Cool: How Air Conditioning Changed Everything

by Salvatore Basile

Overview

A narrative history of the development of air conditioning from its beginnings to its current state, with an emphasis on its reception by members of the public.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780823261789
Publisher:	Fordham University Press
Publication date:	09/01/2014
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	288
File size:	10 MB

About the Author

SALVATORE BASILE was educated at the Boston Conservatory and The Juilliard School and began his career as a professional musician. After penning various music-related articles, he entered the field of social commentary with his history Fifth Avenue Famous: The Extraordinary Story of Music at St. Patrick’s Cathedral (Fordham).

Table of Contents

Introduction
1. Ice, Air, and Crowd Poison
2. The Wondrous Comfort of Ammonia
3. For Paper, Not People
4. Coolth: Everybody's Doing It
5. Big Ideas. Bold Concepts. Bad Timing.
6. From Home Front to Each Home
7. The Unnecessary, Unhealthy Luxury (that No One would Give Up)

Editorial Reviews

"Sal Basile's conversational style and knack for turning a phrase make Cool a brisk and delightful read." —Christopher Dietrich, Fordham University

"Cool offers a fascinating glimpse into what life was like before the advent of air conditioning and how its acceptance changed society. Well researched and with fascinating stories on every page, Cool is a fast-paced chronicle of one of history's behind-the-scenes stories that many of us take for granted: how air conditioning changed the way we live."—Chuck Campbell, President/CEO, Friedrich Air Conditioning Co.

"A look at our love affair with air-conditioning. . . breezily anecdotal."—New York Times

"Some surprising things you probably don't know about air conditioning."—Los Angeles Times

"COOL tells the surprisingly suspenseful story of the development and gradual adoption of air conditioning in the United States. The puckish Basile is more than up to the task, and his copious research pays off: Not only is COOL an informative read, each chapter is strewn with more anecdotes than there are sprinkles on an ice cream cone. Some are hilarious; others, jaw-dropping. Best of all, each chapter leaves you wanting more."—American Scientist

"The all-encompassing guidebook to the history of air conditioning, chronicling the numerous gimmicks, failed attempts, con jobs, and eventual successes . . . a surprisingly interesting journey."—San Francisco Book Review

". . .[Basile] demonstrates in his new book Cool: How Air Conditioning Changed Everything that the story of how humankind gradually attempted to overcome the slow torture of hot weather is actually a quite fascinating one."—James Richmond, Richmond Air

"Author Salvatore Basile has captured the history of the long, and generally unsuccessful, battle against the hear in his new book, Cool: How Air Conditioning Changed Everything.'" —Bruno Air Conditioning

"Snarky. . . entertaining."—Weekly Standard

"Charming . . . Much fun . . . short, sharp micro-history."—New Scientist

"Fascinating . . . examines the technology and its penetration into American life."—First Things

"A joy. . . I wish you coolth!"—KCRW-FM

"Cool: How Air Conditioning Changed Everything provides history readers and social science students alike with a review of how air conditioning evolved and changed life in America, and is recommended not just for college collections but for any seeking a pairing of history and lively social insights." Midwest Book Review

From the Publisher

A joy . . . I wish you coolth!

KCRW-FM

COOL tells the surprisingly suspenseful story of the development and gradual adoption of air conditioning in the United States. The puckish Basile is more than up to the task, and his copious research pays off: Not only is COOL an informative read, each chapter is strewn with more anecdotes than there are sprinkles on an ice cream cone. Some are hilarious; others, jaw-dropping. Best of all, each chapter leaves you wanting more.

American Scientist

Charming . . . Much fun . . . short, sharp micro-history.

New Scientist

A look at our love affair with air-conditioning … breezily anecdotal.

The New York Times

. . . A lively and endlessly informative tale about how air conditioning happened scientifically and what it has done for and to us.

The Common Reader

Snarky … entertaining.

Weekly Standard

The all-encompassing guidebook to the history of air conditioning, chronicling the numerous gimmicks, failed attempts, con jobs, and eventual successes … a surprisingly interesting journey.

San Francisco Book Review

Cool: How Air Conditioning Changed Everything provides history readers and social science students alike with a review of how air conditioning evolved and changed life in America, and is recommended not just for college collections but for any seeking a pairing of history and lively social insights.

Midwest Book Review

Fascinating … examines the technology and its penetration into American life.

First Things

Some surprising things you probably don't know about air conditioning.

|Los Angeles Times

“Some surprising things you probably don't know about air conditioning.

Los Angeles Times

“A look at our love affair with air-conditioning … breezily anecdotal.

The New York Times

“Charming … Much fun … short, sharp micro-history.

New Scientist