The general awareness of climate change has created teachable moments. Though most readers do not seek a lecture, a gifted writer can teach while satisfying their curiosity. Here, Cerveny (geographical sciences, Arizona State Univ.) tells nonscientists about the investigative process, theories, and the techniques of weather and climate research. Presenting the issues as unsolved mysteries, he engages readers and explains how science is conducted. Each short chapter contains a fictional vignette personalizing a weather- or climate-related mystery. In one chapter, Cerveny asks why ancient rock murals of men in canoes hunting hippopotami are found in the Sahara Desert. His explanation incorporates three geologic dating methods as well as the general atmospheric circulation model. Cerveny avoids jargon and equations, although the footnotes and bibliography lead to scientific, literary, and primary source material. He covers diverse topics such as the El Nino-Southern Oscillation phenomenon, Milankovitch cycles, storm cell microbursts, deductive logic, and statistical techniques. Cerveny emphasizes that there is still much to be learned about weather and climate and that simple answers to many ongoing questions do not exist. Summing Up: Highly recommended. General readers, and lower-division undergraduates through professionals/practitioners. L. S. Zipp formerly, State University of New York College at Geneseo