| | |  | Wind Power | Home » » Windmills of New England: Their Genius, Madness, History & Future | | | | | | | Description: | | With an almost quixotic dedication to his subject, Dan Lombardo has scoured countrysides, seasides and archives in a quest to comprehend the fascinating history and exciting future of the windmills of New England. Combining a fun approach with scholarly rigor, he examines the many ways windmills revolutionized the lives of our ancestors, just as modern wind power is now poised to change local and perhaps even world politics. Indeed, with wind farms now producing electricity at prices that are highly competitive with all other sources - and generating "electrical" controversies in the local and national news - this book could not be any more timely. Lombardo takes his readers along with him on a journey to the antique remains of wooden windmills to meet the people who care for and treasure them. He introduces us to young apprentices learning to grind corn, artists using windmills as studios, and even an engineer who single-handedly operates a major modern electric wind farm. Lombardo explores the powerful poetic and literary uses of windmills, their imagery in film, their impact on language, and their place in popular culture, such as in residential and commercial architecture, as lawn ornaments, and as perennial obstacles on mini-golf courses. Along the way, he has collected more than 160 photographs, vintage postcards and other renderings. This invaluable volume is complete with online and other resources, a useful index, and a series of windmill tours to assist readers with their own windmill adventures. | | | Product Details: | | | Author:
| Daniel Lombardo | | Hardcover:
| 247 pages | | Publisher:
| On Cape Publications | | Publication Date:
| 2003-10 | | Language:
| English | | ISBN:
| 0971954771 | | Package Length:
| 12.1 inches | | Package Width:
| 9.1 inches | | Package Height:
| 1.2 inches | | Package Weight:
| 3.45 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 3 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
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 windmills of the east shoreJul 18, 2009
This book presents a wonderful history of windmills that were developed, used and now in some cases are utilized as housing. We recently stayed at a friends house in Wellfleet where they had this 'table top' book. I enjoyed it soo much that I had to order it.
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
 Captivating History Brings Windmills to LifeFeb 06, 2004
Dan Lombardo's "Windmills of New England: Their Genius, Madness, History & Future" is written in a very scholarly manner, yet it is obviously a labor of love and as a result he has created a fun and interesting read. This book has something for everyone. Not only is it full of history and wonderful historical photographs for the history buff, but there are literary elements here as well. Mr. Lombardo has collected a compendium of windmill sayings for the reader to discover the origins of "Daily Grind", "Rule of Thumb" and many more. I also enjoyed the easy-to-understand explanations of how windmills and wind turbines work, along with the glossary of windmill terms. He really makes the history come alive and presents wind power in a historical context.This beautiful, oversized cloth book makes a wonderful read. I'm excited for warmer weather, so I can try the driving tours that are provided at the end of the book for Cape Cod, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
Answers in the windDec 13, 2003
A wonderful read about the history and future of wind power. Besides being well written with attention to windmill construction and historic facts - this book gave me a deeper appreciation for humanity's effort to harness wind power. I especially enjoyed the many photographs and illustrations of historic and modern windmills.
The creative structures and engineering feats to accomplish the transmutation of wind energy into mechanical energy are interesting and, in some instances - mind boggling. There is even a section based on the little ornamental windmills we see decorating yards and miniature golf courses.
As we learn from this book, our human effort to use wind power to serve our needs for grinding grain, pumping water or producing electricity - creates an interesting history. In a way, this book tells the story of our relationship with wind from the earliest of times. It even tells how windmills, by the position of their arms, were used as secret signal towers during times of war.
I strongly suggest this book for anyone who has an interest in wind power, which is now being explored as one of the answers to helping humankind solve our energy crisis.
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