
A Billion Butterflies
A Life in Climate and Chaos Theory
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Narrated by:
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Shahjehan Khan
About this listen
The amazing true story of the man behind modern weather prediction
Consider a world without weather prediction. How would we know when to evacuate communities ahead of fires or floods, or figure out what to wear tomorrow? Until 40 years ago, we couldn’t forecast weather conditions beyond ten days. Renowned climate scientist Dr. Jagadish Shukla is largely to thank for modern weather forecasting. Born in rural India with no electricity, plumbing, or formal schools, he attended classes that were held in a cow shed. Shukla grew up amid turmoil: overwhelming monsoons, devastating droughts, and unpredictable crop yields. His drive brought him to the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, despite little experience. He then followed an unlikely path to MIT and Princeton, and the highest echelons of climate science. His work, which has enabled us to predict weather farther into the future than previously thought possible, allows us to feed more people, save lives, and hold on to hope in a warming world.
Paired with his philanthropic endeavors and extreme dedication to the field, Dr. Shukla has been lauded internationally for his achievements, including a shared Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore for his governmental research on climate change. A Billion Butterflies is a wondrous insider’s account of climate science and an unbelievable memoir of his life. Understanding dynamical seasonal prediction will change the way you experience a thunderstorm or interpret a forecast; understanding its origins and the remarkable story of the man who discovered it will change the way you see our world.
A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.
©2025 Dr. Jagadish Shukla (P)2025 Macmillan AudioCritic reviews
“The memoir of a scientist who rose from poverty in India to triumph in his specialty. … An admirable and inspiring account from a pioneering figure in climate research.”–Kirkus Reviews
“A scintillating look at the rewards and pitfalls of dedicating one’s life to science.”–Publishers Weekly
“Shukla is a captivating storyteller, modest, funny, and warm. Readers will be thrilled to discover a new hero, a globally impactful scientist, educator, and humanitarian.”–Booklist (starred)
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