Rating: 
Summary: A Review From Tornado Alley
Review: Many readers in Oklahoma know the scenario all to well. Typically the spring or summer day begins warm and clear with a sometimes hazy blue tint to the sky shimmering with humidity. By all accounts, another good day to wash the car, have a cookout, or attend to the myriad of chores that seem to demand attention. Sometime during the mid-afternoon a careful observer will notice the clouds beginning to rise in the southwestern sky as the heat and humidity build. Sometime between three and seven p.m., according to official records, the National Weather Service will broadcast a warning and residents in the midwest typically began another evening in Tornado Alley. All to often, some will never live to see the light of day. Thomas P. Grazulis, a tornado research meteorologist and director of The Tornado Project and Fellow of the American Meteorological Society, has written a gripping, spellbinding book for the general public that is a must read for anyone remotely interested in tornadoes and weather related phenomenon. Surprisingly, this is the first book of it's type written since 1953 when OU Press published what was until now the standard general text on tornadoes. This book is a fit replacement. The book is a careful blend of scientific findings and common sense explanations on one of the most deadly, and feared, forces of nature. There is an enlightening chapter on tornado risks, the numerous misconceptions and contradictory theories surrounding tornadoes, how the Fujita Scale was developed and what it means, and a host of stories and findings that will provide the reader with a better understanding of what has been described as "...little more than a mixture of insubstantial air and water vapor." In addition to a most helpful series of graphs and tables explaining everything from the frequency of tornadoes, not only by location but time of day, to tornado risks at specific points east of the Rocky Mountains, there are also chapters on tornado history, forecasting, formation, safety, and myths. The chapters dealing with safety and myths are especially noteworthy. For example, the author argues there is no evidence that tornadoes seek out trailer parks or that the southwest corner of the house is the safest location. That, of course, is contrary to everything I was taught about Tornado safety. This is the best available book on the subject for the general reader that I have read. It has a bibliography, index, appendix, easily read charts and graphs, photographs, and is reader friendly given it's sometimes necessary technical nature. It is a must have for residents of Tornado Alley.
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Summary: A very well written book
Review: Out of all the books on tornadoes, and severe weather, this is the most comprehensive book on tornadoes to date. T.P. Grazulis explains the way tornadoes develop (tornadogensis) like no other book does before. This book goes so deep into tornadoes, but on the otherhand it is so easy to understand. This was a very well written book. This book also helped me to further my knowledge in severe weather. I am already starting to see improvment in my storm spotting. This book is like a a storm spotter's handbook. It's a must for any severe weather or tornado enthusiast, and any storm chasers or spotters!
Rating: 
Summary: An accessible introduction to the subject
Review: Persons interested in tornadoes will recognize Tom Grazulis as the Director of the Tornado Project and author of the massive tornado tome "Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991." In this new book, appropriately published by the University of Oklahoma Press, Grazulis discusses the long history of tornadoes in the United States (and, rare for books on the subject, includes a listing of major tornadoes outside the US), covers the process of observation and research that led to today's understanding of these chaotic storms, discusses tornado oddities, tornado safety, and tornado myths (no, that trailer park on the edge of town is not a dangerous tornado attractant). Grazulis is not a particularly stylish writer, but the book is clear and interesting and will serve as a good introduction to both the trail of terror left by these storms and the current state of severe storm research..... While Grazulis does on occasion refer to himself, it is not excessive and provides his own view of events and personalities in the field. My only disagreement with Grazulis is his soft-pedaling of the state of government funding into severe storm research and warning systems. While he comments mildly that the government just can't fund everything (which of course is true), I would observe that there always seems to be money for congressional porkbarrel, like the mysterious ordering every year of C-130 aircraft that the Air Force didn't want but which were built in a certain well-known former House Speaker's district at the same time that Weather Service offices were being closed and research money drying up. As one who lives in a NEXRAD "hole" (a city that is well below the horizon of the nearest WSR-88D radars and hence in danger of being struck unexpectedly by tornadoes), I tend to object more than mildly to this kind of thing, and Grazulis should as well. If you find this book interesting, check at your local library for a copy of Grazulis' "Significant Tornadoes." It is huge and fascinating.
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Summary: Outstanding Effort!
Review: This book is an excellent introduction into the whole phenomenon of tornadoes. Grazulis presents an extremely well-written and researched work which is a superb primer for anyone who is fascinated by severe weather and tornadoes. I have all his books and videos and this one is a terrific addition. keep 'em coming Tom!
Rating:
Summary: An informative but strangely written book.
Review: Thomas P. Grazulis has obviously dedicated a good part of his life to studying Tornadoes. This book has "labor of love" written many times over between its pages. And yet, it is an odd book. Grazulis combines tornado anecdotes, tornado science, tornado safety and even tornado mythology into a strange hodgepodge of information. This is not the book to buy for great narratives of tornado destruction. Grazulis' accounts are second hand and mostly used to illustrate his other points. Nor is the book packed full of great pictures. It has some, all in black and white photos and some that are more than a century old. This book is really an encyclopedic account of everything there is to know about tornadoes. I learned a lot, even if I found the book's style a bit bemusing. If you love tornadoes on more than a superficial level, I would recommend it. Otherwise, I would look elsewhere.
Rating:
Summary: An informative but strangely written book.
Review: Thomas P. Grazulis has obviously dedicated a good part of his life to studying Tornadoes. This book has "labor of love" written many times over between its pages. And yet, it is an odd book. Grazulis combines tornado anecdotes, tornado science, tornado safety and even tornado mythology into a strange hodgepodge of information. This is not the book to buy for great narratives of tornado destruction. Grazulis' accounts are second hand and mostly used to illustrate his other points. Nor is the book packed full of great pictures. It has some, all in black and white photos and some that are more than a century old. This book is really an encyclopedic account of everything there is to know about tornadoes. I learned a lot, even if I found the book's style a bit bemusing. If you love tornadoes on more than a superficial level, I would recommend it. Otherwise, I would look elsewhere.
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