Overview

This revealing book synthesizes research from many fields to offer the first complete history of the roles played by weather and climate in American life from colonial times to the present. Author William B. Meyer characterizes weather events as neutral phenomena that are inherently neither hazards nor resources, but can become either depending on the activities with which they interact. Meyer documents the ways in which different kinds of weather throughout history have represented hazards and resources not only for such exposed outdoor pursuits as agriculture, warfare, transportation, construction, and recreation, but for other realms of life ranging from manufacturing to migration to human health. He points out that while the weather and climate by themselves have never determined the course of human events, their significance as been continuously altered for better and for worse by the evolution of American life.

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9780195131826

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Meyer does not discuss the impact of climate on society but rather examines how human activities have continually changed the significance of climate. He notes how observers in the 19th century considered that the climate in the previous century had been more severe. However, the thesis of this book is that the changes in the perception of climate are associated with changes in such aspects of life as clothing, house construction, transportation, and other aspects of life .--Choice

Author Information

William B. Meyer is Assistant Research Professor at George Perkins Marsh Institute, Clark University, and Associate at the Center for Science and International Affairs, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

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