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John McPhee

Assembling California (Annals of the Former World, 4) Paperback – February 1, 1994

by John McPhee (Author)

191 ratings

Book 4 of 4: Annals of the Former World

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At various times in a span of fifteen years, John McPhee made geological field surveys in the company of Eldridge Moores, a tectonicist at the University of California at Davis. The result of these trips is Assembling California, a cross-section in human and geologic time, from Donner Pass in the Sierra Nevada through the golden foothills of the Mother Lode and across the Great Central Valley to the wine country of the Coast Ranges, the rock of San Francisco, and the San Andreas family of faults. The two disparate time scales occasionally intersect―in the gold disruptions of the nineteenth century no less than in the earthquakes of the twentieth―and always with relevance to a newly understood geologic history in which half a dozen large and separate pieces of country are seen to have drifted in from far and near to coalesce as California. McPhee and Moores also journeyed to remote mountains of Arizona and to Cyprus and northern Greece, where rock of the deep-ocean floor has been transported into continental settings, as it has in California. Global in scope and a delight to read, Assembling California is a sweeping narrative of maps in motion, of evolving and dissolving lands.

Print length

304 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Publication date

February 1, 1994
Dimensions

5.5 x 0.78 x 8.25 inches
ISBN-10

0374523932
ISBN-13

978-0374523930
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Customer reviews

5 star		71%
4 star		19%
3 star		5%
2 star		2%
1 star		2%

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Steve

A Fantastic Writer's Soul Trapped in a Geologist's Body, or Vice Versa?

Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2021

Verified Purchase

I’m in communications, as a profession. Originally an English major, can occasionally string along some clever lines or relate some thoughtful concepts on the side.

I don’t know if John McPhee is a fantastic writer / story-teller trapped in a geologist’s existence; or scientist / geologist who happens to paint wonderful written pictures and craft wonderful concepts in an illustrative, understandable way.

I’ve had only a handful of memorable meals in my life where you knew at the first moment that every morsel would be savored. This book / story-telling is one of those meals.

All I can say is: if you’re anywhere interested between “the history of Earth formation” and “appreciating great writing,” this book is a keeper!

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Karen C.

Whimsically talking in circles

Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2021

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Update of previous review: This book contains some interesting scientific facts and historical information mixed with twice as much capricious, mind numbing, rambling gobbily gook for sure. It’s turned this information into what, something with enough pages to sell? I’m about 2/3 of the way through and I’m about to buy a new book. I actually want to learn something. I guess I’ll try to continue reading, being that so many people love him and I’m trying to be kind. I wasn’t looking for a complicated textbook but I wasn’t looking for… this? If you love a glorious journey of sweet flowy tenderness by soft light, a glass of wine and a gentle pillow to learn then this book will bring a tear to your eye.

2 people found this helpful

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James Kowalick

THE TIME APPEARS TO BE NEAR

Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2018

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The author has a wonderful narrative style, which holds the interest of readers. This particular book is of interest today because we appear to be living in a time of severe geological changes - some yet to come. A Great book for geology novices.

I followed this up with the excellent science-historical synopsis book entitled PLATE TECTONICS by Naomi Oreskes.

Based on the content of these two volumes, if I were living anywhere along the southern-California coast, including the coastal mountain ranges, I‘d be making plans to move....now.

4 people found this helpful

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Master Model Builder

How California came to be with such geographic variety

Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2022

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Fills in many gaps as to just how and why CA has such a varied geological background. The author does wander around the earth at times, but does return to CA after some rambling. One needs a basic understanding of geologic terms to get a good understanding of the authors work. A rare work for sure, but interesting to those interested in going deeper into the past of a very dynamic state.

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Amazon Customer

An Excellent Book!

Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2020

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If one has even the slightest interest in California's geology, this book is for you. It isn't a technical treatise - it's written in layman's language and it's easy to follow. It does expect one to have a basic understanding of geology and the type of rocks and rock formations encountered in California. But it's helpful and informative even if you know nothing about geology - you will get a general understanding about how northern California was assembled over millions of years from the Sierra Nevada range to the seacoast. I learned a lot from it!

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Ellen F

Added significantly to my knowledge without overwhelming!

Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2019

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As a neophyte on matters of geology and time of the spread dealt with by geologists, I was able to understand the concepts presented in this book easily, which I greatly appreciated. I wanted to understand more about the rocks, mountains, valleys, and earthquakes of California, and I got so much more than that! I could take in detail the parts that were of particular interest, and let the parts of less interest for me slide past without losing a sense of the whole. Well worth reading!

One person found this helpful

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Eric D. Johnson

Captivating & Technical, yet Casual

Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2018

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Having studied geology in California at CSUS, and being a California native, this book means a lot to me because it reinforces my geologic knowledge of the region, using language that is natural and captivating, but without sacrificing technical accuracy. I love Mcphee's collaboration with Dr. Moorse - it's so casual, I feel as if I'm on a field trip them.

The emphasis on ophiolitic sequences and how the study of them has redefined the way we understand plate tectonics is so exciting to me, especially since I live minutes away from these gorgeous outcrops.

2 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

This book was recommended at my science book club and I absolutely love ...

Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2018

Verified Purchase

This book was recommended at my science book club and I absolutely love it. McPhee provides a well balanced narrative of geology, plate tectonics, California history, and personal stories that is a delightful combination of education and entertainment.. He has a wonderful voice and sense of humor. This book can become a a good companion and you'll be sorry to reach the end. Reading it again.

3 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Andrew Burns

a great

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 5, 2017

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As with all McPhee's books, a great read

Kindle Customer

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 30, 2016

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Superbly written book.

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Assembling California (Annals of the Former World, 4) Paperback – February 1, 1994

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