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In All Weathers
An inspiring exploration of the power and beauty of British weather in all its wild and stormy forms.
223 pages, Hardcover
Published March 28, 2024
44 people are currently reading
337 people want to read
About the author
Matt Gaw
6 books17 followersMatt Gaw is a writer, journalist and naturalist who lives in Bury St Edmunds. His work has been published in the Guardian, the Telegraph and the Times. He works with the Suffolk Wildlife Trust, edits Suffolk Wildlife, currently writes a monthly country diary for the Suffolk Magazine and is a director of the Suffolk Festival of Ideas. This is his first book.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
January 20, 2025
A short, nice easy read about all things weather.
Matt Gaw covers four main types of weather in this offering, rain, fog, ice/snow and wind. He looks at how weather affects mood and memory, relationships, motivation, experience and perception. I like the mixture of personal observation and reflection with simple explanations of weather types.
I am a sucker for anything weather related and this book fed my addiction nicely! Nice one Matt!
Matt Gaw covers four main types of weather in this offering, rain, fog, ice/snow and wind. He looks at how weather affects mood and memory, relationships, motivation, experience and perception. I like the mixture of personal observation and reflection with simple explanations of weather types.
I am a sucker for anything weather related and this book fed my addiction nicely! Nice one Matt!
May 1, 2025
Messy notes below!
Climate anxiety
Inclement weathers nostalgic
Ego
Words I don't know and aren't explained
Diaryesque format
Pathetic fallacy
Preaching to the converted
Family and dog
So British
Agricultural landscape and openness of fens
Who is this book for?
Storm noise for comfort and safety?
No "use" trying to protect himself from the storm
The science of e.g. petrichor and thunder
Anticipation of storms, nostalgia of the smell
Son taking shelter in bed
Seathwaite. Wettest hamlet in Britain. Borrowdale valley in the lakes
To always expect and be prepared for rain
Unable to capture the rain on camera
Sound like a murmuation
Terminology
Acid rain. Now microplastic rain
Negative ions and happiness
Wordsworths and the romantics as appreciators
Swimming in the sea and rain
Cold feeling like heat
Origin of hail
Hailstorm intensity scale
Mist and fog associated with confusion in our language
Spooky stories and morning walk with his son
Inland fog- radiation fog
So fleeting, as sun breaking and the day warming changes those temporary exact conditions
Impact on sound. Scary or safer?
Racetrack sounds coming out the fog
Familiar in its expectated seasonality
Fog and danger. Link with industrial pollution. Smog
Pollution forms nuclei for water droplets
1952 fog that halted the country. Health implications and accidents
Spiderwebs
Drained land has less moisture and fog. Ghost rivers where the water would have run
Inversions
Fog focusing effect like that of darkness
Brocken spectres illusion
Ownership of a private little circle of visibility
Pinnacle of winter weather
Patterns
Ice skating folk heroes
Fenlander forced speech
Physical muscle memory of movement on ice
Isle of Skye
Christmas expectations
Fairy pool swim
Cold weather bodily stress
Light and dampened sound
Blank canvas to standing beautified trees
Whispering
Air balancing
Held up by wind yet thrown
Kids being feisty when it's windy. Adrenaline production
Heart attacks and strokes increase
UK named wind called The Helm
Weather as a way if experiencing the world, not something happening apart or to us
Touching fossils in a changed climate
Storm naming. Female male danger associations
Tree climbung
Wind and weather stations
Letting in wind
Dead rabbits, red kites
Brontë country with his daughter. Wuthering
Future climate reality touched on in the epilogue
Climate anxiety
Inclement weathers nostalgic
Ego
Words I don't know and aren't explained
Diaryesque format
Pathetic fallacy
Preaching to the converted
Family and dog
So British
Agricultural landscape and openness of fens
Who is this book for?
Storm noise for comfort and safety?
No "use" trying to protect himself from the storm
The science of e.g. petrichor and thunder
Anticipation of storms, nostalgia of the smell
Son taking shelter in bed
Seathwaite. Wettest hamlet in Britain. Borrowdale valley in the lakes
To always expect and be prepared for rain
Unable to capture the rain on camera
Sound like a murmuation
Terminology
Acid rain. Now microplastic rain
Negative ions and happiness
Wordsworths and the romantics as appreciators
Swimming in the sea and rain
Cold feeling like heat
Origin of hail
Hailstorm intensity scale
Mist and fog associated with confusion in our language
Spooky stories and morning walk with his son
Inland fog- radiation fog
So fleeting, as sun breaking and the day warming changes those temporary exact conditions
Impact on sound. Scary or safer?
Racetrack sounds coming out the fog
Familiar in its expectated seasonality
Fog and danger. Link with industrial pollution. Smog
Pollution forms nuclei for water droplets
1952 fog that halted the country. Health implications and accidents
Spiderwebs
Drained land has less moisture and fog. Ghost rivers where the water would have run
Inversions
Fog focusing effect like that of darkness
Brocken spectres illusion
Ownership of a private little circle of visibility
Pinnacle of winter weather
Patterns
Ice skating folk heroes
Fenlander forced speech
Physical muscle memory of movement on ice
Isle of Skye
Christmas expectations
Fairy pool swim
Cold weather bodily stress
Light and dampened sound
Blank canvas to standing beautified trees
Whispering
Air balancing
Held up by wind yet thrown
Kids being feisty when it's windy. Adrenaline production
Heart attacks and strokes increase
UK named wind called The Helm
Weather as a way if experiencing the world, not something happening apart or to us
Touching fossils in a changed climate
Storm naming. Female male danger associations
Tree climbung
Wind and weather stations
Letting in wind
Dead rabbits, red kites
Brontë country with his daughter. Wuthering
Future climate reality touched on in the epilogue
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 17, 2024
If you are thinking of planning an event in the UK that is dependent on the weather being good then it is a bit of a lottery. You might have a fantastic day of sun in the middle of March, or downpours in the middle of August.
When the weather isn’t nice, most people tend to head indoors, after all, who wants to get wet or lose their hat in the wind? But in this book, Gaw wants to explore for himself what being out in various inclement weathers is actually like. He begins in the rain, the weather that has spoiled 1000 barbeques and ruined all sorts of occasions. Most, i.e. normal people, choose not to venture out in the rain, though some people don’t really have a choice. It is a weather type that we need, we rely on water to give us life and irrigate crops, but too much of it can be a disaster.
I must admit I am not a fan of going out in the rain, probably from too many soakings when cycling to and from work in the rain. I do like the sound of the rain on canvas and listening to rain on a conservatory roof while it hammers down is quite the experience. The is a particular pleasure to summer rain; petrichor. These are the oils released by the rain and they give of such a distinctive smell that is almost addictive.
Seeking rain takes Gaw to the Lakes, one of the wetter parts of the UK. As he walks the fells, a storm approaches, and suddenly, he is in the middle of it. He pokes his tongue out to drink the rain as it falls around him, but it brings back memories of acid rain, an almost nostalgic memory where we can see the tumult of climate change begin to unleash itself.
Finding rain is straightforward, we have had the wettest 18 months here in the UK so it will be raining somewhere… Finding fog or mist is much harder. Very specific conditions are needed and even then it is elusive, very elusive.
These particular climate conditions mean that it can often be pure luck that you come across it. But of the times when it does happen, autumn is the most common season to get it where I live in Dorset. I never know if we are going to have it or not and glancing out the window after I have got up will soon show if we have fog. This unpredictability means that Gaw has to work to find it in his part of the country. He checks the forecasts obsessively and even having the correct conditions in place is no guarantee.
He heads out to Great Livermere and parts in the dark. He and his son make their way to the mere, he can see the mist hanging over the water. At last, he has found it. It isn’t swirling, as you often would see in many horror films, but the density of the mist varies in thickness as they pass it. Capturing the essence of what they are seeing is much harder though. It is a reminder that this low-lying cloud can change so much of what we see and hear about us.
Finding ice and snow is much easier than fog. However, it is getting much harder in this country due to the effects of climate change. Gone are the hard winters of the past with their bright crips days, now we have more precipitation and much higher than average temperatures.
We rarely get snow in Dorset, so much so that I remember that satellite photo showing the entire country white, except my part of Dorset… I do like a bit of snow and frost. A hard frost with clear blue skies is quite special. Where Gaw lives on the fens it is often blasted by icy winds from the Arctic or Siberia, he describes it as turning the grass to glistening metal. When he heads out it is supposed to be -2C but it feels much colder. They are entranced by the way that the hoar frost has touch the plants by the path.
It is cold enough to freeze some of the fens, supposedly the coldest day in over a decade with temperatures well below zero. The ice is around 3 inches thick, right at the lowest limit for safely skating and when they reach the edge, they see skaters moving at speed across the ice.
To find snow he has to head north to Scotland and has thankfully got a Christmas holiday arranged on the Isle of Skye. They swim (!!!) in a bitterly cold sea and warm up in front of a blazing fire pit. The clouds a re thick like smoke and when it begins to snow they are a little surprised and delighted in equal measure.
Wind is one of the strangest of all weather phenomena. You can feel it, and hear it if it is strong enough and see its effects, but you can’t actually see it. The wind systems that flow endlessly around the planet have built empires, flattened cities and driven people mad.
The best place to experience wind in my opinion is by the coast. Standing on a beach and leaning into the wind as the waves pound the shore is for me an elemental experience. Gaw experiences this at Neist Point, as they walk out they can feel the raw power of the wind pushing against them. Some winds are famous enough to acquire names and reputations, one famous one is the Mistral in Provence, but in the UK we only have, one, The Helm. I kind of fee there should be more of them.
If you want a book that explains weather phenomena, then this probably isn’t going to be the book for you. The crux of this is one man’s desire to experience all types of weather rather than just the sunny days. I liked this a lot, probably because I find the weather endlessly fascinating, I love storms and have taken numerous pictures of clouds when out and about. I like Gaw’s writing in this too. He is engaging and it feels more personal than his previous books. If you have the slightest interest in the weather, then I would recommend reading this.
When the weather isn’t nice, most people tend to head indoors, after all, who wants to get wet or lose their hat in the wind? But in this book, Gaw wants to explore for himself what being out in various inclement weathers is actually like. He begins in the rain, the weather that has spoiled 1000 barbeques and ruined all sorts of occasions. Most, i.e. normal people, choose not to venture out in the rain, though some people don’t really have a choice. It is a weather type that we need, we rely on water to give us life and irrigate crops, but too much of it can be a disaster.
I must admit I am not a fan of going out in the rain, probably from too many soakings when cycling to and from work in the rain. I do like the sound of the rain on canvas and listening to rain on a conservatory roof while it hammers down is quite the experience. The is a particular pleasure to summer rain; petrichor. These are the oils released by the rain and they give of such a distinctive smell that is almost addictive.
Seeking rain takes Gaw to the Lakes, one of the wetter parts of the UK. As he walks the fells, a storm approaches, and suddenly, he is in the middle of it. He pokes his tongue out to drink the rain as it falls around him, but it brings back memories of acid rain, an almost nostalgic memory where we can see the tumult of climate change begin to unleash itself.
Finding rain is straightforward, we have had the wettest 18 months here in the UK so it will be raining somewhere… Finding fog or mist is much harder. Very specific conditions are needed and even then it is elusive, very elusive.
These particular climate conditions mean that it can often be pure luck that you come across it. But of the times when it does happen, autumn is the most common season to get it where I live in Dorset. I never know if we are going to have it or not and glancing out the window after I have got up will soon show if we have fog. This unpredictability means that Gaw has to work to find it in his part of the country. He checks the forecasts obsessively and even having the correct conditions in place is no guarantee.
He heads out to Great Livermere and parts in the dark. He and his son make their way to the mere, he can see the mist hanging over the water. At last, he has found it. It isn’t swirling, as you often would see in many horror films, but the density of the mist varies in thickness as they pass it. Capturing the essence of what they are seeing is much harder though. It is a reminder that this low-lying cloud can change so much of what we see and hear about us.
Finding ice and snow is much easier than fog. However, it is getting much harder in this country due to the effects of climate change. Gone are the hard winters of the past with their bright crips days, now we have more precipitation and much higher than average temperatures.
We rarely get snow in Dorset, so much so that I remember that satellite photo showing the entire country white, except my part of Dorset… I do like a bit of snow and frost. A hard frost with clear blue skies is quite special. Where Gaw lives on the fens it is often blasted by icy winds from the Arctic or Siberia, he describes it as turning the grass to glistening metal. When he heads out it is supposed to be -2C but it feels much colder. They are entranced by the way that the hoar frost has touch the plants by the path.
It is cold enough to freeze some of the fens, supposedly the coldest day in over a decade with temperatures well below zero. The ice is around 3 inches thick, right at the lowest limit for safely skating and when they reach the edge, they see skaters moving at speed across the ice.
To find snow he has to head north to Scotland and has thankfully got a Christmas holiday arranged on the Isle of Skye. They swim (!!!) in a bitterly cold sea and warm up in front of a blazing fire pit. The clouds a re thick like smoke and when it begins to snow they are a little surprised and delighted in equal measure.
Wind is one of the strangest of all weather phenomena. You can feel it, and hear it if it is strong enough and see its effects, but you can’t actually see it. The wind systems that flow endlessly around the planet have built empires, flattened cities and driven people mad.
The best place to experience wind in my opinion is by the coast. Standing on a beach and leaning into the wind as the waves pound the shore is for me an elemental experience. Gaw experiences this at Neist Point, as they walk out they can feel the raw power of the wind pushing against them. Some winds are famous enough to acquire names and reputations, one famous one is the Mistral in Provence, but in the UK we only have, one, The Helm. I kind of fee there should be more of them.
If you want a book that explains weather phenomena, then this probably isn’t going to be the book for you. The crux of this is one man’s desire to experience all types of weather rather than just the sunny days. I liked this a lot, probably because I find the weather endlessly fascinating, I love storms and have taken numerous pictures of clouds when out and about. I like Gaw’s writing in this too. He is engaging and it feels more personal than his previous books. If you have the slightest interest in the weather, then I would recommend reading this.
June 4, 2025
A beautiful book that Grace gifted to me. A fitting read for a rainy week that made me more appreciative of the “gloomy” weather.
January 31, 2026
3,5 ⭐️ for me. A great read about the weather in England, but also a glimpse into family life, aging and the times that pass. A reminder to be more present and grateful for the little things - like a snowflake resting on your scarf.
whilst it didn’t catch me in the beginning, the last third of the book pulled me in.
whilst it didn’t catch me in the beginning, the last third of the book pulled me in.
May 25, 2024
Due out on 19 June 2024.
In All Weathers is written as a scattering of scientific explanation combined with diary-like descriptions of weather-based memories, triggered by his decision to go out of his way to experience weather in all its extremes, to embrace the discomfort that sometimes brings. That quest sometimes involves travelling to remote places to guarantee the experience or find a more extreme version of it.
The author comments that since he started writing this book, “I’ve been surprised how weather frames my memories, how it is the lens through which I recall so many details of places and events.” Reading the book has done much the same for me, or rather, it’s brought into focus just how many of my vivid memories feature the weather. I dare say if I focussed on another attribute such as fear or pain or mountains or the sea, I could do much the same. Much as I can pick a word and find a song to match, but certain types of weather are particularly good at triggering memory, presumably because it engages a more basic part of our brains. It’s usually a physical memory, not just an event.
I’m finding it difficult to know what to say about In All Weathers. There are so many little facts incorporated into Matt Gaw’s musings about the weather. But it’s more like a meditation on weather than a factual account, and it’s certainly not a reference book. What it does do very successfully is produce all sorts of weather-related incidents in my own life. I don’t agree with his assertion that we have lost touch with the weather, particularly avoiding ‘bad’ weather, but that has more to do with me than with him because I spend a lot of time being affected by it; it is not a background issue to me as a walker, cyclist and gardener. In fact, the sheer torrent of memories released when I think about weather shows just how in touch with weather some of us are.
Disclaimer: My thanks to NetGalley for a digital ARC of this book. This is my unbiased review after reading.
In All Weathers is written as a scattering of scientific explanation combined with diary-like descriptions of weather-based memories, triggered by his decision to go out of his way to experience weather in all its extremes, to embrace the discomfort that sometimes brings. That quest sometimes involves travelling to remote places to guarantee the experience or find a more extreme version of it.
The author comments that since he started writing this book, “I’ve been surprised how weather frames my memories, how it is the lens through which I recall so many details of places and events.” Reading the book has done much the same for me, or rather, it’s brought into focus just how many of my vivid memories feature the weather. I dare say if I focussed on another attribute such as fear or pain or mountains or the sea, I could do much the same. Much as I can pick a word and find a song to match, but certain types of weather are particularly good at triggering memory, presumably because it engages a more basic part of our brains. It’s usually a physical memory, not just an event.
I’m finding it difficult to know what to say about In All Weathers. There are so many little facts incorporated into Matt Gaw’s musings about the weather. But it’s more like a meditation on weather than a factual account, and it’s certainly not a reference book. What it does do very successfully is produce all sorts of weather-related incidents in my own life. I don’t agree with his assertion that we have lost touch with the weather, particularly avoiding ‘bad’ weather, but that has more to do with me than with him because I spend a lot of time being affected by it; it is not a background issue to me as a walker, cyclist and gardener. In fact, the sheer torrent of memories released when I think about weather shows just how in touch with weather some of us are.
Disclaimer: My thanks to NetGalley for a digital ARC of this book. This is my unbiased review after reading.
February 3, 2024
*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free book.*
"In All Weathers" is a quiet yet precise contemplates by Matt Gaw which focusses on different types of weather in different types of chapters using different hikes and places all over the UK. Having swum in the icy fairy pools myself more than a decade ago for the first time, the chapter on snow and ice was my favourite. I read this book when I couldn't sleep and it gave me a sense of calm: 4 stars
"In All Weathers" is a quiet yet precise contemplates by Matt Gaw which focusses on different types of weather in different types of chapters using different hikes and places all over the UK. Having swum in the icy fairy pools myself more than a decade ago for the first time, the chapter on snow and ice was my favourite. I read this book when I couldn't sleep and it gave me a sense of calm: 4 stars
April 7, 2024
A perfect fusion of fact spun with delightful prose that helps you feel like you are experiencing each moment alongside Matt.
We are planning a road trip to Scotland this summer and have started to feel the inevitable tension that the weather on a British summer holiday brings. Reading his book has helped me to feel more accepting of whatever the weather brings and a determination to enjoy it whatever the weather.
We are planning a road trip to Scotland this summer and have started to feel the inevitable tension that the weather on a British summer holiday brings. Reading his book has helped me to feel more accepting of whatever the weather brings and a determination to enjoy it whatever the weather.
April 24, 2025
Part factual and part diary. There are some nice passages and a few devastating environmental facts thrown in that don’t seem to quite fit with the elaborate descriptions.
January 5, 2025
Thank you NetGalley, Matt Gaw and Elliott and Thompson for this ARC. This is my subjective review.
I’m truly flabbergasted by how beautifully Matt Gaw describes weather. I don’t know if in years of reading hundreds of books I have ever heard someone describe rain, thunder, storms and the environment during them as uniquely and multifaceted as the author. I applaud him for his experience of rain.
I always felt like I’m the only person that loves rain and wind and storm and fog. I thought I’m the only one finding the change in weather enjoyable. Thanks to this book I feel understood. I appreciate the section on the positive impact of rain on the mental health, of being out in the rain and breathing in negative ions.
The author also explains so interestingly why weather is not just what it is in mainstream culture. The story of how fog came to be seen as something negative rather than as what it is made me so excited as I love explanations of sayings and idioms. It’s also really cool to learn about extreme weather events in the past. It’s like learning more about a country without too much historical knowledge that one cannot remember anyways. I like the section on the fen skaters and seeing mental images of the foggy countryside and the ice covered surroundings. Still, I think it’d help if I knew a bit more about the geography of England, town names, landscape features. I do feel a little lost on the narration at times.
Nevertheless, this is a great meditation on the appreciation of nature and all stages of weather and I think more people should internalize some elements of it.
I’m truly flabbergasted by how beautifully Matt Gaw describes weather. I don’t know if in years of reading hundreds of books I have ever heard someone describe rain, thunder, storms and the environment during them as uniquely and multifaceted as the author. I applaud him for his experience of rain.
I always felt like I’m the only person that loves rain and wind and storm and fog. I thought I’m the only one finding the change in weather enjoyable. Thanks to this book I feel understood. I appreciate the section on the positive impact of rain on the mental health, of being out in the rain and breathing in negative ions.
The author also explains so interestingly why weather is not just what it is in mainstream culture. The story of how fog came to be seen as something negative rather than as what it is made me so excited as I love explanations of sayings and idioms. It’s also really cool to learn about extreme weather events in the past. It’s like learning more about a country without too much historical knowledge that one cannot remember anyways. I like the section on the fen skaters and seeing mental images of the foggy countryside and the ice covered surroundings. Still, I think it’d help if I knew a bit more about the geography of England, town names, landscape features. I do feel a little lost on the narration at times.
Nevertheless, this is a great meditation on the appreciation of nature and all stages of weather and I think more people should internalize some elements of it.
January 27, 2025
American readers will enjoy the British seaside rain stories and the coziness. I absolutely love the topic: learning to enjoy and appreciate the rain, rather than only hiding from it. It's a mix of intriguing scientific tidbits about wet weather, plus reflective essays. I'd recommend this book to people who like nature writing, memoirs, and poetry. It is really not a pop science read or coffee table infographic style, as the chapters are quite long. This is a sweet read with a great cover. Thanks to Elliot & Thompson and Netgalley for the ARC.
January 9, 2026
I enjoy so-called bad weather. It's its own form of beauty to my mind.
This book makes a decent shot at repairing
‘bad weathers’ reputation so to speak.
The language is a bit overwrought for my taste. I felt the author really wanted to write a fictional account of his experiences and maybe he should in the future.
Overall though a pleasant atmospheric read.
This book makes a decent shot at repairing
‘bad weathers’ reputation so to speak.
The language is a bit overwrought for my taste. I felt the author really wanted to write a fictional account of his experiences and maybe he should in the future.
Overall though a pleasant atmospheric read.
November 18, 2025
I received this book from Elliot & Thompson.
This was a lyrical, insightful and thought provoking read. Matt Gaw splits the book into four sections each focusing on a different aspect of the weather - Rain, Fog, Ice & Snow, Wind.
He travels Britain in search of "bad" weather and seeks to appreciate experiencing it and identifying the positives in each encounter, rather than hiding away inside and isolated from the forces of nature.
I'm Scottish and used to be a coach tour guide - I really appreciated the attitude of embracing different aspects of the weather. When I used to drive tours around Scotland, visitors would often ask what we'd do if there was bad weather. The answer - wear suitable clothing!
So many natural phenomena and sights of natural beauty are created and shaped by the "bad" weather- surely we should learn to appreciate it, notice it and experience it.
This book is full of beautiful descriptions. Matt Gaw creates lyrical images of his weather experiences - finding beauty in wildness and feeling alive in experiencing the elements.
I felt called to pay more attention to the weather, the potential natural forecasting signs, the clouds, the wind - everything that we often cocoon ourselves away from. The explanations of the science behind some weather phenomena were perfectly pitched for the lay person - detailed enough to be informative but not so advanced as to become confusing.
As Spring approaches, this book screams -grab your jacket and get outside!
QUOTES:
"But maybe there's a deeper, older, shared memory too. A memory of a time when our needs were tied more tightly to rain, when it was wished for."
"...since I've started writing this book, I've been surprised by ow weather frames my memories, how it is the lens through which I recall so many details of places and events."
"....cold weather creates stress in the human body not because we are going out but because we are staying in. Everyday activities are crimped because putting on extra layers is just too much bother. Perhaps it is our unwillingness to go outside in what we consider bad weather that is really damaging our moods."
"But at the same time, i that act of noticing and feeling , we are more present too."
"Wind is the world's breath."
"Often we talk of weathering or being weathered in a negative way.......But really it is a sign of living, of viewing the world in every light, of becoming part of the rhythms of the natural world."
This was a lyrical, insightful and thought provoking read. Matt Gaw splits the book into four sections each focusing on a different aspect of the weather - Rain, Fog, Ice & Snow, Wind.
He travels Britain in search of "bad" weather and seeks to appreciate experiencing it and identifying the positives in each encounter, rather than hiding away inside and isolated from the forces of nature.
I'm Scottish and used to be a coach tour guide - I really appreciated the attitude of embracing different aspects of the weather. When I used to drive tours around Scotland, visitors would often ask what we'd do if there was bad weather. The answer - wear suitable clothing!
So many natural phenomena and sights of natural beauty are created and shaped by the "bad" weather- surely we should learn to appreciate it, notice it and experience it.
This book is full of beautiful descriptions. Matt Gaw creates lyrical images of his weather experiences - finding beauty in wildness and feeling alive in experiencing the elements.
I felt called to pay more attention to the weather, the potential natural forecasting signs, the clouds, the wind - everything that we often cocoon ourselves away from. The explanations of the science behind some weather phenomena were perfectly pitched for the lay person - detailed enough to be informative but not so advanced as to become confusing.
As Spring approaches, this book screams -grab your jacket and get outside!
QUOTES:
"But maybe there's a deeper, older, shared memory too. A memory of a time when our needs were tied more tightly to rain, when it was wished for."
"...since I've started writing this book, I've been surprised by ow weather frames my memories, how it is the lens through which I recall so many details of places and events."
"....cold weather creates stress in the human body not because we are going out but because we are staying in. Everyday activities are crimped because putting on extra layers is just too much bother. Perhaps it is our unwillingness to go outside in what we consider bad weather that is really damaging our moods."
"But at the same time, i that act of noticing and feeling , we are more present too."
"Wind is the world's breath."
"Often we talk of weathering or being weathered in a negative way.......But really it is a sign of living, of viewing the world in every light, of becoming part of the rhythms of the natural world."
April 14, 2024
'Life needs to be grabbed with both hands. Because to experience weather, to see and feel hotly its patterns change, is to notice the rhythms of the planet, to see how the different facets of the word interconnect.'
Walking in a rainstorm may sound counterintuitive, but @mattgaw opens his beautiful new book by doing exactly that. It's not even that he's wrapping up in full waterproofs with wellies; Gaw is actually aiming to *feel* the weather, and to become part of it. This whole book feels very much like an exercise in embracing the weather and living in, rather than with it.
The book is laid out almost as a journal, beginning at the end of that endlessly oppresively hot summer in 2022. As the year progresses, the journal continues through rain of all sorts, fog, snow, ice, wind, whatever comes along, in fact. But Gaw is not just walking in the weather, he's also swimming and tree-climbing; there's skating and playing too. I absolutely loved the way that each new weather event provided another opportunity to feel, hear, see and smell everything in a new way.
As well as sharing all the incredible sensations that come from embracing the weather, there is plenty of detail about the environment and a good smattering of science. Interesting meteorological processes are also helpfully explained in a way that just helped me get a bit more out of the book.
It's hard to pick a favourite part in this book, as it's so very readable and the excitement is so apparent, but I really loved the encounter with the skaters and the trip to the moor in search of wuthering winds. I also loved that we were invited to share the experience of the author's family on several of his adventures. I love the broad-minded approach that children take to the weather, and I'm sure we could all benefit from finding the fun in strong winds and snow again!
Be warned that Matt Gaw's enthusiasm is infectious. He persuasively puts across that it's not as mad as it seems to head out in all weathers, and I'm pretty much convinced that it's probably time to change my mindset and get out there regardless!
Walking in a rainstorm may sound counterintuitive, but @mattgaw opens his beautiful new book by doing exactly that. It's not even that he's wrapping up in full waterproofs with wellies; Gaw is actually aiming to *feel* the weather, and to become part of it. This whole book feels very much like an exercise in embracing the weather and living in, rather than with it.
The book is laid out almost as a journal, beginning at the end of that endlessly oppresively hot summer in 2022. As the year progresses, the journal continues through rain of all sorts, fog, snow, ice, wind, whatever comes along, in fact. But Gaw is not just walking in the weather, he's also swimming and tree-climbing; there's skating and playing too. I absolutely loved the way that each new weather event provided another opportunity to feel, hear, see and smell everything in a new way.
As well as sharing all the incredible sensations that come from embracing the weather, there is plenty of detail about the environment and a good smattering of science. Interesting meteorological processes are also helpfully explained in a way that just helped me get a bit more out of the book.
It's hard to pick a favourite part in this book, as it's so very readable and the excitement is so apparent, but I really loved the encounter with the skaters and the trip to the moor in search of wuthering winds. I also loved that we were invited to share the experience of the author's family on several of his adventures. I love the broad-minded approach that children take to the weather, and I'm sure we could all benefit from finding the fun in strong winds and snow again!
Be warned that Matt Gaw's enthusiasm is infectious. He persuasively puts across that it's not as mad as it seems to head out in all weathers, and I'm pretty much convinced that it's probably time to change my mindset and get out there regardless!
August 25, 2024
Weathering Heights
In All Weathers is a fantastic book that celebrates the weather that shapes us and is fundamental to how we live and think and experience our daily existence.
Drawing on experiences in rain, fog, ice and snow and wind, Matt Gaw puts himself at the mercy of the elements across the landscapes of the UK.
From the icy flatlands of winter skaters in the Fens, to the heights of the rain soaked Lake District, the wind battered Isle of Skye, the Peak District and the Yorkshire Moors.
A book that makes you appreciate the weather. Weather we often see as negative and conflicting - weather to avoid, to stay in and not engage with. But Matt Gaw shows how we can and should embrace all weather.
I will certainly be donning the waterproofs more frequently and opening the door to the weather, rather than shutting it out.
Poetic, visceral, physical and visual. Matt Gaw writes with a clarity that is less descriptive, but more elemental. You feel every rain drop, every gust of wind, each shiver of frost and the heavy cloak of fog.
A wonderful book that makes you think about and feel the weather differently.
In All Weathers is a fantastic book that celebrates the weather that shapes us and is fundamental to how we live and think and experience our daily existence.
Drawing on experiences in rain, fog, ice and snow and wind, Matt Gaw puts himself at the mercy of the elements across the landscapes of the UK.
From the icy flatlands of winter skaters in the Fens, to the heights of the rain soaked Lake District, the wind battered Isle of Skye, the Peak District and the Yorkshire Moors.
A book that makes you appreciate the weather. Weather we often see as negative and conflicting - weather to avoid, to stay in and not engage with. But Matt Gaw shows how we can and should embrace all weather.
I will certainly be donning the waterproofs more frequently and opening the door to the weather, rather than shutting it out.
Poetic, visceral, physical and visual. Matt Gaw writes with a clarity that is less descriptive, but more elemental. You feel every rain drop, every gust of wind, each shiver of frost and the heavy cloak of fog.
A wonderful book that makes you think about and feel the weather differently.
November 16, 2024
In All Weathers is a very sensory book; Matt Gaw’s look at being outside in rain, fog, snow and ice, and wind focuses on our own bodily responses to those and other meteorological phenomena in a way that immerses the reader so directly you can often feel that you are standing alongside him as he trudges through torrential rain, gets lost in dense fog or chats to the last of the ‘fen runners’, the speed skaters of the frozen fenland dykes and drains. Drawing on multiple literary sources as well as his own experiences (Alexandra Harris’s brilliant book Weatherland is frequently cited) he evokes a vivid picture of human responses to ever-changing weather that is multi-sensory and firmly rooted in centuries of recorded experience.
May 7, 2024
Such beautiful writing and a topic which touches home for me. My adult life has been a journey of exploring and adventure, throughout the variety of weathers this island has to offer and I do truly embrace them all. Having visited almost all of the locations in the book over the last year, it felt serendipitous and an almost personal journey.
November 3, 2024
I love this book. People think I'm weird when I say I'm reading a book that's just a guy describing the weather he's experienced but I don't care - it's just amazing? He is such an elegant writer and describes everything in such a particular way I can't help but adore it. Maybe you guys aren't into nature like me but still, give it a read!
June 27, 2024
Excellent writing;
April 2, 2025
The sub-title of In All Weathers is A Journey Through Rain, Fog, Wind, Ice and Everything In Between. We routinely celebrate fine weather; in this book, the author rejoices in immersion in what we usually call poor weather. It is a book about observation and feeling alive – refusing to withdraw from discomfort and experiencing all the senses offer.
Learning about the weather introduces the reader to a new vocabulary, such as ‘Psithurism’, the sound of wind rustling through leaves or whispering through trees. The book is episodic, recalling outings and expeditions close to the author’s home in Bury St Edmunds and locations across the United Kingdom, where several dialectal descriptive terms are encountered.
There is much observation of nature and how creatures react to changes in weather. The discovery of several rabbits, or parts of rabbits, in trees is deduced to result from airborne red kites dropping their prey. This informative, entertaining book is suitable for reading in long or short sittings, preferably in comfortable surroundings.
Learning about the weather introduces the reader to a new vocabulary, such as ‘Psithurism’, the sound of wind rustling through leaves or whispering through trees. The book is episodic, recalling outings and expeditions close to the author’s home in Bury St Edmunds and locations across the United Kingdom, where several dialectal descriptive terms are encountered.
There is much observation of nature and how creatures react to changes in weather. The discovery of several rabbits, or parts of rabbits, in trees is deduced to result from airborne red kites dropping their prey. This informative, entertaining book is suitable for reading in long or short sittings, preferably in comfortable surroundings.
December 23, 2024
A few years ago, when I first started long distance hiking, I discovered that so-called bad weather is only bad from the perspective of the couch. When you are well prepared and surrounded by the elements, wind, rain, and snow can be exhilarating. And here I found a kindred spirit.
Beautifully written and intimate, this volume follows the author's adventures, large and small, in all kinds of challenging conditions. He skillfully blends his personal recollections with interesting facts about the weather and landscapes he encounters.
Recommended for fans of contemporary British nature writing in the vein of Robert MacFarlane and Roger Deakin.
Thanks to the publisher, Elliott & Thompson, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.
Beautifully written and intimate, this volume follows the author's adventures, large and small, in all kinds of challenging conditions. He skillfully blends his personal recollections with interesting facts about the weather and landscapes he encounters.
Recommended for fans of contemporary British nature writing in the vein of Robert MacFarlane and Roger Deakin.
Thanks to the publisher, Elliott & Thompson, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.
December 18, 2024
Mindful weather. Gaw examines the layers and layers of value judgements we make about "adverse" weather and experiences them for us afresh.
I love the concept and the vitality, vim and vigour with which he writes about wind, rain, snow, fog and ice.
It's based around his own experiences of weather, none of which episodes happened in places I'm very familiar with. So although he's very descriptive, I struggled visualising the setting somehow. And I'm sorry to say it also kind of dragged.
A for effort but a mixed bag...
I love the concept and the vitality, vim and vigour with which he writes about wind, rain, snow, fog and ice.
It's based around his own experiences of weather, none of which episodes happened in places I'm very familiar with. So although he's very descriptive, I struggled visualising the setting somehow. And I'm sorry to say it also kind of dragged.
A for effort but a mixed bag...
January 25, 2025
I have read two other books by Matt which I loved so I was really looking forward to reading In All Weathers and it definitely didn’t disappoint. Such a beautifully written book in diary form that makes one appreciate the various forms that the weather takes. Be it sunshine, rain, sleet, snow, thunder or wind there is something wonderful in all of them and Matt writes with such heart that it makes me want to get up and brave the elements with a new appreciation. I love this book and can’t recommend it highly enough. I will be returning to it again and again.
August 7, 2025
We get a lot of weather in Britain. And much of it we consider to be "bad", by which we generally mean "not sunny".
In All Weathers is Matt Law's exploration of the rest of the weather. He actively seeks out rain, fog, snow and wind, travelling the length of Britain to immerse himself in the extremes these islands can offer. Sometimes he travels with his family and sometimes alone, meeting a fascinating array of people along the way. Whether swimming in the rain in Suffolk, meeting fen skaters at Welney Wash or feeling the wuthering wind on Haworth Moor, he is a genial and interesting companion.
It's a personal memoir, with anecdotes about walks taken when most of us might decide to stay indoors. Matt Law is here to encourage us to put our waterproofs on and get outside, to experience inclement weather and feel alive.
June 13, 2024
This is delectable writing, I was a hooked by this book as I am by any thriller, murder or romance book. I think we can all identify with the weather, we all experience it, we have all been out in it. It is one of life’s sensory wonders and this book just hits its note perfectly.
February 7, 2025
I mostly enjoyed this easy read about walking in 'adverse' weather conditions but found myself skimming the second half of the book.
March 20, 2025
Very pleasant musings on weather. Not terribly memorable but did a great job putting me to sleep every night.
January 17, 2025
Full review and summary.
A beautifully-written book as a reminder of the magic hidden in the everyday elements. Through a year-long journey, Gaw immerses himself in weather’s extremes, from stormy winds to serene snowfalls, inviting readers to experience the elements rather than just endure them. His poetic reflections on rain, mist, snow, and wind blend personal anecdotes with scientific insights, offering a fresh perspective on how weather shapes our memories and our lives.
This book inspired us to look at the sky a little differently and to embrace the beauty even in unpredictable days. If you love nature writing with a personal touch, In All Weathers is recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
A beautifully-written book as a reminder of the magic hidden in the everyday elements. Through a year-long journey, Gaw immerses himself in weather’s extremes, from stormy winds to serene snowfalls, inviting readers to experience the elements rather than just endure them. His poetic reflections on rain, mist, snow, and wind blend personal anecdotes with scientific insights, offering a fresh perspective on how weather shapes our memories and our lives.
This book inspired us to look at the sky a little differently and to embrace the beauty even in unpredictable days. If you love nature writing with a personal touch, In All Weathers is recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
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