Braving the Elements: The Stormy History of American Weather

Nowhere in the world is weather as volatile and powerful as it is in NorthAmerica. Scorching heat in the Southwest, hurricanes on the Atlantic coast, tornadoes in the Plains, blizzards in the mountains: Every area of the countryhas vastly different weather, and vastly different cultures as a result.Braving the Elements is David Laskin’s delightful and fascinating history f howour unique weather has shaped a nation, and how we’ve tried to cope with itover centuries.

Since before Columbus, the peoples of America have struggled to make sense ofthe capricious and violent nature of America’s weather. Anasazi Indians usedthe rain dance (and sometimes human sacrifice) to induce rain, while thePuritans in New England blamed the sins of the community for lightening strikesand Nor’easters. IN modern times we carry on those traditions by blaming theweatherman for ruined weekends. Despite hi-tech satellites and powerfulcomputers and 24-hour-a-day forecasting from The Weather Channel, we’re stillat the mercy of the whims of Mother Nature.

Laskin recounts the many dramatic moments in American weather history, from the”Little Ice Age” to Ben Franklin’s invention of the lightning rod to the GreatBlizzard of the 1930’s to the worries about global warming. Packed with freshinsights and wonderful lore and trivia, Braving the Elements is unique andessential reading for anyone who’s ever asked, “What’s it like outside?”