Shorter Notices
Climate in Everyday Life. By C. E. P. Brooks, (Beim. 2 t3.)
MR. BROOKS has already given us a number of books on climate ; here he applies his knowledge to its practical effects upon us. The book has a very wide scope, and shows the way to further detailed information through a detailed bibliography. In his introduction Mr. Brooks points out how " practically every action of human life is directly affected by climate—the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the house we dwell in, the work we do, are all dominated by the climate in which we have the good or bad fortune to live." Our energy, our vitality, our efficiency are all controlled by climate. We may be sur- prised to hear, after a wet winter, that our climate is among the best possible to live in ; but the summary of others which Mr. Brooks provides should help to convince. The basic purpose of the book is to act as a convenient guide to anyone who is planning to live, build a house or factory, start a business, or merely travel, in any part of the world. It will not tell one what is the best activity, Ao pursue or commodity to sell ; but it will suggest how activities may be restricted or materials affected. It assesses the risks of toiltado, earthquake, lightning, hail and other "acts of God," as well as the more regular rain, sun, wind, fog and dust which are even more important in the long run. it is full of interesting facts, maps kid tabular information, and includes an appendix ib which the salient climatic features of every important city in the world are tabulated. Climate is treated as an enemy to be faced, and details are given of how to keep it at bay, whether in The con- struction of a house, the packaging of com- modities, or the design of clothing. In passing, the book tells one, for example how to avoid heat stroke and frostbite ; how to obtain water in the desert, or how to keep . frost out of an orchard. A. J. H.
Previous page
