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The Breath of the Gods
The History and Future of the Wind
Brief Description
Sunday Times bestselling author Simon Winchester returns with a thought-provoking history of the wind, written in his edifying and entertaining style. What is going on with our atmosphere? The headlines are filled with news of devastating hurricanes, murderous tornadoes, and cataclysmic fires. Gale force advisories are...
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The Breath of the Gods
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Sunday Times bestselling author Simon Winchester returns with a thought-provoking history of the wind, written in his edifying and entertaining style.
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Description
Sunday Times bestselling author Simon Winchester returns with a thought-provoking history of the wind, written in his edifying and entertaining style.
What is going on with our atmosphere? The headlines are filled with news of devastating hurricanes, murderous tornadoes, and cataclysmic fires. Gale force advisories are issued on a regular basis by weather services around the world.
Atmospheric scientists are warning that winds β the force at the centre of all these dangerous natural events β are expected to steadily increase in the years ahead, strengthening in power, speed, and frequency. While this prediction worries the insurance industry, governmental leaders, scientists, and conscientious citizens, one particular segment of society received it with unbridled enthusiasm. To the energy industry, rising wind strength and speeds are an unalloyed boon for humankind β a vital source of clean and βsafeβ power.
Between these two poles β wind as a malevolent force, and wind as saviour of our planet β lies a world of fascination, history, literature, science, poetry, and engineering which Simon Winchester explores with the curiosity and vigour that are the hallmarks of his bestselling works. In The Breath of the Gods, he explains how wind plays a part in our everyday lives, from aeroplane or car travel to the βnatural disastersβ that are becoming more frequent and regular.
The Breath of the Gods is an urgently-needed portrait across time of that unseen force β unseen but not unfelt β that respects no national borders and no vessel or structure in its path. Wind, the movement of the air, is seen by so many as a heavenly creation and generally a thing of essential goodness. But when it flexes its invisible muscles, all should take care and be very afraid.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780008679507
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 18 November 2025
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: William Collins
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 25.0mm
Width: 153.0mm
Height: 234.0mm
Weight: 270g
Pages: 400
About the Author
Simon Winchester is the bestselling author of ATLANIC, THE MAN WHO LOVED CHINA, A CRACK IN THE EDGE OF THE WORLD, KRAKATOA, THE MAP THAT CHANGED THE WORLD, THE SURGEON OF CROWTHORNE (THE PROFESSOR AND THE MADMAN), THE FRACTURE ZONE, OUTPOSTS and KOREA among many other titles. In 2006 he was awarded an OBE. He lives in western Massachusetts and New York City.
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