Tide: The Science And Lore Of The Greatest Force On Earth

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Reviews

The first in-depth, all-encompassing picture of the key force on our planet: the tide. From the original maelstrom in Scandinavia to the world's highest tides in Nova Scotia, Hugh Aldersey-Williams brilliantly exposes the importance of the tide, and the way it has shaped - and will continue to shape - our civilization Publisher's description Imagine, if possible, a gently studious Bill Bryson crossed with an upbeat and relaxed WG Sebald. It is a superb book... a delight to read. It is profound and powerful, and should win prizes. -- James McConnachie Sunday Times A spring tide of colour and historical anecdote laps over the more austere mudflats of the actual science. So much so that I find myself looking forward to the next piece of technical exposition as, like the gentle ebb of a neap tide, his cultural history of tides also slowly reveals and explains each successive advance in our understanding of them -- Tom Whipple The Times A wonderfully enjoyable exploration of the mysterious rhythms of the sea. I loved the combination of literary, historical, scientific, and experiential accounts of the tides, each ebbing and then flowing to allow the others to wash up on the pages of this remarkable book. -- Mark Miodownik, author of 'Stuff Matters' This fascinating book deftly explores the dramatic history, critical importance, and scientific wonder of the tides. Hugh Aldersey-Williams is a marvelous guide who takes the reader on a sweeping and thought-provoking adventure into the heart of one of the most captivating, mysterious, and elemental forces of nature -- Eric Jay Dolin, author of Brilliant Beacons: A History of the American Lighthouse Prepare for a voyage with the best of companions - Hugh Aldersey-Williams is a storyteller supreme, and he's found a subject worthy of his talents -- Edward Dolnick, author of The Clockwork Universe: Isaac Newton, the Royal Society, and the Birth of the Modern World Science writing at its best ... fascinating and beautiful -- Matt Ridley on 'Periodic Tales' Immensely engaging and continually makes one sit up in surprise -- Richard Cohen on 'Periodic Tales' Sunday Times Aldersey-Williams is full of good stories and he knows how to tell them well -- Graham Farmelo on 'Periodic Tales' Sunday Telegraph Engaging and thoughtful... Like some of the most compelling biographers, Aldersey-Williams partly inhabits his subject Literary Review on The Adventures of Sir Thomas Browne in the 21st Century Exposes new facts and ideas every other page -- Horatio Clare Observer Aldersey-Williams's corrective meshes a history of the science with tide-related technologies and tidally sculpted events. It's an eloquent ebb and flow Nature

Author description

Hugh Aldersey-Williams studied natural sciences at Cambridge. He is the author of several books exploring science, design and architecture - including Periodic Tales, Anatomies and The Adventures of Sir Thomas Browne in the 21st Century - and has curated exhibitions at the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Wellcome Collection. He lives in Norfolk with his wife and son.