This book investigates the historical intersection between American societal development and the shifting roles of weather and climate from the colonial era to the modern day. Author William B. Meyer, a scholar of environmental geography, synthesizes interdisciplinary research to argue that weather events are not inherently hazardous or beneficial, but rather gain their significance through their interaction with specific human activities. He posits that while climate does not dictate human history, the evolving nature of American industry, technology, and settlement has fundamentally altered how weather impacts the national experience.

Experts recognize this work as a foundational text for understanding the intersection of environmental history and human geography. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the breadth of the research, which provides a unique perspective on how American life has adapted to atmospheric conditions over centuries.