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Cloudspotter's Guide: The Science, History, and Culture of Clouds
Cloudspotter's Guide: The Science, History, and Culture of Clouds | Gavin Pretor-Pinney
A quirky, clever guide for everyone who loves to look up. Where do clouds come from? Why do they look the way they do? And why have they captured the imagination of timeless artists, Romantic poets, and every kid who's ever held a crayon? Journalist and lifelong sky watcher Gavin Pretor-Pinney reveals everything there is to know about clouds, from history and science to art and pop culture. Cumulus, nimbostratus, and the dramatic and seemingly surfable Morning Glory cloud are just a few of the varieties explored in this smart, witty, and eclectic tour through the skies. Generously illustrated with striking photographs and line drawings featuring everything from classical paintings to lava lamps, children's drawings, and Roman coins, "The Cloudspotter's Guide" will have science and history buffs, weather watchers, and the just plain curious floating on cloud nine.
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kspenmoll
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#weeklyfavorites #July #August
I included this week ahead as I am unsure how much reading I will get done.

Read4life Looks fantastic! Thanks so much for sharing!! 💙💙💙 2mo
41 likes1 comment
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kspenmoll
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💙☁️🧐

TheBookHippie Yes!!!! 3mo
Chrissyreadit 💕💕💕💕 3mo
41 likes2 comments
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kspenmoll
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Mid-day #hyggehourreadathon here on my porch.It‘s such a joy to be back out here after a week+ of rain keeping me indoors.Breezy,blue skies with cumulus clouds.Powder-puffs!Tagged book & it‘s accompanying journal have honed my appreciation & delight in our clouded skies.It‘s a quiet Sunday, birdsong clear.The Merlin app is picking up crow, bluejay, goldfinch song. My coffee is strong, cranberry orange biscotti not too sweet. Paradise! #porchlife

TheBookHippie I‘m loving this cloud book. 3mo
dabbe #weatherenvy 🩶🖤🩶 3mo
43 likes1 stack add2 comments
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kspenmoll
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#5JoysFriday

~ Very slowly reading this book,but as a result,I am noticing clouds in a different way.These clouds formed over the Baseball stadium before sunset.
~Glued to the ypu Olympics! On my head is the Eiffel Tower headband from my #litsystaycationswap package.🇫🇷🥇
~My fabulous vicarious visit to Paris where I honeymooned thanks to @julieclair 🇫🇷
~ college team baseball game with friends. ⚾️🧢🏟️🌭

AllDebooks Love this x 3mo
mcctrish ❤️❤️ also I‘m intrigued by the ☁️ book 3mo
julieclair You look adorable in your “Olympic Headdress”! 🇫🇷 I didn‘t know you had honeymooned in Paris! 💙🤍❤️ 3mo
DebinHawaii A wonderful list of joys! 💛💛💛I love the headband & your Paris Olympics spirit! 🇫🇷 🎉 Thanks for sharing & spreading the joy! 🤗 3mo
48 likes1 stack add4 comments
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AllDebooks
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#Naturalitsy July's #buddyread

☁️ Did you enjoy the author's style?
📖 Was the text insightful and informative?
☁️ Did you learn anything new?
📖 Has reading this book made you more mindful of the clouds?
☁️ Are you spending more time cloud-gazing and daydreaming? I do hope so.

Next up -
https://litsy.com/p/d2t4YnFoV3g2

See All 25 Comments
AllDebooks Please do let me know if you wish to be added/removed from the taglist. 3mo
AllDebooks A link to June's #buddyread if you missed it. 💚 https://litsy.com/p/YU5mSUhUb0lH 3mo
TheBookHippie Just got it from library and loving it! 3mo
AllDebooks @TheBookHippie 💚☁️💚 3mo
vonnie862 1. I highly enjoyed the author's style. He made it easy to read the very informative text, and I especially enjoyed the touch of humor. 2. Yes, I learned a lot about the different kinds of clouds ( though I can't remember everything). I am very curious to see the Morning Glory clouds if i ever decide to visit Australia. 3. Yes, I look up at the sky and try to identify the types of clouds I see. 3mo
vonnie862 (#3 should from previous should be #4) 3mo
CatLass007 I have the audiobook and I‘m ready to go. 3mo
AllDebooks @vonnie862 yay, so glad you enjoyed it. I was pleasantly surprised by how witty the author was. I wasn't expecting that at all. The Morning Glory clouds would be a sight to behold, for sure. 3mo
AllDebooks @CatLass007 Enjoy ☁️ 3mo
vonnie862 3. I learned why we say " Cloud 9", 80 elephants weigh as much as a cumulus cloud, how William Rankin survived falling through some cumulonimbus clouds, etc...4. I am doing a lot more cloud gazing. 3mo
MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm Haven‘t finished yet, but I‘ve loved every second of it so far. I adore his style, it reminds me of a fav author of mine, Bill Bryson. This is one I think I‘ll have to buy a copy of to add to my personal library. 🥰 I‘ve even got my husband noticing clouds more and he‘s been sending me any cloud related memes and fun facts he finds when he‘s scrolling social media. 😅 I‘m very grateful that I live somewhere where I can enjoy clouds all the time. 3mo
Aimeesue I haven‘t finished, but I am loving the author‘s dry humor! 3mo
Cuilin Not finished, but it has me looking up more. 3mo
kspenmoll Not finished but really enjoying it- I never really thought about clouds except to notice if a storm was coming so this is giving me a whole new perspective and I‘m finding it fun too look up in the sky and just see what clouds are there. I do like his style. The pictures are lovely. 3mo
AllDebooks @vonnie862 William Rankin, what a survival story!!! 3mo
AllDebooks @MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm that's who reminded me of. I couldn't think of the author. But yes, Bryson is a match. I love that you're sharing the experience with your husband. Enjoy the rest of the book x 3mo
AllDebooks @Aimeesue that's great. He's very witty 😅 3mo
AllDebooks @Cuilin I love that we're all looking at clouds more 😍 3mo
AllDebooks @kspenmoll so glad you're enjoying it. 😊 3mo
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review
vonnie862
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Pickpick

This was a very interesting book about clouds. You get to learn about the 10 different clouds and their histories, as well as the "other" clouds. It is very informative and easy to understand. What I liked best was the touch of humor that it had. 4⭐️

#PopupReadathon @AmandaBlaze
#naturalitsy @AllDebooks
#BookspinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3mo
AmandaBlaze Great! 3mo
36 likes1 stack add2 comments
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vonnie862
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It's almost 8 a.m. here in California and I'm getting ready for the #PopupReadathon, hosted by @AmandaBlaze. My goal is to finish 2 out of the 3 books that I'm currently reading. 🤞

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Love your book sleeve 🖤 💀 3mo
AmandaBlaze Awesome! 3mo
22 likes2 comments
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AllDebooks
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#Naturalitsy July #buddyread

Since starting this book, I have been paying more attention to the sky. I've spent many moments cloudspotting, although I remain a novice.

I like the poem by James Russell Lowell (p.89)

"Who knows whither the clouds have fled?
In the unscarred heaven, they leave no wake,
And the eyes forget the tears they have shed,
The heart forgets its sorrow and ache. "

From The Vision of Sir Launfal.

kspenmoll I just saw this review in Marginalian by Maria Popova An Illustrated Field Guide to the Science and Wonder of the Clouds – The Marginalian https://www.themarginalian.org/2024/07/13/cloudspotting-for-beginners/ 4mo
AllDebooks @kspenmoll that's a great article, the illustrations are beautiful. Thanks for sharing. 😊 4mo
Avanders Ooh this book has been on my list for a while! ☁️🩵 3mo
TheBookHippie My book just came in so I‘ll pick it up Monday! I can‘t wait! 3mo
33 likes5 comments
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AllDebooks
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It's that day of the week for a little focused rest and relaxation. Are you joining our communal read tonight? #Hyggehour is an hour set aside each week to unwind.

I'll be reading the #NaturaLitsy #buddyread (tagged), hopefully while outside cloudspotting.

What are your plans?

@TheBookHippie @Chrissyreadit @jenniferw88

Bookwormjillk I can‘t wait! 4mo
30 likes1 comment
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yourfavouritemixtape
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Pickpick

Jumped on the #naturalitsy train again and this was a good one. Very interesting and well narrated (even though at times it felt as if he tried a bit too hard to be funny). I will definitely look at the sky more closely now. Clouds are fascinating. I might also re-read this with a pen and paper and not right before my bedtime as I fear I have already forgotten half of all the interesting facts.

AllDebooks I'm so glad you liked it. I've been taking more notice of the clouds as I'm reading this 💚☁️💚 4mo
11 likes1 comment
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CBee
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@mandarchy found it! Circa 2013.

mandarchy I'll try again. 4mo
mandarchy I live near too many volcanoes - that would be terrifying!
4mo
CBee @mandarchy oh no 😬 I can see how that would be quite scary!! 4mo
61 likes3 comments
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AllDebooks
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#Naturalitsy

I hope you're enjoying our #buddyread this month.

This shot is breathtaking. One of my favourite landscape photographers is Kilian Schoenberger. Check out his Insta

https://www.instagram.com/kilianschoenberger?igsh=MXNrZzJ1NGxveTR5YQ==

AnnCrystal 😍💝. 4mo
bcncookbookclub It's impressive! 4mo
Cuilin Thanks for the reminder. I have a copy of the book but couldn‘t remember what month we were reading it. ☁️ 4mo
47 likes5 comments
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LitsyEvents
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#Naturalitsy July #buddyread
_ Next up - The cloudspotters guide by Gavin
Pretor-Pinney
This does look fascinating and so informative.
All welcome to join us. Please let me know if you wish to be added/removed from the taglist.
https://cloudappreciationsociety.org/about-us/

AllDebooks Thank you for the share x 4mo
29 likes1 stack add1 comment
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AllDebooks
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#Naturalitsy July #buddyread

📖 Next up - The cloudspotters guide by Gavin Pretor-Pinney

This does look fascinating and so informative.
All welcome to join us. Please let me know if you wish to be added/removed from the taglist.

https://cloudappreciationsociety.org/about-us/

@LitsyEvents

CBee I have this book too! I love clouds ☁️ 4mo
AllDebooks @CBee it looks fascinating. I'm expecting to learn a lot. I can add you to the taglist, if you'd like to join us. 4mo
CBee @AllDebooks that would be great! I can‘t promise I‘ll read the whole thing, but I‘d love to be tagged on the discussions 😊 4mo
See All 8 Comments
AllDebooks @CBee 💚 4mo
MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm Oh thank goodness. For some reason I thought I‘d gotten mixed up on what July‘s book was. 😅 Went ahead and picked up this from the library, so I‘m glad I chose correctly! 🤣 4mo
vonnie862 Just got my copy! 4mo
28 likes8 comments
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TheEllieMo
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I am posting one book per day from my extensive to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new. Don‘t judge me - I have a lot of books. Join the fun if you want.
This is day 148
#BooksToRead #TBRPile #TBRMountain

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Kshakal
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Eggs Gorgeous 🧡☁️🧡 4y
19 likes1 comment
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monalyisha
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Well, that was easy.

ravenlee 😆 4y
MichelleInMaine This looks very intriguing! 4y
monalyisha @MichelleInMaine I‘m enjoying it so far! 4y
83 likes1 stack add4 comments
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monalyisha
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Book club book (with my high school (& some elementary school!) friends) showed up today. ⛅️ Delivery was supposed to be delayed for quite awhile. I‘m pleasantly surprised to have received it earlier than expected!

muscogulus I‘m wondering if this might be a good gift for a relative who is besotted with the chemtrails conspiracy theory. She likes to watch the sky but chemtrails dogma guides her perceptions. 5y
monalyisha @muscogulus Perhaps! ☁️ 5y
muscogulus I‘m going to look up the Cloud Appreciation Society mentioned on the cover. 5y
73 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Carolyn11215
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I‘d love to see it though I don‘t think I‘d ever be brave enough to surf the amazing Morning Glory cloud in Australia.

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Carolyn11215
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The science, history and culture of clouds with lots of pictures/illustrations crossed off two squares on #nonfiction2019 bingo!

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Carolyn11215
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Common shape for altocumulus clouds. No wonder there are so many UFO sightings!

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Carolyn11215
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When you were little did you look for fantastical shapes in clouds? A number of artists liked to hide figures in their paintings of clouds. Love this one of a man on a horse in cloud behind St. Sebastian.

15 likes1 comment
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Carolyn11215
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Did you know that a cloud harp exists? This instrument creates music from the shape of clouds above it. When the sky is blue, the harp is silent. When clouds appear above it, the music begins via a laser beam directed at the clouds. Whatever bounces back is measured. A musician, known as a “cloudist”, configures the harp so that this info triggers musical sounds. The cloud harp has been installed in various settings for enjoyment of cloudwatchers.

Jee_HookedOnBookz Wowwww!! How interesting!! Thanks for sharing! 6y
11 likes1 comment
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Carolyn11215
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Did you know cumulonimbus clouds are considerably taller than Mount Everest and the energy contained in one has been estimated to be the equivalent of ten Hiroshima-sized bombs? Or that a pilot in the US Marine Corps is the only human to have fallen through an entire storming cumulonimbus cloud in a parachute after ejecting from his plane that died at 48,000 ft (just above the cloud) AND he lived to tell the tale?

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Carolyn11215
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Did you know that cumulus clouds weigh an average of about 220 tons? Or that they are considered the spiritual cousins of elephants in Hinduism? The Sanskrit creation myths describe how elephants created at beginning of time were white, had wings to fly, could change their shape at will and had the power to bring rain.

Love this book!

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Carolyn11215
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Loving this book about clouds. Here is “The Manifesto” of The Cloud Appreciation Society.

LauraBeth This is making me think that I take clouds for granted. 🤔☁️🌦 6y
16 likes1 comment
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Carolyn11215

I‘m 10 books from finishing the 2018 Read Harder Challenge and I‘m determined to finish...even if I‘m several months into 2019 by the time I do. Gotta printout the 2019 challenge as well. This is really the best way for me to discover books I‘ve never heard of or would probably not have picked up. Just reserved this one from the library as I‘ve always been fascinated by clouds!

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CBee
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I am SO stoked about this one. Clouds fascinate me and I snap pics of them all the time. 😁

7 likes2 stack adds
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Kkhalifeh
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Pickpick

This book is fun-tastic! Go watch some clouds friends (I found one that looks like the UK).

PurpleyPumpkin That's amazing! I love fluffy clouds.☁️☁️☁️ 8y
11 likes1 comment