When the Snakes Awake: Animals and Earthquake Prediction

Tributsch gives the reader a book that is based on both historical accounts and conventional/theoretical earth science. For me, having lived through upwards of several hundred minor and major quakes in my misspent youth, it provided tantalizing hints about the origin of earthquake precursors I repeatedly observed. Enlivened by personal accounts, by historical reports, and by the author's own thoughts on quake behavior, this is a rich and compelling read. Thanks to Tributsch's groundbreaking work -- THE book that made it "okay" for scientists to publically express their own quake precursor observations -- studies continue to reveal the multifaceted nature of precursor events. Excellent book for the literate lay reader, and a good paradigm-shaker for conventional earth scientists.

Folks, This book you must read and must possess whether you believe or disbelieve that animals can predict earthquakes. I have already worn out two copies of my own since it was first published in 1982. I am so pleased that it has been reprinted, although I do not know if it contains new information. I do know that as a geologic reviewer, I found no errors in the previous printings. Tributsch was originally denied publication in the U.S. and Great Britain, with the mainstream critics claiming it was a collection of anectdotes. After publication in his native German it was deemed so valuable that it was translated by M.I.T. Press and published in English. Tributsch is a true scientist and he does not claim to have all of the answers; however, in my 60 years of studying earthquakes, I have never found a more valuable study in unconventional efforts to anticipate some of the greatest examples of "unpredictable" natural phenomena. Geologist Jim Berkland, MS, CEG 58, Fellow Geol. Soc. America