Rocks are time machines and the keepers of our history. This guide is
a geological field trip through Earth's incredible rock formations and
the stories they hold
Like rings on a tree stump hold the history of the tree, the history of
Earth is written in its rocks. How to Read a Rock: Our Planet's Hidden
Stories teaches readers to decipher the rocks all around us, from
backyard stones to mountain ranges, and trace Earth's history layer by
layer.
Spanning from prehistoric Earth's shifting continents, to contemporary
human impact, to the future surfaces of space exploration, the book
reviews a remarkable array of topics, including:
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diamond volcanoes
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ancient coastlines, rivers, deserts, and coral reefs
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how animals have changed rocks
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making of mud
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urban rock strata
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human-made rocks and minerals
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current limestone rock crisis
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technofossils (the footprints humans will leave behind through their
material goods)
How to Read a Rock's brilliant imagery captures the power, majesty,
and history of the planet. Rocks carry the memories of dinosaur
landscapes and vanished oceans; show evidence of the greening of the
planet and the effect of natural forces; and convey clues on climate and
energy consumption. The book unearths the most fascinating stories rocks
can tell us, not only about our past, but how the past can help imagine
the future.
