A History of the Earth [Book Review]

Abstract

For about four decades, Arthur Holmes's Principles of Physical Geology was the text of choice for teachers of under-graduate geology on both sides of the Atlantic. The third edition, which was edited by Doris L. Holmes in 1978, is still a remarkably comprehensive and modern treatise on the evolution of the Earth. Its sweep is breathtaking. But it was conceived and updated before the dumbing down of the undergraduate curriculum and before challenge, excitement and individuality were routinely removed from texts. A History of the Earth comes close to being a suitable, up-to-date shelf-mate for Holmes's text. If you want to challenge yourself and your students, this is the book to pick.

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