Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geology (9th Edition) [Paperback]

Edward J. Tarbuck (Author), Frederick Lutgens (Author), Dennis Tasa (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0131566849 | ISBN-13: 978-0131566842 | Publication Date: February 18, 2007 | Edition: 9

To understand timely issues such as natural disasters and environmental challenges–and to evaluate solutions to related problems–the average citizen needs a basic awareness of the scientific principles that influence our planet. This trusted book makes an often-complex subject accessible to readers with a strong focus on readability and illustrations. Offers a meaningful, non-technical survey that is informative and up to date for learning basic principles and concepts. Includes a revised and expanded GEODe Earth CD-ROM. Updates and revises art and illustrations to include dozens of new high-quality, photographs carefully selected to aid understanding and add realism. Provides a wealth of new special-interest boxes, including "Earth as a System," "People and the Environment," and "Understanding Earth." A useful reference for anyone interested in learning more about Earth's geology.

Product Details

• Paperback: 720 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 9 edition (February 18, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0131566849
• ISBN-13: 978-0131566842
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,651 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #2 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Earth Sciences > Geology > Physical

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very enjoyable text for the general reader as well as the student - with a nicely done CD, August 20, 2007

By 

Craig Matteson (Saline, MI) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geology (9th Edition) (Paperback)

I have found reading this text to be an awful lot of fun. Does that sound strange? Learning how the physical features and materials of the Earth came to be has always been fascinating to me. Part of it is because of the vast amounts of time involved, but also because how the descriptions of what has been observed connects so well with what we have come to know. Certainly, there is a lot left to explain, but many things are pretty well documented.

While the concept of Continental Drift has been around for many decades, I remember some of the descriptions of Plate Tectonics when I was a kid in the 60s and the hoopla the idea of floating continents caused. Adults debated back and forth what they heard in the news without much real information about the ideas. Here we are four decades further on and a great deal of confirming discoveries have been made.

The authors write with a lively style what could have been a dry as dust textbook. I love the way it is organized, the wonderful illustrations, and the "Students Sometimes Ask" feature. Each chapter is summarized well with the main concepts in bullet points. There are review questions so you see if you have internalized the material enough to formulate a proper answer. A list of key terms is also provided (with the page numbers so you can pop back into the chapter to dig into those words that haven't quite stuck in your brain).

The authors also list web sources for materials they provide on their Prentice Hall website. A particularly nice CD comes with the text that not only presents animated slides of the material for each chapter, but it is also narrated. There is also a chapter quiz for the material presented on the CD. This disk is a very nice feature for our more visually oriented age. Sure, I prefer the text, but I bet I could sell studying the CD to young people quite easily.

The physical geology of the Earth is covered very well in the book's (and CD's) twenty-four chapters. After the introduction we dive into plate tectonics, minerals, igneous rocks weathering & soil, sedimentary rocks, metamorphism and a lot more. And like all science texts, the concept of climate change is presented.

I think general readers like myself can enjoy this book and get a great deal from it.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome book!, February 16, 2009

By 

Javier Lizano - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geology (9th Edition) (Paperback)

I recently wrapped-up a Geology course and this was the book we used. The book played an instrumental role in the passing grade ("A") that I received due to its clear and informative way of explaining things. Logically it helps when you have a great professor like the one I had.

The book is structured so that images (lots of them) accompany the text, thus allowing us, the reader, to be able to grasp the concept through visualization and reading comprehension. TRUE it is expensive, yet you can offset the price by purchasing a used one. As with most college material you must look at it for what it is...an investment in our future.

Javier Lizano, Los Angeles, California- USA

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good overview, October 31, 2008

By 

Esperanza Beltre "the gift" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geology (9th Edition) (Paperback)

This book is great for a general geology class and goes throught all of the major themes presented in geology to understand many aspects of our earth. The CD that normally comes with the book is extremely helpful and goes over the themes of the book without having to go through all the wording.