Essentials of Geology (8th Edition) [Paperback]

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

Book Description

Publication Date: April 8, 2002 | ISBN-10: 0130081574 | ISBN-13: 978-0130081575 | Edition: 8

Building on the tremendous reception to its parent volume, Earth 8th edition, the same groundbreaking media package is now integrated into the brief version of the best-selling introductory physical geology volume. This eighth edition of Essentials of Geology represents a thorough revision, yet retains the hallmarks readers have come to expect from Tarbuck and Lutgen. Reader friendly writing style, carefully crafted illustrations by Dennis Tasa that are both geologically accurate and visually appealing, and updated coverage of the most recent geologic events. The volume provides an introduction to geology covering minerals, igneous rocks, volcanoes and other igneous activity, weathering and soil, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks, mass wasting, running water, groundwater, glaciers and glaciation, deserts and wind, shorelines, the ocean floor, earthquakes and earth's interior, plate tectonics, mountain building, geologic time, and earth history. For individuals interested in an introduction to geology.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

This concise, nonquantitative text has been acclaimed through four previous editions. Essentials of Geology presents a timely, informative and easily accessible survey of basic topics in physical geology. Clearly written in straightforward nontechnical language, this text will be easily understood by students with little or no previous college-level science. Highly accurate and extremely current, this text concludes with two chapters treating historical geology and offers an excellent treatment of environmental issues throughout the text. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Back Cover

Building on the tremendous reception to its parent volume, Earth 8th edition, the same groundbreaking media package is now integrated into the brief version of the best-selling introductory physical geology volume. This eighth edition of Essentials of Geology represents a thorough revision, yet retains the hallmarks readers have come to expect from Tarbuck and Lutgen. Reader friendly writing style, carefully crafted illustrations by Dennis Tasa that are both geologically accurate and visually appealing, and updated coverage of the most recent geologic events. The volume provides an introduction to geology covering minerals, igneous rocks, volcanoes and other igneous activity, weathering and soil, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks, mass wasting, running water, groundwater, glaciers and glaciation, deserts and wind, shorelines, the ocean floor, earthquakes and earth's interior, plate tectonics, mountain building, geologic time, and earth history. For individuals interested in an introduction to geology.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 8 edition (April 8, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130081574
• ISBN-13: 978-0130081575
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #684,182 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good textbook for the the physical geology student, January 23, 2004

By 

Jerald R Lovell (Clinton Township, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Essentials of Geology (8th Edition) (Paperback)

This book is intended as a text for the collegiate course in physical geology. The course encompasses a general overview of the physical processes by which the Earth continues to develop, both gradually and by sudden events of great magnitude. Plate tectonics, volcanism, erosion, mountain building and shaping, mineralogy, mass wasting, the impact of man, glaciation, and all other manner of things are clearly discussed in nineteen separate chapters. The color photography and diagrams are remarkably good, and closely follow the text, which is a real boon, especially to a student who is hard-pressed for time. The coverage is up-to-date and accurate in all respects. Many of the photographs, such as the those of the eruptions at Montserrat, are very current.

Given the fact that physical geology is the first of six courses required for any geology degree, and that any well-informed person should have no trouble understanding the contents of this book, I would recommend it to any reader interested in earth science, student or not.

15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Text, January 6, 2009

By 

Tom VonOxford "schabetc" (Oxford, Oh USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Essentials of Geology (10th Edition) (Paperback)

Had to buy this for a class I was auditing. GREAT diagrams and pictures. Figure 19.22 on page 460, "The evolution of life through geologic time" has literally changed my life. It finalized my view on how life came to be. It shows the fossilized progression of life from the first cyanobacteria 3.8 billion years to the evolution of the genus Homo. I'm convinced Darwin was right. Since that metamorphic moment, I have done little (I'm retired) other than read about evolution and its battle for acceptance in the non-scientific world.

Excellent book - well written too.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Reference Book, July 17, 2011

By 

Ohioan - See all my reviews

This review is from: Essentials of Geology (11th Edition) (Paperback)

I have an earlier edition of this book and use it frequently as a reference for all things having to do with matter, minerals, rocks, soils, weathering, and so on. The content is well-organized, explanations are clear, and the abundant photos aid understanding.