Reading the Earth: Landforms in the Making

by Jerome Wyckoff

Book Overview

Aimed at earth science teachers, civil engineers, photographers, archaeologists, park rangers, hikers, and nature enthusiasts, this guide to landforms and landscapes provides illustrations and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0967407508
• ISBN13: 9780967407500
• Release Date: January 2003
• Publisher: Jerome Wyckoff
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 8.6" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Reading the Earth: Landforms in the Making

Reading the Earth: Landforms in the Making written by Jerome Wyckoff is a richly appointed book with pictures explaining why there are so many different features on the Earth that we tread upon. This book is illustrated with 556 photographs and 75 drawings and has and extensive index of over 6,000 page entries that makes information easy to find.If you are interested in rock formations and tectonic plate activity, volcanoes and mountains, seacoasts and limestone caverns you'll fall in love with the easy prose and well-explained information in this book. There is information on glaciers and deserts, soluble rocks and sculpures by running water. Not to mention, there is extensive information about our changing planet from ancestral earth, inside the earth, crustal plates in motion to regimes of climate, weathering, and gravity movements.This is an excellent book for high school aged children and older who have an interest about the ground we all walk upon. The prose are engaging and fascinatingly captivating and the author explains the workings of all of the Earth's systems.I found that I read and reread this book several times and it is a welcome addition to your natural history self in your home library. This book is well worth the money spent as you'll find yourself referencing it many times. For instance there are references for lateral and terminal moraines, drumlins and fluting, and eskers these are explained well with illustrations so you can see what these parts of a glacier activity look like.This is an excellent book for understanding why the earth is shaped as it is where it is.

Great book !

Jerome Wyckoff is the author of several very successful books on geology, including `The Story of Geology' and `Rock, Time and Landforms.' `Reading the Earth' adds another excellent volume to the collection of books available to people who may have little or no formal training in geology, but who are curious about the landscapes that surround them. Its introduction describes `Reading the Earth' as a nonspecialist's guide to landforms and one that focuses on specific kinds of landforms rather than on the complex systems that control landform evolution. From there, the reader gets an introduction to geology (timeframe, rock cycle, plate tectonics); petrology (rock types); and weathering -- along with descriptions of the landscapes created by or associated with gravity movements, hillslopes, rivers, igneous activity, structures, mountains, plateaus, plains, glaciers, deserts, karst and coasts. The book's organization is slightly different than the organization geologists usually see in various geomorphology texts, but the structure is, nonetheless, appropriate and effective. Each chapter is a logical progression of ideas and information. The content of the chapter builds on that of the other chapters, or each chapter can stand alone as a source of information on a particular type of landscape. `Reading the Earth' is accessible to the geologist and non-geologist alike, combining rich illustrations with graceful writing. Technical explanations are balanced with poetic, evocative prose and appropriate metaphors and examples that should hold the reader's interest. Wyckoff explains technical terms well enough that they should not provide barriers to a reader who is not a geologist. Populating the book are 556 photographs and 75 line drawings, all both beautiful and effective, illustrating landforms and landform processes from around the world. Above all, the author's obvious appreciation for landscape will enhance the reader's appreciation. It is accessible to readers interested in geology and landscapes, or to students in an introductory geomorphology or landforms course. `Reading the Earth' is also useful as a reference; it has a good index with no errors or inaccuracies. The book's format is attractive, and it is a bargain. I have already recommended `Reading the Earth' to friends who are not geologists but are interested in geology, and I recommend it to any `Geotimes' reader who is fond of good photography and good prose.Ellen WohlGeotimes Magazine review - July 2000 Wohl teaches in the Department of Earth Resources at Colorado State University in Ft. Collins, Colo.

Fascinating and magnificently illustrated

This is a fascinating and magnificently illustrated introduction to the landforms of our planet. It is a book for ordinary observers, an informal guide in the field, an armchair companion and a window on `art' in nature. It could also well serve as a textbook for beginning geology and earth science classes. It is far more appealing than the books I remember wading through in my high school days.Jerome Wyckoff comes to this work with impressive credentials. He is the author of `The Story of Geology,' first in its field and a best-seller, as was his `The Sky Observer's Guide.' He helped in the development of the well-known Golden Nature Guides and was managing editor of the award-winning `Harper Encyclopedia of Science.'The book begins by sketching the basic processes and conditions involved in shaping the Earth's crust -- plate movements, climate change, tectonic and igneous activity and erosion. Next, the author looks at the nature of the rocks that make up the crust and their typical forms. Finally, there is further detail about the processes that shape the crust and form landscapes. "Mountains and plains, river valleys and seacoasts, limestone caverns and desert dunes and volcanoes -- such features," Wyckoff writes, "are recognized, often rhapsodized about, but how they are created, undergo natural change, and eventually are obliterated or recycled is understood by few."The book is easy to read and avoids lengthy or dry textbook-like descriptions or analyses. Yet there is an education to be had here simply by looking at the pictures and reading captions. I found it a treat to delve into these pages at random, nearly always finding something new and engaging.Chris Angus in Adirondac Magazine, May 2000

Stories Behind the Scenery in Wyckoff's "Reading the Earth"

No question about it, this is one of the most enjoyable and photogenic books to ever be written about scenery and its geographic occurrence. Scenery enchants us, even simple calendar photos, but most people never push their mind beyond the esthetics. Mr. Wyckoff gives us more to appreciate than first glance visualizations and he does so in a way that is not as intimidating as trying to struggle through a pedantic geology text. Mr. Wyckoff chose to devote a chapter to each category of scenery rather than follow the usual geographical approach. His choice is effective because it cuts down on multiple explanations and it links the processes that shape scenery into a coherent whole. If you desire geographics, it is easy to convert. For example, a vacationer headed to the National Parks of the Colorado Plateau or to the lava country of the Columbia River Plateau will find what they are looking for in the Chapter on Plateau scenery. I found myself chuckling when I noticed a few pages where the number of place names almost exceeded the number of regular words. I advise readers to keep some detailed maps and a world atlas handy. Working back and forth between text, maps, and pictures made my reading of the book more enjoyable, almost like going on an actual vacation. Although the collection of pictures is exceptional, I would not categorize this book as a typical coffee-table pictorial, there is too much substance in it for that. The substance is delivered in a highly readable manner, not only for the benefit of people who travel extensively, but also for armchair nomads or nature enthusiasts-anybody whose innate curiosity can be piqued. This book will dramatically enlarge your horizons, especially if you have never strayed far from home; so get it and enjoy it. I congratulate Mr. Wyckoff for filling a long-standing void with his admirable blending of art and science-I give his book 5 stars.

What people are saying about 'Reading the Earth'

"It is truly a beautiful piece of work. The collection of photographs alone is probably the best in any book on geology."-- James C. Kelley, Dean, College of Science and Engineering, San Francisco State University"I looked at every page... Fine color illustrations... Despcriptions are clear and inviting... The price is far under what one might expect...."-- Arthur N. Strahler, noted teacher and author of standard texts on physical geography and geomorphology"Good stuff!... recommended for professional photographers and photo researchers who need to know the names and nature of Earth features."-- Rohn Engh, PhotoStock International"Awakens in me a new area of learning in this awesome world of ours!"-- Diane DeVito, President, Skyline Travel, Inc."This book is one big field trip to fascinating landscapes all over the world. As a college professor, I model my field trips after Jerry's relaxed and informative style. A must for anyone who loves Œreading the Earth.'"-- Carol Rabenhorst, Professor of Geography, Westminster College (Maryland)"Explains how the various Earth sceneries came to be. A marvelous reference work for anyone concerned with natural resource protection."-- Marie Curtis, Executive Director, New Jersey Environmental Lobby"The pictures are great, along with the captions. I am enjoying this book."-- Melissa S., 6th grade, Ridgewood, NJ"So readable... so colorful... makes one want to visit so many areas where landforms are extraordinary."-- Giovanna Hoffman, leader of African safaris for Alumni Flights Abroad"Wow!" --Evan Dobelle, President, Trinity College (Connecticut)