GREAT EARTH SCIENCE BOOKS
There are lots of great Earth Science books out there that can
be used to enhance your class. There are many ways that I use them.
I try to read as many books as possible because it gives me a stronger
background in the subject and allows me to add some cool stuff to my classes.
I have found it effective to highlight good passages and read them aloud
to the class. I also have students read books for extra credit. Rather
than writing a report, they sit with me for 10 minutes for a one on one
discussion. Below is a list of great books and a brief synopsis of them.
THE CONTROL OF NATURE
by John McPhee
This book contains three stories, each dealing with a specific example
of how man has tried to control basic geologic processes. The first
deals with the Atchafalaya River & the Army Corps of Engineers. No
need to explain that one! The second deals with the 1973 attempt to
stop the lava flows from an eruption on Iceland. The third looks at
attempts to control debris flows on the slopes of the San Gabriel Mtns.
BASIN & RANGE
By John McPhee
McPhee travels with a geologist & explores the Basin & Range Province
in Nevada
RISING FROM THE PLAINS
by John McPhee
McPhee travels with a Rocky Mountain regional geologist to explore
high-country geology
ASSEMBLING CALIFORNIA
by John McPhee
A story about the formation of California, plate tectonics & exotic terrains
THE STEEL ALBATROSS
by Scott Carpenter
An aquanaut and astronaut, Carpenter has written a thriller about the
oceans
ICEBOUND
by Dean Koontz
'Cool' story about the arctic and ice, ice and ice.
THE SIXTH WINTER
1979, by Douglas Orgill and John Gribbin.
This story is about the return of the ice age. Its old and tough to find.
I can't beleive they haven't made a movie out of it yet. This book should be must reading for climatology !!
HEAVY WEATHER
by Bruce Sterling
A story set in the future where climate has changed due to global
warming and tornadoes of unimagined intensity tear across the US
THE CRYSTAL DESERT
by David Campbell
All about Antarctica written by a scientist who spent three summers
there
TRAPPED: THE STORY OF FLOYD COLLINS
by Robert Murray and Roger Brucker
The true story of a caver who became trapped in a cave in Kentucky
and the attempts to rescue him
DIGGING DINOSAURS
by John Horner
Simple, easy to read description of this paleontologists search for baby
dinosaurs in Montana. Great for environments of deposition and making
infererences about dinosaur behavior
THE EXPLORATION OF THE COLORADO RIVER AND ITS CANYONS
by John Wesley Powell
The journal accounts of the first major exploration of the Colorado River.
Terrific descriptions of weathering, erosion, and geologic time
EXPLORATIONS: My Quest for Adventure and Discovery Under
the Sea
by Robert Ballard: Best known for discovering the Titanic, Dr Ballard
has written an easy to follow account of all the cool stuff he has done in
the sea.
THE DECHRONIZATION OF SAM MACGRUDER
by George Gaylord Simpson: What a great time travel story ! It's written by
one of the worlds greatest paleontologists !!
MEG
by Steve Alten: This is a story about a Megladon Cacharadon alive in our
present day oceans. Makes Jaws look like a goldfish !!
ANNALS OF THE FORMER WORLD
By John McPhee: This book is just too cool !! He has combined earlier works
with a new piece, updated everything, to produce an awesome book. He drives
across the US, from the east coast to west coast, describing the geology
along Route 80. You have to read this. The link below will give you a preview
Click
here to read some of the book !!
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