Geology

When I looked for a good one-volume review of the principles of Physical and Historical Geology, this is the one that I picked. I chose it because it comes from a period before university curriculums were "dumbed down." Back when this was written the B.S. was still the terminal degree for most working geologists- you only needed an advanced degree if you were going to teach or do cutting edge research. In any case, this is a very comprehensive study of a type that is superior to most newer books. Of course, as Dr. Pearl points out, you don't just learn geology from a book- it also takes lab and field work. The book itself is organized into the two traditional sections of Physical and Historical Geology. There is also an introductory first chapter on the history, method, tools, and professional path of the geologist. After that Part One (Physical) is divided into the following chapters: 2) Our Planet Earth, 3) Interior of the Earth, 4) Vulcanism, 5) Geologic Structures Produced by Diastrophism, 6) Earthquakes, 7) Minerals, 8) Rocks, 9) Weathering and Soils, 10) Gravity Movements, 11) Streams, 12) Ground Water, 13) Glaciation, 14) Swamps and Lakes, 15) Oceans, 16) Wind, and 17) Maps. Part Two (Historical) covers: 18) Origin of the Earth, 19) Evolution of Life, 20) Interpretation of Geologic History, 21) Pre-Cambrian Eras, 22) Paleozoic Era, 23) Mesozoic Era, and 24) Cenozoic Era. There are study questions at the end of each chapter, as well a tough final exam at the end of the book. If you wish to use it for reference the detailed table of contents and full index make it fast and easy to look up any topic. Don't worry about the information being dated- Pearl completely reworked this edition to be in-line with continental drift, magnetic reversal, and plate tectonics. Geology is the most comprehensive, practical and useful of the traditional fields of physical science. It is practical because it gives you an intricate knowledge of the composition, structure, and activity of the planet, which is useful in everything from prospecting for mineral resources to siting construction projects. It is comprehensive since it draws heavily from all the other branches of science- chemistry, physics, zoology, paleontology, astronomy, engineering mechanics, surveying- you have to have a familiarity with them all. I still say that geology is the best general education in all the sciences- or at least it used to be.