The Story of Earth

The Story of Earth is exactly what the title says. IMO, it is an excellent popular science book – well written and well researched. Hazen makes some difficult subjects understandable. Obviously a lot of work went into it.

I have degrees in Geology, but am decades out of active practice. So, I was expecting this book to be a refresher for me with perhaps some new insights. And, that is just what I got for about the first third of the book. Then Hazen got into the co-evolution of the lithosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere, and I found that I was happily learning new things. Petrology, minerology, geophysics, paleontology, and geochemistry were no longer separate subjects, but were melded together in a clear common story!

4.5 stars rounded up.