Rock and Gem: The Definitive Guide to Rocks, Minerals, Gemstones, and Fossils Paperback – February 4, 2008

Wonderful discoveries in gems. A must have book!

I'm a retired field geologist, with broad grad-school exposure to the earth sciences. Along the way, I was reference staff in a respected university's advanced research earth sciences library. I've seen several highly-regarded, public and private rock and mineral collections. I've seen many minerals in-situ, in their native rock environment. I have considerable optical mineralogy and petrographic experience. However, I'm not a rock hound, nor a rock or gem collector. I appreciated that a mineral specimen or crystal was at home when I encountered in nature, so I typically took only photos and left well enough alone.That said, this book is a great deal as a coffee-table book. It's content shows the quality that's generally associated with the Smithsonian Institution, with good quality photographs and adult-level textual content.I wasn't super-sold by the sample photos for the book's product page, so I played it safe and purchased the paperback edition, new, at what turns out to be really good price. However, if I had been able to encounter this book in a bookstore--in hardback, I would've paid at least $60 and felt very smug about a good deal. Whichever edition, this is a quality, comprehensive presentation of physical geology, and rocks and minerals. Most comparable earth science books are not as economically priced. It's a well done tour de force on rocks and gems.

This book is excellent, informative and has beautiful pictures. Very pleased!

This book is packed with images and variations and very useful details. I use it as a reference for crystal healing and identifying stones.

Very minor signs of wear on the corners, but overall in very good condition, and it was signed by the author, which made it extra special as a gift.

Great pictures and many different rocks gems and minerals described in this book. A perfect basic guide to rocks and gems. I highly recommend.

When I got the book I thought it would be too serious for newbie like me. I was going to return it . Somehow I started to read the first few pages on the big bang theory and the formation of the universe and the earth and I enjoyed it a lot. I kept the book. It is a good reference book with many nicely printed pictures.

This book is a good reference. It arrived on time and in perfect condition. I'm very pleased.