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This reviewer will get right to the point: this geology guidebook is at the top of the line among the many fine books that populate this field. The writing style and content, the visual materials, and the organization all contribute to this text's broad appeal and clear educational value. The book is structured around a selection of geological sites that are open to the public, making this an especially valuable resource for any student game for a field trip. In his survey of geological phenomena, Willsey (College of Southern Idaho) highlights many fascinating topics in geology: river capture (the Bonneville flood), waterfalls in the great Snake River canyon, the aftermath of volcanic activity evident in Idaho's calderas and lavascapes, a fossilized forest, a world-class meteor impact crater, an earthquake scarp, geysers, subterranean caves, and many other natural wonders. All the sites, and the geological processes that formed them, are explored in detail, with references pointing students to further information. There is no better way to study the geology of an area than to open up a book like Willsey's and plan a trip to view these wonders for oneself.Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers.

The Blue Ridge Mountain physiographic province, located in the Appalachians, stretches from Georgia into Pennsylvania. This unique region consists of mostly Precambrian metamorphic rocks along with various igneous rocks, and boasts one of the most varied temperate forest regions on Earth. Spencer (emer., Washington and Lee Univ.) offers a wide-ranging exploration of the region through an examination of its geological evolution, landscapes, natural environments, flora, and fauna. His is a richly informative approach, incorporating color illustrations that explain the geology and stratigraphy, along with hundreds of color photographs. A section of geographically organized field guides furnish readers with detailed information about the Blue Ridge Mountains' parks and natural attractions, including areas such as Shenandoah National Park (Virginia), Grandfather Mountain Areas and Linville Falls (North Carolina), and the Blue Ridge Parkway-Asheville to Oconaluftee (North Carolina). The final section consists of identification guides to help readers identify common rocks, minerals, plants, and birds of the region. Categories include igneous rocks, sedimentary rocks, deciduous trees, plants with blossoms, mosses, birds of prey, and ground birds. This well-designed and well-planned guide will be indispensable to anyone traveling to or studying the Blue Ridge Mountains.Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers.

This book is a delight. It could not have been written even a few years ago because of how little we then understood about how mountains are formed. Recent advances in geology and geophysics (plate tectonics, seafloor spreading, etc.) have greatly expanded our understanding of mountain dynamics, both on land and beneath oceans. Park (emer., Keele Univ., UK) begins by introducing readers to basic mountain geology, including a history of geological theories on mountain formation. Next comes an up-to-date and outstandingly illustrated chapter on the overarching plate tectonic theory of mountain building. Park then devotes 11 chapters to covering all the modern mountain systems of the Earth, including the Alps and Apennines, Carpathians, Himalayas, Western Pacific Rim, North American Cordillera, Andes, Antarctica, and the great ranges under the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Eroded roots of ancient ranges are also discussed. A glossary and select reference list are helpful additions. The most valuable, informative, and attractive feature of this semi-technical book is the numerous colorful maps, cross-sections, and photographs of the mountain systems--the latter two providing the third dimension of depth. Geologists and geographers alike will value this truly outstanding book.Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers.