120,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock πŸ‡³πŸ‡Ώ

We're Moving! 🚚 Our bookstore is closed today and this weekend. Open and Shipping again on Monday πŸŽ‰

The Cloud Collector's Handbook

4.28 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 621 ratings, 72 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Cloud Collector's Handbook by Gavin Pretor-Pinney is a delightful guide to identifying and appreciating various cloud formations. Blending scientific insight with poetic charm, the author provides detailed descriptions, engaging facts, and beautiful photographs, making it an essential companion for nature enthusiasts and sky observers alike.
Read More
Format: Hardback
TEMPORARILY OUT OF STOCK Please add to wishlist to be notified when back in stock

Sorry, we're currently out of stock of The Cloud Collector's Handbook. Please add to your Wishlist and we'll send you an email as soon as it's back in stock.

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you have a fascination with the sky and clouds, or if you're looking for a unique hobby that combines nature observation with photography. It’s perfect for those who appreciate the beauty and science of meteorology, providing a detailed guide to spotting and identifying different cloud types.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

From the author of the bestselling THE CLOUDSPOTTER'S GUIDE comes the essential aid for everyday cloudspotting

From the author of the bestselling THE CLOUDSPOTTER'S GUIDE comes the essential aid for everyday cloudspotting

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The Cloud Collector's Handbook by Gavin Pretor-Pinney is an enchanting and practical guide to the world above. Whether you are a casual observer or a dedicated cloud enthusiast, this handbook fits snugly in your pocket, ensuring it is always at hand to help you identify cloud formations, anytime and anywhere.

This beautifully designed, fully-colour handbook presents all the common cloud types, such as cumulus, stratus, and cirrus, alongside rarer formations like lenticular and noctilucent clouds. Each cloud type is thoroughly described and accompanied by a range of stunning photographs, allowing readers to fully appreciate the distinct characteristics of each formation.

Pretor-Pinney, founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society, brings his signature wit and insight to the handbook, making it as entertaining as it is educational. Whether you are learning about the towering majesty of cumulonimbus clouds or the fleeting beauty of iridescent clouds, the clear explanations and vivid images make identification a breeze.

But The Cloud Collector's Handbook offers more than just descriptions and images. For the competitive cloudspotter, the handbook includes a point system where points are awarded for each cloud type identified - the rarer the cloud, the more points awarded. There is even space to record where and when each cloud was sighted, making it an interactive experience and a personal record of your cloud-gazing adventures.

Fall in love with the sky once more with this indispensable guide. Full of the humour and charm that made The Cloudspotter's Guide such a beloved hit, The Cloud Collector's Handbook is not just an essential reference, but a delightful companion for anyone with their head in the clouds.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Cloud Collector's Handbook by Gavin Pretor-Pinney receives praise for its engaging and enthusiastic style. It's considered a delightful and uplifting read, with beautiful illustrations and photos that highlight the wonder of cloud spotting. Readers appreciate its subtle charm and educational value, making it a great addition to both casual readers and avid cloud enthusiasts.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780340919439

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 11 June 2009

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Sceptre

Illustration: 138 colour photographs

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 13.0mm

Width: 115.0mm

Height: 143.0mm

Weight: 182g

Pages: 112

About the Author

Gavin Pretor-Pinney is the founder of The Cloud Appreciation Society, a global organisation he set up to fight 'blue-sky thinking'. He is also the co-founder and creative director of The Idler" magazine and author of the bestselling THE CLOUDSPOTTER'S GUIDE. He lives in London and Somerset.

Also by Gavin Pretor-Pinney

View all
  • Cloudspotting For Beginners
    Cloudspotting for Beginners by Gavin Pretor-Pinney is your passport to the ethereal world that floats above us. This enchanting guide is authored by the internationally bestselling founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society, who also holds acclaim as a prize-winning children's book author and illustrator. Through its elegant prose and stunning illustrations, the book introduces readers to the mesmerising variety and...
    Hardback
    $5299
    Elsewhere:
    $6000
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • A Cloud A Day
    Passionate cloud spotter and bestselling author Gavin Pretor-Pinney gives you a cloud a day in his new book, A Cloud A Day. We know that spending a few moments a day with your head in the clouds has a profound effect on your well-being, which is why Gavin's Cloud Appreciation Society sends a cloud image and story every day to...
    Hardback
    $3600
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • A Cloud a Day Journal
    A cloudspotter's interactive journal. Our interest in clouds is more profound than we ever thought. Gavin Pretor-Pinney, founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society and author of A Cloud A Day, has been spreading the word via social media and hugely popular TED talks, and the response has been revelatory. Following on from his very successful A Cloud A Day book,...
    Diary or journal
    $3499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Cloud Spotter
    Pause for a moment and look up at the skies. There is ever-changing beauty to behold in the cloudscape. Learn the difference between common cloud types (do you know your cirrostratus from your cumulonimbus?) and find out which is most likely to herald the arrival of the rains or approaching fair weather. Includes 30 illustrated cards plus an altitude map...
    Cards
    $4300
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • The Cloudspotter's Guide
    The Cloudspotter's Guide by Gavin Pretor-Pinney is an enchanting journey into the world above us, revealing the wondrous and often overlooked beauty of clouds. This informative and delightful book dives into the identification of various cloud types β€” from the towering cumulus to the delicate cirrus and the rare but magnificent Morning Glory. Gavin Pretor-Pinney, the chairman and founding member...
    Paperback
    Sold Out

More from Science & Nature

View all
  • Raising Hare
    THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES AND NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER SHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION 2025 SHORTLISTED FOR WATERSTONES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024 SHORTLISTED FOR THE HATCHARDS AND BIOGRAPHERS' CLUB FIRST BIOGRAPHY PRIZE A BOOK OF THE YEAR FOR THE HAY FESTIVAL, SUNDAY TIMES, THE TIMES, FINANCIAL TIMES, SPECTATOR AND iNEWS 'A beautiful book' - ANGELINA JOLIE 'I...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • What If? 10th Anniversary Edition
    CELEBRATING TEN YEARS OF THE MILLION-SELLING POP SCIENCE CLASSIC WITH A SPECIAL EDITION. THIS IS WHAT IF? . . . x10. THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'Nerd royalty' β€” BEN GOLDACRE 'Totally brilliant' β€” TIM HARFORD 'Required reading across the world' β€” NEW YORK TIMES From the creator of the wildly popular xkcd.com, experience hilarious and informative answers to important questions...
    Hardback
    $4200
    Elsewhere:
    $5000
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • The Anxious Generation
    A powerful argument for reclaiming childhoodβ€”and all human relationshipsβ€”from the online world, from the influential social psychologist and international bestselling author. Jonathan Haidt has spent his career speaking truth and wisdom in some of the most difficult spacesβ€”communities polarised by politics and religion, campuses battling culture wars, and now the mental health emergency hitting teenagers today in many countries around...
    Paperback
    $2299
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • On Sale
    16% off
    Ultra-Processed People
    Launching the runaway bestseller with ambitions to be the biggest non-fiction paperback of the year IT'S NOT YOU. IT'S THE FOOD. "If you only read one diet or nutrition book in your life, make it this one" - Bee Wilson "You've got to get this book in your life . . . Completely compelling . . . Read a page...
    Paperback
    $2100
    Elsewhere:
    $2800
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Kitchen Confidential
    The classic bestseller from the star of Parts Unknown and No Reservations: 25th Anniversary edition, with a new introduction by Irvine Welsh. BEFORE THERE WAS THE BEAR, THERE WAS BOURDAIN. β€˜Elizabeth David written by Quentin Tarantino’ β€” A.A. Gill β€˜Fantastic: as lip-smackingly seductive as a bowl of fat chips and pungent aioli’ β€” Daily Telegraph After twenty-five years of sex,...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Sapiens
    Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari is an extraordinary exploration of humanity's history from the dawn of our species to the present day. Harari delves into our evolution, offering insights into the cognitive revolutions that allowed Homo sapiens to rise above other animal species. Traversing through various stages of human development, he examines the Agricultural Revolution, the unification of humankind through...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Invisible Women
    Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez is a groundbreaking and meticulously researched exploration into the pervasive gender bias that infiltrates every aspect of our society. Through compelling case studies and thorough analysis, this book unveils the hidden ways women are systematically disadvantaged in a world predominantly designed by and for men. Perez's revelations stretch across various sectors including government policy,...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $2600
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Talk
    A Harvard professor shows how we can become better talkers - and why effective conversation will help us all thrive. Conversation is at the heart of our relationships and decision-making, but the science behind our everyday interactions, and how to improve them, is little known. In Talk, Harvard Professor Alison Wood Brooks provides fascinating insights into the power of effective...
    Paperback
    $3000
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • On Sale
    20% off
    Clean & Green
    Simple swaps and innovative ideas for cleaning and maintaining your home that won't cost the Earth. Learn how easy it is to make simple swaps in your cleaning and tidying methods for a more eco-friendly home. This beautifully illustrated black and white guide with 101 hints and sustainable, natural cleaning tips and hacks will help you take small steps that...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Usually:
    $2999
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • The Genetic Book of the Dead
    From one of the world’s great science writers, a book that explores the deepest principles of evolutionary history. In this groundbreaking new approach to the evolution of all life, Richard Dawkins shows how the body, behaviour, and genes of every living creature can be read as a book – an archive of the worlds of its ancestors. A perfectly camouflaged...
    Hardback
    $4900
    Elsewhere:
    $5499
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • The Coming Wave
    The instant Sunday Times bestseller from the ultimate AI insider - the only book you need to read on this subject. An Economist, Financial Times, Guardian, Prospect and Sunday Times Book of the Year Shortlisted for the FT and Schroders Business Book of the Year This is the only book you need to understand our new world - from the...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $2800
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Breath
    Discover the transformative power of breathing in Breath by esteemed journalist James Nestor. This revolutionary book delves into the science and history of one of the most fundamental human activities - breathing. From the bustling streets of SΓ£o Paulo to the serene temples of India, Nestor embarks on a global journey to uncover the secrets of ancient breathing techniques such...
    Paperback
    $2100
    Elsewhere:
    $2600
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships Monday

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.