The Right Attitude to Rain

The Right Attitude to Rain is the third installment in Alexander McCall Smith's Sunday Philosophy Club series, which follows Isabel Dalhousie, a philosopher and editor living in Edinburgh. Isabel manages the Review of Applied Ethics and lives a comfortable life surrounded by a small circle that includes her niece Cat, housekeeper Grace, and Cat's former boyfriend Jamie. The story centers on Isabel's interactions with an American couple she meets at an art gallery, and the arrival of her cousins from Dallas who bring connections to other American expatriates in Scotland. Isabel also becomes involved in the process of purchasing a flat, which leads to unexpected assumptions about her relationship status. Throughout the novel, Isabel examines her own reactions, judgments, and relationships while navigating social situations in Edinburgh's cultured circles. Her philosophical background influences how she approaches personal and ethical questions that arise during these encounters. The novel explores themes of perception versus reality, the nature of attraction, and how cultural differences shape human connections. These elements combine in a narrative that considers the role of ethical thinking in everyday life.

Readers rate this book 3.8/5 on Goodreads (7,800+ ratings) and 4/5 on Amazon (200+ ratings). Readers note the book's contemplative pacing and focus on character relationships over mystery plotting. Many appreciate McCall Smith's observations about Edinburgh culture and society. Several reviewers mention enjoying Isabel's philosophical musings and internal debates about ethics. Common criticisms include: - Too much focus on romance/relationships vs mystery - Slow pace with limited plot advancement - Excessive descriptions of tea, coffee and meal preparation - Philosophical tangents that distract from the story "The charm of Edinburgh and its inhabitants makes up for the minimal mystery elements" notes one Amazon reviewer. A Goodreads review states "Unlike the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, these books require patience - they're more about moral philosophy than solving crimes." Some readers report struggling to connect with Isabel as a protagonist, finding her overthinking and self-analysis frustrating rather than engaging.

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🔸 Edinburgh's atmospheric "haar" - the cold sea fog mentioned in the book - is a natural phenomenon that occurs when warm air passes over the cold North Sea, creating a mystical blanket over the city. 🔸 Alexander McCall Smith wrote the first Isabel Dalhousie novel in 2004 while simultaneously working as a professor of medical law at the University of Edinburgh. 🔸 The Review of Applied Ethics, where Isabel works as an editor, is fictional but inspired by real academic journals like the Journal of Applied Philosophy and Ethics. 🔸 The book's title "The Right Attitude to Rain" reflects a distinctly Scottish philosophical approach to weather, embracing rather than lamenting the frequent precipitation. 🔸 The Sunday Philosophy Club series draws inspiration from the real-life Gifford Lectures, prestigious talks on natural theology held at Edinburgh University since 1888.