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Rating: 
Summary: Inaccurate, misleading, speculative and often just wrong
Review: I reviewed this book for the American Meteorological Society and was quite surprised, negatively, that a respected publisher like Wiley could allow so much inaccurate information to be published. This book is poorly edited, poorly conceived and generally not a book that should be recommended for the casual reader looking for solid information on meteorology.For example when discussing lightning, rather than give the best advice, which would be, "do not stand near trees, get inside if at all possible", Lockhart proceeds with a ridiculous discussion on which tree species get struck least and most often. He then proceeds to give the dangerous advice on which tree species to stand under in case lightning is near. It is probably a function of where a particular tree resides (i.e. ridge vs. valley) and has nothing to do with what is considered by professionals to be meteorology. This book is a good example of a little knowledge (on the author's part) being a dangerous thing. There are many excellent books for the lay reader on meteorology, this is NOT one of them, in fact it is among the worst I have seen in 22 years as a professional meteorologist.
Rating: 
Summary: A very intresting book, but leaves out a few details
Review: The Weather Companion, by Gary Lockhart is a very interesting weather book. Unlike what Amazon.com says, my book only has 230 pages ( not 240 ) and is including index, and Bibliography. Great book that goes through most elements of weather, from clouds to storms to hurricanes to a few anecdotes. A good book to buy, it is very good for a person who is just starting to crave knowledge of the weather.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting Possibilities
Review: This book is not a professional meteorological source and should not be read as one. It is however an excellent catalyst for curiousity and although I found it did not answer all my questions, it approached weather legend with scientific results which, though they were not extensive studies, presented possibilites for further studies. The Weather Companion is a book for the beginner in meterorology of for a meteorologist who wishes to explore a different aspect of the weather. Plants and animals have natural indicators of current and possibly future weather, this book brings up a topic which should studied further. INTERESTING READ.....DO NOT USE FOR SERIOUS RESEARCH OR PROJECTS without additional information.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting Possibilities
Review: This book is not a professional meteorological source and should not be read as one. It is however an excellent catalyst for curiousity and although I found it did not answer all my questions, it approached weather legend with scientific results which, though they were not extensive studies, presented possibilites for further studies. The Weather Companion is a book for the beginner in meterorology of for a meteorologist who wishes to explore a different aspect of the weather. Plants and animals have natural indicators of current and possibly future weather, this book brings up a topic which should studied further. INTERESTING READ.....DO NOT USE FOR SERIOUS RESEARCH OR PROJECTS without additional information.
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