atmospheric dynamics is a difficult yet essential topic for students to understand. although well-regarded, the leading book in the field (holton, intro to dynamic meteorology) is considered difficult even for the more able students and there is a need for a mathematically rigorous yet accessible textbook that is primarily aimed at atmospheric science majors. the first five chapters of mid-latitude atmospheric dynamics: a first course constitutes a companion text to an introductory course covering the dynamics of the mid-latitude atmosphere. the final four chapters constitute a more advanced course, and provide insights into the diagnostic power of the quasi-geostrophic approximation of the equations outlined in the previous chapters, the meso-scale dynamics of thefrontal zone, the alternative pv perspective for cyclone interpretation, and the dynamics of the life-cycle of mid-latitude cyclones. what makes this text more accessible than holtons is the emphasis on conceptual understanding. real weather examples are woven through the mathematical rigour of chapters 1-5, and chapters 6-9 introduce a range of global case studies. each chapter sets out clear learning objectives and tests students knowledge with concluding questions and answers. a generic companion website (hosted by wiley) with a link through to the authors own site for example weather models is in discussion.