Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
New York : Knopf, 2004.
Description
From the acclaimed author of Life and Trilobite!, a fascinating geological exploration of the earth's distant history as revealed by its natural wonders. The face of the earth, crisscrossed by chains of mountains like the scars of old wounds, has changed and changed again over billions of years, and the testament of the remote past is all around us. In this book Richard Fortey teaches us how to read its character, laying out the dominions of the world before us. He shows how human culture and natural history-even the shape of cities-are rooted in this deep geological past. In search of this past, Fortey takes us through the Alps, into Icelandic hot springs, down to the ocean floor, over the barren rocks of Newfoundland, into the lush ecosystems of Hawai'i, across the salt flats of Oman, and along the San Andreas Fault. On the slopes of Vesuvius, he tracks the history of the region down through the centuries to volcanic eruptions seen by fifteenth-century Italians, the Romans, and, from striking geological evidence, even Neolithic man. As story adds to story, the recent past connects with forgotten ages long ago, then much longer ago, as he describes the movement of plates and the development of ancient continents and seas. Nothing in this book is at rest. The surface of the earth dilates and collapses; seas and mountains rise and fall; continents move. Fortey again proves himself the ideal guide, with his superb descriptions of natural beauty, his gripping narratives, and his crystal-clear, always fascinating scientific explanations. Here is a book to change the way we see the world.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member dchaikin
This is a popular science book that attempts to cover as much as possible about geology, including its historical development, a huge variety of its aspects of study, and, almost, a global summary of the Earths geology. In a sense, Fortey tries to follow in the footsteps of few famous world
His tour includes wonderful parts on the evolution of geological theories on mountain building, plate tectonics, the Alps and the Appalachian-Caledonian chain; a 40 page summary of the geology around the world. He also covers Pompeii, Hawaii, Newfoundland, Scotland, Norway, India's Decan Flats, the San Adreas Fault, and endless topics such as valuable metals, igneous rocks, radiometric dating, ancient gneisses, the deep earth, etc. From my point of view, with a geology degree, Fortey was a great find. He provides a stepping stone to so many mysteries.
Fortey writes with a mixture of awe and facts. His language is accessible. To his credit, despite the popular tone, he seems to take very seriously getting the facts correct, at least as far as I could tell. But, it's a dense book full of details. If he doesn't capture you early in a chapter, then it's tough to read through. How accessible is this book for someone without a geology education? I'm not sure. Despite the nice language, readers may still drown in the geologic terms and the endless details. Certainly, it will be slow going.
I think it’s interesting to compare this to John Mcphee's "Annals of the Former World" (Pulitzer Prize, 1998) which, although it focuses on US geology, serves the same sort of purpose as an introduction to geology. "Annals" was immensely successful, both interesting and accessible to anyone. Mcphee created this collection by writing about people, working geologists. So, he avoids the details and lets the subject guide what is covered and what isn't. In other words, Mcphee is essentially a journalist, a nonfiction writer who wrote about geology. He captures the reader first, and gives the facts later, albeit only a sampling of facts
Fortey, on the other hand, is a professional paleontologist who writes. He writes very well, and geologically his book is so much richer than Mcphee’s books. He brings in his own valuable experiences, and he undresses the world in a way Mcphee never does. But, Fortey's book isn't as successful, it's a tough read and, while he can certainly grab you, he doesn't always.
One nice thing about this book is you don’t need to read it all the way through. I think a reader can pick up a chapter anywhere and get along. Each chapter has a nice intro and interesting, thoughtful conclusion. My favorite is this conclusion to the plate tectonics chapter: "Mankind is no more than a parasitic tick gorging himself on temporary plenty while the seas are low and climate comparatively clement. But the present arrangement of land and sea will change, and with it our brief supremacy.
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geological summaries of the past, but, he is doing it for a wide audience. To make it work, Fortey tries to write it as a tour. It's a terrific effort.His tour includes wonderful parts on the evolution of geological theories on mountain building, plate tectonics, the Alps and the Appalachian-Caledonian chain; a 40 page summary of the geology around the world. He also covers Pompeii, Hawaii, Newfoundland, Scotland, Norway, India's Decan Flats, the San Adreas Fault, and endless topics such as valuable metals, igneous rocks, radiometric dating, ancient gneisses, the deep earth, etc. From my point of view, with a geology degree, Fortey was a great find. He provides a stepping stone to so many mysteries.
Fortey writes with a mixture of awe and facts. His language is accessible. To his credit, despite the popular tone, he seems to take very seriously getting the facts correct, at least as far as I could tell. But, it's a dense book full of details. If he doesn't capture you early in a chapter, then it's tough to read through. How accessible is this book for someone without a geology education? I'm not sure. Despite the nice language, readers may still drown in the geologic terms and the endless details. Certainly, it will be slow going.
I think it’s interesting to compare this to John Mcphee's "Annals of the Former World" (Pulitzer Prize, 1998) which, although it focuses on US geology, serves the same sort of purpose as an introduction to geology. "Annals" was immensely successful, both interesting and accessible to anyone. Mcphee created this collection by writing about people, working geologists. So, he avoids the details and lets the subject guide what is covered and what isn't. In other words, Mcphee is essentially a journalist, a nonfiction writer who wrote about geology. He captures the reader first, and gives the facts later, albeit only a sampling of facts
Fortey, on the other hand, is a professional paleontologist who writes. He writes very well, and geologically his book is so much richer than Mcphee’s books. He brings in his own valuable experiences, and he undresses the world in a way Mcphee never does. But, Fortey's book isn't as successful, it's a tough read and, while he can certainly grab you, he doesn't always.
One nice thing about this book is you don’t need to read it all the way through. I think a reader can pick up a chapter anywhere and get along. Each chapter has a nice intro and interesting, thoughtful conclusion. My favorite is this conclusion to the plate tectonics chapter: "Mankind is no more than a parasitic tick gorging himself on temporary plenty while the seas are low and climate comparatively clement. But the present arrangement of land and sea will change, and with it our brief supremacy.
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LibraryThing member solla
There are many things I like about this book. One is just the subject matter. I like to read about the inner workings of the earth, volcanoes, plate tectonics, the forming and breakup of super continents. Fortey does a good job of explaining current theory and telling about what it is based upon,
No so good is - there is a chart of the ages - Cambrian, etc. at the back. Unfortunately, I didn't notice til almost the end, and it would have been helpful if he had given a brief explanation every so often of when an age occurred, or referred to the chart. There is a lot of description of rocks occurring in layers, that would have been more useful to me had I known more about them. (Basically I know there are sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic) But for the most part I was content to skip over details to get the large picture. Only, towards the end I got a bit impatient with it.
I feel like I want to do a bit of studying, and then come back to this some time.
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as well as relating the history of thought about geological matters. it was written in 2004, so it should be fairly up to date, and if you are interested in the subject at all I would recommend it. The explanation of the large theories is good. No so good is - there is a chart of the ages - Cambrian, etc. at the back. Unfortunately, I didn't notice til almost the end, and it would have been helpful if he had given a brief explanation every so often of when an age occurred, or referred to the chart. There is a lot of description of rocks occurring in layers, that would have been more useful to me had I known more about them. (Basically I know there are sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic) But for the most part I was content to skip over details to get the large picture. Only, towards the end I got a bit impatient with it.
I feel like I want to do a bit of studying, and then come back to this some time.
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LibraryThing member DirtPriest
I can't recommend this highly enough as an introductory geology book. The writing is very clear and entertaining, being written almost like a travel guide as Fortey trots around the globe, using specific examples to illustrate general processes. The amount of science sneaks up on you, though, and
Hopefully I'm being neutral here as I'm a geology major, but this is a rare book that honeys up the science to make it seem pretty easy.
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you might not realize just how much geology you are actually learning. One of the other reviews mentions that the very early parts are a bit overwhelming. Fortey describes at length the different rocks around Naples, and Mt. Vesuvius, which kinds of drones on a bit. What he is doing though is showing how the local stone is used in building, how it blends into the scenery. My impression is that both he and the reader are preparing to dive into some cold water. After a few moments (or pages) it isn't all that bad in the end, and the swimming can begin in earnest. Outstanding science writing.Hopefully I'm being neutral here as I'm a geology major, but this is a rare book that honeys up the science to make it seem pretty easy.
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LibraryThing member RoboSchro
"An awesome vista of geological time suddenly opens up before us, a vision of age after age of mountain-building, of continents remaking themselves, stretching far back into the distant reaches of the Precambrian. It should provoke a sense of our own insignificance, but it also stimulates a sense
This book is a delight. I chose it nearly at random, looking for a new popular science book -- I have no background in geology. Now I'm interested, where I wasn't before. Like the best popular science, it opens the layperson's eyes to a better understanding of the world, and gives one a glimpse of what it must be like to really know its particular field well.
Fortey is obviously trying to appeal to a broad readership, and I think he nearly succeeds. He takes pains, for instance, to explain that scientists whose ideas turned out to be wrong were not necessarily any less wise or important than those whose ideas turned out to be right. (Anyone who understands the scientific method shouldn't need to learn that lesson.) He's very good at incorporating human touches to the course of scientific history, both his own and others', and the book is surprisingly easy reading considering the amount of detail. Yet I suspect the subject matter is probably too dry for most, despite his efforts.
The chapters are organised by theme -- volcanoes, mountains, minerals, continents, etc. This works well, and means that the early chapters aren't just about old, discredited theories. It would probably be possible to dip in and out of the book without getting too lost.
The only criticism I would level is that his attempts to convey the "immensity of time" get him into trouble. What is described in one chapter as ever-changing, in slow but inevitable flux, is described in the next as permanent, eternal. Fortey's enthusiasm occasionally runs away with him, and he gets a bit self-contradictory.
This is only in regard to our perceptions of things, however. On the science itself, he is (so far as I can tell) rigorous, and he is certainly accessible. A great book.
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of wonder that we, alone among organisms, have been privileged to see these vanished worlds, and challenged to understand the immensity of time. A sudden squall makes us shiver, and turn up our collars."This book is a delight. I chose it nearly at random, looking for a new popular science book -- I have no background in geology. Now I'm interested, where I wasn't before. Like the best popular science, it opens the layperson's eyes to a better understanding of the world, and gives one a glimpse of what it must be like to really know its particular field well.
Fortey is obviously trying to appeal to a broad readership, and I think he nearly succeeds. He takes pains, for instance, to explain that scientists whose ideas turned out to be wrong were not necessarily any less wise or important than those whose ideas turned out to be right. (Anyone who understands the scientific method shouldn't need to learn that lesson.) He's very good at incorporating human touches to the course of scientific history, both his own and others', and the book is surprisingly easy reading considering the amount of detail. Yet I suspect the subject matter is probably too dry for most, despite his efforts.
The chapters are organised by theme -- volcanoes, mountains, minerals, continents, etc. This works well, and means that the early chapters aren't just about old, discredited theories. It would probably be possible to dip in and out of the book without getting too lost.
The only criticism I would level is that his attempts to convey the "immensity of time" get him into trouble. What is described in one chapter as ever-changing, in slow but inevitable flux, is described in the next as permanent, eternal. Fortey's enthusiasm occasionally runs away with him, and he gets a bit self-contradictory.
This is only in regard to our perceptions of things, however. On the science itself, he is (so far as I can tell) rigorous, and he is certainly accessible. A great book.
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LibraryThing member yapete
Richard Fortey is a great science writer. This one starts a bit slow, but gets better and better as you read on - so don't give up in the first two chapters! It is very entertaining and on the way you get a crash course in 101 Geology (or maybe 202?).
LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey
Interesting. It covered basic geology, focusing on plate tectonics (of course) and on how the theory was developed - who discovered things that lead to the theory, who fought the concept (and the concepts that led to it) - interestingly, those are often the same people. He does it by looking at
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individual spots, some relatively small (Etna), some rather huge (the Alps, as a whole and several spots within them); showing the kinds of rocks that are there and then covering the _why_ of those rocks in that spot. There are frequent, somewhat disconcerting, personal side comments - "these rocks are interesting because I shared an office with a guy who was studying them" sort of thing. But this book doesn't suffer from the gossip that made Dry Storeroom No. 1 less than interesting to me. I do know quite a bit of geology, and he gave me few facts I wasn't already familiar with - but his presentation fit them together in ways they hadn't been before. It's a quite readable book, aside from what you might (will) learn from it. There's quite a bit of the history of the science - as I said above, who discovered what and what theories that led to, and then the next steps along the path. He does say, several times, that plate tectonics is still a concept under development - that it exists and has major effects on the structure of the Earth is solid, but details like what drives the motion, exactly what happens when plates are subducted (pushed down into the mantle, where - eventually - they melt), what the core of the Earth actually consists of (at the molecular level)...these are still being worked out. I don't think that's changed much in the last 10 or so years, since this book was published. Good book, worth reading, and probably worth rereading in a few years. Show Less
LibraryThing member vguy
Quite a climb! 500 pages of stuff I don't know. Very clear and human account including subtle displays of his literary savvy and personal anecdotes. but the terminology is a challenge for a beginner. Things I've heard of but only have a vague idea about, like gneiss or shale; others completely new
beryllium or olivine. Anecdotes include both his own experiences and tales of the discoveries and disputes between the great geologists; these open the window quite a bit. The literary touches include lots of phrases that echo or subtly quote the greats of English lit (" the whirligig of deep time", "the heart of darkness of the ancient continent", )actual quote. Her and there an actual quote from a Lawrence or an Eliot, and more important flights of elegant prose of his own creation. All goes to make a tough read manageable to the neophyte.
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to me like beryllium or olivine. Anecdotes include both his own experiences and tales of the discoveries and disputes between the great geologists; these open the window quite a bit. The literary touches include lots of phrases that echo or subtly quote the greats of English lit (" the whirligig of deep time", "the heart of darkness of the ancient continent", )actual quote. Her and there an actual quote from a Lawrence or an Eliot, and more important flights of elegant prose of his own creation. All goes to make a tough read manageable to the neophyte.
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LibraryThing member markm2315
Geology is a branch of science that I know very little about. I got this illustrated introduction from the Folio Society (possibly for free). This is the guy who wrote "Trilobites!", one of my favorite book titles. He uses various places around the world to exemplify a particular geological
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principle and includes a lot of the history of the development of the science. I especially enjoyed his trip into the grand canyon on a burro. There is an awful lot of squeezing and thrusting here, and I occasionally passed out while reading this. Show Less
Awards
Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize (Shortlist — 2005)
Booklist Editor's Choice: Adult Books (Science — 2004)
Language
Original publication date
2004
Physical description
xii, 429 p.; 25 cm
ISBN
9780375406263
DDC/MDS
| 551.7 |