Promotions - Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles 2015 - Science & Technology — Earth Science

Any book on the history of the earth sciences by Rudwick (emer., Univ. of California, San Diego) is worth reading immediately, and this may be one of his best.  This volume is a detailed narrative of the construction of the historical framework of earth history.  It is not a standard recitation of authors, dates, and publications, but a conceptual journey starting in the 17th century.  The primary thesis is that the foundations of our modern chronology were built very early by thinkers not conventionally placed in our pantheon of heroic scientists (Archbishop James Ussher is a notable example).  These early works pre-adapted later generations to think in broad historical terms, eventually developing histories that long precede humanity. Indeed, the book of Genesis itself may have provided the first conceptual model for a natural history.  The popular science versus religion theme in the origin of geology has been exaggerated for many reasons on both sides, the author states.  Rudwicks descriptions of the personalities and ideas in the development of deep history are fascinating, well written, and novel.  His effective dismissal of young Earth creationism in the appendix is classic.Summing Up: Essential. All levels/libraries.

Geologists Pilkey (emer., Duke Univ.) and Cooper (Univ. of Ulster, UK), coeditors ofPitfalls of Shoreline Stabilization (CH, Feb'13, 50-3292), have both written books, scholarly articles, and professional reports documenting shoreline processes and beach degradation.  This monograph differs by providing an all-encompassing review of the many complex factors affecting beaches, notably ill-advised engineering and development that limits natural beach processes, mining of beach material, myriad pollution sources, and the lack of general understanding of the true value of natural beaches.  The clear, well-documented writing is accompanied by 67 photographs that illustrate the authors case for a new view of beaches.  They outline economic, health, and safety benefits of a natural beach ecosystemable to shift in response to sea level and storms without the impediment of construction and stabilization tactics that are ultimately counterproductive.  Appendixes list beach pollutants, pollutant sources, and medical outcomes for humans using contaminated beaches.  Evidentiary and scholarly sources are given for each chapter.  The index covers challenges to beaches from tar balls, medical waste, and high-rise-lined shorelines to dams upriver and dumping offshore.  The authors also consider political challenges as local communities fight to replenish beaches while maintaining the very structures that maximize beach loss.Summing Up: Highly recommended. All academic and public libraries.

This book provides wonderful insight into the life of a paleontologistthe adventure of digging fossils in a foreign country, the mystery of finding parts of a skeleton, the puzzle of putting the pieces together, the excitement when one starts to figure out the identity of the bones, which animal they belong to, how this animal ate, how it moved, etc.  Thewissen (Northeast Ohio Medical Univ.) provides an excellent balance between the science and the narrative describing the interactions between locals and scientists to arrange and conduct fossil digs in remote areas with limited resources.  The author discusses the unique inner ear ossicles of whales, how paleontologists use stable isotopes and dentition to interpret paleohabitats and paleodiets, how paleontologists figure out the ways that the limbs move, and much more.  In the last chapter, the author brings animal development into the story.  Several images ranging from skeletons to maps of fossil locations are included in the book.  Overall, an excellent read for anyone interested in fossils.Summing Up: Highly recommended. Students of all levels, researchers/faculty, and general readers.

This handsome, oversize volume covers the history of navigation in sea, air, and space, from the sea voyages of the early Chinese, Egyptians, and Scandinavians through the development of modern GPS techniques.  Johnston and his three fellow authors (all, National Air and Space Museum) describe the uses and importance of astrolabes, sextants, and other historic instruments.  Timekeeping was also vital to ocean navigation, and the book details the difficulties of inventing clocks that would work and keep accurate time at sea.  The advent of flying brought new navigating challenges, and tools such as radio navigation systems were developed.  Space flight posed yet greater problems for navigators and demanded more precision than ever before, and also led to innovations that improved navigation on earth.  The ability to launch satellites into orbit made possible the Global Positioning System, which is today the basis of almost all mapping applications and devices.  Profusely illustrated with photographs, maps, charts, and color drawings, Time and Navigation will be excellent for arousing interest in navigation and its history, and for providing basic facts for student reports and projects.Summing Up: Essential. All levels.