About the Author:
Gray Thompson is Professor of Geology at The University of Montana, where he teaches Introductory Geology, Mineralogy, Summer Field Mapping, and graduate courses in Clay Mineralogy and Shale Petrology. He has published more than twenty research papers in international journals, mostly co-authored with his students. He is also a mountaineer and professional guide with first ascents, many with Jon Turk, of peaks and routes in the Rocky authored Mountains, Alaska, the Yukon, Baffin Island, the Alps, the Karakoram, and the Himalayas. He has many articles published in international climbing magazines and journals, and has been the subject of other articles in these publications. Many of the photographs in this text were taken by Thompson and Turk on their climbing trips and expeditions over the past 15 years.
Jon Turk is a chemist, geoscience writer, and adventurer. He received his Ph.D. in 1971 and later that year co-authored the first environmental science college textbook in the country. In the 32 years since then, Jon has continued his career as a science writer by publishing 23 environmental and geoscience texts. Jon's love of unspoiled environments and his fascination for the wild places on this planet have also led to a distinguished career as an adventurer. He has kayaked around Cape Horn as well as the 3,000 miles between Japan and Alaska, crossed the western Gobi of Mongolia, unsupported, on a mountain bike, and was the first to ascend Lamo-she Peak (6070 meters) in the eastern Himalayas (with co-author Gray Thompson). He has written numerous magazine articles about his expeditions as well as an adventure/travel book, COLD OCEANS: ADVENTURES IN KAYAK, ROWBOAT, AND DOGSLED (HarperCollins, 1998).
Review:
"It is fluid and fun to read... Even I learned a few things here and there. I find principles such as radiometric decay well-explained... This is a good textbook, generally well written for its purpose, and very well illustrated. The content is comprehensive, and can be used for either a one- or two-semester course... I think your two authors are to be congratulated on a fine job of putting this much material together, and I am looking forward to seeing the finished product."
"I like the plain language and presentation in this manuscript... The writers convey a tone of being interested in the way these concepts explain the real world and help us understand environmental issues."
"Overall I am very pleased with the presentation of the material. The enthusiasm of the writer(s) comes through."
"The writing style is very good. It is clear and readable without being dry."
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.