Hodder to publish first book from YouTube science communicator Clark

Hodder & Stoughton has acquired Firmament by YouTube scientist and science communicator Simon Clark.

Firmament is Clark’s first book and is billed as an "accessible and engaging" introduction to the atmosphere, a topic that is close to the author's heart and the subject of many of his videos on his YouTube channel. The title will lift the lid on a field of science that is often overlooked and misunderstood, says the publisher, and will go beyond the headlines and buzzwords surrounding weather and climate to tell the story of the atmosphere, how it works and those who discovered it.

Ian Wong, assistant editor for non-fiction, acquired world rights from Chris Wellbelove at Aitken Alexander. The book will be published in hardback, trade paperback, e-book and audio on 27th January 2022.

Wong said: "Headlines about the polar vortex are now an annual tradition in the age of Extinction Rebellion and climate denialism, but the actual science of the atmosphere—the very thing that connects weather and climate change—is itself often overlooked. Simon’s work on YouTube is an exemplar of what brilliant popular science communication looks like, and with Firmament, I’m delighted to be helping him reach a new audience with his mission to show just how fascinating and worthy of our attention the atmosphere itself is."

Clark commented: "Having this opportunity to shine a light on the workings of the atmosphere is a real privilege. I hope that Firmament introduces its readers to key characters in the history of atmospheric science, as well as the fundamental mechanics of the very air we breathe. Researching this book I was introduced to life-threatening peril, fairytale endings, and the making of meteorology in parallel to the making of the modern world—a journey I hope that readers will also enjoy!"