Great on its own or to read with the series, 18 Nov 2008
I saw this book in Sainsbury's and suggested to my wife that it would be a good birthday present. Sure enough, guess what I got on my birthday. I love the underwater world as I am a scuba diver so anything like this is right down my street. The images are superb and the tone of the text makes it very easy to read. It'd be quite suitable to read in its own right but as the TV series is on at the moment it makes a great accompanyment to that as well. Definately recommended.

Great on its own or to read with the series, 18 Nov 2008
I saw this book in Sainsbury's and suggested to my wife that it would be a good birthday present. Sure enough, guess what I got on my birthday. I love the underwater world as I am a scuba diver so anything like this is right down my street. The images are superb and the tone of the text makes it very easy to read. It'd be quite suitable to read in its own right but as the TV series is on at the moment it makes a great accompanyment to that as well. Definately recommended.

Southern England, 11 Nov 2008
The landscapes of the various Regions of Southern England are described in a "geologically-lite" way, but this is where the emphasis is, as opposed to say the Hoskins landscape books where the human dimension is more to the fore. A geologist would not find it particularly useful, but it would be very interesting for the natural historian/interested layman who wants to understand more about why the lie of the land is as it is. My main "complaint" is that it takes a huge and very diverse (geologically) swath of the country and so each landscape Region is dealt with in not as much detail as one might like, although there are locally focused books for this - e.g. Dreghorn's "Geology explained in the Severn Vale and Cotswolds". The book is sumptuously produced with superb colour aerial photographs and is a worthy addition to the New Naturalist library.

Great on its own or to read with the series, 18 Nov 2008
I saw this book in Sainsbury's and suggested to my wife that it would be a good birthday present. Sure enough, guess what I got on my birthday. I love the underwater world as I am a scuba diver so anything like this is right down my street. The images are superb and the tone of the text makes it very easy to read. It'd be quite suitable to read in its own right but as the TV series is on at the moment it makes a great accompanyment to that as well. Definately recommended.

Southern England, 11 Nov 2008
The landscapes of the various Regions of Southern England are described in a "geologically-lite" way, but this is where the emphasis is, as opposed to say the Hoskins landscape books where the human dimension is more to the fore. A geologist would not find it particularly useful, but it would be very interesting for the natural historian/interested layman who wants to understand more about why the lie of the land is as it is. My main "complaint" is that it takes a huge and very diverse (geologically) swath of the country and so each landscape Region is dealt with in not as much detail as one might like, although there are locally focused books for this - e.g. Dreghorn's "Geology explained in the Severn Vale and Cotswolds". The book is sumptuously produced with superb colour aerial photographs and is a worthy addition to the New Naturalist library.

Earth in all its majesty, 27 Mar 2008
Beautiful book and, like the TV series, is a well presented and informative guide to our planet, its formation and also addresses the problems that may occur from the legacy of human impact.

Husband loved it, 04 Mar 2008
My husband was glued to the tv series so i decided to get the book for Xmas for him,thought it wouldn't contain much extra info but he thinks its best book hes ever read and it certainly made him stop and think about the planet and what a fragile place we really live on!
On his 2nd read of it now!!

Wow!!!!, 05 Jan 2008
If you loved the series shown on bbc2 a few weeks ago, I guarantee you'll love this book. I've just received my copy today and I've only read a few pages but wow the stuff and information in it fabulous and awesome images. If you're into your volcanoes, impacts, earthquakes etc. Like I am :) I'd definitely forward this book to you.

Mind boggling!, 09 Dec 2007
This book ties in to the excellent TV series Earth Power of the Planet with the Scottish presenter Ian Stewart. It covers a mind boggling 5 BILLION years of the earth's history and looks at how the planet functions and the threat of global warming. I'm pleased to say the book has all the pace and energy of the series - Stewart has a good knack of making the science understandable. A great introduction to a truly fascinating subject. Amazing pictures too.

Great on its own or to read with the series, 18 Nov 2008
I saw this book in Sainsbury's and suggested to my wife that it would be a good birthday present. Sure enough, guess what I got on my birthday. I love the underwater world as I am a scuba diver so anything like this is right down my street. The images are superb and the tone of the text makes it very easy to read. It'd be quite suitable to read in its own right but as the TV series is on at the moment it makes a great accompanyment to that as well. Definately recommended.

Southern England, 11 Nov 2008
The landscapes of the various Regions of Southern England are described in a "geologically-lite" way, but this is where the emphasis is, as opposed to say the Hoskins landscape books where the human dimension is more to the fore. A geologist would not find it particularly useful, but it would be very interesting for the natural historian/interested layman who wants to understand more about why the lie of the land is as it is. My main "complaint" is that it takes a huge and very diverse (geologically) swath of the country and so each landscape Region is dealt with in not as much detail as one might like, although there are locally focused books for this - e.g. Dreghorn's "Geology explained in the Severn Vale and Cotswolds". The book is sumptuously produced with superb colour aerial photographs and is a worthy addition to the New Naturalist library.

Earth in all its majesty, 27 Mar 2008
Beautiful book and, like the TV series, is a well presented and informative guide to our planet, its formation and also addresses the problems that may occur from the legacy of human impact.

Husband loved it, 04 Mar 2008
My husband was glued to the tv series so i decided to get the book for Xmas for him,thought it wouldn't contain much extra info but he thinks its best book hes ever read and it certainly made him stop and think about the planet and what a fragile place we really live on!
On his 2nd read of it now!!

Wow!!!!, 05 Jan 2008
If you loved the series shown on bbc2 a few weeks ago, I guarantee you'll love this book. I've just received my copy today and I've only read a few pages but wow the stuff and information in it fabulous and awesome images. If you're into your volcanoes, impacts, earthquakes etc. Like I am :) I'd definitely forward this book to you.

Mind boggling!, 09 Dec 2007
This book ties in to the excellent TV series Earth Power of the Planet with the Scottish presenter Ian Stewart. It covers a mind boggling 5 BILLION years of the earth's history and looks at how the planet functions and the threat of global warming. I'm pleased to say the book has all the pace and energy of the series - Stewart has a good knack of making the science understandable. A great introduction to a truly fascinating subject. Amazing pictures too.

A good book which could become a great one, 09 Sep 2004
The book is excellently presented, with plenty of diagrams and photographs to clarify points made in the text. It is well written but, considering it is produced with the lay person in mind it is easy to become lost in the blizzard of facts, figures and events which are presented on many pages.

The one-page diagram of the Geological time scale is great. The book would be so much easier to digest if other such information was displayed on one page (even as an appendix) for the movement of continents around the planet. Similarly for a table of the various events and the dates they occurred in Britain. Trying to keep track of it all from the text is bemusing.

The glossary, too, could be significantly expanded; as it is it's woefully inadequate and seems arbitrary. For example, dolerite is included, but not dolomite. It is far from clear why. Bearing in mind this book is primarily for lay persons it's almost impossible to remember where you last saw the term, say, ophiolite, when you see it again in the text, so you can check its meaning. A more complete glossary would eradicate this problem.

This is a great book. With additions to make it easier to cross-reference terms and events it could be a 'classic' for lay people with an interest in geology

The Geology of Britain, 17 Mar 2003
I borrowed this book from the school library for months finding it an invaluable resource in my A2 level work. I now own my own copy of this excellant book which clearly details what Britain was like, its paleogeography and its rock strata in each of the geological time periods. My only fault is that a glossery would be great but otherwise this book is worthy of the full five stars.

A great well-produced introduction, 07 Jan 2003
I bought this book because I was wanted a light introduction to the geology of the UK – nothing too technical, preferably with illustrations to make the points, and hopefully with a sense of narrative to bring 2,000 million years of geological history to life.

This book delivered. I'm not a geologist, so I can't say whether Peter Toghill incorporated the latest evidence or did justice to the complexities of geological debate that I'm sure exist, but he certainly provided the level of answers that I was looking for.

This is a work that inspired me to read more. What better praise for a self-professed introductiory work!

Great book : very clear explanations and figures., 02 Aug 2001
When I was at school the little geology I learned was awfully boring: just the accumulation of layers and layers of stuff over millions of years. But this book has now turned me into a geology fanatic. It explains in historical sequence how the geological formations of Britain have come about. Even with little prior knowledge it is very easy to read (I thought), and I am particularly fond of all the many very well designed colour figures that are a terrific aid in understanding the variouses processes. Whole-heartedly recommended to anyone who's ever wondered why the rocks around the corner from his place look the way they look!

Great historical guide to regional geology, 06 Mar 2000
This book provides a fairly in-depth historical account of the processes and events which shaped the various lumps of rock we call Britain over geological time.

Each chapter deals with a particular period, and describes what was going on in each region. This means the emphasis is on describing the characteristics of each period rather than on the particular history of one region.

As a geology student (OU s260 this year, hello everyone), I've found this book really useful for getting a handle on the different periods - it does a good job of emphasising and contrasting each period's particular features. I feel I have some understanding of what differentiates the Devonian from the Silurian. I even know how long ago they were!

So why not five stars?

Firstly, the book makes little attempt to explain some of the terms it uses as it goes along. For a beginner, that can make it a bit of a slog at first. Having said that, you soon become used to the language and the second time you read it will be a lot more fun than the first.

Secondly, I'd have liked an additional chapter which gave a summary of the complete geological history of each of the regions. It would be nice to have been able to read in three or four paragraphs an overview of how Scotland happened. I think this would have been quite easy to do, and would have provided some useful broad context for the rest of the book.

Having said all this, the book is very useful, very informative, and packed full of exactly the sort of stuff you're interested in if you're reading a review of a book about Geology anyway!

Great on its own or to read with the series, 18 Nov 2008
I saw this book in Sainsbury's and suggested to my wife that it would be a good birthday present. Sure enough, guess what I got on my birthday. I love the underwater world as I am a scuba diver so anything like this is right down my street. The images are superb and the tone of the text makes it very easy to read. It'd be quite suitable to read in its own right but as the TV series is on at the moment it makes a great accompanyment to that as well. Definately recommended.

Southern England, 11 Nov 2008
The landscapes of the various Regions of Southern England are described in a "geologically-lite" way, but this is where the emphasis is, as opposed to say the Hoskins landscape books where the human dimension is more to the fore. A geologist would not find it particularly useful, but it would be very interesting for the natural historian/interested layman who wants to understand more about why the lie of the land is as it is. My main "complaint" is that it takes a huge and very diverse (geologically) swath of the country and so each landscape Region is dealt with in not as much detail as one might like, although there are locally focused books for this - e.g. Dreghorn's "Geology explained in the Severn Vale and Cotswolds". The book is sumptuously produced with superb colour aerial photographs and is a worthy addition to the New Naturalist library.

Earth in all its majesty, 27 Mar 2008
Beautiful book and, like the TV series, is a well presented and informative guide to our planet, its formation and also addresses the problems that may occur from the legacy of human impact.

Husband loved it, 04 Mar 2008
My husband was glued to the tv series so i decided to get the book for Xmas for him,thought it wouldn't contain much extra info but he thinks its best book hes ever read and it certainly made him stop and think about the planet and what a fragile place we really live on!
On his 2nd read of it now!!

Wow!!!!, 05 Jan 2008
If you loved the series shown on bbc2 a few weeks ago, I guarantee you'll love this book. I've just received my copy today and I've only read a few pages but wow the stuff and information in it fabulous and awesome images. If you're into your volcanoes, impacts, earthquakes etc. Like I am :) I'd definitely forward this book to you.

Mind boggling!, 09 Dec 2007
This book ties in to the excellent TV series Earth Power of the Planet with the Scottish presenter Ian Stewart. It covers a mind boggling 5 BILLION years of the earth's history and looks at how the planet functions and the threat of global warming. I'm pleased to say the book has all the pace and energy of the series - Stewart has a good knack of making the science understandable. A great introduction to a truly fascinating subject. Amazing pictures too.

A good book which could become a great one, 09 Sep 2004
The book is excellently presented, with plenty of diagrams and photographs to clarify points made in the text. It is well written but, considering it is produced with the lay person in mind it is easy to become lost in the blizzard of facts, figures and events which are presented on many pages.

The one-page diagram of the Geological time scale is great. The book would be so much easier to digest if other such information was displayed on one page (even as an appendix) for the movement of continents around the planet. Similarly for a table of the various events and the dates they occurred in Britain. Trying to keep track of it all from the text is bemusing.

The glossary, too, could be significantly expanded; as it is it's woefully inadequate and seems arbitrary. For example, dolerite is included, but not dolomite. It is far from clear why. Bearing in mind this book is primarily for lay persons it's almost impossible to remember where you last saw the term, say, ophiolite, when you see it again in the text, so you can check its meaning. A more complete glossary would eradicate this problem.

This is a great book. With additions to make it easier to cross-reference terms and events it could be a 'classic' for lay people with an interest in geology

The Geology of Britain, 17 Mar 2003
I borrowed this book from the school library for months finding it an invaluable resource in my A2 level work. I now own my own copy of this excellant book which clearly details what Britain was like, its paleogeography and its rock strata in each of the geological time periods. My only fault is that a glossery would be great but otherwise this book is worthy of the full five stars.

A great well-produced introduction, 07 Jan 2003
I bought this book because I was wanted a light introduction to the geology of the UK – nothing too technical, preferably with illustrations to make the points, and hopefully with a sense of narrative to bring 2,000 million years of geological history to life.

This book delivered. I'm not a geologist, so I can't say whether Peter Toghill incorporated the latest evidence or did justice to the complexities of geological debate that I'm sure exist, but he certainly provided the level of answers that I was looking for.

This is a work that inspired me to read more. What better praise for a self-professed introductiory work!

Great book : very clear explanations and figures., 02 Aug 2001
When I was at school the little geology I learned was awfully boring: just the accumulation of layers and layers of stuff over millions of years. But this book has now turned me into a geology fanatic. It explains in historical sequence how the geological formations of Britain have come about. Even with little prior knowledge it is very easy to read (I thought), and I am particularly fond of all the many very well designed colour figures that are a terrific aid in understanding the variouses processes. Whole-heartedly recommended to anyone who's ever wondered why the rocks around the corner from his place look the way they look!

Great historical guide to regional geology, 06 Mar 2000
This book provides a fairly in-depth historical account of the processes and events which shaped the various lumps of rock we call Britain over geological time.

Each chapter deals with a particular period, and describes what was going on in each region. This means the emphasis is on describing the characteristics of each period rather than on the particular history of one region.

As a geology student (OU s260 this year, hello everyone), I've found this book really useful for getting a handle on the different periods - it does a good job of emphasising and contrasting each period's particular features. I feel I have some understanding of what differentiates the Devonian from the Silurian. I even know how long ago they were!

So why not five stars?

Firstly, the book makes little attempt to explain some of the terms it uses as it goes along. For a beginner, that can make it a bit of a slog at first. Having said that, you soon become used to the language and the second time you read it will be a lot more fun than the first.

Secondly, I'd have liked an additional chapter which gave a summary of the complete geological history of each of the regions. It would be nice to have been able to read in three or four paragraphs an overview of how Scotland happened. I think this would have been quite easy to do, and would have provided some useful broad context for the rest of the book.

Having said all this, the book is very useful, very informative, and packed full of exactly the sort of stuff you're interested in if you're reading a review of a book about Geology anyway!

Great for Identifying Rocks and Minerals!, 13 May 2004
When I took Geology in college, I loved the course. I only had one problem. It was very difficult for me to identify rocks and minerals in the field. If I had had this pocket field guide, the course would have been a snap.

Now, I enjoy taking my children to study outcroppings, and this book will be a great addition to our investigations.

First, the photographs are stunning. In fact, any temptation I might have had to develop my own samples is set aside by having these wonderful images to use.

Second, the information is detailed and thorough. There is a lot about the crystalline structure of each mineral, the hardness, and many tests that are specific to that particular mineral. There is a very good section that describes how to apply the hardness tests (I always had trouble memorizing that area for some reason). There is plenty of good safety information for how to use the various acids that can be employed to identify minerals. Everything is nicely summarized so it is easy to find.

Third, all those subtle distinctions about various kinds of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks that used to puzzle me are very clear here. Whew!

Fourth, the book has great directions for locating good spots to examine rocks.

Fifth, you also receive a wonderful description of the equipment you need, and ways to use it safely.

Whether you think you like rocks or not, you should give this book a try. It will open up a very interesting world full of ways to locate and identify interesting rocks and understand the stories they can tell. As a result, you will have immensely more understanding of the world around you.

I also suggest that you read up on plate mechanics as well, so that you understand more about how the landscape is formed before erosion takes over. The combined knowledge of these two areas will greatly add to your understanding and appreciation of evolution.

Get in touch with the physical world around you as foundation knowledge!

A Sound Investment, 24 Nov 2002
This is one of the most thorough and comprehensive books you can buy on the subject of rocks and minerals. It covers over 500 specimens in every detail including their composition, hardness, SG, cleavage and fracture and each description is accompaned by a faithful and sometimes beautiful photograph of the specimen. The example of blue Smithsonite which looks uncannily like a leaping Dolphin is particularly nice.

The whole book is well set out as you would expect from a Dorling Kindersley publication and it is suitable for beginners and experts alike as it is an extremely good reference book.

100% PERFECT, 22 Nov 2002
This book could not be better. I am studying geology AS/A2 level at sixth form and was struggling to get to grips with alot of the rocks and minerals, i then bought this book from amazon, (great delivery) and it has helped me massively, for anyone doing geology at AS/A2 this book is a simple MUST HAVE. Buy this book now, you will regret it if you dont.

a very usefull book for students of every age!, 12 Feb 2002
I am a university student, studying geology in detail for the first time,as part of a geography degree, so this book is very useful, with all the information i required. This would also be interesting for someone needing a less advanced knowledge, or just an general interest. Definately worth its money.

Great on its own or to read with the series, 18 Nov 2008
I saw this book in Sainsbury's and suggested to my wife that it would be a good birthday present. Sure enough, guess what I got on my birthday. I love the underwater world as I am a scuba diver so anything like this is right down my street. The images are superb and the tone of the text makes it very easy to read. It'd be quite suitable to read in its own right but as the TV series is on at the moment it makes a great accompanyment to that as well. Definately recommended.

Southern England, 11 Nov 2008
The landscapes of the various Regions of Southern England are described in a "geologically-lite" way, but this is where the emphasis is, as opposed to say the Hoskins landscape books where the human dimension is more to the fore. A geologist would not find it particularly useful, but it would be very interesting for the natural historian/interested layman who wants to understand more about why the lie of the land is as it is. My main "complaint" is that it takes a huge and very diverse (geologically) swath of the country and so each landscape Region is dealt with in not as much detail as one might like, although there are locally focused books for this - e.g. Dreghorn's "Geology explained in the Severn Vale and Cotswolds". The book is sumptuously produced with superb colour aerial photographs and is a worthy addition to the New Naturalist library.

Earth in all its majesty, 27 Mar 2008
Beautiful book and, like the TV series, is a well presented and informative guide to our planet, its formation and also addresses the problems that may occur from the legacy of human impact.

Husband loved it, 04 Mar 2008
My husband was glued to the tv series so i decided to get the book for Xmas for him,thought it wouldn't contain much extra info but he thinks its best book hes ever read and it certainly made him stop and think about the planet and what a fragile place we really live on!
On his 2nd read of it now!!

Wow!!!!, 05 Jan 2008
If you loved the series shown on bbc2 a few weeks ago, I guarantee you'll love this book. I've just received my copy today and I've only read a few pages but wow the stuff and information in it fabulous and awesome images. If you're into your volcanoes, impacts, earthquakes etc. Like I am :) I'd definitely forward this book to you.

Mind boggling!, 09 Dec 2007
This book ties in to the excellent TV series Earth Power of the Planet with the Scottish presenter Ian Stewart. It covers a mind boggling 5 BILLION years of the earth's history and looks at how the planet functions and the threat of global warming. I'm pleased to say the book has all the pace and energy of the series - Stewart has a good knack of making the science understandable. A great introduction to a truly fascinating subject. Amazing pictures too.

A good book which could become a great one, 09 Sep 2004
The book is excellently presented, with plenty of diagrams and photographs to clarify points made in the text. It is well written but, considering it is produced with the lay person in mind it is easy to become lost in the blizzard of facts, figures and events which are presented on many pages.

The one-page diagram of the Geological time scale is great. The book would be so much easier to digest if other such information was displayed on one page (even as an appendix) for the movement of continents around the planet. Similarly for a table of the various events and the dates they occurred in Britain. Trying to keep track of it all from the text is bemusing.

The glossary, too, could be significantly expanded; as it is it's woefully inadequate and seems arbitrary. For example, dolerite is included, but not dolomite. It is far from clear why. Bearing in mind this book is primarily for lay persons it's almost impossible to remember where you last saw the term, say, ophiolite, when you see it again in the text, so you can check its meaning. A more complete glossary would eradicate this problem.

This is a great book. With additions to make it easier to cross-reference terms and events it could be a 'classic' for lay people with an interest in geology

The Geology of Britain, 17 Mar 2003
I borrowed this book from the school library for months finding it an invaluable resource in my A2 level work. I now own my own copy of this excellant book which clearly details what Britain was like, its paleogeography and its rock strata in each of the geological time periods. My only fault is that a glossery would be great but otherwise this book is worthy of the full five stars.

A great well-produced introduction, 07 Jan 2003
I bought this book because I was wanted a light introduction to the geology of the UK – nothing too technical, preferably with illustrations to make the points, and hopefully with a sense of narrative to bring 2,000 million years of geological history to life.

This book delivered. I'm not a geologist, so I can't say whether Peter Toghill incorporated the latest evidence or did justice to the complexities of geological debate that I'm sure exist, but he certainly provided the level of answers that I was looking for.

This is a work that inspired me to read more. What better praise for a self-professed introductiory work!

Great book : very clear explanations and figures., 02 Aug 2001
When I was at school the little geology I learned was awfully boring: just the accumulation of layers and layers of stuff over millions of years. But this book has now turned me into a geology fanatic. It explains in historical sequence how the geological formations of Britain have come about. Even with little prior knowledge it is very easy to read (I thought), and I am particularly fond of all the many very well designed colour figures that are a terrific aid in understanding the variouses processes. Whole-heartedly recommended to anyone who's ever wondered why the rocks around the corner from his place look the way they look!

Great historical guide to regional geology, 06 Mar 2000
This book provides a fairly in-depth historical account of the processes and events which shaped the various lumps of rock we call Britain over geological time.

Each chapter deals with a particular period, and describes what was going on in each region. This means the emphasis is on describing the characteristics of each period rather than on the particular history of one region.

As a geology student (OU s260 this year, hello everyone), I've found this book really useful for getting a handle on the different periods - it does a good job of emphasising and contrasting each period's particular features. I feel I have some understanding of what differentiates the Devonian from the Silurian. I even know how long ago they were!

So why not five stars?

Firstly, the book makes little attempt to explain some of the terms it uses as it goes along. For a beginner, that can make it a bit of a slog at first. Having said that, you soon become used to the language and the second time you read it will be a lot more fun than the first.

Secondly, I'd have liked an additional chapter which gave a summary of the complete geological history of each of the regions. It would be nice to have been able to read in three or four paragraphs an overview of how Scotland happened. I think this would have been quite easy to do, and would have provided some useful broad context for the rest of the book.

Having said all this, the book is very useful, very informative, and packed full of exactly the sort of stuff you're interested in if you're reading a review of a book about Geology anyway!

Great for Identifying Rocks and Minerals!, 13 May 2004
When I took Geology in college, I loved the course. I only had one problem. It was very difficult for me to identify rocks and minerals in the field. If I had had this pocket field guide, the course would have been a snap.

Now, I enjoy taking my children to study outcroppings, and this book will be a great addition to our investigations.

First, the photographs are stunning. In fact, any temptation I might have had to develop my own samples is set aside by having these wonderful images to use.

Second, the information is detailed and thorough. There is a lot about the crystalline structure of each mineral, the hardness, and many tests that are specific to that particular mineral. There is a very good section that describes how to apply the hardness tests (I always had trouble memorizing that area for some reason). There is plenty of good safety information for how to use the various acids that can be employed to identify minerals. Everything is nicely summarized so it is easy to find.

Third, all those subtle distinctions about various kinds of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks that used to puzzle me are very clear here. Whew!

Fourth, the book has great directions for locating good spots to examine rocks.

Fifth, you also receive a wonderful description of the equipment you need, and ways to use it safely.

Whether you think you like rocks or not, you should give this book a try. It will open up a very interesting world full of ways to locate and identify interesting rocks and understand the stories they can tell. As a result, you will have immensely more understanding of the world around you.

I also suggest that you read up on plate mechanics as well, so that you understand more about how the landscape is formed before erosion takes over. The combined knowledge of these two areas will greatly add to your understanding and appreciation of evolution.

Get in touch with the physical world around you as foundation knowledge!

A Sound Investment, 24 Nov 2002
This is one of the most thorough and comprehensive books you can buy on the subject of rocks and minerals. It covers over 500 specimens in every detail including their composition, hardness, SG, cleavage and fracture and each description is accompaned by a faithful and sometimes beautiful photograph of the specimen. The example of blue Smithsonite which looks uncannily like a leaping Dolphin is particularly nice.

The whole book is well set out as you would expect from a Dorling Kindersley publication and it is suitable for beginners and experts alike as it is an extremely good reference book.

100% PERFECT, 22 Nov 2002
This book could not be better. I am studying geology AS/A2 level at sixth form and was struggling to get to grips with alot of the rocks and minerals, i then bought this book from amazon, (great delivery) and it has helped me massively, for anyone doing geology at AS/A2 this book is a simple MUST HAVE. Buy this book now, you will regret it if you dont.

a very usefull book for students of every age!, 12 Feb 2002
I am a university student, studying geology in detail for the first time,as part of a geography degree, so this book is very useful, with all the information i required. This would also be interesting for someone needing a less advanced knowledge, or just an general interest. Definately worth its money.

Good for Beginners, 28 Feb 2008
This book is good if you are just starting out looking at gemstones and gemmology. However it does not give much more than a brief outline of each stone with a few nice pictures which leaves you wanting more! Good reference charts at the back of the book. Other than the charts, no real visual identifying tips of any real value imo ie. microphotos etc or tips on id synthetics etc. Still a nice book to have and does contribute something when compared with other books.

great book, 09 Oct 2006
this book is great for the beginner and those a little more expert

Informative and nicely illustrated, 20 Dec 2005
Like all DK books, this is beautifully illustrated and informative. It's the kind of book you'll probably find yourself dipping into now and again, rather than reading cover to cover in one go. User friendly and doesn't baffle with unnecessary science.

A Good Start, 29 Nov 2005
This handbook is essential reading for any new jewellers and provides the basics needed for product knowledge. Well laid out information, multiple illustrations. A definitely GOOD starting point.

Well it's a damn good book if you like like you'r gems., 28 May 2001
It tell's you what and where they come from around the world. It's a really good book if someone really like's there Gem stones. It show's you all the different shape's and sizes of the stone's. I'm a really big fan of Gem's, I have got Citrine, All kinds of Garnet stones, Diamonds,Tanzanite etc etc.... The list just goes on.

So take a look at it.

Great on its own or to read with the series, 18 Nov 2008
I saw this book in Sainsbury's and suggested to my wife that it would be a good birthday present. Sure enough, guess what I got on my birthday. I love the underwater world as I am a scuba diver so anything like this is right down my street. The images are superb and the tone of the text makes it very easy to read. It'd be quite suitable to read in its own right but as the TV series is on at the moment it makes a great accompanyment to that as well. Definately recommended.

Southern England, 11 Nov 2008
The landscapes of the various Regions of Southern England are described in a "geologically-lite" way, but this is where the emphasis is, as opposed to say the Hoskins landscape books where the human dimension is more to the fore. A geologist would not find it particularly useful, but it would be very interesting for the natural historian/interested layman who wants to understand more about why the lie of the land is as it is. My main "complaint" is that it takes a huge and very diverse (geologically) swath of the country and so each landscape Region is dealt with in not as much detail as one might like, although there are locally focused books for this - e.g. Dreghorn's "Geology explained in the Severn Vale and Cotswolds". The book is sumptuously produced with superb colour aerial photographs and is a worthy addition to the New Naturalist library.

Earth in all its majesty, 27 Mar 2008
Beautiful book and, like the TV series, is a well presented and informative guide to our planet, its formation and also addresses the problems that may occur from the legacy of human impact.

Husband loved it, 04 Mar 2008
My husband was glued to the tv series so i decided to get the book for Xmas for him,thought it wouldn't contain much extra info but he thinks its best book hes ever read and it certainly made him stop and think about the planet and what a fragile place we really live on!
On his 2nd read of it now!!

Wow!!!!, 05 Jan 2008
If you loved the series shown on bbc2 a few weeks ago, I guarantee you'll love this book. I've just received my copy today and I've only read a few pages but wow the stuff and information in it fabulous and awesome images. If you're into your volcanoes, impacts, earthquakes etc. Like I am :) I'd definitely forward this book to you.

Mind boggling!, 09 Dec 2007
This book ties in to the excellent TV series Earth Power of the Planet with the Scottish presenter Ian Stewart. It covers a mind boggling 5 BILLION years of the earth's history and looks at how the planet functions and the threat of global warming. I'm pleased to say the book has all the pace and energy of the series - Stewart has a good knack of making the science understandable. A great introduction to a truly fascinating subject. Amazing pictures too.

A good book which could become a great one, 09 Sep 2004
The book is excellently presented, with plenty of diagrams and photographs to clarify points made in the text. It is well written but, considering it is produced with the lay person in mind it is easy to become lost in the blizzard of facts, figures and events which are presented on many pages.

The one-page diagram of the Geological time scale is great. The book would be so much easier to digest if other such information was displayed on one page (even as an appendix) for the movement of continents around the planet. Similarly for a table of the various events and the dates they occurred in Britain. Trying to keep track of it all from the text is bemusing.

The glossary, too, could be significantly expanded; as it is it's woefully inadequate and seems arbitrary. For example, dolerite is included, but not dolomite. It is far from clear why. Bearing in mind this book is primarily for lay persons it's almost impossible to remember where you last saw the term, say, ophiolite, when you see it again in the text, so you can check its meaning. A more complete glossary would eradicate this problem.

This is a great book. With additions to make it easier to cross-reference terms and events it could be a 'classic' for lay people with an interest in geology

The Geology of Britain, 17 Mar 2003
I borrowed this book from the school library for months finding it an invaluable resource in my A2 level work. I now own my own copy of this excellant book which clearly details what Britain was like, its paleogeography and its rock strata in each of the geological time periods. My only fault is that a glossery would be great but otherwise this book is worthy of the full five stars.

A great well-produced introduction, 07 Jan 2003
I bought this book because I was wanted a light introduction to the geology of the UK – nothing too technical, preferably with illustrations to make the points, and hopefully with a sense of narrative to bring 2,000 million years of geological history to life.

This book delivered. I'm not a geologist, so I can't say whether Peter Toghill incorporated the latest evidence or did justice to the complexities of geological debate that I'm sure exist, but he certainly provided the level of answers that I was looking for.

This is a work that inspired me to read more. What better praise for a self-professed introductiory work!

Great book : very clear explanations and figures., 02 Aug 2001
When I was at school the little geology I learned was awfully boring: just the accumulation of layers and layers of stuff over millions of years. But this book has now turned me into a geology fanatic. It explains in historical sequence how the geological formations of Britain have come about. Even with little prior knowledge it is very easy to read (I thought), and I am particularly fond of all the many very well designed colour figures that are a terrific aid in understanding the variouses processes. Whole-heartedly recommended to anyone who's ever wondered why the rocks around the corner from his place look the way they look!

Great historical guide to regional geology, 06 Mar 2000
This book provides a fairly in-depth historical account of the processes and events which shaped the various lumps of rock we call Britain over geological time.

Each chapter deals with a particular period, and describes what was going on in each region. This means the emphasis is on describing the characteristics of each period rather than on the particular history of one region.

As a geology student (OU s260 this year, hello everyone), I've found this book really useful for getting a handle on the different periods - it does a good job of emphasising and contrasting each period's particular features. I feel I have some understanding of what differentiates the Devonian from the Silurian. I even know how long ago they were!

So why not five stars?

Firstly, the book makes little attempt to explain some of the terms it uses as it goes along. For a beginner, that can make it a bit of a slog at first. Having said that, you soon become used to the language and the second time you read it will be a lot more fun than the first.

Secondly, I'd have liked an additional chapter which gave a summary of the complete geological history of each of the regions. It would be nice to have been able to read in three or four paragraphs an overview of how Scotland happened. I think this would have been quite easy to do, and would have provided some useful broad context for the rest of the book.

Having said all this, the book is very useful, very informative, and packed full of exactly the sort of stuff you're interested in if you're reading a review of a book about Geology anyway!

Great for Identifying Rocks and Minerals!, 13 May 2004
When I took Geology in college, I loved the course. I only had one problem. It was very difficult for me to identify rocks and minerals in the field. If I had had this pocket field guide, the course would have been a snap.

Now, I enjoy taking my children to study outcroppings, and this book will be a great addition to our investigations.

First, the photographs are stunning. In fact, any temptation I might have had to develop my own samples is set aside by having these wonderful images to use.

Second, the information is detailed and thorough. There is a lot about the crystalline structure of each mineral, the hardness, and many tests that are specific to that particular mineral. There is a very good section that describes how to apply the hardness tests (I always had trouble memorizing that area for some reason). There is plenty of good safety information for how to use the various acids that can be employed to identify minerals. Everything is nicely summarized so it is easy to find.

Third, all those subtle distinctions about various kinds of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks that used to puzzle me are very clear here. Whew!

Fourth, the book has great directions for locating good spots to examine rocks.

Fifth, you also receive a wonderful description of the equipment you need, and ways to use it safely.

Whether you think you like rocks or not, you should give this book a try. It will open up a very interesting world full of ways to locate and identify interesting rocks and understand the stories they can tell. As a result, you will have immensely more understanding of the world around you.

I also suggest that you read up on plate mechanics as well, so that you understand more about how the landscape is formed before erosion takes over. The combined knowledge of these two areas will greatly add to your understanding and appreciation of evolution.

Get in touch with the physical world around you as foundation knowledge!

A Sound Investment, 24 Nov 2002
This is one of the most thorough and comprehensive books you can buy on the subject of rocks and minerals. It covers over 500 specimens in every detail including their composition, hardness, SG, cleavage and fracture and each description is accompaned by a faithful and sometimes beautiful photograph of the specimen. The example of blue Smithsonite which looks uncannily like a leaping Dolphin is particularly nice.

The whole book is well set out as you would expect from a Dorling Kindersley publication and it is suitable for beginners and experts alike as it is an extremely good reference book.

100% PERFECT, 22 Nov 2002
This book could not be better. I am studying geology AS/A2 level at sixth form and was struggling to get to grips with alot of the rocks and minerals, i then bought this book from amazon, (great delivery) and it has helped me massively, for anyone doing geology at AS/A2 this book is a simple MUST HAVE. Buy this book now, you will regret it if you dont.

a very usefull book for students of every age!, 12 Feb 2002
I am a university student, studying geology in detail for the first time,as part of a geography degree, so this book is very useful, with all the information i required. This would also be interesting for someone needing a less advanced knowledge, or just an general interest. Definately worth its money.

Good for Beginners, 28 Feb 2008
This book is good if you are just starting out looking at gemstones and gemmology. However it does not give much more than a brief outline of each stone with a few nice pictures which leaves you wanting more! Good reference charts at the back of the book. Other than the charts, no real visual identifying tips of any real value imo ie. microphotos etc or tips on id synthetics etc. Still a nice book to have and does contribute something when compared with other books.

great book, 09 Oct 2006
this book is great for the beginner and those a little more expert

Informative and nicely illustrated, 20 Dec 2005
Like all DK books, this is beautifully illustrated and informative. It's the kind of book you'll probably find yourself dipping into now and again, rather than reading cover to cover in one go. User friendly and doesn't baffle with unnecessary science.

A Good Start, 29 Nov 2005
This handbook is essential reading for any new jewellers and provides the basics needed for product knowledge. Well laid out information, multiple illustrations. A definitely GOOD starting point.

Well it's a damn good book if you like like you'r gems., 28 May 2001
It tell's you what and where they come from around the world. It's a really good book if someone really like's there Gem stones. It show's you all the different shape's and sizes of the stone's. I'm a really big fan of Gem's, I have got Citrine, All kinds of Garnet stones, Diamonds,Tanzanite etc etc.... The list just goes on.

So take a look at it.

A visual aid to studying minerals in thin section, 21 May 2008
I am currently studying geology through the Open University, and was really struggling to get my head around what minerals I was actually trying to identify. It's hard to read a description of a mineral and then try to interpret it visually. This book has come to the rescue and has been invaluable to me. Nice book and pictures are great.

Brilliant for 1st years, but perhaps not a long-term investment?, 03 Mar 2008
I'm a first year Earth Sciences student and found this book invaluable, as a revision guide but also to clear up anything I was unsure on.

The photographs are excellent and the text well-written.

I do appreciate, however, that for some it may be a bit basic: I don't really see myself using this much beyond this first year of my degree scheme.

In short, great for a better basic understading, but not a great long-term investment... I borrowed mine from the uni library - perhaps a better idea.

Good book for beginners or out-of-practice seasoned pros., 04 Mar 2004
I was in two minds about buying this book after reading the previous reviews. However, I am very happy with the purchase.

The book is great for students new to the study of rocks in thin section. It covers all of the most important rock-forming minerals and then introduces the rocks that they are most commonly found in. There are also sections covering most of the most common and important textures. The accompanying text is simple and easy to understand and does not become bogged down with elaborate language or over-complication.

All in all, a good low-cost option for 1st and 2nd year students who take fright at the price of Mackenzie's Atlases.

Atlas of Rocks and Minerals, 06 Dec 2002
An excellent book for my BSc Geology degree. Very helpful if you are unsure about the properties and appearances of certain minerals in thin section. An invaluable tool. Anyone who says it is not useful is obviously not using it correctly!

This atlas is not really that useful, 29 Jan 2001
I bought this atlas and basically all it is really is pretty pictures. Not worth the money. If you want real help in mineralogy then buy "A practical introduction to optical mineralogy" by Gribble and Hall instead.

The colour atlas is a real beginner's guide which shows the perfect examples of various rocks in thin section and the more popular minerals. The section on feldspars is ok, but could go into more detail - it only shows sanidine, microcline and plagioclase for some odd reason.

As it result this book lay unused for three years and was a sheer waste. Spend your loans on other books by MacKenzie - but not this one!

Great on its own or to read with the series, 18 Nov 2008
I saw this book in Sainsbury's and suggested to my wife that it would be a good birthday present. Sure enough, guess what I got on my birthday. I love the underwater world as I am a scuba diver so anything like this is right down my street. The images are superb and the tone of the text makes it very easy to read. It'd be quite suitable to read in its own right but as the TV series is on at the moment it makes a great accompanyment to that as well. Definately recommended.

Southern England, 11 Nov 2008
The landscapes of the various Regions of Southern England are described in a "geologically-lite" way, but this is where the emphasis is, as opposed to say the Hoskins landscape books where the human dimension is more to the fore. A geologist would not find it particularly useful, but it would be very interesting for the natural historian/interested layman who wants to understand more about why the lie of the land is as it is. My main "complaint" is that it takes a huge and very diverse (geologically) swath of the country and so each landscape Region is dealt with in not as much detail as one might like, although there are locally focused books for this - e.g. Dreghorn's "Geology explained in the Severn Vale and Cotswolds". The book is sumptuously produced with superb colour aerial photographs and is a worthy addition to the New Naturalist library.

Earth in all its majesty, 27 Mar 2008
Beautiful book and, like the TV series, is a well presented and informative guide to our planet, its formation and also addresses the problems that may occur from the legacy of human impact.

Husband loved it, 04 Mar 2008
My husband was glued to the tv series so i decided to get the book for Xmas for him,thought it wouldn't contain much extra info but he thinks its best book hes ever read and it certainly made him stop and think about the planet and what a fragile place we really live on!
On his 2nd read of it now!!

Wow!!!!, 05 Jan 2008
If you loved the series shown on bbc2 a few weeks ago, I guarantee you'll love this book. I've just received my copy today and I've only read a few pages but wow the stuff and information in it fabulous and awesome images. If you're into your volcanoes, impacts, earthquakes etc. Like I am :) I'd definitely forward this book to you.

Mind boggling!, 09 Dec 2007
This book ties in to the excellent TV series Earth Power of the Planet with the Scottish presenter Ian Stewart. It covers a mind boggling 5 BILLION years of the earth's history and looks at how the planet functions and the threat of global warming. I'm pleased to say the book has all the pace and energy of the series - Stewart has a good knack of making the science understandable. A great introduction to a truly fascinating subject. Amazing pictures too.

A good book which could become a great one, 09 Sep 2004
The book is excellently presented, with plenty of diagrams and photographs to clarify points made in the text. It is well written but, considering it is produced with the lay person in mind it is easy to become lost in the blizzard of facts, figures and events which are presented on many pages.

The one-page diagram of the Geological time scale is great. The book would be so much easier to digest if other such information was displayed on one page (even as an appendix) for the movement of continents around the planet. Similarly for a table of the various events and the dates they occurred in Britain. Trying to keep track of it all from the text is bemusing.

The glossary, too, could be significantly expanded; as it is it's woefully inadequate and seems arbitrary. For example, dolerite is included, but not dolomite. It is far from clear why. Bearing in mind this book is primarily for lay persons it's almost impossible to remember where you last saw the term, say, ophiolite, when you see it again in the text, so you can check its meaning. A more complete glossary would eradicate this problem.

This is a great book. With additions to make it easier to cross-reference terms and events it could be a 'classic' for lay people with an interest in geology

The Geology of Britain, 17 Mar 2003
I borrowed this book from the school library for months finding it an invaluable resource in my A2 level work. I now own my own copy of this excellant book which clearly details what Britain was like, its paleogeography and its rock strata in each of the geological time periods. My only fault is that a glossery would be great but otherwise this book is worthy of the full five stars.

A great well-produced introduction, 07 Jan 2003
I bought this book because I was wanted a light introduction to the geology of the UK – nothing too technical, preferably with illustrations to make the points, and hopefully with a sense of narrative to bring 2,000 million years of geological history to life.

This book delivered. I'm not a geologist, so I can't say whether Peter Toghill incorporated the latest evidence or did justice to the complexities of geological debate that I'm sure exist, but he certainly provided the level of answers that I was looking for.

This is a work that inspired me to read more. What better praise for a self-professed introductiory work!

Great book : very clear explanations and figures., 02 Aug 2001
When I was at school the little geology I learned was awfully boring: just the accumulation of layers and layers of stuff over millions of years. But this book has now turned me into a geology fanatic. It explains in historical sequence how the geological formations of Britain have come about. Even with little prior knowledge it is very easy to read (I thought), and I am particularly fond of all the many very well designed colour figures that are a terrific aid in understanding the variouses processes. Whole-heartedly recommended to anyone who's ever wondered why the rocks around the corner from his place look the way they look!

Great historical guide to regional geology, 06 Mar 2000
This book provides a fairly in-depth historical account of the processes and events which shaped the various lumps of rock we call Britain over geological time.

Each chapter deals with a particular period, and describes what was going on in each region. This means the emphasis is on describing the characteristics of each period rather than on the particular history of one region.

As a geology student (OU s260 this year, hello everyone), I've found this book really useful for getting a handle on the different periods - it does a good job of emphasising and contrasting each period's particular features. I feel I have some understanding of what differentiates the Devonian from the Silurian. I even know how long ago they were!

So why not five stars?

Firstly, the book makes little attempt to explain some of the terms it uses as it goes along. For a beginner, that can make it a bit of a slog at first. Having said that, you soon become used to the language and the second time you read it will be a lot more fun than the first.

Secondly, I'd have liked an additional chapter which gave a summary of the complete geological history of each of the regions. It would be nice to have been able to read in three or four paragraphs an overview of how Scotland happened. I think this would have been quite easy to do, and would have provided some useful broad context for the rest of the book.

Having said all this, the book is very useful, very informative, and packed full of exactly the sort of stuff you're interested in if you're reading a review of a book about Geology anyway!

Great for Identifying Rocks and Minerals!, 13 May 2004
When I took Geology in college, I loved the course. I only had one problem. It was very difficult for me to identify rocks and minerals in the field. If I had had this pocket field guide, the course would have been a snap.

Now, I enjoy taking my children to study outcroppings, and this book will be a great addition to our investigations.

First, the photographs are stunning. In fact, any temptation I might have had to develop my own samples is set aside by having these wonderful images to use.

Second, the information is detailed and thorough. There is a lot about the crystalline structure of each mineral, the hardness, and many tests that are specific to that particular mineral. There is a very good section that describes how to apply the hardness tests (I always had trouble memorizing that area for some reason). There is plenty of good safety information for how to use the various acids that can be employed to identify minerals. Everything is nicely summarized so it is easy to find.

Third, all those subtle distinctions about various kinds of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks that used to puzzle me are very clear here. Whew!

Fourth, the book has great directions for locating good spots to examine rocks.

Fifth, you also receive a wonderful description of the equipment you need, and ways to use it safely.

Whether you think you like rocks or not, you should give this book a try. It will open up a very interesting world full of ways to locate and identify interesting rocks and understand the stories they can tell. As a result, you will have immensely more understanding of the world around you.

I also suggest that you read up on plate mechanics as well, so that you understand more about how the landscape is formed before erosion takes over. The combined knowledge of these two areas will greatly add to your understanding and appreciation of evolution.

Get in touch with the physical world around you as foundation knowledge!

A Sound Investment, 24 Nov 2002
This is one of the most thorough and comprehensive books you can buy on the subject of rocks and minerals. It covers over 500 specimens in every detail including their composition, hardness, SG, cleavage and fracture and each description is accompaned by a faithful and sometimes beautiful photograph of the specimen. The example of blue Smithsonite which looks uncannily like a leaping Dolphin is particularly nice.

The whole book is well set out as you would expect from a Dorling Kindersley publication and it is suitable for beginners and experts alike as it is an extremely good reference book.

100% PERFECT, 22 Nov 2002
This book could not be better. I am studying geology AS/A2 level at sixth form and was struggling to get to grips with alot of the rocks and minerals, i then bought this book from amazon, (great delivery) and it has helped me massively, for anyone doing geology at AS/A2 this book is a simple MUST HAVE. Buy this book now, you will regret it if you dont.

a very usefull book for students of every age!, 12 Feb 2002
I am a university student, studying geology in detail for the first time,as part of a geography degree, so this book is very useful, with all the information i required. This would also be interesting for someone needing a less advanced knowledge, or just an general interest. Definately worth its money.

Good for Beginners, 28 Feb 2008
This book is good if you are just starting out looking at gemstones and gemmology. However it does not give much more than a brief outline of each stone with a few nice pictures which leaves you wanting more! Good reference charts at the back of the book. Other than the charts, no real visual identifying tips of any real value imo ie. microphotos etc or tips on id synthetics etc. Still a nice book to have and does contribute something when compared with other books.

great book, 09 Oct 2006
this book is great for the beginner and those a little more expert

Informative and nicely illustrated, 20 Dec 2005
Like all DK books, this is beautifully illustrated and informative. It's the kind of book you'll probably find yourself dipping into now and again, rather than reading cover to cover in one go. User friendly and doesn't baffle with unnecessary science.

A Good Start, 29 Nov 2005
This handbook is essential reading for any new jewellers and provides the basics needed for product knowledge. Well laid out information, multiple illustrations. A definitely GOOD starting point.

Well it's a damn good book if you like like you'r gems., 28 May 2001
It tell's you what and where they come from around the world. It's a really good book if someone really like's there Gem stones. It show's you all the different shape's and sizes of the stone's. I'm a really big fan of Gem's, I have got Citrine, All kinds of Garnet stones, Diamonds,Tanzanite etc etc.... The list just goes on.

So take a look at it.

A visual aid to studying minerals in thin section, 21 May 2008
I am currently studying geology through the Open University, and was really struggling to get my head around what minerals I was actually trying to identify. It's hard to read a description of a mineral and then try to interpret it visually. This book has come to the rescue and has been invaluable to me. Nice book and pictures are great.

Brilliant for 1st years, but perhaps not a long-term investment?, 03 Mar 2008
I'm a first year Earth Sciences student and found this book invaluable, as a revision guide but also to clear up anything I was unsure on.

The photographs are excellent and the text well-written.

I do appreciate, however, that for some it may be a bit basic: I don't really see myself using this much beyond this first year of my degree scheme.

In short, great for a better basic understading, but not a great long-term investment... I borrowed mine from the uni library - perhaps a better idea.

Good book for beginners or out-of-practice seasoned pros., 04 Mar 2004
I was in two minds about buying this book after reading the previous reviews. However, I am very happy with the purchase.

The book is great for students new to the study of rocks in thin section. It covers all of the most important rock-forming minerals and then introduces the rocks that they are most commonly found in. There are also sections covering most of the most common and important textures. The accompanying text is simple and easy to understand and does not become bogged down with elaborate language or over-complication.

All in all, a good low-cost option for 1st and 2nd year students who take fright at the price of Mackenzie's Atlases.

Atlas of Rocks and Minerals, 06 Dec 2002
An excellent book for my BSc Geology degree. Very helpful if you are unsure about the properties and appearances of certain minerals in thin section. An invaluable tool. Anyone who says it is not useful is obviously not using it correctly!

This atlas is not really that useful, 29 Jan 2001
I bought this atlas and basically all it is really is pretty pictures. Not worth the money. If you want real help in mineralogy then buy "A practical introduction to optical mineralogy" by Gribble and Hall instead.

The colour atlas is a real beginner's guide which shows the perfect examples of various rocks in thin section and the more popular minerals. The section on feldspars is ok, but could go into more detail - it only shows sanidine, microcline and plagioclase for some odd reason.

As it result this book lay unused for three years and was a sheer waste. Spend your loans on other books by MacKenzie - but not this one!

Great book, 17 Nov 2008
This book is great for my 1st year uni course, its well written, accessible and has lots of well drawn diagrams to help understand the concepts. Its the kind of book thats interesting to read even if your not studying the subject.

Great on its own or to read with the series, 18 Nov 2008
I saw this book in Sainsbury's and suggested to my wife that it would be a good birthday present. Sure enough, guess what I got on my birthday. I love the underwater world as I am a scuba diver so anything like this is right down my street. The images are superb and the tone of the text makes it very easy to read. It'd be quite suitable to read in its own right but as the TV series is on at the moment it makes a great accompanyment to that as well. Definately recommended.

Southern England, 11 Nov 2008
The landscapes of the various Regions of Southern England are described in a "geologically-lite" way, but this is where the emphasis is, as opposed to say the Hoskins landscape books where the human dimension is more to the fore. A geologist would not find it particularly useful, but it would be very interesting for the natural historian/interested layman who wants to understand more about why the lie of the land is as it is. My main "complaint" is that it takes a huge and very diverse (geologically) swath of the country and so each landscape Region is dealt with in not as much detail as one might like, although there are locally focused books for this - e.g. Dreghorn's "Geology explained in the Severn Vale and Cotswolds". The book is sumptuously produced with superb colour aerial photographs and is a worthy addition to the New Naturalist library.

Earth in all its majesty, 27 Mar 2008
Beautiful book and, like the TV series, is a well presented and informative guide to our planet, its formation and also addresses the problems that may occur from the legacy of human impact.

Husband loved it, 04 Mar 2008
My husband was glued to the tv series so i decided to get the book for Xmas for him,thought it wouldn't contain much extra info but he thinks its best book hes ever read and it certainly made him stop and think about the planet and what a fragile place we really live on!
On his 2nd read of it now!!

Wow!!!!, 05 Jan 2008
If you loved the series shown on bbc2 a few weeks ago, I guarantee you'll love this book. I've just received my copy today and I've only read a few pages but wow the stuff and information in it fabulous and awesome images. If you're into your volcanoes, impacts, earthquakes etc. Like I am :) I'd definitely forward this book to you.

Mind boggling!, 09 Dec 2007
This book ties in to the excellent TV series Earth Power of the Planet with the Scottish presenter Ian Stewart. It covers a mind boggling 5 BILLION years of the earth's history and looks at how the planet functions and the threat of global warming. I'm pleased to say the book has all the pace and energy of the series - Stewart has a good knack of making the science understandable. A great introduction to a truly fascinating subject. Amazing pictures too.

A good book which could become a great one, 09 Sep 2004
The book is excellently presented, with plenty of diagrams and photographs to clarify points made in the text. It is well written but, considering it is produced with the lay person in mind it is easy to become lost in the blizzard of facts, figures and events which are presented on many pages.

The one-page diagram of the Geological time scale is great. The book would be so much easier to digest if other such information was displayed on one page (even as an appendix) for the movement of continents around the planet. Similarly for a table of the various events and the dates they occurred in Britain. Trying to keep track of it all from the text is bemusing.

The glossary, too, could be significantly expanded; as it is it's woefully inadequate and seems arbitrary. For example, dolerite is included, but not dolomite. It is far from clear why. Bearing in mind this book is primarily for lay persons it's almost impossible to remember where you last saw the term, say, ophiolite, when you see it again in the text, so you can check its meaning. A more complete glossary would eradicate this problem.

This is a great book. With additions to make it easier to cross-reference terms and events it could be a 'classic' for lay people with an interest in geology

The Geology of Britain, 17 Mar 2003
I borrowed this book from the school library for months finding it an invaluable resource in my A2 level work. I now own my own copy of this excellant book which clearly details what Britain was like, its paleogeography and its rock strata in each of the geological time periods. My only fault is that a glossery would be great but otherwise this book is worthy of the full five stars.

A great well-produced introduction, 07 Jan 2003
I bought this book because I was wanted a light introduction to the geology of the UK – nothing too technical, preferably with illustrations to make the points, and hopefully with a sense of narrative to bring 2,000 million years of geological history to life.

This book delivered. I'm not a geologist, so I can't say whether Peter Toghill incorporated the latest evidence or did justice to the complexities of geological debate that I'm sure exist, but he certainly provided the level of answers that I was looking for.

This is a work that inspired me to read more. What better praise for a self-professed introductiory work!

Great book : very clear explanations and figures., 02 Aug 2001
When I was at school the little geology I learned was awfully boring: just the accumulation of layers and layers of stuff over millions of years. But this book has now turned me into a geology fanatic. It explains in historical sequence how the geological formations of Britain have come about. Even with little prior knowledge it is very easy to read (I thought), and I am particularly fond of all the many very well designed colour figures that are a terrific aid in understanding the variouses processes. Whole-heartedly recommended to anyone who's ever wondered why the rocks around the corner from his place look the way they look!

Great historical guide to regional geology, 06 Mar 2000
This book provides a fairly in-depth historical account of the processes and events which shaped the various lumps of rock we call Britain over geological time.

Each chapter deals with a particular period, and describes what was going on in each region. This means the emphasis is on describing the characteristics of each period rather than on the particular history of one region.

As a geology student (OU s260 this year, hello everyone), I've found this book really useful for getting a handle on the different periods - it does a good job of emphasising and contrasting each period's particular features. I feel I have some understanding of what differentiates the Devonian from the Silurian. I even know how long ago they were!

So why not five stars?

Firstly, the book makes little attempt to explain some of the terms it uses as it goes along. For a beginner, that can make it a bit of a slog at first. Having said that, you soon become used to the language and the second time you read it will be a lot more fun than the first.

Secondly, I'd have liked an additional chapter which gave a summary of the complete geological history of each of the regions. It would be nice to have been able to read in three or four paragraphs an overview of how Scotland happened. I think this would have been quite easy to do, and would have provided some useful broad context for the rest of the book.

Having said all this, the book is very useful, very informative, and packed full of exactly the sort of stuff you're interested in if you're reading a review of a book about Geology anyway!

Great for Identifying Rocks and Minerals!, 13 May 2004
When I took Geology in college, I loved the course. I only had one problem. It was very difficult for me to identify rocks and minerals in the field. If I had had this pocket field guide, the course would have been a snap.

Now, I enjoy taking my children to study outcroppings, and this book will be a great addition to our investigations.

First, the photographs are stunning. In fact, any temptation I might have had to develop my own samples is set aside by having these wonderful images to use.

Second, the information is detailed and thorough. There is a lot about the crystalline structure of each mineral, the hardness, and many tests that are specific to that particular mineral. There is a very good section that describes how to apply the hardness tests (I always had trouble memorizing that area for some reason). There is plenty of good safety information for how to use the various acids that can be employed to identify minerals. Everything is nicely summarized so it is easy to find.

Third, all those subtle distinctions about various kinds of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks that used to puzzle me are very clear here. Whew!

Fourth, the book has great directions for locating good spots to examine rocks.

Fifth, you also receive a wonderful description of the equipment you need, and ways to use it safely.

Whether you think you like rocks or not, you should give this book a try. It will open up a very interesting world full of ways to locate and identify interesting rocks and understand the stories they can tell. As a result, you will have immensely more understanding of the world around you.

I also suggest that you read up on plate mechanics as well, so that you understand more about how the landscape is formed before erosion takes over. The combined knowledge of these two areas will greatly add to your understanding and appreciation of evolution.

Get in touch with the physical world around you as foundation knowledge!

A Sound Investment, 24 Nov 2002
This is one of the most thorough and comprehensive books you can buy on the subject of rocks and minerals. It covers over 500 specimens in every detail including their composition, hardness, SG, cleavage and fracture and each description is accompaned by a faithful and sometimes beautiful photograph of the specimen. The example of blue Smithsonite which looks uncannily like a leaping Dolphin is particularly nice.

The whole book is well set out as you would expect from a Dorling Kindersley publication and it is suitable for beginners and experts alike as it is an extremely good reference book.

100% PERFECT, 22 Nov 2002
This book could not be better. I am studying geology AS/A2 level at sixth form and was struggling to get to grips with alot of the rocks and minerals, i then bought this book from amazon, (great delivery) and it has helped me massively, for anyone doing geology at AS/A2 this book is a simple MUST HAVE. Buy this book now, you will regret it if you dont.

a very usefull book for students of every age!, 12 Feb 2002
I am a university student, studying geology in detail for the first time,as part of a geography degree, so this book is very useful, with all the information i required. This would also be interesting for someone needing a less advanced knowledge, or just an general interest. Definately worth its money.

Good for Beginners, 28 Feb 2008
This book is good if you are just starting out looking at gemstones and gemmology. However it does not give much more than a brief outline of each stone with a few nice pictures which leaves you wanting more! Good reference charts at the back of the book. Other than the charts, no real visual identifying tips of any real value imo ie. microphotos etc or tips on id synthetics etc. Still a nice book to have and does contribute something when compared with other books.

great book, 09 Oct 2006
this book is great for the beginner and those a little more expert

Informative and nicely illustrated, 20 Dec 2005
Like all DK books, this is beautifully illustrated and informative. It's the kind of book you'll probably find yourself dipping into now and again, rather than reading cover to cover in one go. User friendly and doesn't baffle with unnecessary science.

A Good Start, 29 Nov 2005
This handbook is essential reading for any new jewellers and provides the basics needed for product knowledge. Well laid out information, multiple illustrations. A definitely GOOD starting point.

Well it's a damn good book if you like like you'r gems., 28 May 2001
It tell's you what and where they come from around the world. It's a really good book if someone really like's there Gem stones. It show's you all the different shape's and sizes of the stone's. I'm a really big fan of Gem's, I have got Citrine, All kinds of Garnet stones, Diamonds,Tanzanite etc etc.... The list just goes on.

So take a look at it.

A visual aid to studying minerals in thin section, 21 May 2008
I am currently studying geology through the Open University, and was really struggling to get my head around what minerals I was actually trying to identify. It's hard to read a description of a mineral and then try to interpret it visually. This book has come to the rescue and has been invaluable to me. Nice book and pictures are great.

Brilliant for 1st years, but perhaps not a long-term investment?, 03 Mar 2008
I'm a first year Earth Sciences student and found this book invaluable, as a revision guide but also to clear up anything I was unsure on.

The photographs are excellent and the text well-written.

I do appreciate, however, that for some it may be a bit basic: I don't really see myself using this much beyond this first year of my degree scheme.

In short, great for a better basic understading, but not a great long-term investment... I borrowed mine from the uni library - perhaps a better idea.

Good book for beginners or out-of-practice seasoned pros., 04 Mar 2004
I was in two minds about buying this book after reading the previous reviews. However, I am very happy with the purchase.

The book is great for students new to the study of rocks in thin section. It covers all of the most important rock-forming minerals and then introduces the rocks that they are most commonly found in. There are also sections covering most of the most common and important textures. The accompanying text is simple and easy to understand and does not become bogged down with elaborate language or over-complication.

All in all, a good low-cost option for 1st and 2nd year students who take fright at the price of Mackenzie's Atlases.

Atlas of Rocks and Minerals, 06 Dec 2002
An excellent book for my BSc Geology degree. Very helpful if you are unsure about the properties and appearances of certain minerals in thin section. An invaluable tool. Anyone who says it is not useful is obviously not using it correctly!

This atlas is not really that useful, 29 Jan 2001
I bought this atlas and basically all it is really is pretty pictures. Not worth the money. If you want real help in mineralogy then buy "A practical introduction to optical mineralogy" by Gribble and Hall instead.

The colour atlas is a real beginner's guide which shows the perfect examples of various rocks in thin section and the more popular minerals. The section on feldspars is ok, but could go into more detail - it only shows sanidine, microcline and plagioclase for some odd reason.

As it result this book lay unused for three years and was a sheer waste. Spend your loans on other books by MacKenzie - but not this one!

Great book, 17 Nov 2008
This book is great for my 1st year uni course, its well written, accessible and has lots of well drawn diagrams to help understand the concepts. Its the kind of book thats interesting to read even if your not studying the subject.

A fine book an atlas of the ocean, 17 Sep 2008
500 stunning pages full of pictures, illustrations and diagrams covering different oceans, ocean habitats, marine plants and animals, ocean geology, currents, etc. Ideal for homework, reference or just plain interest. A lovely book for the study or coffee table

Stunning Pictures, Informative Text, 26 Nov 2006
I have recently purchased this book and am impressed by the fantastic amount of information crammed into it as well as the stunning photography. About half the book is about marine life, but there are also well written and illustrated sections about the physical structure and properties of the oceans, and different ocean environments, as well as an excellent Ocean Atlas at the back. I'd thoroughly recommend it!

the best, 10 Nov 2006
I own every book in this series -- Animal, Plant, Earth, Human, and Universe -- and was perplexed why there wasn't an Ocean. When this came out, I was thrilled and nabbed it asap. As usual, the photos are stunning, and Ocean focuses on life at all scales, from microscopic plankton to whales. The multicolored crustaceans and deep-sea bioluminescents are my favorites. I think this is my favorite book in the DK series. No, wait -- Universe is. No -- Ocean. Definitely Ocean.