Steve thinks my book review `of The Cloudspotter's Guide by Gavin Pretor-Pinney should be more "literary and less chatty." The odd thing is that I was responding to my perception of the style of the book. Gavin gives facts and information, and also, a strong sense of his personal curiosity. He is a man in love with the essence, construction, and progression of life and clouds. He is a chatty guy.
The book ends with a description of the sky by Ralph Waldo Emerson, who describes the sky as "the daily bread of the eyes .... the ultimate art gallery above."
Many people don't eat bread daily today because they are on the latest high protein diet fad, but I think it is important to allow yourself some time to lay down in this book as though it were a hammock, a place to view the clouds. Despite all the science and wisdom, and it is chock full of it, it is a playful book, a conversation with a friend.
Now, you can read the book, or not, but, I think what Gavin and I would both like to see is that you go out and bounce the clouds with your mind and your thoughts.
