Customer Reviews

The Modern Moon: A Personal View

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Readers of Wood's Sky and Telescope columns won't be suprised that this is a great book.

The Moon is a spectacular telescopic object, but the wealth of detail is overwhelming, and the amateur observer is likely to simply say "Wow", look, then move on. Wood's book does a terrific job of bringing meaning to chaos, describing the science behind the spectacular features everyone has seen, and pointing out the subtle but interesting features a casual observer is likely to miss.

Instead of being a simple encyclopedia of visual features, the book is organized such that "stories" about the moon's geology emerge. It isn't fully comprehensive, and so would be complemented well by a detailed atlas/encyclopedia, but as a guide for the interested amateur astronomer, it can't be beat.

The title of this book suggests that the reader will be regaled by the author with possibly some off-beat notions and theories, quite the opposite is true. This reference contains an accurate review of lunar geography from a historical perspective, giving a fair airing to the lunar volcanist theories that existed up until quite recently and then launches into a very descriptive examination of the lunar surface. The book is divided into sections which relate to the lunar geography and take the reader be they casual or serious through the features and structures of our nearest neighbor. If you read Charles Wood in Sky & Telescope you will know of his feelings towards NASA and some of the recent decisions that NASA have taken do not fit with Mr. Woods outlook, however he does not allow these views to over color this otherwise excellent reference. Do buy it withAnton Rukl's moon atlas as the two dovetail perfectly if you are a serious moonologist(!)
A greta reference and a good pick up casual read as well. Highly reccomended.

Charles Wood writes for Sky and Telescope magazine, and his monthly column about the moon is invariably enlightening and entertaining. This book is more of the same. Anyone interested in the geology of the moon--from beginning amateur astronomer to old hand--will want this book in their library.

Charles A. Wood has studied the moon both professionally and from personal interest for many years and writes well about it. This is a book that details and explains what we know about the moon and how it came to be what it is. Wood's style of writing is reader friendly.

Regards, Red

I too think this book is a very good resource.

The beginner will need a lunar atlas in addition to this book. A person could get this book and the terrific Virtual Moon Atlas software (free open source). This software is a must anyway. Or in book format I highly recommend Antonin Rukl's Atlas of the Moon.

Also, I agree that The Modern Moon's tone lacks a scholarly temperance with respect to past/current lunar researchers. It is a "personal view" to be sure and I got a fairly constant sense of frustration from the author that sometimes detracts from the otherwise good material/theories the author values. One might find this "candid" writing style refreshing though. I give the book 3 stars because of this plus the indexes could be more comprehensive and perhaps combined as well since they are only a couple of pages. But maybe I am wanting a book that is just reference than reference and personal view.

The author takes no prisoners in this refreshiing review of the exploration of the moon and significant scientific understandings that have occurred with the various lunar expeditions. A good read that makes the science easier to digest.

The book description pretty well says it all. A very readable book by a knowledgeable but 'down to earth' planetary geologist.

A interesting work but full of scientific errors which is suprising given that the author has a doctorate in planetary geology.

I perfer "the Moon: A Biography" by David Whitehouse which is better in most respects. I see from the page on Whitehouse's book that Mr Wood has tried to rubbish it. Should rival authors take unwarrented and unfair pot shots at rival book. Bad form and unjustified.