From the Bookshelf of Science and Inquiry…
Find A Copy At
Group Discussions About This Book
September, 2011: The Blind Watchmaker
By David · 47 posts · 151 views
By David · 47 posts · 151 views
last updated Jun 21, 2018 05:08AM
April 2011 - The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
By David · 32 posts · 163 views
By David · 32 posts · 163 views
last updated Feb 20, 2017 11:56PM
showing 8 of 8 topics
view all »
Other topics mentioning this book
What science book is your most recent read? What do you think about it? Pt. 1
By deleted member · 749 posts · 781 views
last updated May 14, 2013 01:49AM
Who are we? Introduce Yourself. #1
By William · 774 posts · 1270 views
last updated Aug 23, 2014 02:59PM
January 2012 - Two wins: Proust and the Squid, Fool Me Twice
By Melissa · 41 posts · 73 views
By Melissa · 41 posts · 73 views
last updated Jan 30, 2012 08:08AM
What science book is your most recent read? What do you think about it? Pt. 2
By Betsy , co-mod · 633 posts · 1017 views
last updated Mar 22, 2019 03:22PM
*
August 2015 - Horseshoe Crabs & Velvet Worms
By Betsy , co-mod · 30 posts · 69 views
By Betsy , co-mod · 30 posts · 69 views
last updated Sep 03, 2015 03:21PM
*
Who are we? Introduce Yourself. #2
By Betsy , co-mod · 684 posts · 1270 views
last updated Jan 02, 2023 05:28PM
Work in progress links - Demo for Betsy
By Luella · 19 posts · 27 views
By Luella · 19 posts · 27 views
last updated May 22, 2017 05:02PM
What Members Thought
I am not very fond of geology, but the beautiful poetic style of Richard Fortey's prose makes this book a joy to read. For example, he writes,
"The cycles of the earth--the generation and destruction of plates--probably happened andante cantabile rather than largo."
Fortey interleaves poetry among his prose, and thereby shows his overwhelming enthusiasm for geology--though I could have done with a bit less of the poetry. He shows his enthusiasms in other ways, too, by announcing where his personal ...more
"The cycles of the earth--the generation and destruction of plates--probably happened andante cantabile rather than largo."
Fortey interleaves poetry among his prose, and thereby shows his overwhelming enthusiasm for geology--though I could have done with a bit less of the poetry. He shows his enthusiasms in other ways, too, by announcing where his personal ...more
Fortey's love of geology really comes through in this work. It was both fascinating and insightful. The pictures were great, the timeline was not linear so it really kept a good pacing. It kind of meandered around topics and points of interest on the earths crust similar to how your mind would analyze a problem. A wonderful edition truly.
...more
Part travelog, part lesson in how plate tectonics came to be an accepted theory, this book is very well written and enjoyable to read.
3.5 - generally good but a bit dry at times & occasionally "lost the thread"...
...more
Nov 30, 2011
loafingcactus
marked it as abandoned
I thought this might be another An Island Called California: An Ecological Introduction to Its Natural Communities, which I loved, but it's not quite that. In another context I might have finished it, but not the right book for me right now.
...more
Having an interest and some education in geology, I found this book fascinating. It's a scientific who-dunnit. Fortey provides the clues and slowly but surely you learn how the continents have waltzed all over the face of the globe for the last 3 to 4 billion years. I'll have to read it again.
...more
Sep 20, 2008
Jill
marked it as to-read
Jun 26, 2009
Jennifer
added it
Apr 25, 2010
James
marked it as want-to-read
Feb 05, 2011
Elizabeth
marked it as to-read
Jul 24, 2011
Tippy
marked it as to-read
Aug 13, 2011
David
marked it as to-read
Nov 07, 2011
Preeti
marked it as to-read
Nov 13, 2011
Charise
marked it as to-read
Nov 24, 2011
Aloha
marked it as to-read
Dec 15, 2011
Shelley
marked it as to-read
Nov 20, 2012
Valerie
marked it as to-read
Jul 18, 2014
Katy
marked it as to-read
Dec 05, 2016
Cole
marked it as to-read
Feb 17, 2019
Erica
marked it as to-read
Nov 01, 2021
Ryan
marked it as to-read
Apr 18, 2025
Robert
marked it as waiting-on-the-bookshelf
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
geology
