The Incomparable Valley: A Geologic Interpretation of the Yosemite [Paperback]

Francois E. Matthes (Author), Fritiof Fryxell (Editor), Ansel Adams (Photographer)

Product Details

• Paperback: 173 pages
• Publisher: University of California Press (July 1, 1950)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0520008278
• ISBN-13: 978-0520008274
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,547,481 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite "layman's" Sierra Nevada geology book, August 3, 2001

By 

Morgan Brown (Stanford, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Incomparable Valley: A Geologic Interpretation of the Yosemite (Paperback)

I love this book. Of the many "layman geology" books about the Sierras that I've read, Matthes's is my favorite. I think I understand why. The book was published around 1950 by the University of California Press, shortly after Matthes's untimely death. Plate tectonics was not universally accepted at that time, so conspicuously absent from this book is the 20 pages of basic Plate Tectonics that distract the other books. Matthes instead focuses on the fascinating glacial morphology of the Yosemite region. In my mind, the book's biggest treats are the 30+ black-and-white photographic plates, including 25 by Ansel Adams. I love to see Matthes place some Adams classics in their geologic context.

In summary, this book is easy-flowing, highly informative, and visually pleasing.