'Brimming with knowledge and experience . . . delightful'
TRISTAN GOOLEY, DAILY TELEGRAPH

'A fabulous compendium of terror and disaster, expertise and courage'
ADAM NICOLSON, author of The Seabird's Cry

'Evokes panoramas of sea and land with confident flair'
WALL STREET JOURNAL

What's in a cloud? What separates a tropical storm from a winter blizzard? And what exactly is El Niño? Elliot Rappaport, a captain of traditional sailing ships, has spent three decades at sea, where understanding weather is the difference between life and death.

From the icy seas of Greenland to the turbulent waters of the Strait of Gibraltar, from the powerful squalls near the equator to the ancient Polynesian explorers who ventured eastward against trade winds, Reading the Glass combines science and memoir to reveal the remarkable story of how weather has shaped our oceans, our history and ourselves.

'An extraordinary book by a modern-day Melville . . . I can't recommend this book highly enough'
MARK VANHOENACKER, author of Skyfaring

'A gripping account of what weather is, how it feels to be in the middle of it, and what we can expect going forward!'
BILL MCKIBBEN, author of The End of Nature

"Each chapter is brimming with knowledge and experience. Rappaport can really write - and he's done his research too . . . Some of the most delightful passages have little to do with the sea or weather. They come when we get a real sense of what it's like to lead a crew at sea, and, equally interestingly, when moored up . . . Reading the Glass will be a must-have for serious weather-watchers or sailors with aspirations." - Daily Telegraph

"Evokes panoramas of sea and land with confident flair" - Wall Street Journal

"Relatable, reflective, and humorous . . . descriptive and insightful, it is perfect for those who love the sea, and wish to know more about the adventures of those who sail upon it . . . a genuinely immersive read" - Countryman

"Veteran captain Elliot Rappaport knows firsthand how winds, storms, and currents affect boats, from the smallest dinghies to great ocean liners. Here, he uses his considerable literary gifts to turn meteorology into a living science . . . While sailors will relate at once to Rappaport's prose, this book is a must-read even for landlubbers" - Booklist

"Rappaport, who has been a sea captain since 1992 and teaches at the Maine Maritime Academy, makes his book debut with vibrant accounts of sailing around the world. Central to his spirited, informative narrative is weather . . . Fascinating journeys with an expert guide" - Kirkus