This is an entertaining rove around the theme of our relationship with ice which brings in culture, history, science and climate.

I particularly enjoyed the chapter on the Little Ice Age, how it both changed daily life and led to major social and political change. There were also some interesting literary insights, such as the impact of ice on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, and how the work of physicist Bernard Vonnegut on seeding clouds to change the weather influenced his brother Kurt's novel Cat's Cradle.

For the more scientifically minded, there are sections on how ice shaped medicine and anatomy, the (surprisingly late) adoption of ice to preserve food, and how humans are shaping climate.

The narration was good, but you might want to have a text format as well. I just had the audio and I felt there were parts I would have liked to go back over, and others I might have skimmed, which is not so easy in an audiobook.

This is a wonderful exploration of the history of ice and humans interaction with it.

Part science, part history and part climate change awareness; this book is funny in places and full of insightful looks at how ice has shaped who we are and how we live.

You really feel the joy and passion that Max Leonard has for his subject and the narrator helps to bring that to life and infuse the reader with the same level of joy and passion.

This is a little gem of a book. Not quite what I was expecting. I think I was thinking more of it in terms of the science but instead got more history and fascinating history at that. The book is scattered with stories of exploration, discovery, health, challenge and more.
Ice……….such an ordinary everyday substance that most of us hardly give a moments thought to. After reading this book you will have a whole new appreciation of its value. With climate change so topical and the disappearance of the planet’s glaciers this book couldn’t have come at a better time.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did an excellent job throughout.
I can only say……….read it.

Thanks to NetGalley.co.uk and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.

Who would have thought that a book about ice could be so interesting? It’s something we take for granted, be it icebergs, ice cubes, icicles or slippy roads…but a book about this substance. What is there to write! Max Leonard answers that in a sweeping and authoritative examination of the way in which ice has shaped outperform world and how it’s key to survival of the human race.

It moves seamlessly from scientific consideration, social impact, geographical issues and quirky detailed instances. I wasn’t aware that Churchill had a weird plan involving ice and the story about mummies is fascinating. The narrative strikes just the right balance between being too packed with technical and scientific data and too frivolous. The narrative throughout is excellent and this is a really interesting look at how much this simple substance affects our lives. I’ve really enjoyed this.

A Cold Spell - A Human History of Ice, the audiobook by Max Leonard is an interesting look at our history by following our interaction with ice. Not something I’d considered before.A great way to address human evolution, climaxing in our current situation.