Customer Reviews:
Excellent beginner book for geology........2006-01-19
This book covers general geology and the fundamentals of earth processes and paleontology. From earthquakes to evolution, this book gives at least a superficial and fundamental view of each major topic. The images and diagrams are by far the most impressive part of this book. Full color diagrams, photos and drawings help to illustrate practically every page.
Chapter 1: historical theories in geology as well as the basics of geology from the rock cycle to geologic time.
Chapter 2: minerals, rock properties and types of rocks.
Chapter 3: basic scientific organization of life and fossils.
Chapter 4: environment and its relationship with life.
Chapter 5: sedimentary rocks, soils & environments including glaciers, lakes, deserts, rivers and the ocean.
Chapter 6: geologic time, stratigraphy basics and dating methods.
Chapter 7: evolution basics, concepts of extinction, evolutionary trends.
Chapter 8: plate tectonics - evidence, consequences and general mechanisms.
Chapter 9: orogenesis (mountain building) - processes, introduction to structural geology.
Chapter 10: introduction to geochemistry - chemical cycles, isotopes, atmospheric trends related to weathering rates, climate-related isotopes and mineralogy.
Chapter 11 - Chapter 20 each deal with a major phase in geologic time from the creation of the planet to the movement of the plates to the great ice ages and finally to the modern era.
The CD, while helpful, essentially contains the same information as the book. I personally did not find it any more or less helpful than the book itself.
As a text book, it's decent!.......2005-11-04
Earth System History, Second Edition was my textbook for Geology 1001, and to my surprise I could actually read it without falling asleep. This is not to say that it is a page turner, but the pictures are interesting and Stanley skips a lot of the cheesy textbook speak. I'm not sure I would buy this book if I wasn't required to, but if geology is your thing- it would be great.
It is wonderfull !.......2000-03-20
Everybody that is interested in historical geology and paleontology must have this book. It is clear with a lot of informations, has beautifull pictures and a fantastic CD ROM. One of the best I bought last year !
Book Description
HISTORICAL GEOLOGY: EVOLUTION OF EARTH AND LIFE THROUGH TIME teaches students basic geologic principles as well as how scientists apply these principles to unravel Earth?s history. Wicander and Monroe present a balanced overview of both the geological and biological history of Earth as a continuum of inter-related events. These events reflect the underlying principles and processes that have shaped our planet. The authors also explain the historical development of these basic principles and processes, and their importance in deciphering Earth history. Three major themes?time, evolutionary theory, and plate tectonics?are woven together throughout the book. These themes help students link essential material to enhance their understanding of historical geology.
Customer Reviews:
strong explanation of evolution.......2006-02-17
The authors give a strong explanation of biological evolution, from its earliest unicellular origins to the present. Much fossil and DNA evidence is summarised. Including recent findings in fossil digs from the 90s.
They point out that many so-called missing links are not. For relations between genera, families, orders and classes, the intermediate forms ("links") are often present in the fossil record. Amongst the cases cited are the origins of whales and sea cows.
More generally, the book has numerous instances where transitions found in fossils are explained in terms of limbs or bones developing, or suchlike, so that you can clearly see how one fossil is the evolutionary ancestor of another later fossil. As in the early fishes. Where those who developed jaws with bones were then more able to hunt other fishes; a strong evolutionary advantage. While the move onto land is shown in fossils that had fins with muscles. This allowed for propulsion above water, where the original advantage was to let the fish move around under water, in mud or vegetation.
Geology is also emphasised. Often giving rise to various ore and petroleum bodies found today. Plus plate tectonics is shown to account for the continental drifts and the breakup of Gondwanaland.
Book Description
HISTORICAL GEOLOGY teaches students basic geologic principles as well as how scientists apply these principles to unravel Earth's history. Wicander and Monroe present a balanced overview of both the geological and biological history of Earth as a continuum of inter-related events. These events reflect the underlying principles and processes that have shaped our planet. The authors also explain the historical development of these basic principles and processes, and their importance in deciphering Earth history. Three major themes - time, evolutionary theory, and plate tectonics - are woven together throughout the book. These themes help students link essential material to enhance their understanding of historical geology.
Customer Reviews:
Good job.......2007-09-10
Got it a week before school started, which is about two weeks before the school bookstore shipped me my other textbooks. Thanks for that. Also, it was at a better price than the school bookstore tried to sell it to me for. An all around good buy and purchasing experience.
Good book.......2007-02-13
The book is very user friendly and explains Historical geology in a learning way
Great text .......2007-01-19
This most recent edition includes an updated planetary system as well as an improved structure of the geologic time scale. It is, however, ridiculously expensive when compared to the older edition. In my opinion,I do not believe that it is worth the added cost.
Book Description
This best-selling historical geology text provides an excellent balance of basic geology and paleontology. The new eighth edition provides rich, authoritative coverage of the history of the Earth, offering the most comprehensive history in the discipline today. It maintains its strong approach to stratigraphy and paleontology that other texts have lost. The text's paleogeographic maps are excellent in detail and are a vital component in understanding the earth's history.
Customer Reviews:
The Earth Through Time.......2005-04-23
I first used the 4th Edition, at Marshall University, Huntington, WV. The 7th Edition is an excellent textbook, it covers all the basics of paleo, and geology. Also, it keeps abreast of the latest in geological research. It is use in 3 colleges, in the immediate area. Also, the study guide will assist in a better grasp of the materials. Recomend it to any one that wants a better understanding of earth. I ordered mine through asane@memphis.edu
Mexican opinion........1999-12-21
The book is so good to understand the earth's evolution and the origin of the features of the planet. If you live on the Nortamerican plate this book shows you the history or your place. If you are not in America, may be you will disgusting because the title describes to much of the evolution in norteamerica and avoids a little the other parts of the word. Although is still a very good textbook for Historical Geology, and you will enjoy to read it, it's like to read a novel, a novel full of imagens, a very good edition. Recommended for nongraduated estudents.
Este libro es muy bueno para entender la historia de la Tierra y los porigenes de las caracteristicas del planeta...el porque la Tierra es como es. Solo que hace mucho enfasis en el continente americano, sobre todo en la geologia del escudo canadiense y si tu no vives en America tal ves te desespere ver que trata mucho de esta parte del globo. Pero aun asi es un excelente libro para el curso de Geologia Historica..vivas donde vivas. Su lectura es muy amena, es como leer una novela y aparte esta lleno de imagenes, esta muy buen ilustrado, muy buena edicion. Recomendado para estudiantes universitarios.
Average customer rating:
- Great entertainment for the lay person
- Probably the best geology book for lay persons
- Classic book on plate tectonics.
|
Making of a Continent
Ron Redfern
Manufacturer: Three Rivers Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0812916174
Release Date: 1986-08-12 |
Customer Reviews:
Great entertainment for the lay person.......2005-01-07
Couldn't put it down. Liked the logical progression and the variety of information. I didn't know how scattered the bits of continents are! Fascinating.
Probably the best geology book for lay persons.......2004-09-30
Ron Redfern is a superb writer and peerless photo editor. This book is surely the capstone of his career to date.
Although the subject matter examined is broad and complicated, the book is very well organized and seamlessly drafted. With the exception of a few typographical errors, the information presented is highly accurate. The genius of the work lies in the fact that, despite having to examine complex problems in geology, the author so deftly explains these matters that the reader is never left confused or at a loss.
As to the magnificent color photographs, both large and small, each follows the text closely, and each is accomapnied by an explanatory, locational note. The beauty of many of the pictures is breathtaking. Additionally, accompanying diagrams are thoughtful and informative.
Redfern's masterpiece covers the history and nature of the North American tectonic plate. It is a virtual textbook of plate tectonics. Discussion is divided into several chapters covering the origin of the plate, its relation to other plates, especially the Baltic and African plates, and then into sections describing each part of the plate. Chapters include as subjects such varied areas as the Mississippi delta, the Canadian Shield, the Colorado Plateau, and the Appalachians. You will be endlessly fascinated by the marvelous photos and detailed text, and it seems something new is learned upon each rereading of the book
The book is small coffee-table in size, and would form a proud display in anyone's home. I cannot recommend this book highly enough for lay persons interested in geology, and the book is highly useful for professional and academics in the field of geology, as well. If you want to enjoy reading and learning about the forces that make our marvelous planet operate, this is the book to get. Have fun!
Classic book on plate tectonics........1998-10-07
This is a fabulous book describing how the continents were formed. I am a salesperson with no scientific background and I loved Ron Redfern's descriptions, pictures and especially graphics and timelines. I understood it. Wonderful. I wish he had written another.
Average customer rating:
- Significant New Text in Paleoseismology
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Paleoseismology, Volume 62 (International Geophysics)
Manufacturer: Academic Press
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Tectonic Geomorphology
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The Mechanics of Earthquakes and Faulting (2nd Edition)
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Earthshaking Science: What We Know (and Don't Know) about Earthquakes
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Fluvial Processes in Geomorphology
ASIN: 0124818269 |
Book Description
Paleoseismology (the study of "ancient" earthquakes) has become an important component of seismic risk analysis, which is mandated for nuclear power plants, dams, waste repositories, and other critical structures. This book is the first in the English language to be devoted solely to paleoseismology. It summarizes the development of the field from the 1960s to the present, encompassing material that is currently widely dispersed in journal articles. The 10 chapters included in this text span the entire range of techniques currently used in paleoseismic reconstruction, and are contributed by active practitioners at the forefront of paleoseismic research.
* First book solely devoted to paleoseismology
* Summarizes the development of the field from the 1960's to the present
* Includes a comprehensive review of the techniques currently used in paleoseismology
* Emphasizes practical methods of data collection and field studies
* Covers interpretation of field data based on current theory concerning fault segmentation and recurrence cycles
* Contains more than 170 line drawings and 50 photographs of paleoseismic phenomena
Customer Reviews:
Significant New Text in Paleoseismology.......1998-11-15
The ten chapters in this new text are a significant new contribution to paleoseismology. The book is divided according to different types of tectonic geomorphology. Each chapter is written by a geologist or team of geologists who are recognized specialists. It has particular application to California where we have strike-slip faulting, thrust faulting, normal faulting, and liquefaction. Each chapter carries citations of pertinent journal articles that have appeared in the past decade. Clear insights have been gained from these California earthquakes: 1989 Loma Prieta, 1992 Cape Mendocino, 1992 Landers, and 1994 Northridge events. The editor and co-author of several chapters is Dr. Jim McCalprin, an active member of the Association of Engineering Geologists and many other geological professional societies. He is to be commended for this seminal work; it is a unique and new contribution to paleoseismology. It is suitable for upper-division geology students, graduate students, and practicing engineering geologists. I use my copy several times per week for reference and citation in hospital and school site reviews. ---Robert H. Sydnor, Senior Engineering Geologist, California Division of Mines and Geology, Sacramento
Book Description
Evolution of the Earth reveals the logical framework of geology, shows relations of the science to the totality of human knowledge, and gives some idea of what it is to be a participant in the discipline. In keeping with the preference for a "How do we know?" rather than "What do we know?" approach, the authors stress what assumptions are made by earth historians, what kinds of evidence (and tools for gathering that evidence), and what processes of reasoning and limitations of hypotheses are involved in reconstructing and interpreting the past.
Each chapter begins with a list of highlights entitled "Major Concepts". Many chapters have a summary timeline that puts the entire sequence of events into a quick visual reference frame. The use of dioramas and reconstructions of extinct animals and plants has been greatly expanded, so that students can get a more vivid concept of typical life in any part of the geologic past. In many places, the authors have supplied a full page of color photos of classic fossils from each period to improve the visual recognition of the organisms that give life its distinctive history. The areas of hottest controversy, such as mass extinctions, dinosaur endothermy, the origin of life, and controversies over late Proterozoic tectonics and glaciation, have been given separate sections so that students can appreciate the different sides of the debates. (Electronic images are available on CD-ROM through your local McGraw-Hill Sales Representative.)
Customer Reviews:
Good geoscience book and science book in general.......2007-09-10
My only previous exposure to geology or geophysics came from books/classes about the solar system where the Earth is taken as just one example of a planet. This is the first book I've read dedicated to the subject and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
At a high level its coverage includes, the origin of the Earth, geologic time scales, the Earth's interior, the origin of the Earth's magnetic field, volcanoes, plate tectonics, how the continents have varied with time, the interaction of the oceans with land masses and past climate fluctuations.
This book actually covers a lot more material than I expected, including paleobiology and ecology (which I enjoyed reading, but sometimes found it a little too political). There is actually quite a lot of material on paleobiology. It does overlap a fair amount with one of the authors other books, 'Bringing fossils to life', but it wasn't excessive and was well done. There is an appendix with some very nice high-level cladograms.
Although this book doesn't require any particular background, it covers a lot of material and requires some effort to learn it. The authors put in some effort to actually teach the subject and the book illustrates some very interesting science. It also provides some nice illustrations of how science is done.
One nice thing about this book is that it has a lot of color photographs and drawings. That's somewhat unusual among the (non-astronomy) science books I've seen at this level. I found it made the appearance much nicer.
Overall, I liked it a lot and learned a lot from it.
Straightforward and Interesting.......2006-04-04
What I like most about this book is its readability. The tone is very engaging and makes you want to read on. The illustrations (almost all in color) are plentiful and are an invaluable accompaniment to the text.
I would agree with other reviewers that the biggest drawback to this book is its price. The price is way too high, in my opinion, particularly for a paperback book. For that kind of money, I want something sturdier, that will stand up to years of use. This is the only reason I gave the book 4 stars instead of 5.
Good book for paleontology and geology teaching........2006-03-16
This is the most recent edition of a very useful book for students and teachers of paleontology and geology.
Superb if it's as good as the first edition.......2001-04-21
I used the first edition of this book by Dott and Batten as an earth science major back in the early 70's, and thought it excellent. I don't know how the new edition stacks up, but the original book was as fine a piece of writing for a textbook as I had ever come across, and geology boasts better than average writers for such things. For example, there is the redoubtable Arthur Beiser, whose many books maintain both a high level of readabilty as well as scholarship.
One major change in the content of the book would no doubt be in regard to the theory of orogenesis, or mountain-building. The first book placed great emphasis on the geosynclinal theory and orthostatic rebound mechanisms. This one is sure to emphasize plate tectonics as the geosynclinal theory seems to have waned in popularity.
The original version of this text was one of the best science texts I ever used in college. If this later edition is half as good it will still be better than 90% of the others.
Good Book.......2000-10-21
Overall a good introduction to historical geology. Most subjects are presented in an appropriate manner, with colorful illustrations to supplement the concepts discussed. Only concerning the formation of dolomite rocks does this book fall short of maintaining a thourough examination of historical geology concepts.
The only disadvantage that this book has is its price, which is probably due to the amount of illustrations.
Product Description
From the tightly folded formations in the Appalachians across the broad reaches of horizontal sedimentary layers in the Allegheny Plateau, Pennsylvania's rocks record hundreds of millions of years of geologic history that tell an astounding storyThis book enables the reader to recognize the rocks and understand their meaning. It explains the landscapes of Pennsylvania in terms anyone can understand and enjoy.
Customer Reviews:
Geology is fun.......2002-03-31
Since my husband and I were going to be spending a week in Pennsylvania, I brought the Roadside Geology book of PA along. I was interested in understanding the local geology and was happy to discover three fossil sites within the area we stayed. I was able to look at a Triassic fossil dinosaur footprint at one site and find some Devonian fossils in another. The Roadside Geology book is great for someone who only has a short period of time to explore a particular area. I hope they'll put one out for every state (particularly Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia...hint hint hint.)
Book Description
Take a learning journey through billions of years of Earth history
This indispensable guide to the fundamentals of geology is the ideal way to introduce yourself to all the basics, from rocks, minerals, and fossil fuels to earthquakes, volcanoes, and plate tectonics. Using quick quizzes and self-tests to reinforce key concepts, Geology carefully walks you through billions of years of Earth history. Illustrated with more than one hundred specially commissioned illustrations and fifty photographs that help clarify difficult concepts, this easy-to-follow book is an interactive resource for anyone interested in learning more about our planet.
Whether you are new to geology or want to refresh and update your knowledge, the proven self-teaching guide approach will allow you to work at your own pace, check your progress, and learn more about this fascinating field of study.
Customer Reviews:
Wow! Something I can understand!.......2007-10-01
Knowing only the least rudimentaries on geology, this book has been invaluable to this amateur rockhound. Easy to understand concepts. I'm reading this book without the benefit of classes and its still great!
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