Alan Watts (3) (1925–)

A thoughtful, serious UFO book, and one of the very few that I would recommend to readers unfamiliar with the subject. Alan Watts entitles a key chapter "Grappling with George Adamski," and in many ways this would serve as an appropriate title for the entire book. I won't go into the convoluted, mostly embarrassing saga of California UFO contactee Adamski in this review, but Watts's central thesis is that the famous bell-shaped flying saucers photographed by Adamski during the early 1950s were genuine. Despite the kookier aspects of Adamski's story (telepathic communication with Venusian beings, etc.), Watts concludes that the photos themselves show actual flying craft. He notes that virtually identical craft were photographed in other parts of the world, by witnesses who had no connection to Adamski (like young Stephen Darbishire of Coniston, England in 1954), and offers a wealth of scientific data to support his theory that the bell-shaped UFOs flew by means of an alternating magnetic field. "Because it is the only type of which we have detailed knowledge," the author explains, "we must take Adamski's saucer as our example."

Watts drifts into metaphysical territory here and there, but that doesn't diminish the larger value of UFO Quest. If you're looking for a solid technical overview of how these craft may operate, written in understandable terms, this is the book for you.… (plus d'informations)

There's some interesting information in here, but some caveats as well. For one, the book seemed a bit disorganized -- I found that some of the same facts were repeated at times in different places, as if the book were a collection of separate essays that had been written at different times. Also, some things were explained in ways that I found confusing...for example, the explanation of why a red sky at morning means bad weather seemed to me considerably more confusing than other explanations I've read elsewhere.
These caveats aside, this is one of the few books I'm aware of that has much information on how to "read the sky" and make your own weather predictions based purely on that. For that reason, I'd recommend it to anyone who has an interest in doing this -- though not all of the book is dedicated just to this.… (plus d'informations)

My first edition of Alan Watt’s book (fifth impression 1973) is priced at £1.25. Nearly forty years later, to be able to access the same wisdom at only £7.99 is a bargain. This little book has stood the test of time as a practical guide to weather forecasting by observation, an art too little practiced. This 3rd edition, usefully colour throughout, a great aid to clarity, has many of the same illustrations as the first edition. Where changed the photos more clearly illustrate the weather pattern described.

Perhaps’foretelling the weather from cloud observations’ sums up this little book, for that is what it admirably helps the amateur forecaster to do. A valuable addition to any cruising yacht’s bookshelf and essential reading for Day and Coastal Skipper, or even Yachtmaster candidates.

PBW… (plus d'informations)