An Airplane Was My Burro: The Memoirs Of A Venturesome Geologist (Paperback)

~ Robert R Reynolds (Author)
Key Phrases: foreign section, industrial minerals, Tucson Estates, New York, New Mexico (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The author of this memoir is a retired Economic Geologist who was privileged to work for several mining companies in the fields of metals and energy. He was also employed by the Illinois State Geological Survey and by the Foreign Section of the US Geological Survey and taught one year at The Wisconsin School of Mines between jobs.

His first love was minerals exploration and he was very successful as he found a major reserve of zinc in SW Wisconsin, a very good uranium mine in New Mexico and several large strip coal reserves in the Western and Central United States. His ability as an airplane pilot served him well, particularly in his work on western coals. The variety of his work experience makes for numerous interesting stories and many insightful geological observations. He was about to embark on a career as a pitcher in professional baseball when he received a scholarship to the University of Chicago and discovered geology.

About the Author

U. Chicago SB ’39, U Illinois MS ’42, Baseball Player, Exploration Geologist, Pilot, Outdoorsman, Adventurer, World Traveler, Golfer, Writer.

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse, Inc. (January 19, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595377726
• ISBN-13: 978-0595377725
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,305,061 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful tale of one man's journey through the 20th century, March 23, 2008

By	Psychwarlord (Bloomfield CT USA) - See all my reviews

Mr. Reynolds has written a vivid story of an extremely interesting life that spans the early 20th century to the very recent past. I greatly enjoyed the colorful descriptions of small-town Iowa life in the early 1920s and his Chicago days in the 1930s training to be a geologist. One of the reviewers here mentions the wide variety of disciplines Mr. Reynolds has mastered, from geology to firearms to airplane piloting. He discusses all in great detail and with charming self-deprecation, but the wonderful thing is that the reader learns a lot about them as well, and joins in celebrating the many accomplishments of this man. In fact, in this interesting and charming book, we see the world through the eyes of someone we feel we have gotten to know, and can relate to what he sees and hears in this many-splendored world of ours. Especially interesting also is his account of working as a geologist in Nigeria in the 1950s - a glimpse of a little-known region brought sharply to life. This book is a rare find for anyone who appreciates an articulate, humorous narrative full of absorbing information and meditations about geology, geography, planes, and gear in general and what it is like to be a man who has carefully observed his world from the 1920s to the present day. Highly recommended!!

5.0 out of 5 stars An absorbing narrative of general interest to the curious., January 18, 2008

By	K. Stevens - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I just finished your book this morning, and I must say it was immensely interesting and enjoyable! I learned a lot not only about your own point of view and personal relationships and events, but also a lot about geology, geography, culture, sports, weaponry, cars and science in general. You write extremely well and have a sophisticated and dryly humorous style that made reading your book a pleasure. I think anyone would enjoy your autobiography; it is so full of interesting information about the world you lived in and your numerous adventures. It definitely was worth your while in writing it!

4.0 out of 5 stars From Harvey Beatty, a friend of a friend, December 15, 2007

By	Robt R. Reynolds - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I recently finished reading your book, "An Airplane Was My Burro." I thoroughly enjoyed it. You have had a full and exciting life. I'm amazed at how much you could remember. I'm glad that you and Vi were able to tie the knot in spite of your mother's objections. I got quite a chuckle over your oblique proposal. I got another chuckle over the horse coming up behind Vi and surprising her. I had a similar experience while birding. I have ridden in two Piper Cubs and a low-winged single engine Piper, which helped me to relate to what you had to say about the planes you have owned. Also, your experience with the big bore high powered rifle interested me as I had read about the .600 Nitro cartridge in Stoeger's catalog called "The Shooters Bible" when I was a teenager. I remember reading about the severe kick it had.