Book Description
ornadoes maintain a primal hold on our collective imagination. But for a select band of scientists and weather enthusiasts, tornadoes are more than just fodder for Hollywood disaster films-they're an obsession. These 'storm chasers' descend each spring on America's heartland to await an up-close view of nature's most violent forces. In Big Weather, Mark Svenvold puts us in the seat right next to these mavericks.
Customer Reviews:
Fascinating topic, ho-hum execution.......2007-03-18
In "Big Weather," Mark Svenvold recalls the time he spent in 2004 tagging along with veteran storm chaser Matt Biddle. The book is meant to be about storm chaser culture and associated elements, but uneven storytelling mars what would otherwise be a very cool book.
Svenvold is a poet-in-residence at Fordham University, and it shows. In some cases (such as Chapter 4: Catastrophilia), it shows a little too much. When Svenvold is talking about being on a chase, or the people who are part of and/or affected by chase culture, he's great. When he tries to get flowery, it bogs down the book. I'm sure there was a point to Chapter 4; I just wish he had gotten to it sooner, with a clear path to it.
And that's the overall problem with "Big Weather." For a topic that is, at its essence, unpredictable, crazy, and hold-your-breath heart stopping, he doesn't always convey that. I know that there's a lot of waiting associated with chasing, but Svenvold made storm chasing seem downright dreamy. I think the book would have been better if he had stuck with the journalistic, straight-to-the-point style he used when describing different chase events.
I don't agree with other reviewers that say he is anti-Christian, anti-Bush, or anti-other chasers. I think he was just trying to be objective while observing the people who not only live in Tornado Alley, but are also residents of the Bible Belt. Perhaps the book would have been less offensive if he had been more objective, but I don't think that's his style.
One place where I did think he was offensive (or at least borderline) was his constant referral to the people in the chasing industry as "geeks" or "dorks." I wasn't sure if that was an in-joke he was repeating or if he was being purposely derogatory.
I think, in a way, this was meant to be Svenvold's "expose" type book, just like recent bestsellers "The Nanny Diaries" or "The Devil Wears Prada," except, of course, he didn't try to gloss his experiences by hiding them in fiction. It might have been a more interesting read if he did.
Overall, it's worth checking it out from the library. But there are better memoirs out there that are worth savoring and keeping.
Supposed to be About WEATHER.......2007-03-13
Big Weather? WRONG!!!! This guy covers philosophy, map making,religion, his philosophical ideas to the point of nausea, old world history, pages & pages about Mary MacLane, oh yeah, and almost as an afterthought there are some pages about weather & chasing. But still laced with his philosophy.
NOT a book for anyone except maybe self styled "intellectuals"
Big Weather? Big Waste!!!.......2006-09-12
Skip this one. It's horrible. I bought it just before a long flight and didn't have anything else to read. "I chose poorly."
What kind of author involves his political views and disdain for Christianity in a book called Big Weather? Well, Mark Svenvold does. For your money, you get a big dose of Svenvold's personal philosophies packaged with a backdrop of high brow cultural references. Who is this guy? And, why should we listen to his rambling pontifications? I thought I was buying a book about Big Weather!!
Svenvold is also extremely insulting. He describes one fellow he met as having a receding hairline comparing it to a glacier retreating. Come now! Was that necessary? Oklahomans in particular get an extra helping of insults. Svenvold lets loose with unflattering comments about a number of individuals. Most of them were just answering his questions about weather.
Here is a small dose. Svenvold describes a college student storm chaser: "She had an oval face, a smallish mouth, and large, wide cheekbones that made her look as if she were peering shyly and a little fiercely out from behind a tribal mask, if such a mask wore mascara." It gets worse. That is just one I turned to quickly.
Save your money. DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK. I have no idea how it managed the ratings is has received. Still tempted? Pick it up in a bookstore and read pages 232-237 (soft cover). If that strikes you as an exciting read about "big weather" then go for it. This book is for you.
Good Writing - Minimal Adventure .......2005-11-06
I'm very into the weather and have chased a storm or two in my exciting lifetime. Nevertheless, I am always interested in reading about the death defying adventures of other lunatics and thought this book would be just the thing. I've read Svenvold before (some book about a singular lunatic) and he writes with some degree of skill. Now...for this book.
The author covers the exploits of several tornado chasers over a month. The adventure writing is minimal as the author spends too much time trying to analyze the storm chaser mentality (and usually with a holier-saner than thou attitude--something I found annoying). He (Svenvold) also feels compelled (every 20 pages or so) to interject his discontent with the US policy in Iraq and US leadership. What the situation in Iraq has to do with tornadoes in the Midwest US is beyond me. The author appears disdainful of his subjects and seems a bit of a snob to me. Which is amusing since he misspells Bob Seger's name three times on page 175. Barely recommended to those who can skim when reading. HHD>.
Paparazzi del Cielo.......2005-10-19
Residing as I do on the periphery of Tornado Alley, and as the resident of a town mostly leveled by the Great Cyclone of 1919, I was very interested in this title. And, being familiar with Mr. Svenvold's prior work, I knew that the literacy level of his new book would be well beyond the breathless, you-were-there prose that he so effectively lampoons ("The twister approached. My car door was jammed. I cursed."), and that seems to typify many such efforts.
"Big Weather" does not disappoint. Loosely structured around a month that the author spent chasing storms around the Midwest, Mr. Svenvold, like the professional guide that he once was, not only takes the reader right to the edge of the chaos, but also provides a thorough, even exhaustive understanding of the events, lives and science that are inextricably intertwined with catastrophilia. And, perhaps most distinctively, Mr. Svenvold is not only unafraid to digress, but makes it a priority to do so: one can easily envision the author sprawled out across the front seat as he rides across those wide-open spaces, Doritos and Diet Coke in hand, letting his many and varied thoughts drift up to the developing cumulonimbi.
One could argue that "Big Weather," with its considerable esoterica, might be less than fully accessible to some readers. However: 1) as Mr. Svenvold emphasizes, the most hard-core weather wonks are pretty sharp individuals, anything but beer-swilling Jethros; and 2) I, for one, appreciated a book that occasionally made me reach for the thesaurus or for Google.com. I would not have necessarily associated a tornado book with elusive Russian poets, but now I'm kind of curious about this Yevtushenko character.
I also disagree with some of the prior reviews accusing Mr. Svenvold of having a political agenda, a blue-state liberal axe to grind, or other such nonsense. For example, his discussion of global warming cites objective, even overwhelming scientific data that more or less represents a consensus amongst those who do not have their heads firmly planted in the sand. And perhaps some of these "chasers" are a tad touchy about being portrayed in such a straight-on manner: yes, an armor-plated tornado intercept vehicle may appear goofy to the uninitiated, but the author is never condescending. As opposed to "carpetbagging" or some other self-interested motivation, the author is trying fully to understand, and communicate, the spectacle of "Big Weather."
Overall, Mr. Svenvold has done an outstanding job of reporting, and carefully considering, a phenomenon that is as old as weather-related small talk, but stands to have future implications in far-reaching and unpredictable ways. Highly recommended.
Book Description
This digital document is an article from National Catholic Reporter, published by Thomson Gale on September 9, 2005. The length of the article is 570 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Stormy weather blows Americans' breath away.(Big Weather: Chasing Tornadoes in the Heart of America)(Book Review)
Author: Rich Heffern
Publication:
National Catholic Reporter (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 9, 2005
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 41
Issue: 39
Page: 19(1)
Article Type: Book Review
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Average customer rating:
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Wild Flowers of Britain and Northern Europe: A Photographic Field Guide to over 600 Species
Rae Spencer-Jones , and
Sarah Cuttle
Manufacturer: Kyle Cathie
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Flowers
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ASIN: 185626503X |
Book Description
As our lives become more urbanized, many of us have lost the ability to name these beautiful flowers, whether in cities or countryside, in gardens or conservation areas. This comprehensive field guide will appeal to expert and beginner alike, with over 600 wild-flower specimens from the woodlands, grasslands, and chalk downlands and the mountainous, aquatic, and maritime habitats of Britain and Ireland. Each entry gives Latin and common names; descriptions of flowers, fruit, and leaves; and habitat. Anecdotes on historical background, medicinal or herbal uses, and common folklore breathe life into the text. Chapters also discuss the importance of wild flowers in their ecosystems, conservation and endangered species and offer advice on designing your own wildflower garden.
Book Description
A comprehensive guide to wild trees, shrubs and flowering plants covering the whole of Britain and Ireland, plus Europe from the Arctic to the Alps. nearly 2000 species are described, and 1450 are illustrated in colour.
Customer Reviews:
how to tell it's a flower.......2005-09-24
easy book with easy categories so you can work out what the flower is by its shape. has colour drawings which help, and gives all the names, local as well. some of the wild flowers turn out to be ones we buy and plant ie. not so wild. Very useful when you come across a plant and can't think what it is.
Average customer rating:
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Cassell's Wild Flowers of Britain and Northern Europe
Christopher Grey-Wilson
Manufacturer: Weidenfeld Nicolson Illustrated
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 030436214X |
Book Description
This book is the fruit of Marjorie Blamey's lifelong absorption with wild flowers and their accurate illustration. Covering all species, both native and introduced, widespread or local, north of the Alps and the Mediterranean region, except for grasses, sedges, rushes and horsetails, CASSELL'S WILD FLOWERS OF BRITAIN AND NORTHERN EUROPE is the most complete and detailed colour-illustrated guide yet for any comparable area of the globe. Majorie Blamey's flower paintings appear on the right-hand pages of the book and are minutely accurate and precise with many small details. Illustrated on the book's left-hand pages are details of flower, leaf, stem, fruit or seed, and variations in colour or form. These are keyed by numbers to the text, where asterisks indicate fuller portraits on the facing page. The descriptive text, by Christopher Grey-Wilson, perfectly complements the illustrations, and provides clear details of the size, habitat and distribution of the flowers.
Average customer rating:
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Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of Britain & Northern Europe (Field Guides)
D. A. Sutton
Manufacturer: Kingfisher Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Astronomy & Space
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ASIN: 0862723035 |
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Field Guide to Wild Flowers of Britain and Northern Europe (Field Guide)
Bob Gibbons , and
Paul Davies
Manufacturer: Trafalgar Square Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Reference
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ASIN: 1852237848 |
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Unique Texas a Guide to the State's Quirks, Charisma, and Character: A Guide to the State's Quirks, Charisma, and Character (Unique Travel Series)
Sarah Lovett
Manufacturer: Avalon Travel Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1562611453 |
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Last, First, Middle and Nick
Barbara Shook Hazen
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: School & Library Binding
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United States
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ASIN: 0135239443 |
Book Description
Your complete guide to a higher score on the *AP Biology Exam
Why CliffsAP Guides?
Go with the name you know and trust
Get the information you need—fast!
Written by test-prep specialists
About the contents:
Introduction
- Describes the exam's format
- Gives proven strategies for answering multiple-choice and free-response questions
5 Full-length AP Biology Practice Exams
- Give you the practice and confidence you need to succeed
- Structured like the actual exam so you know what to expect and learn to allot time appropriately
- Each practice exam includes:
- Multiple-choice questions
- Free-response questions
- An answer key plus detailed explanations
- A guide to scoring the practice exam
*AP is a registered trademark of the College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.
AP Test-Prep Essentials from the Experts at CliffsNotes®
Customer Reviews:
Short and Sweet.......2007-03-09
These Practice Exams will really get you ready. My son got college credit for both semesters of Biology. As a Zoology major myself, I was impressed with the brevity yet thoroughness of these exams. They really helped him get ready.
Average customer rating:
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Medizinische Statistik mit SAS-Analyst
Rainer Muche ,
Andreas Habel , and
Friederike Rohlmann
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 3540672362 |
Book Description
Das Buch bietet eine Einführung in die mousegeführte Benutzeroberfläche ANALYST des weltweit eingesetzten SAS- Statistiksoftwarepaketes. Unter Zuhilfenahme eines realen Beispieles werden die Nutzung und die Auswertungsmöglichkeiten anhand von detaillierten Bildschirmabbildungen dargestellt.Das Beispiel stammt aus dem Bereich der Medizinstatistik. Im Buch werden die für dieses Fachgebiet wichtigsten statistischen Verfahren, angelehnt an die Pflichtvorlesung im Medizinstudium "Biomathematik für Humanmediziner", dargestellt. Dabei werden deskriptive und grafische Verfahren ausführlich erläutert. Die Darstellung der Benutzung weiterer statistischer Verfahren wie der wichtigsten Ein- und Zweistichprobentests, der Berechnung von Konfidenzintervallen und der Überlebenszeitanalyse bilden einen zweiten Schwerpunkt. Dadurch kann das Buch auch als Begleitmaterial für Grundvorlesungen im Bereich Angewandte Statistik in vielen Studienfächern genutzt werden.
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Pioneering Economic Theory, 1630-1980: A Mathematical Restatement
Hans Brems
Manufacturer: The Johns Hopkins University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0801826675 |
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Eight Interludes (Everyman Paperback Classics)
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
Manufacturer: Everyman Paperback Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
19th Century
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Exemplary Stories (Oxford World's Classics)
ASIN: 0460877518 |
Book Description
These Interludes, played between the acts of full-length plays, offer keyhole glimpses of a world far removed from courtly elegance or military heroism, populated by characters cut from the underside of seventeenth century Madrid, that Babylon of opportunists and deceivers. Cervantes has created brilliant vignettes in which a remarkable likeness of Don Quixote can be seen.
Customer Reviews:
Cervantes' Plays.......2000-04-16
This was an excellent book. Not only did it contain the plays, but also several sections of biographical information on the author and notes to aid in the understanding of the plays. Some of the themes in the plays are antiquated, but make for an interesting study of Spain during the earlier centuries. The plays themselves were well written and well translated. The social satire included it each one made for a comical and interesting read. I recommend this book for people who have an interest in historical drama.
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Not Fade Away
