Reading The Rocks: The Autobiography of the Earth

The first two thirds of the book are largely geological subjects, with a smattering of environmental warning. The last third the roles are reversed: environmental warnings based on, mostly, current geoscience findings. Bjornerud makes no secret of her hope that scientists and lay people like myself begin to, literally, “Read the Rocks.”Another reviewer noted, and I agree, he and I both would have liked more information of actually reading the rocks, identifying minerals, understanding the metamorphic, igneous, and sedimentary rocks better. The glossary is phenomenal, but for this aspect (Rock ID) photos would have been helpful. I’m still a rock hounder that wants to know more. That same reviewer and I part company on the value of Bjornerud’s environmental warnings. I’m a blue collar guy, retired from law enforcement, and lack a scientific education. The last third of Bjornerud’s book was more than educational, it was an awakening to try and be a more responsible citizen voter, a more informed member of the species, and care enough to make - at least at my level - better choices for the benefit of my grandchildren.How much did I like the book? I’m buying a second, but in Kindle format. Having Bjornerud’s book readily accessible on iPad is important to search terms, concepts, and yes, copy & paste her expert opinion on social media pages.As a lifelong conservative Republican, living in the coal industry dependent State of Wyoming, I wish members of my party would all take the time to ‘Read the Rocks.’

Probably the most poetically written (and worldly erudite) books on geology you are ever likely to read - almost to a fault. Strangely and almost paradoxically, whilst admiring the lyricism of the prose and non-geological erudition, it is easy to overlook the hard geological facts, and for amateurs like me, more number-based information would have helped to fix the information in my mind.Prof Bjornerud certainly knows her subject, but as already implied, is not a book of naked facts and numbers. Its more about principles, processes and the mechanisms of geology.Similarly, where chapters are heavily spattered with terms for geologic periods of eras/epochs/ages etc such as Archean, Palaeozoic,Ordovician etc, dates (in brackets) would have made reading easier and more meaningful.(There is a timeline in the front of the book)Given the very modest size of the book (literally) but the very less than modest original cover price, some quality colour pictures of the rock types, geological formations, strata and so forth would have been enlighteningAside from a few 'wobbles' (see below), a book of some very polished prose which makes an interesting read, especially the 2nd time around.PS. Unfortunately, one of the few figures presented is wrong. The Apollo missions brought back exactly 838lb of Moon rocks, not the 1500lb stated.PPS. Another minor error. Komatiite was discovered by the Viljoen brothers in 1969 near Badplass in the Barberton Greenstone Belt, not Swaziland as stated.

I purchased this book for a class about earth science. I can definitely see why the instructor chose it; the book has a good general synopsis of the many different "spheres" of the Earth and addresses a lot of the varied topics that fall under the umbrella of Earth Science.I've heard some criticism of the book for the author's use of metaphors and her descriptions of Earth systems by equating them to living systems or human situations, and based on the fact that she opens the book by describing how doing so is walking a fine line, I can see that descriptions like those she uses might be frowned upon. However, as a layperson with very little official background in Earth Science I thought everything was wonderfully explained and I think I learned a great deal from the book.

I wanted an intro to geology so I could read some tech articles a friend of mine wrote. This is not the book for that, though. Once you settle into it this book becomes a fascinating biography of planet Earth (an autobiography, actually, since all the evidence is gleaned from the Earth itself). Its faster-paced than a text book, but it does require that you memorize some terms to make later chapters understandable, but its well worth the effort. Most of the phases of Earth's life were slow to happen and had large consequences for all life (after there was life!). It becomes apparent that the current Ice Age---yes, we're still in it---could reinstate itself at any time, regardless of the current global warming, and that the blip of time in which humans achieved civilization could shift gears at any unpredictable time. The author doesn't want to turn you into a survivalist, but to make the reader aware that change is inevitable, in Earth time if not a human scale. I wish I knew which book would make the perfect next step after this one. I'd buy it, too.

This book is primarily about human caused global warming, with the earth's geological history as a straw man. Too bad because the history part was quite interesting. The author is an academic and that's the target audience for the book. It was a bit of a slog to get through with technical definitions, put downs of everyday people, and messages of impending doom.

I'm a retired geologist, got my BS & MS a long time ago before we knew a number of things that we know now. I really enjoyed the comfortable approach to presenting our science to non scientists as well as getting some refreshers on newer developments. I was reminded why I spent my career thoroughly enjoying what I was doing, reading the rocks everywhere I was.

Not a geology text book....it's MORE! This will open your mind to how ALL aspects of science have worked together to create what we have on Earth. Excellent, in-depth discussions of many related ideas, concepts, theories and facts. The author has pulled ideas from many sciences into an amazing work. I don't often do this, but I will definitely be reading this twice or three times.

Not overly technical but written by an author who clearly has the technical understanding of every geological process; the key to this book is the entertaining stories which are woven around the geological principles and the data, which makes it much more of a page-turner than one might expect

This is a very interesting book about the Earth and how we came to understand it. I am a professional geologist and I still found this book to be full of awe-inspiring facts and different ways of seeing the evidence. Although I haven't finished the book yet it is turning out to be rigorous and consummate. The book presents excellent evidence and arguments in support of the established scientific understanding of plate tectonics and the age of the Earth which are important apologetics against creationism. The book would be better without chapter 3. Chapter 3 is confusing and hard to understand. I believe that the content of this book has an essential message for society to understand. The author has done an excellent job at explaining some difficult concepts concisely. However, the language and style will be too inaccessible for most people without a scientific background.

This book got me hooked..I knew nothing of geology, till a friend lent me a copy and I devoured it...then had to get my own.It is written in a very approachable style, but never resorts to whimsy or oversimplification. It's a wonderful book which has led me, certainly, to read up more and look at our everyday landscapes with even more awe.Highly recommended.

I couldn't put this book down once I had started it. It is very readable, thought-provoking, and very educational in a fun sort of way. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in the possible origins of the earth, evolution of species and generally interested in geology.

This is the best review of universal geology it has been my luck to land on. Though some terms are well explained in the text they do not necessarily appear in the glossary for reference purposes. Otherwise excellent.