Adam GopnikWinter US Edition: Five Windows on the Season (The CBC Massey Lectures)

Gopnik's book on winter is a series of meditations that explore common ideas associated with the season. His five ways of framing winter give us a view into our experiences with this cold and dark time of year. Gopnik's main contribution is found in both the first lecture and throughout the book, where he shows that our current understanding of winter is largely a modern phenomenon, which has changed over time, as we have changed how we interact with the season. In being able to experience winter on our own terms, through advancements like central heating, we can choose to engage winter and therefore remain attuned to its fine details (e.g. the quieting of noise, and even the pace of life, from snow).He covers a wide range of attitudes towards winter (e.g. romanticizing winter's beauty and pace, the development of Christmas and winter holidays into occasions for both renewal and reversal of life's typical flow, winter's role as a marker in time, reminding us of time's passing), which help us understand better our relationship with winter, and why it's important. Winter becomes multifaceted, a source of consternation for many who don't like the cold, but simultaneously a time to slow life down and look forward to Spring's bloom. Gopnik's ability to capture emotions generated by common experiences in winter were instantly recognizable to me, and are a nice treat.These individual journeys read very well, as if you're recounting stories of winters past with Gopnik. One final note: the lectures were written for a Canadian audience, and reference North American and European history and literature. So he doesn't aim for this to be an exhaustive look into winter, but it certainly succeeds as a view into North American winter in modern times.

An outstanding book that takes a variety of fresh perspectives on winter and cold weather. He weaves in history, art, music, philosophy, literature, and sports. I found it to be masterful. And, as someone who lives in a snow belt, it was inspirational -- providing me with a whole new appreciation for my climate.

This is a mixed bag. I think it could have been a great deal shorter while conveying it's central themes more clearly. A number of the sections go on for long enough, and with little enough focus, that I can't see the forest for the trees. And while the author admits that to a certain extent this book is a list of wintery things he likes, the writing is not interesting when that's ALL it is. If there's no cogent analysis you can connect to your own life and experience, then what's the point? But the book doesn't always suffer from these problems--some portions are more tightly written and feel more grounded in the real world. And looking back on the book, I appreciate the new perspectives it has given me on the season of winter.

Mr. Gopnik's collection of essays on various aspects of the winter season is thoughtful, scholarly, and thoroughly readable. His points of view are also accompanied by illustrations of beautiful paintings.

Adam Gopnik has a unique perspective on the history and culture of the winter season. His book helped me to adopt a more positive attitude towards winter. There are many references to writers, artists, musicians, and historical events, so it would appeal to intellectuals who understand the references. It would also appeal to readers who want to look up those references in order to learn more about the subject. Overall, a very good book.

Having lived in Canada and visited Montreal in the winter I was prompted to buy this book. I was not disappointed. Gopnik's five essays all offer rich rewards. I most enjoyed the chapter on the Recreational Winter with its history of ice hockey, an aspect of Canada I miss the most. This chapter has a narrative thrust, whereas some of the other material is a little self-indulgent, even prissy (in a good way). For example, the treatment of polar exploration in the Radical Winter is unconventional. I bought the hardback because I think books I will return to and will outlive me deserve that (and I deserve the treat). I was not disappointed, and I may well look out for other titles by the author.

This writer puts his own inventive slant on the subject of the season of winter; I think it is his own personal insight into the subject,and chiefly with reference to conditions found in Canadian winters. I found the chapter on polar exploration the most readable and the account of Montreal's underground city interesting but I think the everyday reader may need to re-read some of the more esoteric chapters in order to avoid thinking that the writer gives an exaggerated account of the influence of the phenomenon of winter-time on the world and our lives.

This is a lovely book - a ramble around winter with no particular aim in mind. But it isn't a completely random miscellany, the unifying theme - winter - holds it together. There's a focus on writers and artists as well as winter sports and polar expeditions, and numerous little wanderings off into intriguing facts and viewpoints. Maybe his most interesting insight is that winter became warm and cosy and something to be enjoyed when people began to heat their homes properly. Before that it was bitter and dangerous. I liked the bit about Christmas - especially the revelation that people were railing against it turning into an orgy of materialism as far back as the end of the nineteenth century. Occasionally he overwrites - almost as though he's decided to establish his philosophical/writerly credentials - but, oddly, I found that to be part of the book's considerable charm.

Rather beautiful, and composed - elegant and stylish. Winter viewed through different "windows", and the lenses of art, poetry, science and nature. Will make you yearn for the first snowfall of the season, and inspire you to read some wonderful verse.

I hate winter, but I am starting to love it after reading this book. It brings to us the beauty of winter and how winter has been represented in art and popular culture. The attributes of winter have been changing through time depending on human perception and...how much comfort is available!Since we have to endure it, this book is a sensitive and intelligent companion to navigate the dark and cold months.