Beginning with Mt. Vesuvius, whose eruption in Roman times helped spark the science of geology, and ending in a lab in the West of England where mathematical models and lab experiments replace direct observation, Richard Fortey (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Fortey) reveals the latest science about ancient geologic processes. He shows how plate tectonics came to rule the geophysical landscape and how the evidence is written in the hills and in the stones. He explains how the face of the earth, criss-crossed by chains of mountains like the scars of old wounds, has changed constantly over billions of years. Its shape records a remote past of earthquakes, volcanos and continental drift, and the ongoing subtle shifts that bring our planet alive. In the process, he takes us on a wonderful journey around the globe to visit some of the most fascinating and intriguing spots on the planet. An education in geology and pure pleasure to boot.
528 pages in Harper Perennial paperback edition
ISBN 978-0006551379
Richard Fortey