The paperback of the Sunday Times bestseller that reveals how the earth became the shape it is today. This book will change the way you see the world - permanently.

The face of the earth, criss-crossed by chains of mountains like the scars of old wounds, has changed constantly over billions of years. Its shape records a remote past of earthquakes, volcanos and continental drift, and the ongoing subtle shifts that bring our planet alive.

Richard Fortey introduces us to the earth's distinct character, revealing the life that it leads when humans aren't watching. He follows the continual movement of seabeds, valleys, mountain ranges and ice caps and shows how everything - our culture, natural history, even the formation of our cities - has its roots in geology. In Richard Fortey's hands, geology becomes vital and exhilarating and unmistakably informs our lives in the most intimate way.

About the Author

Richard Fortey spent his working life in palaeontology at the Natural History Museum, specialising in trilobites and becoming a world expert. He was elected President of the Geological Society of London for its bicentennial year of 2007 and is a Fellow of the Royal Society and of the Royal Society of Literature. He has received the Frink Medal, the Michael Faraday Prize and the Lewis Thomas Prize for science writing, as well as the silver medal of the Zoological Society for science communication. He is the writer of eight previous science and nature books, including two Sunday Times bestsellers, all of which are still in print. He has presented many television programmes across the BBC and other channels.

Reviews

Praise for 'The Earth':

'A dazzling achievement. Richard Fortey is without peer among science writers.' Bill Bryson

'Books with a title this ambitious generally do not live up to their billing. This one does.' New Scientist

'"The Earth" is a true delight: full of awe-inspiring details...it blends travel, history, reportage and science to create an unforgettable picture of our ancient earth.' Sunday Times

'Read this book because it is, indeed, the best natural history of the first four billion years of life on earth.' John Gribbin, Sunday Times

Praise for 'The Hidden Landscape':

'Don't drop dead until you have read "The Hidden Landscape".' Jonathan Keates, Observer

Praise for 'Life: An unauthorised Biography':

'This is not a book for people who like science books. It is a book for people who love books, and life...[Fortey] has written a wonderful book.' Tim Radford, Guardian

Book Information
ISBN 9780006551379
Author Richard Fortey
Format Paperback
Page Count 528
Imprint HarperPerennial
Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
Weight(grams) 310g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 33mm