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The John McPhee Book Shelf
This selection of books is from one of the great authors covering the Natural World today. Though they have little to do with mineralogy they are fascinating reading for anyone interested in geology of which mineralogy is intimately associated with. John McPhee has written a number of fine books on the geologic forces that have shaped the land we walk on today. He does it in a way that everyone can grasp the significance of things such as geologic time, the complex forces that build the mountains we see, and how humans are really nothing more than transcient vistors on this planet we call earth. As a trained geologist I have found these books to be informative, entertaining and thought provoking. You'll see the world through a different set of eyes after reading some of his works. The Control of Nature and Annals of the Former World are the two that I would have to say were my favorites though it is a lot like splitting hairs to say that one is better than another.
The Control of Nature A trilogy. This book covers the folly of modern man in his mis-guided belief that he can control the large and ominous natural forces that shape the land. The Los Angeles Basin, the Mississippi River and Icelandic volcanic eruptions are covered. If you live on an active or historic flood plain you will want to move your self and family after reading this!
(Hardcover edition)
Annals of the Former World This book is the compilation of McPhee's Basin and Range, Assembling California, Rising from the Plains and In Suspect Terrain. To these four he added a fifth and final book entitled Crossing the Craton. All are contained in this superb and easily read collection that will give anyone a clear sense of the geologic past of the United States.
(Hardcover edition)
Basin and Range One of the first books I ever read by McPhee while I was working for a mining company out of Reno, Nevada. This book was a constant companion for three years as I worked in the geologically fabulous Basin and Range province of the Western United States. Driving across Nevada will never be the same!
(Soft Cover)
Assembling California Easy reading. McPhee describes the geologic events that "glued" California together as he travereses across the state from Lake Tahoe to San Francisco.
(Hardcover edition)
In Suspect Terrain Very readable treatment on horrific geologic past of the area where the Delaware River cuts through the Appalachian Mountains.
(Hardcover edition)
Rising from the Plains Following Basin and Range and In Suspect Terrain, Rising from the Plains continues to present a cross section of North America along the fortieth parallel--a series gathering under the overall title Annals of the Former World.
(Hardcover edition)
The Pine Barrens McPhee details the existence of a large surprisingly pristine area bounded by New York City and Philadelphia and the efforts in place to keep it that way.
(Hardcover edition)
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