Earth Shock: Climate Complexity and the Force of Nature - Softcover

Andrew Robinson

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0500277389 ISBN 13: 9780500277386

Publisher: Thames & Hudson, 1993

Synopsis

Describes, illustrates, and analyzes the forces of nature responsible for earthquakes, volcanos, hurricanes, floods, glaciers, deserts, and drought; recounts how humans have perceived their relationship with them over history; and explains how Earth's evolution has created present conditions.

About this title

Reviews

Mixing lively narrative with informative graphics and spectacular photographs, Robinson ( The Shape of the World: The Mapping and Discovery of the Earth ) has produced an absorbing book. He traces the development of our scientific understanding of what causes natural upheavals--from the movement of continents to that of glaciers--as well as traditional cultures' attempts to explain them. A Japanese print, for instance, portrays the mythical catfish believed responsible for earthquakes. He also details attempts to predict and avert disaster; though regarding the success of efforts to tame the great Mississippi, events have overtaken his statement that "the jury is still out." Robinson writes stylishly--"Tornadoes are terrorists, hurricanes lumbering armies"--and in each chapter offers a mix of scientific knowledge, tales of disaster and personal testimony, such as the story of a Kansas farmer who looked into the heart of a tornado. Robinson concludes by musing on the potentially disastrous effects of human intervention in nature, such as global warming; he suggests that avoiding these will require a more complex understanding of the interplay between humans and nature. BOMC and QPB selections.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Robinson, coauthor of The Shape of the World (Rand McNally, 1990), has assembled this interdisciplinary work on the forces of nature into broad categories that flow surprisingly well. Using a wide array of color photographs and charts, he examines the history and latest scientific insight into nature's effect on man and vice versa. Although dealing with some very complex concepts, Robinson writes in an engaging, lucid style. Highlights include an outstanding bibliography and the chapter on global climatic change, which may leave the reader with an appreciation for how little scientists truly understand about "our" planet. Similar in concept but much broader in scope than Charles Officer and Jake Page's Tales of the Earth ( LJ 5/1/93), this is highly recommended for all but science research collections.
- Tim Markus, Evergreen State Coll. Lib., Olympia, Wash.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Thames & Hudson
• Publication date: 1993
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0500277389
• ISBN 13: 9780500277386
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 304