Review by Booklist Review
Vernon, an Australian university professor, encourages readers to take a closer look at the "beautiful and variable" yet routinely overlooked rocks that surround us. In a volume as rich in photographs as it is in lucent commentary, Vernon eschews technical terms as he conducts a brisk but solidly educational discussion of the earth's amazing dynamism. His clear explanation of how the earth's mantle and crust maintain a state of flow, or constant slow motion, is effectively illustrated with striking photographs of folded rock formations in Antarctica and Australia, images that are then compared to dazzling microscopic views of the structures of various rocks. Vernon explicates the mechanics and consequences of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, and he explains how water and glacial ice shape rock and how limestone, fossils, and diamonds are formed. Finally, an appreciation of meteorites rounds out this laudable effort to train readers' eyes to see rocks not as ordinary but as the splendid products of our "hot" planet's vigor. Donna Seaman
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Booklist Review
