Customer Reviews

Principles of Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (2nd Edition)

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

 

 

My first class in petrology. This text covers some really basic stuff right at the start and gets indepth later. So far it is readable and most of all understandable. It seems that many new text today are written like the student already has a great deal of knowledge on the topic, and overwhelms the reader with unfamiliar vocabulary and theory. Of course a student is expected to know something when he gets to a course like this but review and reinforcement are a plus. This text, so far, does just that. One thing I would like to see in it are some color pictures.
I would recommend that anyone taking a class like this for the first time also purchase a good Geological Dictionary.

I checked universities in 3 countries, USA, Canada, and New Zealand. This is the key undergraduate textbook in all 3 places (UC Davis, UBC, and Otago). It is an essential text book for any geologist to have in their reference library. It is readable and has simple explanations of major topics. It addresses many recent ideas in the fields of igneous and metamorphic petrology.

Full of information; a continuing reference for the Geology student involved in igneous petrology or metamorphism.
An easy read with fantastic references as further readings or for the curious student. Who needs color pictures - that's what your imagination is for if you really want to learn the information. This book provides more than enough explanation and clarity to work through without confusion -- especially when references are pursued. All that being said, try to avoid playing the publisher's print & republish game by getting it used. Well worth owning.

I was required to get this book for a class. That being said, it has so far proved to be a pretty decent book, and not overly difficult to read. The one thing I would caution against is that I've already discovered a few mistakes in the text. However, at the end of each chapter the author provides his own personal website with more info and power points, where the mistakes I've found have been corrected.

I used this text for an undergraduate petrology class, and I found the text to be well-written, clear (though not always concise), and accessible. The author explains a variety of topics in great detail, providing the student with a strong foundation for understanding both the science and subject of petrology. The only drawback to this text is that the author occasionally goes into too much detail, which, at times, may make it difficult to keep track of the "big ideas". However, the "First Principles" and chapter summary at the end of each chapter more than make up for this occasional tendency. Yes, the text lacks color pictures, but so do most advanced geology texts. The quality of the pictures and line drawings in this book is exceptional. A book well worth your time and money, whether you are a student buying it for a class, a researcher in the field, or an interested enthusiast.

I am such a nerd that I enjoy reading any kind of geology textbooks. Yet this book is so dry and frustrating. There's a lack of colored pictures and the diagrams could use some work too. There's better info online that's easier to digest.

I was reading an assigned chapter and got so flustered that I heaved the book across the room against the wall. Heck, I know petrology isn't supposed to be easy, but this textbook makes it more difficult than it should.

Save your money, pay attention in class, use the internet for concepts you don't understand, talk to your professor.