Cambridge Guide to Minerals, Rocks and Fossils

I bought this book after having found a borrowed copy of the original (and virtually identical) Philip's version indispensible to me as an amateur trying to teach myself some geology and mineralogy. It holds just about as much as is possible for a book designed to be taken into and used in the field, with a more thorough and well illustrated cover of rocks, minerals and fossils than I would have thought possible in the space. In addition there are excellent brief explanatory sections on such things as crystal systems and rock formation. But the quality I admire most about it is that it is truly international and could be used with equal facility in many countries. It avoids a problem I have found with some other similar texts, which is over-emphasis on examples from the country of origin of the book, reducing apparent relevance and interest to readers elsewhere.

Too bad this book remains out of print. It's the best single guidebook to minerals, rocks, and fossils ever made! Though pocket-sized (4.5 inches by 7.5 inches by 320 pages), the book is chock full of superb photographs, and the text describing each sample is accurate and comprehensive. Organization of the book is excellent, with minerals first, then rocks, then fossils. Within each of the main sections there's an introduction that defines key terms and provides a brief but clear summary of important concepts. I used to use this book when teaching an introductory geology course. I also used the Audubon Society's guide and several other widely-available guidebooks. None of those is as well-illustrated, or as well organized, as this book. I sure wish Larousse would put it back in print!