Explore the rocks beneath our feet and how the Earth shapes its surface.
This classic geology course distills Brande’s lectures at the Royal Institution into a clear, accessible guide to the science of the Earth. It traces the aims of geology from its early thinkers to modern, observation-based methods, highlighting how natural processes build and wear down landscapes.
In these pages you’ll find a practical tour of rocks, layers, and forces. The author blends description, history, and close observation to show how rivers, weathering, and chemistry work together to sculpt mountains, valleys, and coastlines. The text emphasizes evidence and method, offering readers a window into how geologists study our planet.
- Foundations of geological inquiry and the evolution of the field
- Descriptions of primary and secondary rocks, and how they form
- Examples of landscape change through time, including erosion and sedimentation
- Connections between mechanical and chemical processes shaping the Earth
Ideal for curious readers of natural history and students seeking a concise, historically grounded introduction to geology and its key ideas.