Weather disturbances occur in the atmospheric sea towering overhead and since all of us, even astronauts, live on the bottom of that sea we should know a lot about weather. But what we usually experience are only the swirls and eddies at our location. A meteorologist interprets data received from widespread observers so his view is broader. Yet since he doesn't actually experience the atmosphere they report his perceptions can be uncertain. And an airman's view is also less real. Weather disturbances are so dangerous to him that he tries to avoid them by flying above or around but not through them. By contrast a mariner's encounter with weather is more tangible. During one voyage he might leave Puget Sound in winter, a week later be standing watch in the Tropics and within another week be off Australia in its summer. But this book is not entitled Mariner's Weather to suggest it is primarily for mariners; nor does it flaunt the jargon of meteorology. In ordinary language it sifts decades of experience gained by mariners coping with atmospheric swirls and eddies all over the world at all times of the year. The result is a commonsense book for everyone ...and that could be why it is so well received.