“Nature, rightly questioned, never lies.” —A Manual of Scientific Enquiry, Third Edition, 1859
Scott Huler was working as... read full description
Scott Huler was working as... read full description
reviews
Jan 26, 2009
Cheryl
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"The Beaufort (Wind) Scale and how a 19th Century Admiral turned science into Poetry." Exultant writing about a fairly boring subject (history of sea navigation), that made it come alive. It is about writing and words, which I love, and about knowing moments of intense joy by observing the world in openness and detail. I was rating the wind speed for weeks afterwards. For example, Beaufort Number 7 is a moderate gale wth speeds of 32-38 mph and "whole trees in motion; inconvenie
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Sep 21, 2011
Marvin
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I never would have picked up this book on my own, but I'm glad my friend Mary recommended it. Even so, I didn't read all of it, because parts of it just didn't interest me very much. But that's certainly not the author's fault. What's really remarkable is that I spent as many hours as I did with it, because I wouldn't have thought that I'd have found ANY of it very interesting. It's a book, if you can believe it about only The Beaufort Scale, a table devised, sort of like the Richter Scale for e
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Mar 05, 2010
Louise
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One of those bizarre little books we often find in our local (independent)bookstore. While it does give the background and construction of the Beaufort Wind Scale, it's more about the men who believe that "nature, rightly questioned, never lies." Men like Darwin,Defoe, Capt Cook and all the explorers of the 18th century. What started the author on his quest was not so much the scale as the description of the wind at different speeds. He's teaching us that you can learn more by obse
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Mar 29, 2009
Tim
rated it:
Oh, man, if you're interested in writing, what an adventure. And who knew that wind speed could be so riveting?
It's all about the Beaufort Scale, which Scott Huler stumbled upon in a large dictionary. He believes it to be (and in his hands, the reader cannot help but agree) one of the finest, most poetic pieces of technical writing ever: a concise, pre-anemometer means of describing wind speed. For years, it's what we used. Example:
It's all about the Beaufort Scale, which Scott Huler stumbled upon in a large dictionary. He believes it to be (and in his hands, the reader cannot help but agree) one of the finest, most poetic pieces of technical writing ever: a concise, pre-anemometer means of describing wind speed. For years, it's what we used. Example:
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0: Calm. Smoke rises vertically.
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Oct 27, 2010
Brittany
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This was one of the most engaging, well-written, thought-provoking, and fascinating books I've read all year. Possibly ever. The main message could be summed up as: "Pay attention! Be interested in details, and live in the world around you. Ask questions and explore."
Huler truly loves the English language, and it shows. It's not the abstract love of someone who majored in creative writing who delights in abstruse flourishes and complexity --its the solid, tactile love of a More...
Huler truly loves the English language, and it shows. It's not the abstract love of someone who majored in creative writing who delights in abstruse flourishes and complexity --its the solid, tactile love of a More...
May 01, 2008
Susan
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A little essay on the op-ed page of the NYT one day was so good (read it here: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/04/opinio... and see if you agree) that I actually sent the author an e-mail thanking him (and I got a nice response). But his book was about ... the Beaufort Scale for wind velocity?? I had to read more of that terrific writing, though, and I am SO glad I did. What a terrific book! Not only about the Beaufort Scale, of course, although he manages to make even that really fascinating
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Apr 14, 2009
Jane
rated it:
Very thoroughly researched; it seems towards the end a little "I bothered to find this out, I'm putting it in the book whether it's interesting or not, goddamnit," but on the whole an inspiring manifesto for patient, 18th-century style observation of the world. "Nature, properly questioned, never lies."
Oct 06, 2010
Patty
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An interesting story of the author's quest to learn everything about the Beaufort Scale, it's namesake, and the wind. At times lyrical, at times too much of himself.
Jun 23, 2010
Linnaea
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This book originates in the author being struck by the poetic character of the descriptions of various points on the Beaufort Wind Scale, and being curious to know more about who Beaufort was, and how he came to write the scale. The resulting book is a look at 400 years of attempts to measure and understand the wind, a story in which Beaufort plays only a supporting role. The book is equal parts history of science and literary detective story. A great read for a stormy day.
Jun 23, 2010
Arwen
rated it:
I heard the author on NPR a few years ago when the book came out and was enthralled. I'm finally reading the book, and wonder why it took me so long. It's a wonderful meditation on the language of science and the poetry of language.
Jun 23, 2010
Cheryl
rated it:
A unique look into the origins of the Beaufort wind scale and the efforts to define the wind and its power. For those with an interest in sailing history, this book provides useful background for notations of wind and weather.
Jul 13, 2008
Lori
rated it: 
Some interesting points, though very repetitive. The end got a bit preachy, though he did offer some valid criticism of our tech-reliant culture.
What saved the book was a down-to-earth style of writing.
What saved the book was a down-to-earth style of writing.
Sep 17, 2008
Kfirestone
rated it:
Best "fun" non-fiction I read all year. Huler sets out to find out about a man and a simple scale and instead learns alot about how to experience life. A fabulous read.
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