Customer Reviews

Over the Mountains (An Aerial View of Geology)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm not trained in geology. I'm just someone who is fascinated by the fact that the earth can heave entire continents across its surface and push dozens of cubic miles of rock miles into the sky. All this before it is taken down again by gravity and water and wind over a span of time that a human can hardly begin to comprehend. So while I may not share a geologist's deep understanding of the forces at work, I probably share some of their motivations for studying it. And this book really hits the mark for someone like me. It's one thing to see diagrams and illustrations of the structures that lead to mountains, but it's entirely another to see it in a photograph that shows the results of the folds and faults that push and stretch the earth. Finally you feel you can comprehend at least some of the scope of what is going on when viewed from above. Mountains finally start to fit into the human mind when we can see this piece of land being pulled that way, or thrown upward along a clearly defined fault. As others have said, the text accompanying the photos makes an excellent introduction to the principles involved, informative but also infused with the author's clear love of the subject.

If I had any complaint about the book it would be its length. I would have enjoyed seeing more of the nice photography, but it is hard to fault Mr. Collier for this when there is so much beautiful material presented for a reasonable price.

So I'd definitely recommend this for a casual fan of geology. And someone more involved with the subject would probably also appreciate having such a fine collection of vivid illustrations of the principles they study too. Here's to hoping this author gives us more work like this in the future.

This ia a magnificent new book on aerial geology of the United States by Dr. Michael Collier. He is trained as a structural geologist (MS, Stanford University), a private pilot with his own Cessna 180, and is a practicing physician in Flagstaff, Arizona. This book has a broad appeal to the general public (as a beautiful folio with scenic geology), and to professional geologists alike. The book contains dramatically new views of mountains that are familiar to most hikers and mountaineers (e.g., Mount Whitney, Mount Baker, Denali, the Grand Teton)---- but the aerial view direction is startling and thrilling to behold.
Collier's book is highly recommended. The quality of the color plates is quite good, and the book is reasonably priced. It takes a place on my shelf of geology field books next to John Shelton's classic book, Geology Illustrated. Indeed, Shelton has written the forward to Collier's book.
Robert H. Sydnor, geologist, Fair Oaks, California

Viewing these color aerial photos was a joy. They show landslides, glaciers, bajadas, and other geologic features with images of dazzling eye appeal. The full page shot of the Sheep Mountain anticline alone is worth the price of the book. These are high quality pictures, with all the detail one expects from modern color printing and photographic processes.

One reviewer recommends this for High School libraries. It's certainly not a college text. Streams make a "boisterous descent to sea level." Water "will always try to erode through a softer rather than a harder rock." Actually, water is inanimate and doesn't "try" to do anything. It erodes softer rock more quickly than harder rock.

I suppose the more precise language would have been boring, and our author had the less motivated reader in mind. If you like lots of frosting on your cake, you'll not be bothered. It was a bit much for me.

As a great fan of John Shelton's 1966 Geology Illustrated, I had hoped for a color version of that black & white classic. This may be a five star book for young readers, but it was only three stars for me.

the photographs in this book are truly beautiful! worth every cent I paid for it! Absolutely lovely!

If you, like me, love to look out of the window as you fly across this beautiful country you will want to own this book not only for the pictures but for its revealing descriptions of the geology that creates the landscape that you are looking at below.

In the interests of honest disclosure, the author is a former student of many years back [I'm a retired geology prof]. Michael has enormous gifts both in aerial photography and in making geologic ideas come alive for the curious reader. A wonderful addition to anyone who cares about planet Earth.

This is one of the best books I have ever read on science! Each page describes a basic geological concept and then shows it with amazing pictures. Collier's explanations are clear and understandable. I read it to my kids. They now know the various kinds of rocks are easily identified- strawberry, vanilla, chocolate--igeneous, sedimentary, metamorphic! His excitment for the study of geology pours out of the pages and makes the reader want to learn more.

Learned of the book in a professional reference. Bought it here on Amazon. Great pictures that expand part of what I teach. Wish I could find a digital version to extend application.

Collier can take pride in his rare excellence of production. He has obviously been at the right place at the right time, as the lighting in these photographs is exquisite. Even though it appears that the color may have been slightly enhanced... you still need the content for a great photograph. Viewing the formations from above puts everything you have read geolocically into perspective. Collier's photographs introduce you to visuals of the tumultuous geological history of the mountainous regions of approximately eleven states. The text is a great read as well. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves geology and photography.

I am not trained as a geologist, but have an innate and passionate love for mountains. I ordered a copy of this book for a gift, and its arrival in a slightly damaged condition (purchased directly from Amazon.com) was a real disappointment. For years I have ordered books with confidence from Amazon.com, knowing that each will be packaged in the following way: on a piece of cardboard cut to fit the inside length x width of the box, then shrink-wrapped to the cardboard, then placed inside the box and filled with either 'air-bags' or scrunched-up paper. This was my first other-than-stellar experience, which was the result of placing a lovely new hardcover book in its dustjacket in a box, loose, then adding a bit of scrunched-up paper, sealing the box and shipping it -- leaving the book to slip and slide around within the box, bumping the corners, tearing and scuffing the dustjacket. My discomfiture was immediately shared with Amazon.com, which replaced the book ASAP: but in the same manner of packing the book, producing the same damaged results. This in no way diminishes the awesome contents of the book, which prompts my review title: Encore, encore! I cannot thank the author enough, or better compliment his effort other than to request that he compile another such gem of photography and knowledge of aerial geology. It is with deep gratitude that I offer Amazon.com readers this review, in hopes that it will help Amazon.com to: 1. continue offering fine books at reasonable prices; and 2. return to its previous excellent manner of packing books, so as to minimize damage to such precious books. I alerted the gift recipient of the condition in which to expect her book, and kept the replacement for myself. We are both delighted with our books!