,891 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,636 in Rivers in Earth Science
- #1,691 in Weather (Books)
- #2,716 in Climatology
- Customer Reviews:
About the authors

Matthys P. Levy is a founding Principal and Chairman Emeritus of Weidlinger Associates, Consulting Engineers. Born in Switzerland and a graduate of the City College of New York, Mr. Levy received his MS and CE degrees from Columbia University. He has been an adjunct professor at Columbia University and a Distinguished Professor at Pratt Institute and a lecturer at universities throughout the world.
Mr. Levy is the recipient of many awards including the ASCE Innovation in Civil Engineering Award, the Egleston medal from Columbia University, the Townsend Harris medal from City College, the IASS Tsuboi Award, the ENR Medal of Excellence, three Lincoln Arc Welding awards, three PCI awards, the Founder’s Award of the Salvadori Center and an AIA Institute Award. He was named a Structural Engineering Legend in Design by Structural Engineering Magazine in 2003. He has published numerous papers in the field of structures, computer analysis, aesthetics and building systems design, has illustrated two books and is the co-author of the best selling book, Why Buildings Fall Dow as well as, Structural Design in Architecture, Why the Earth Quakes, Earthquakes, Volcanoes & Tsunamis, Earthquake Games and Engineering the City. His recent book, Why the Wind Blows, a history of weather and global warming,, was published in 2007.
Levy is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers, a member of the International Association of Shell & Spatial Structures, the International Association of Bridge and Structural Engineers and other professional societies. He is a registered Professional Engineer in the US and Eur Ing in Europe; he is also a founding director of the Salvadori Center that serves youngsters by teaching mathematics and science through motivating hands-on learning about the built environment.
Projects for which he was the principal designer include the Rose Center for Earth and Space at the American Museum of Natural History, the Javits Convention Center and the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York, the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, the La Plata Stadium in Argentina, the One Financial Center tower in Boston, Banque Bruxelles Lambert in Belgium, the World Bank Headquarters in Washington, DC, and a cable-stayed pedestrian bridge at Rockefeller University. He is the inventor of the patented Tenstar Dome structure, a unique tensegrity cable dome used to cover large spaces with minimal obstruction.
Mr Levy was represented in the exhibit, ‘The Engineer’s Art’ at the Centre Pompidou in Paris. He has appeared on numerous television shows including NOVA, Modern Marvels, the History
Channel, ABC News, PBS series on Domes and others.
Mr. Levy has served as an expert in forensic investigations including the World Trade Center Collapses in New York, the Versailles Ballroom Collapse in Jerusalem, the failure of the UNI Dome in Iowa, the Fire Damage to the Meridian Building in Philadelphia, and others.

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Arthur H. Westing
Shelburne, Vermont
I would recommend this book for all ages to read. You will get a better idea of what we are facing in the years to come if we don't start taking better care of our world.
Matthys Levy's previous books have helped us to understand other human disasters--the collapse of buildings, including the horrors of 9/11--and the devastation of earthquakes. Once again, in a science book that is actually fun to read, he helps us to understand basic science, demonstrating the historical effects of weather on human endeavors and the challenges we now face.
However, the book has significant problems. Touted as a science book, it alternates between English and metric measurements, sometimes given one and sometimes both, and sometimes using terms of measurement like "mps" without defining whether the author means miles, meters, or some other unit.
The author seems to somewhat confuse issues related more to geography than to climate or weather. The stories related to the Titanic and to Stanley and Livinstone make little case that is related to global warming or global weather patterns as opposed to local geography and climate, for example.
There are no citations, no sources given for almost any claims or statistics, and there are terms in bold throughout the book with no glossary or definitions to explain them.
Furthermore, Levy makes claims of world-wide change based on single event anecdotes, all the while jumping around in chronology and topic without much coherence.
In this day of advanced graphics, there is no reason why the diagrams and illustrations should be hand drawn, hand lettered, and not always directly related to the text.
I am reasonably well-versed in global warming science and concerns, and they frighten me a great deal; I am not trying to dismiss what Levy is conveying. I only wish he had done it better to get his desired message across to readers in a more compelling, more coherent, and more authoritative.
Top reviews from other countries
What it does, through a series of historical vingettes, is to explain a very significant number of aspects of weather and climate. The explanations are concise, logical and effective.
I would have preferred a more substantial linking chapter at the end, but in the material presented, the book is excellent, and a good read.
I have four issues:
1/ As far as the section on the Titanic sinking is concerned, I'm not sure of the accuracy of everything said about the ship; a number of old favourites have been challenged or discounted, and comments about insufficient lifeboats should always be balanced by the fact that Titanic caried MORE than regulations required.
2/ On page 142, at least in my edition, the graph, fig 14.4, is contradicted by the text, in one point quite significantly.
3/ Global warming is taken as a given. An existing thing for which some supporting evidence is provided. I'd like a book which weighs the evidence more.
4/ A fair bit of hindsight based judgement seems to pervade some of the early chapters, and I think the author is better than that.
But do not let me put you off. This is a good read, with a lot to be learned in an accessible package, from a very skilled communicator.
Recommended.
Next read: "Why The Earth Quakes"







