What people are saying about Under the Whirlwind...

“Twister book a must ... This book is a five-star “must have” for any public library in North America ... Now that I have dredged up every superlative I can think of, what's in Under the Whirlwind to make it so valuable? Just darn near everything you might want to know and a lot more that you didn't even know existed about twisters.” –

Librarian/Book Reviewer, Sun Times, July 19, 1997.

“A refreshing and original approach ... thorough and well illustrated, but non-technical ... It is an essential read for homeowners living in “tornado alley”. ... This book is an essential addition to any storm chaser's library.” –

Dave Hoadley, veteran storm chaser, in Storm Track, a magazine for chasers.

“This treasure-trove of a book is the work of a couple of consummate professionals. ... The book contains a remarkable set of photographs drawn together from their own archives, plus some others, and a lucid, down-to-earth text written for the layman, but drawing on full professional understanding. ... This book belongs on the desk of every pupil in our schools, and in every newsroom, police and fire station, emergency centres, and (of course) weather stations. Every air pilot should read it, as should bus drivers, tour guides and naturalists ... Anyone who has read Under the Whirlwind will look at the spring and summer sky with fresh understanding.” –

Dr. F. Kenneth Hare, Professor Emeritus

“It's one of the best books I've ever seen!” –

head librarian

“I was extremely impressed with it in every way - the way you've laid it out, the colour photography, everything about it is really good.” –

science education consultant

“I can't get my son's nose out of the book”; “My daughter disappeared into her room with the book and didn't come out until she had read it from cover to cover!” –

parents of school children

“This is an unabashed personal plug for a new book. ... Why do I like the book? It's down-to-earth, written from a personal perspective. Lots of tips, explanations, illustrations, sidelights, behind-the-scenes info. ... In this day of computer gee-whiz wizardry, this is very relevant and personal. The authors' passions shine through. Highly recommended.” –

Steve Ricketts, manager of the Edmonton (Alberta) Weather Office, commenting on the Internet.

“I enthusiastically recommend this book to observationalists, storm enthusiasts in particular, and all residents of regions sometimes struck by tornadoes. The excellent collections of photographs and drawings will be enjoyed by storm aficianados time and time again.” –

Howard B. Bluestein (researcher/storm chaser) in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society

“This is the first book I have encountered that takes what storm chasers have discovered and puts it in terms most anyone can understand.

Arjen and Jerrine Verkaik have a way of explaining complex ideas in very simple language. The good news is that, in the process, the Verkaiks don't talk down to you. It is a wonderful way to get acquainted with the mechanics of storms. The photographs and illustrations are a great guide to the novice storm chaser and weather spotter.

Under the Whirlwind also serves a more important service ... It has the potential to be a life-saver. This book should be required reading in schools in tornado alley.

This book is truly one that works for adults and children, and is a great first stop if you want to understand tornadoes.” –

Dave Statter, Reporter (and novice storm chaser) WUSA-TV, Washington, DC

“As a bedside companion or ready reference on the subject of tornadoes and severe weather, it has no equal.” –

London Free Press

“Under the Whirlwind is unlike any other book I have read on tornadoes. I have never seen the variety of detail that can be found within its pages and I certainly recommend it.” –

The Science Teacher

“... fascinating, and very informative.” –

Weather

“The Verkaiks have produced an informative, entertaining and valuable book for the lay person. I recommend Under the Whirlwind for the coffee table or bookshelf. I give it ‘two convective towers up’. ” –

Weatherwise

“Interesting, enlightening and useful are only a few of the adjectives that describe this book. It has everything from exciting stories to amazing facts. While the book includes many incredible photographs, they are intended to educate rather than just inspire awe. Whether you are interested in storm chasing or just want to recognize and protect your family from dangerous weather formations, this is the book for you. It truly has something for just about everyone from the light browser to the seasoned chaser. This is a book that everyone in tornado-prone areas should have as a reference!” –

Jacalyn Mackie (Amazon)

“Pleasantly written, diverse & well-illustrated tornado tome. (Complete review below.)

“Although the authors are Canadian, and aim the book at an audience north of the U.S., American weather enthusiasts and anyone wondering about tornadoes will soak this up. Under the Whirlwind is a solid work overall; and for a self-published book, it is amazingly informative and accurate. Readers may be as surprised at the Verkaiks’ insight into severe storms issues, since they are not meteorologists. However, their devotion to learning scientific concepts, combined with their extensive storm observing experience and conversational writing style, allows them to succeed with this book. Although the reading is light in a purely technical sense, I found only a few typos and insignificant errors. More important are the clear messages of practicality, realism, education and compassion in the book – which includes numerous suvivors’ tales as well as segments on insurance coverage and helping children to deal with storm-related tragedy. The authors convey a wise message of safety and responsibility as well, for example: “After damaging tornadoes strike there are usually calls for better alert systems – more bells and whistles.... But the best warning you can have comes from keeping your eye on the sky.”

The illustrations are numerous and excellent, without peer in popular severe weather literature. Their deep artistic and educational appreciation for the wonders of a stormy sky pours forth in the form of dozens of full-color photos – many consisting of spectacular storm structure scenes taken on their forays to the American Great Plains. These aren't presented just to show off the Verkaiks' mastery of storm photography, but to aid in interpreting cloud features. There are also several interesting, high-quality, contributed photos of Canadian tornadoes which never have been published before. The Verkaiks richly endow the volume with drawings, tables and color graphs as well, including numerous inset trivia boxes scattered throughout the book related to debunked tornado myths and tornado oddities.” –

Roger Edwards (meteorologist, Storm Prediction Center)

From School Library Journal (complete review)

“This valuable resource presents a wealth of information about a powerful weather phenomenon. Throughout the text, which claims to provide “Everything you need to know about tornadoes but didn't know who to ask,” color-coded boxes highlight facts, myths, and checklists, providing easy perusal of the facts and trivia. There is an excellent section on weather basics and tips on reading the sky. The chapters on the development and structure of tornadoes offer understandable explanations of how they form, the various types, and the F-scale by which their power is measured. “Don't Just Stand There”focuses on safety and gives important guidelines on how to best protect yourself and your family. The authors give practical advice to victims, rescuers, and “tornado tourists.” They even give guidance on dealing with post-tornado trauma as well as working with insurance companies and building to withstand strong winds. This informative and approachable volume has numerous colorful photographs, charts, and diagrams that clearly illustrate the text and provide something for everyone.” –

Mary Alice Giarda, Fairfax County Public Library, VA

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Here it is – the tornado book you have been looking for.

What people are saying about Under the Whirlwind...