A History of Earth in 100 Groundbreaking Discoveries

by Douglas Palmer

An illustrated survey of 100 key events in Earth's dramatic history. A History of Earth in 100 Groundbreaking Discoveries is a fascinating account of the discoveries that reveal why Earth is the one planet in our solar system that can support life. It surveys 100 key events in the evolutionary history of our planet, from its origins and geological formation 4.5 billion years ago to the astonishing diversity of flora and fauna in the present day. More than 200 computer-generated images, photographs and illustrations highlight concise text that describes critical developments and junctures in Earth's evolution. The book A History of Earth in 100 Groundbreaking Discoveries is a journey back through the life of our planet, and it also explores what the future may hold. The book will be of interest to general readers as well as those interested in earth sciences, evolution and botany.

Genres: Science, Geology, Nonfiction, History

416 pages, Paperback

First published August 4, 2011

About the author

Douglas Palmer is a science writer, academic, and author of many books on paleontology, including Life Before Man and Graptolites: Writing in the Rock. In addition to writing numerous articles for leading journals such as Science and New Scientist, he teaches Natural and Earth Sciences at Cambridge University, England.

Reviews

[Brian Griffith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reads like a very glitzy textbook, full of dramatic pictures and graphics. It's both a history of the planet and of how the earth sciences evolved. Rather than stringing a long story of the world together, Palmer selects 100 top-ranking discoveries that provide a series of snapshots. In each well-crafted report, Palmer gives a tale of scientists uncovering evidence and realizing breakthroughs. The text is dense with names and technical terms, providing the details of who discovered what, and how they did it.

[Melinda Knutson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides 100 compelling stories about earth’s history, beginning with the birth of the planet and ending with the sun burning out. Geology, and the history of life, based on the fossil record, are presented. Each story is exactly 4 pages with interesting photographs. A few more maps would have helped with understanding plate tectonics. I found the book engaging and I read every chapter!

[Amanda Witt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very detailed volume, discussing topics from the beginnings of time through to geology, and various natural disasters.
Each of the 100 topics is only three pages long so this makes for an easy read at times, with the ability to put it down and pick it up again.

[Wisegirl Wiser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reference book with structured layout for building connections from a foundation. Includes headings, subtitles, necessary vocabulary, and summaries of background knowledge. High level scientific learning is broken down for easier understanding. Good reference book, so I recommend the printed version for your real life bookshelf.

[Marty Troyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the simplicity of the writing and the beauty of the images.

So many other geology books don't have pictures. This more than makes up for it.

[Richard Pittman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice, but it could have been better. The format of the book is to announce a topic, show a one-page relevant photograph, give a few sentences about its meaning and key discovery, then go into greater detail in a 3-page description with a few illustrations. It stuck to this format religiously, but some of the topics really needed more explanation. Also, the illustrations were insufficient. In a book that went into geography, geology, and biology to a great extent, I was often mentally crying out for a nice map or an illustration of the plants or animals described. Or perhaps a picture of the fossil. Sadly, the pictures and illustrations provided were insufficient or poorly chosen. I am not sure that more illustrations would have been better, because the book, at 400 over-sized pages, was already pretty thick, but there were dozens of passages where a geological feature, animal, fossil, behavior, or habitat was described in some detail where an illustration would have been so much more helpful than the description.

Still, it's well-written, and gives attention to a topic that does not get sufficient attention in popular science-writing: geology. Science writers love them some dinosaurs, and love them some outer space. They don't love volcanoes as much, and love sedimentary deposits and oceanic crust even less. I guess those topics just don't capture the imagination as much as black holes and T. Rex's. I was glad to get more of that sort of thing here.

[Pburgh · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a nice overview of the entirety of earth's history, including speculation of its eventual demise. The 100 chapters are arranged chronologically, but are self-contained, allowing the reader to jump around to topics of greatest interest. The book is generously illustrated, but could use more maps.

[Michael Shea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was inspired to read this book by the games produced by Phil Eklund, Bios Genesis and Bios Megafauna. This was just the kind of survey I needed to skim through Earth's past. It certainly gives the feeling that mankind is an insignificant player in a grand cosmic play, despite our ability to endanger our own species existance through the burning of fossil fuels and global warming.

[ZaBeth Marsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent reference book if you want to learn more about the Earth. Also scared the heck out of me. Everyone I know will be dead in a billion years but reading about the death of the Sun and my planet still makes me nervous. Nice quick read!

[Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing overview of the creation of earth and how it and humans evolved. Indicates both the special blessing we have and how insignificant each of us are in the big scheme of things. Very grounding!

[Rara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an amazing reteeling of the Earth's history from its earliest days to today and was an interesting read. I definetly learned many new things!

[Sharice George · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the book. Its great for filling you in on all the most recent developments and discoveries.