First published 2019
Bernd Brunner explores winter as a season of contradictions and wonder. A dedicated farmer captures five thousand unique snowflakes through his camera lens. Indigenous communities flourish in frozen landscapes that claim the lives of celebrated explorers. Underwater icicles form and shatter in explosive displays. The author weaves together these spectacular phenomena with intimate winter moments: fires crackling in warm rooms filled with the aromas of cinnamon, cloves, and pine, skis cutting through fresh powder, iceboats gliding across frozen lakes. Brunner examines how winter shapes human experience, from survival strategies to recreational pursuits. His approach combines scientific observation with cultural history, showing how this dangerous yet beloved season has captivated people across time and geography. The book offers readers a fresh perspective on winter's dual nature as both destroyer and regenerator, made more urgent by our changing climate.
Genres: science, nature, non-fiction, cultural-studies
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: cultural-history, scientific-observation
280 pages · Hardcover · Greystone Books