An amazing, enlightening, and endlessly entertaining look at how weather has shaped our world. Throughout history, great leaders have fallen, the outcomes of mighty battles have been determined, and the tides of earth-shattering events have been turned by a powerful, inscrutable force of nature: the weather. In Blame It on the Rain , author Laura Lee explores the amazing and sometimes bizarre ways in which weather has influenced our history and helped to bring about sweeping cultural change. She also delights us with a plethora of fascinating weather-related facts (Did you know that more Britons die of sunburn every year than Australians?), while offering readers a hilarious overview of humankind's many absurd attempts to control the elements. If a weather-produced blight hadn't severely damaged French vineyards, there might never have been a California wine industry. . . . - What weather phenomenon was responsible for the sound of the Stradivarius? - If there had been a late autumn in Russia, Hitler could have won World War II. . . . - Did weather play a part in Truman's victory over Dewey? Eye-opening, edifying, and totally unexpected, Blame It on the Rain is a fascinating appreciation of the destiny-altering vagaries of mother nature—and it's even more fun than watching the Weather Channel! Adult/High School–Much like the '80s breakup song with the same title, this book chronicles how bad weather has affected mankind, most notably in times of war. Starting with prehistoric man, each chapter chronicles a different event, from Noah's flood to missile launches during the Cold War, including the Wright brothers' first flight and the D-Day Invasion. Chapters may be read individually or collectively. Students will enjoy Lee's concise, conversational style and the quirky relationship she identifies between humans and the forces of nature. –Brigeen Radoicich, Fresno County Office of Education, CA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Lee performs in infotainment mode in this survey of climatic influence on human history. Ever ready with the arch aside, her comedic tendencies are, however, kept in proportion and do not swamp the factual aspect of the historical episodes she relates. Allotting herself about five pages per subject, Lee summarizes from extant literature a goodly number of battles won, lost, or postponed because of weather. That this factor has so often been fatefully decisive might be the strange-but-true spark that will inspire Lee's audience to take an interest in military history or in several technological catastrophes she raises. Lee is not confined to warfare, however: on offer are the meteorological backstories to the Stradivarius violin, the hymn "Amazing Grace," the safety razor, and several political events, such as Harry Truman's presidential victory in 1948. With its varied content and populist flavor, Lee's historical jaunt has high browsing appeal. Gilbert Taylor Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved “The perfect book for anyone who does not already have enough to worry about.” - New York Times “Playful ... funny.” - Orlando Sentinel “Refreshing and thought-provoking. ” - BookPage “...a fast-paced little number that should help you get through a seasonal doldrum or two.” - Washington Post “The History Channel meets the Weather Channel in Lee’s breezy account. - Newsday “...crisp, direct, and playful while at the same time powerful.” - blogcritics.org An amazing, enlightening, and endlessly entertaining look at how weather has shaped our world. Throughout history, great leaders have fallen, the outcomes of mighty battles have been determined, and the tides of earth-shattering events have been turned by a powerful, inscrutable force of nature: the weather. In Blame It on the Rain , author Laura Lee explores the amazing and sometimes bizarre ways in which weather has influenced our history and helped to bring about sweeping cultural change. She also delights us with a plethora of fascinating weather-related facts (Did you know that more Britons die of sunburn every year than Australians?), while offering readers a hilarious overview of humankind's many absurd attempts to control the elements. If a weather-produced blight hadn't severely damaged French vineyards, there might never have been a California wine industry. . . . - What weather phenomenon was responsible for the sound of the Stradivarius? - If there had been a late autumn in Russia, Hitler could have won World War II. . . . - Did weather play a part in Truman's victory over Dewey? Eye-opening, edifying, and totally unexpected, Blame It on the Rain is a fascinating appreciation of the destiny-altering vagaries of mother nature—and it's even more fun than watching the Weather Channel! Laura Lee is the author of eight books. She brings to her writing a unique background including stints as a morning show DJ, improvisational com