The Little Book of Planet Earth Little Book Series

In the last century, especially in the last 40 years, we have made immense strides in understanding not only the location, shape, size, and composition of Earth, but its structure and inherent dynamism. As author Rolf Meissner says, the ancient thesis of Heraclitus -- "Panta rhei, Everything is in flow." -- has proven to be true of our planet.

Earth's surface and inner structures are constantly moving, interacting, and changing in ways that define not just the planet's shape and appearance, but its atmosphere and weather, its land and ocean forms, and, of course, the extraordinary abundance and diversity of life that it supports. The Little Book of Planet Earth presents a concise description of the geological evolution of Earth from its formation.

Meissner describes in detailed but accessible prose our planet's features and the tools that modern geologists use to explore and track the ever-changing subterranean and surface features of the planet. With a particular gift for expressing how the forces in and around our planet constantly alter the world we live in, the author introduces lay readers to the key topics in modern earth and planetary science: the creation of Earth and its moon, the role of seismology in analyzing Earth's structure, the formation of mountain ranges and basins, the dynamics of plate tectonics, the significance of Earth's magnetic field, and the complex relationship of our planet's geology to the life forms found here.

For those who want a clear and informative tour of the ideas and technologies of modern geology, this concise, engaging, and up-to-date introduction is the best possible choice.