Historical Geology (with CengageNOW Printed Access Card) [Paperback]

Reed Wicander (Author), James S. Monroe (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 10, 2006 | ISBN-10: 0495012041 | ISBN-13: 978-0495012047 | Edition: 5

HISTORICAL GEOLOGY teaches students basic geologic principles as well as how scientists apply these principles to unravel Earth's history. Wicander and Monroe present a balanced overview of both the geological and biological history of Earth as a continuum of inter-related events. These events reflect the underlying principles and processes that have shaped our planet. The authors also explain the historical development of these basic principles and processes, and their importance in deciphering Earth history. Three major themes Â- time, evolutionary theory, and plate tectonics Â- are woven together throughout the book. These themes help students link essential material to enhance their understanding of historical geology.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Reed Wicander is a geology professor at Central Michigan University, where he teaches Physical Geology, Historical Geology, Prehistoric Life, and Invertebrate Paleontology and was previously chair of the department. He obtained his B.A. at San Diego State University and his Ph.D. at UCLA. His main research interests involve various aspects of Paleozoic palynology, specifically the study of acritarchs, on which he has published numerous papers. He is a past president of the American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists and currently a councillor of the International Federation of Palynological Societies and chair of the Acritarch Subcommission of the Commission Internationale de Microflore du Paleozoique. He has coauthored several geology textbooks with James S. Monroe.

James S. Monroe is Professor Emeritus of Geology at Central Michigan University, where he taught Physical Geology, Historical Geology, Prehistoric Life, and Stratigraphy and Sedimentology beginning in 1975 and served as chair of the Geology department. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Montana. He has coauthored several textbooks with Reed Wicander and has interests in Cenozoic geology and geologic education. Monroe now lives in Chico, California, where he remains active in geology by teaching courses to a large group of retirees.

Product Details

• Paperback: 440 pages
• Publisher: Brooks Cole; 5 edition (October 10, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0495012041
• ISBN-13: 978-0495012047
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #585,274 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #25 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Earth Sciences > Geology > Historical

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very useful text for a one-semester course that is also great for the general reader, December 1, 2007

By 

Craig Matteson (Saline, MI) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Historical Geology (with CengageNOW Printed Access Card) (Paperback)

This book was designed to provide materials for a one semester course in historical geology for both majors and non-majors. Its nineteen chapters focus on three themes: Plate Tectonics, Physical and Biological History (the history of Earth's physical features, systems, and the life forms that have inhabited it), and Evolution. The authors have done a very good job in making the text readable and I believe it can be read enjoyably and to great benefit by an interested general reader outside of class. At least I found it fascinating and informative. The text uses photos, diagrams, charts, and all kinds of illustrations to enhance the reader's understanding of what is being said. There is also a useful CD to supplement the text. And Thomson has provided a website with even more things to read and do.

Each chapter provides an outline of what is going to be discussed, a bulleted set of chapter objectives, an introduction, and the chapter materials. The intra-chapter material is presented to questions asked in the headings of each section. The chapters also have little boxes entitled "What Would You Do?" that try to ask practical questions about real life issues that are related to the material being discussed. Each chapter ends with a bulleted Summary section, a list of important terms (that usefully has the page number where that term was used) and review questions that are multiple choice and short essay types. There is also an Apply Your Knowledge section with a few problems for the student (reader) to think about and practically apply what has been learned in that chapter. Some also have Field Questions that ask questions about a photograph, figure or table provided or referred to in the text.

Chapters 1-4 lay out the systems in the Earth and how the changes its systems affect each other. They talk about the basic materials that make up the Earth, Plate Tectonics, and Geologic Time. Chapters 5 and 6 talk about Rocks, Fossils and how they fit into the time scale of the Earth - and a look at what sedimentary rocks are and how they record the history of life on Earth.

Chapters 7-9 talk about Evolution, its evidences, and early life during the Precambrian period (separate chapters for the Archean Eon and the Proterozoic Eon). Chapters 10-13 cover the Paleozoic. The Mesozoic is covered in Chapters 14 and 15, the Cenozoic in 16-18, and Chapter 19 covers Primate and Human Evolution.

Appendix A is a metric conversion chart, Appendix B lays out the classification of organisms, and Appendix C discusses mineral identification. There is a useful glossary and a helpful index. Between the glossary and index there is a page with the answers to each chapter's multiple choice questions.

This is an interesting, well written, and useful text that is useful for all readers interested in this subject and I am happy to recommend it.

Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great text, January 18, 2007

By 

W. Rust (fort wayne, IN usa) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Historical Geology (with CengageNOW Printed Access Card) (Paperback)

This most recent edition includes an updated planetary system as well as an improved structure of the geologic time scale. It is, however, ridiculously expensive when compared to the older edition. In my opinion,I do not believe that it is worth the added cost.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A reasonably good textbook, but WAY overpriced, February 26, 2008

By 

Navigator (Los Gatos, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Historical Geology (with CengageNOW Printed Access Card) (Paperback)

For a hundred and fifty bucks, a reader has a right to expect something REALLY spectacular in a textbook, and this one just doesn't provide the goods. It's a competent book, readable, well organized and quite well-illustrated, but technically shallow in most subject areas and (in my opinion) definitely not worth the asking price. If the book has been recommended to you elsewhere, try and pick it up used from one of the sellers listed on this site. (Don't pay more than eighty or ninety bucks, though, unless you absolutely need it for a class.)

My personal recommendation: "Evolution of the Earth" by Donald Prothero. About the same price, but I believe that it offers a more comprehensive presentation. (I'm willing to concede that I may be coming down too hard on Wicander's book, though; he may have intended it as a more general introduction.)