Weathered: Cultures of Climate

by Mike Hulme

Climate is an enduring idea of the human mind and also a powerful one.  Today, the idea of climate is most commonly associated with the discourse of climate-change and its scientific, political, economic, social, religious and ethical dimensions.  However, to understand adequately the cultural politics of climate-change it is important to establish the different origins of the idea of climate itself and the range of historical, political and cultural work that the idea of climate accomplishes. In  Cultures of Climate, distinguished professor Mike Hulme opens up the many ways in which the idea of climate is given shape and meaning in different human cultures – how climates are historicized, known, changed, lived with, blamed, feared, represented, predicted, governed and, at least putatively, re-designed.

198 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 15, 2016

Reviews

[A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating study of the cultural dimensions of climate.

[Josephine Newland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think everyone would benefit from reading this - a well organised and convincing account of how climate and culture are parallels. Urges the reader to imagine climate outside of cultural norms.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

This an academic book that discuss the relationship between humans and climate. This includes explanations on climate in scientific terms, climatic events as an act of god, supernatural, human or why describe cultures based on their climate (ie the unfounded biases of cool temperament colonists vs the hot lazy islanders). The book describes humans previous relationship and potential future relationships (eg trying to control the climate). The examples provide in the book are excellent to describe humans relationship to climate (western and non western perspectives). However, there was a massive discussion point missing - climate change deniers. I would loved to have some explanation to the occurrence of climate change deniers and their motivations.
Okay read but would recommend to academic readers as the communication style was difficult at times - eg jargon, dry and wordy.