This is a well written book about an amazing man, William Smith, treated shabbily in his day, but now recognized as a founder of modern geology. As a coal miner near Wales, he observed rock stratigraphy in the mine shafts. As a planner of canals, he observed the eastward dip of rock strata. He was the first to understand that rock outcrops of the same geologic age can be correlated across the landscape not by rock type, which reveals only the depositional environment of the sediments later lithified into rocks, but by the fossils found within. All by himself, over the course of twenty years, he created a highly accurate geologic map covering all of England, all of Wales, and part of Scotland. Looked down upon by the dilettante elites who collected rocks and fossils merely as objects of beauty, wronged by plagiarists who brazenly copied his work, and vilified by Christian fundamentalists whose literal interpretation of the Book of Genesis does not allow for creatures to have existed before some of the rocks were formed, he landed in debtor's prison. Anyone whose works of significance have been ignored or criticized can relate to this book. The first edition comes with a dust jacket that folds out in all directions to reveal a reproduction of the full map. -- Richard Hayes Phillips, Ph.D.Read full review
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Absolutely a must read for those who are fans of Simon Winchester. Here is the story of one man's efforts that lead to the development of modern geology and the basis of what we now know of the history of the earth. The amazing efforts of the single person responsible for the science which seeks to explain all of past history. As described by the author, other similar efforts have been accomplished by a cast of thousands [i.e. the preparation of the Oxford English dictionary, the Human Genome Project, the mapping of India] all were accomplished by cooperation of many. By contrast, the preparation of the worlds first geological map was the result of a single person's efforts. We learn of how his early work on draining farmlands and experience in coal mines lead him to an understanding of how mountains and continents are formed. Highly entertaining and educational, this is a book that can be described as a must read.Read full review
Book is extremely well written. The content goes deep into geology, which I know nothing about, so it was tough getting through that. But the author is so good at highlighting just how important and ground-breaking William Smith was. And he says it with fine language.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Aside from Leonardo's daVinci's musings about shell fossils he found in mountain caves, William Smith is where fundamentally new geological thought began. I'd love to discover other undiscovered pioneers, but here we have a compassionate and poignant peak into Smith's real life.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Fascinating story of a corner of science
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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