The Year Without Summer: 1816 and the Volcano That Darkened the World and Changed History

Mount Tambora erupted in 1816, spreading large amounts of ash into the atmosphere. This had impacts on the weather throughout the world. The Year Without Summer brings that all into context. Rather than just focus on the direct weather impacts, it brings in the entire historical context. Both Napoleon and Frankenstein make appearances. Sunspots are often postulated as a theory for the strange weather. Others proclaim it is a sign of the end of the world. There are summer snows and massive crop failures.

Ireland suffered from crop failures due to heavy rains. New England and Canada suffered due to cold weather. There was some hope of a late growing season that was quickly dashed by a frost. Countries that did have sufficient food stores started to clamp down on exports to help preserve for themselves.

There were difficulties, but the world did continue to function. Jane Austen wrote her final book before passing away in 1817. Joseph Smith Senior's family moved around in a struggle to farm in New England. His son would go on to found the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Other government and literary figures continued to go about their lives. It is interesting to see how this weather event did trigger changes in the course of history. 

Krakatoa

[July 2009] Simon Winchester has a talent for making a single event at the same time intimate and all encompassing, while imparting a good deal of scientific knowledge at the same time. In Krakatoa, he includes detailed history of the science behind the volcano (including the history of the scientists and the origin of plate tectonic theory.) He also provided the cultural and colonial history of Indonesia, thus providing a feel for the general environment in which the explosion occurred. And he filled in his personal tales, including scientific expeditions, embarrassing college blunders and a trip to Krakatoa. He even goes on to show how some loose threads connect the Volcano to aspects of militant Islam and decolonization.
The end result is an entertaining story that meanders around many aspects of the volcano that would not be in the 'encyclopedia entry', yet still have some degree of relevance to the story.
On the audiobook, the author narrates his own book in a pleasant manner that sound almost as if a friend is sharing a story of his learnings and adventures.