We spend a great deal of time living under the cover of clouds, but rarely do we look up and pay attention to them, and most of us know very little about what they are and the vital role they play in the Earth's climate and ecosystem. This is not true of Vincenzo Levizzani. As one of the world's leading experts on the physics of clouds, he has devoted his life to studying them, analysing their characteristics, and passing this knowledge on to others.

In The Book of Clouds, Levizzani provides a marvellous introduction to the history and science of clouds – from their influence on art and culture to the ways they have been studied and classified, from understanding how they form and how they produce precipitation to investigating the way they are affected by climate change. The result is a book that provides readers with everything they need to know to recognize different clouds, interpret their behaviour, and understand what is likely to happen if we are foolish enough to disrupt the delicate balance between the Earth and the skies that has blessed us with a habitable climate for millennia.

Exquisitely illustrated, The Book of Clouds offers a deep dive into clouds, droplets, crystals, graupels, and hailstones, among other things. It will be the indispensable guide for anyone who has gazed aloft and wondered what to make of the different clouds and cloud formations that fill our skies.

Vincenzo Levizzani was Director of Research at the National Research Council of Italy and Professor of Cloud Physics at the University of Bologna until his retirement in July 2024.