Revolutions in the Earth: James Hutton and the True Age of the World [Paperback]

Stephen Baxter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2004

In 1650, the theologian and scholar Bishop James Ussher announced that the world was created on 23rd October 4004 BC. This date had been carefully calculated by adding together all the ages and reigns of the monarchs recorded in the Bible. In the late eighteenth century, James Hutton set out to prove him wrong. A gentleman farmer with legal and medical training, Hutton was fascinated by the natural landscape and in particular by rock formations. He was also surrounded by some of the most brilliant men of his day - Erasmus Darwin, Adam Smith, James Watt and David Hume. Looking at the irregular strata in the layers of the earth, Hutton deduced that the world must be much, much older than Ussher's prediction. His revelation was blasphemy - but it was also one of the most extraordinary defining moments in history, forming the framework for Darwin's theory of evolution, and shaping our modern view of the world and our place in it.

Editorial Reviews

Review

We are setting a late June press date for this title, and have already confirmed - appearance at the Edinburgh Festival. The author has been involved in several public awareness projects connected with the June 2 lift off of the British Mars spaceprobe Beagle 2, and as he says "If there is life on Mars it must be part of a planetary biosphere, a Martian 'Gaia'. Beagle 2 will look for Mars's Gaia, for example by studying its atmosphere. Hutton's theory of the Earth was based on ideas of a living, self-sustaining planet remarkably like modern 'Gaia' ideas, 200 years ahead of their time. Hutton would surely have been thrilled to see Beagle 2 journeying to test these ideas on a new world." More news on reviews - which include NEW SCIENTIST - and interviews to foll --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

In 1650, theologian Bishop James Usher announced that the world was created on October 23, 4004 BC. This date had been carefully calculated by totaling all the ages and reigns of the monarchs recorded in the Bible. In the late 18th century, gentleman farmer James Hutton set out to prove him wrong. At Siccal Point, a Scottish sea cliff, Hutton noticed the inclined layers of sandstone: the deepest strata could only have been formed at the bottom of a long–vanished ocean. Hutton’s concept that the world was much older than claimed by Usher was blasphemy— but it was also one of the defining moments in scientific history, forming the framework for Darwin’s theory of evolution and shaping our modern view of the world. Stephen Baxter, winner of the Arthur C. Clarke Award, is the acclaimed author of Deep Future.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 245 pages
• Publisher: Phoenix (August 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0753817616
• ISBN-13: 978-0753817612
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,526,280 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars well done, August 1, 2008

By 

Kilchomin (WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Revolutions in the Earth: James Hutton and the True Age of the World (Hardcover)

This is a very, very good book -- its combination of Hutton's philosophy of knowledge with his theory of the Earth is a great step in the right direction -- the first in a popular book cencerning Hutton. It aslo places Hutton in his intellectual millieu really well.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great scientific biography, April 5, 2008

By 

I. Carmichael (Penguin, Tasmania Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Revolutions in the Earth: James Hutton and the True Age of the World (Hardcover)

Baxter shows all his narrative and novelistic skill in this wonderful sketch of the life and thoughts of James Hutton.
He adroitly sets the scene with a very full account of Ussher's biblical chronology for the world - against which 'modern' geology strained to progress.
We learn about Hutton, the agricultural innovator, as well as Hutton, the natural law thinker and Hutton the scientific observer.
Shot though the narrative are glimpses of Edinburgh and the Scottish Enlightenment, with compact yet substantial portraits of Hutton's contemporaries and colleagues - such as Hume, Playfair, Watt. And his opponents, Werner and Kirwan.
Finally the book concludes with the work of Playfair and Lyell and some snippets to bring events up to date.
Overall, if you want a readable, sensible, thorough biography which does justice to the man, the age and the science, this is an excellent one.