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Principles of Geology
One of the key works in the nineteenth-century battle between science and Scripture, Charles Lyell's Principles of Geology (1830-33) sought to explain the geological state of the modern Earth by considering the long-term effects of observable natural phenomena. Written with clarity and a dazzling intellectual passion, it is both a seminal work of modern geology and a compelling precursor to Darwinism, exploring the evidence for radical changes in climate and geography across the ages and speculating on the progressive development of life. A profound influence on Darwin, Principles of Geology also captured the imagination of contemporaries such as Melville, Emerson, Tennyson and George Eliot, transforming science with its depiction of the powerful forces that shape the natural world.
438 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1830
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About the author
Charles Lyell
459 books42 followersSir Charles Lyell, 1st Baronet, FRS was a Scottish geologist who popularised the revolutionary work of James Hutton. He is best known as the author of Principles of Geology, which presented uniformitarianism–the idea that the Earth was shaped by the same scientific processes still in operation today–to the broad general public. He was an influence on the young Charles Darwin.
His scientific contributions included an explanation of earthquakes, the theory of gradual "backed up-building" of volcanoes, and in stratigraphy the division of the Tertiary period into the Pliocene, Miocene, and Eocene. He also coined the currently-used names for geological eras, Palaeozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic.
His scientific contributions included an explanation of earthquakes, the theory of gradual "backed up-building" of volcanoes, and in stratigraphy the division of the Tertiary period into the Pliocene, Miocene, and Eocene. He also coined the currently-used names for geological eras, Palaeozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
June 26, 2010
Read this book on a whim in college as I was studying geology as my major; it was and is considered the first great book of geology. It was already out of date from a scientific standpoint, however, it was valuable to understand and appreciate the growth in the science and our own views of the scientific process in general.
May 11, 2007
Charles Lyell, the father of modern Geology (although I disagree). Lyell was the student of James Hutton and through them the uniformitarianism vs catastrophism argument was born. Lyell is incredibally important to modern sciences and Sir Charles Darwin himself states in "The Origin of the Species" that if you have not read Lyell's book, to immediately put down Origin and read Principles first. Without Lyell's concept of Deep Time (or geologic time) evolution (and all of geology for that matter) cannot exist
July 19, 2019
I read the free version from Gutenberg.org. I'm researching Darwin and trying to understand the period under which he developed his concepts. I think most of the reviews are more interested in the geology of the time and only give fleeting reference to the history, so my views may differ.
I loved this book for it's ability to give context to the period that pre-dates Darwin. It is very hard to understand the degree to which the world has become indoctrinated with all of the concepts presented by Darwin and the subsequent anthropromophisms that arise. Darwin was the first to introduce a concept of competition into species as a driving force. In my mind, it's part of the reason that everyone believes AI will kill us. But more on that if you look-up my reviews on Darwin. While a speed reader, I had to read this book at about 1/2 speed because the modern perspective and common knowledge of science is so profoundly different that you miss the beauty of the man's argument and what he had to accomplish. In this regard, it is an amazing book to remind us that we must - when arguing our point, start from the point of view of your audience. His audience was quite religious, believed the earth was only a few thousand years old, and that it was formed exactly as it is today. They also believed the early was once very hot and has since cooled. FREAKIN AMAZING how he clearly lays out the common belief and then dispels each point using geology. Dope. Seriously dope. I cannot even imagine if I was transported to that time having to do the same thing. It would not even occur to me that someone could think that here in 2019.
For example, his argument starts in Chapter 3, that in Da Vinci's time, he argued that fossils were not created by the stars in the rock to simulate life. (p. 42 on ibooks) "They tell us that these shells were formed in the hills by the influence of the stars; but I ask where in the hills are the stars now forming shells of distinct ages and species?" He then goes on that this was not a cool thing to say in that period and his ideas were lost for a few hundred years as a result. But NOW, here's the skinny on what we know in the way of geology. Remember, DNA wasn't isolated until the 1860's. This book was first published around 1830, so who's to say animal or plant among fossils.
He then goes on and has to justify that the earth wasn't more or less like it is today. Throughout the entire book he's arguing things like, maybe it's not the gods, but it's just really dangerous to settle around a volcano because there's there's underground movement. Recall, there isn't a real theory of Panegea until the 1900s. This idea that the ground is super hot is no good.
He also talks about the big mammoths that are being found in Russia. Apparently, there was a belief the earth was really hot and now its colder, a la Noah. That it was the cooling down of the earth that created land. But the frozen mammoths suggest the opposite happened. SO rad. I had no idea when those were found and why they so were important before this book.
Then there's a lot of great stuff about the way in which water is more powerful in creating what land looks like today. It's a great read to really understand why people cared and what these implications are all about, particularly if you keep modern history in mind. None of these guys were using the techniques or instruments of today. Because he walks through both sides of the argument, it's almost like watching two young kid observe something and then think of a hypothesis and being super surprised they thought that (wrong or right). Puts so much of what we do now and how hard it was for us to come to current understandings into context. Gives you such a sense for how hard it is to get the entirety of the world to come with you. AMAZING!!!
I loved this book for it's ability to give context to the period that pre-dates Darwin. It is very hard to understand the degree to which the world has become indoctrinated with all of the concepts presented by Darwin and the subsequent anthropromophisms that arise. Darwin was the first to introduce a concept of competition into species as a driving force. In my mind, it's part of the reason that everyone believes AI will kill us. But more on that if you look-up my reviews on Darwin. While a speed reader, I had to read this book at about 1/2 speed because the modern perspective and common knowledge of science is so profoundly different that you miss the beauty of the man's argument and what he had to accomplish. In this regard, it is an amazing book to remind us that we must - when arguing our point, start from the point of view of your audience. His audience was quite religious, believed the earth was only a few thousand years old, and that it was formed exactly as it is today. They also believed the early was once very hot and has since cooled. FREAKIN AMAZING how he clearly lays out the common belief and then dispels each point using geology. Dope. Seriously dope. I cannot even imagine if I was transported to that time having to do the same thing. It would not even occur to me that someone could think that here in 2019.
For example, his argument starts in Chapter 3, that in Da Vinci's time, he argued that fossils were not created by the stars in the rock to simulate life. (p. 42 on ibooks) "They tell us that these shells were formed in the hills by the influence of the stars; but I ask where in the hills are the stars now forming shells of distinct ages and species?" He then goes on that this was not a cool thing to say in that period and his ideas were lost for a few hundred years as a result. But NOW, here's the skinny on what we know in the way of geology. Remember, DNA wasn't isolated until the 1860's. This book was first published around 1830, so who's to say animal or plant among fossils.
He then goes on and has to justify that the earth wasn't more or less like it is today. Throughout the entire book he's arguing things like, maybe it's not the gods, but it's just really dangerous to settle around a volcano because there's there's underground movement. Recall, there isn't a real theory of Panegea until the 1900s. This idea that the ground is super hot is no good.
He also talks about the big mammoths that are being found in Russia. Apparently, there was a belief the earth was really hot and now its colder, a la Noah. That it was the cooling down of the earth that created land. But the frozen mammoths suggest the opposite happened. SO rad. I had no idea when those were found and why they so were important before this book.
Then there's a lot of great stuff about the way in which water is more powerful in creating what land looks like today. It's a great read to really understand why people cared and what these implications are all about, particularly if you keep modern history in mind. None of these guys were using the techniques or instruments of today. Because he walks through both sides of the argument, it's almost like watching two young kid observe something and then think of a hypothesis and being super surprised they thought that (wrong or right). Puts so much of what we do now and how hard it was for us to come to current understandings into context. Gives you such a sense for how hard it is to get the entirety of the world to come with you. AMAZING!!!
July 23, 2023
By 1833 Charles Lyell’s Principles of Geology had been published. Only three decades earlier, the Reverend Brown’s Self-Interpreting Bible, had also been published. In this earlier work, the cleric had created a timeline describing the history of creation based on the reportage of the Old Testament. It related, of course, to the lengths of lives, the duration of historical events, empires and epochs. As a result, the world learned, definitively, that it had been created in the year 4004 BC and was thus, by 1796, just 5800 years old. Brown wrote that also that in the year 4004 BC that “God created all things, covenanted with mankind; Adam fell into sin, and his posterity in him; God published salvation by Christ, but denounced troubles and sorrows in this life.”
Now, before embarking on the marathon of The Principles of Geology - more on the choice of this term later - it is worth reflecting on precisely what Brown’s act of scholarly documentation signified. For most Jews and Christians - and presumably, most Muslims as well, for they too recognize the book as the word of God - this result of Brown’s painstakingly chronological analysis represented an unknowable but absolute truth, fact beyond question. The great flood was placed by Brown in the year 2348 BC and it lasted for a year, a fact that greatly troubled Lyell and other scientists driven by evidence, rather than by an illusion of ideological certainty.
.
And that was that as far as believers were concerned. That was not opinion, but fact, culled from interpretation of the only perfect and therefore unquestionable text known to human beings. The great deluge, by Lyell’s publication year, had ceased just 4281 years before. End of story.
At the start of the book, The Principles of Geology by Sir Charles Lyell, a modern reader may be at first perplexed. Why was is necessary to devote so much time and energy to establishing the more likely reality of geological time, to argue that it spans billions of years? For Lyell, perhaps that might be an infinite number of years, incidentally, rather than the 6000 or so as predicted by Bible study. To appreciate this section of Lyell’s monumental work, the modern reader needs to adopt the position of what we now call a religious fundamentalist, for whom any suggestion that the word of God might be inaccurate or, Lord save us, wrong. To suggest thus was an act of blasphemy, and would surely lead to eternal damnation.
But, systematically, Lyell begins his Principles by doing just that. He questioned received assumptions of his time in a way that perhaps no modern writer is capable of doing, given that we all now accept the existence and relevance of scientific method and the necessity of evidence. The book thus becomes a cultural and historical experience as well as a tour of science.
A reader embarking on Lyell’s Principles of Geology needs to be aware that it does represent a major commitment. The book is immense. It has over 1100 references and 50 chapters. To do it justice, a reader needs to devote weeks, not mere hours and days to the project. And it is rewarding, eventually.
The style is surprising. Lyell’s text reads like a very well-constructed notebook. The very process of analysis and argument is taking place before our eyes, as the author amasses example after example to illustrate the thought processes he is pursuing. There never is a succinct statement of a position followed by justification. On the contrary, the reader takes a world tour to illustrate, measure, predict, and describe how the planet’s inorganic and organic matter are formed, how they interact, where they exist, where they don’t, where they prosper, and where they die. We learn about erosion, volcanoes, specific speciation, extinction, fossilization, sedimentation…tides, winds, run-offs, climate…rivers, seas, oceans, reefs, currents…mountains, coastlines, cliffs… The list could be, and probably is endless.
Lyell’s scholarship is breathtaking. He is a man who painstakingly amassed all this material, chose what he recognized as evidence, sifted it, prioritized it, analysed it, and then presented it. One can almost feel the reasoning process upon which this work is based acting itself out as the work progresses.
It has to be said that a modern reader might begin to baulk the twenty-third description of a process that we already thought had been done to death by the third example, but here the relevant approach is just to go with the flow and, like a tourist, be led to the next site of interest.
Lyell’s book changed the way that the human race viewed the history of the planet on which they lived. It was just one of such works from the first half of the nineteenth century that challenged the blind certainty that religion tries to bring to anything of which it is ignorant. The work is a massive achievement, with the stress on “massive”.
Now, before embarking on the marathon of The Principles of Geology - more on the choice of this term later - it is worth reflecting on precisely what Brown’s act of scholarly documentation signified. For most Jews and Christians - and presumably, most Muslims as well, for they too recognize the book as the word of God - this result of Brown’s painstakingly chronological analysis represented an unknowable but absolute truth, fact beyond question. The great flood was placed by Brown in the year 2348 BC and it lasted for a year, a fact that greatly troubled Lyell and other scientists driven by evidence, rather than by an illusion of ideological certainty.
.
And that was that as far as believers were concerned. That was not opinion, but fact, culled from interpretation of the only perfect and therefore unquestionable text known to human beings. The great deluge, by Lyell’s publication year, had ceased just 4281 years before. End of story.
At the start of the book, The Principles of Geology by Sir Charles Lyell, a modern reader may be at first perplexed. Why was is necessary to devote so much time and energy to establishing the more likely reality of geological time, to argue that it spans billions of years? For Lyell, perhaps that might be an infinite number of years, incidentally, rather than the 6000 or so as predicted by Bible study. To appreciate this section of Lyell’s monumental work, the modern reader needs to adopt the position of what we now call a religious fundamentalist, for whom any suggestion that the word of God might be inaccurate or, Lord save us, wrong. To suggest thus was an act of blasphemy, and would surely lead to eternal damnation.
But, systematically, Lyell begins his Principles by doing just that. He questioned received assumptions of his time in a way that perhaps no modern writer is capable of doing, given that we all now accept the existence and relevance of scientific method and the necessity of evidence. The book thus becomes a cultural and historical experience as well as a tour of science.
A reader embarking on Lyell’s Principles of Geology needs to be aware that it does represent a major commitment. The book is immense. It has over 1100 references and 50 chapters. To do it justice, a reader needs to devote weeks, not mere hours and days to the project. And it is rewarding, eventually.
The style is surprising. Lyell’s text reads like a very well-constructed notebook. The very process of analysis and argument is taking place before our eyes, as the author amasses example after example to illustrate the thought processes he is pursuing. There never is a succinct statement of a position followed by justification. On the contrary, the reader takes a world tour to illustrate, measure, predict, and describe how the planet’s inorganic and organic matter are formed, how they interact, where they exist, where they don’t, where they prosper, and where they die. We learn about erosion, volcanoes, specific speciation, extinction, fossilization, sedimentation…tides, winds, run-offs, climate…rivers, seas, oceans, reefs, currents…mountains, coastlines, cliffs… The list could be, and probably is endless.
Lyell’s scholarship is breathtaking. He is a man who painstakingly amassed all this material, chose what he recognized as evidence, sifted it, prioritized it, analysed it, and then presented it. One can almost feel the reasoning process upon which this work is based acting itself out as the work progresses.
It has to be said that a modern reader might begin to baulk the twenty-third description of a process that we already thought had been done to death by the third example, but here the relevant approach is just to go with the flow and, like a tourist, be led to the next site of interest.
Lyell’s book changed the way that the human race viewed the history of the planet on which they lived. It was just one of such works from the first half of the nineteenth century that challenged the blind certainty that religion tries to bring to anything of which it is ignorant. The work is a massive achievement, with the stress on “massive”.
February 24, 2022
Rock solid reasoning
Like others before me, I came to this book via Darwin. Having got heavily into reading Darwin, particularly over the period of his bicentennial, I wanted to go to some of Darwin's own sources: Malthus 'On Population', and the oft-referred to 'Principles of Geology', by Charles Lyell, for example.
Not quite as easily readable as Darwin at his best (both Darwin and Lyell do at times exhibit that rather stodgy and verbose style so characteristic of their time), this is nonetheless fascinating and informative stuff. The Penguin Classics version I read is heftily abridged, so I guess I'll miss out on quite a bit of the detail that someone like Darwin no doubt ploughed through conscientiously! But even so I learned a lot, albeit that some of the ideas and information are now almost certainly out of date (this was written before the discovery of plate tectonics, and even Darwin's 'Origin' would add to, augment, and modify some of Lyell's ideas).
But in principle - pardon the pun - the book remains sound. How and why? Because it's built on the bedrock of the scientific process: reasoning, theorising, and testing for evidence. And Lyell, averse initially to the conclusions Darwin was to reach in 'The Origin', in no small part thanks to some of Lyell's pointers, had, unlike another of Darwin's near contemporaries and mentors, Adam Sedgwick, the capacity for intellectual robustness and honesty that allowed him to modify his views as new evidence and better fitting theories emerged. So, in the long run, having started as a mentor, he became a friend and supporter of Darwin (in fact one of my only criticisms of Darwin's 'Origin' is that his references to Lyell veer towards the cloyingly reverential and ingratiating).
One of the ways in which even the abridged version most resembles Darwin's 'Origin' (itself only intended as the 'abstract' of a never completed multi-volume version, doubtless inspired by Lyell's multi-instalment work) is the thoroughness of the research, and the copiousness of the cited examples, used to back up theories and arguments.
A fascinating keystone work in the history of the modern sciences, in a well presented accessible format. Highly recommended.
Like others before me, I came to this book via Darwin. Having got heavily into reading Darwin, particularly over the period of his bicentennial, I wanted to go to some of Darwin's own sources: Malthus 'On Population', and the oft-referred to 'Principles of Geology', by Charles Lyell, for example.
Not quite as easily readable as Darwin at his best (both Darwin and Lyell do at times exhibit that rather stodgy and verbose style so characteristic of their time), this is nonetheless fascinating and informative stuff. The Penguin Classics version I read is heftily abridged, so I guess I'll miss out on quite a bit of the detail that someone like Darwin no doubt ploughed through conscientiously! But even so I learned a lot, albeit that some of the ideas and information are now almost certainly out of date (this was written before the discovery of plate tectonics, and even Darwin's 'Origin' would add to, augment, and modify some of Lyell's ideas).
But in principle - pardon the pun - the book remains sound. How and why? Because it's built on the bedrock of the scientific process: reasoning, theorising, and testing for evidence. And Lyell, averse initially to the conclusions Darwin was to reach in 'The Origin', in no small part thanks to some of Lyell's pointers, had, unlike another of Darwin's near contemporaries and mentors, Adam Sedgwick, the capacity for intellectual robustness and honesty that allowed him to modify his views as new evidence and better fitting theories emerged. So, in the long run, having started as a mentor, he became a friend and supporter of Darwin (in fact one of my only criticisms of Darwin's 'Origin' is that his references to Lyell veer towards the cloyingly reverential and ingratiating).
One of the ways in which even the abridged version most resembles Darwin's 'Origin' (itself only intended as the 'abstract' of a never completed multi-volume version, doubtless inspired by Lyell's multi-instalment work) is the thoroughness of the research, and the copiousness of the cited examples, used to back up theories and arguments.
A fascinating keystone work in the history of the modern sciences, in a well presented accessible format. Highly recommended.
January 23, 2018
The history of this book is almost as interesting as the book itself. Lyell wanted to be a lawyer, following the profession of his father. But his poor eyesight--in the 1800s, lawyers had to have perfect vision--prevented him from law. He came from a wealthy family and could afford school, where he became interested in geology, enthralled by the eccentric Reverend William Buckland. So, he took up the natural sciences, which at the time were suspicious to the elite class.
This book is meant to make geology more elegant as to ingratiate it to the upper class and thus approaches Christian subjects--think evolution--gently. His only real job in life was being a professor of geology at King's College in London from 1831-1833, during which he published this book... which is almost entirely a reproduction of James Hutton's Theory of the Earth (which is a strong candidate for the least read important book of science. Unfortunately, though teeming with the keenest insights, Mr. Hutton was "almost entirely innocent of rhetorical accomplishments").
Anyways, it's of course intriguing to see all that was known in the 1830s and the approaches Lyell took to make the natural sciences fashionable to the upper class, a very successful pursuit. This became a one which the wealthy of Britain would stash above their fireplaces or upon their coffee tables.
This is an interesting read although with some dense, flowery patches.
This book is meant to make geology more elegant as to ingratiate it to the upper class and thus approaches Christian subjects--think evolution--gently. His only real job in life was being a professor of geology at King's College in London from 1831-1833, during which he published this book... which is almost entirely a reproduction of James Hutton's Theory of the Earth (which is a strong candidate for the least read important book of science. Unfortunately, though teeming with the keenest insights, Mr. Hutton was "almost entirely innocent of rhetorical accomplishments").
Anyways, it's of course intriguing to see all that was known in the 1830s and the approaches Lyell took to make the natural sciences fashionable to the upper class, a very successful pursuit. This became a one which the wealthy of Britain would stash above their fireplaces or upon their coffee tables.
This is an interesting read although with some dense, flowery patches.
March 4, 2025
I mean I guess it was solid. 3.5/5? 4? Very interesting to those interested in scientific/geologic history—probably fatal to all else. As a work of entertainment, I give it a 3/10. But as a work of history, it’s a 9/10
Lyell contextualizes his new (and ultimately very successful) “brand” of geology in contrast to the various “speculative cosmogonists” who spent many decades+ making up different stories about all of the Earth’s surface and history could be explained within a scriptural framework (specifically, how it can all fit into the 6000 year old age the Bible gives the Earth. Besides actually going out and getting his hands dirty and doing fieldwork throughout Europe (including extensively in Italy due to the ability to find igneous/volcanic rocks and active tectonics). His new brand is called gradualism and it simply says that the processes which shape earth today (yearly river erosion, earthquakes, volcanoes) are always in play and that, over huge amounts of time, this can explain things like the creation of marine limestones found on the tops of mountains.
As far as I can tell, he was considered a decent writer, but the age still makes it a challenging read for me. He does have a lot of nice poetic turns of phrase, but he’s not “fun” to read, imo
The other thing which is interesting to me is the irony that he did not believe in evolution and in fact actively opposed it, despite literally introducing 2 of its biggest and necessary principles (gradual change + deep time). He spends a lot of the book trying to badly defend himself from evolution which can be kinda painful to read, but interesting. It’s funny that a dude of that much geologic insight would dogmatically hold onto some core cultural beliefs (humans are superiorly chosen by god and have a right to dominion over the earth) probably due to cultural pressures (he was an aristocrat and evolution was considered socially vulgar to him). His biggest omission regarding evolution is a lack of explanation of where new species arise. But luckily Darwin has us covered! The title of his seminal work is literally “On the Origin of Species”. Thanks for the assist Chuck!
Lyell contextualizes his new (and ultimately very successful) “brand” of geology in contrast to the various “speculative cosmogonists” who spent many decades+ making up different stories about all of the Earth’s surface and history could be explained within a scriptural framework (specifically, how it can all fit into the 6000 year old age the Bible gives the Earth. Besides actually going out and getting his hands dirty and doing fieldwork throughout Europe (including extensively in Italy due to the ability to find igneous/volcanic rocks and active tectonics). His new brand is called gradualism and it simply says that the processes which shape earth today (yearly river erosion, earthquakes, volcanoes) are always in play and that, over huge amounts of time, this can explain things like the creation of marine limestones found on the tops of mountains.
As far as I can tell, he was considered a decent writer, but the age still makes it a challenging read for me. He does have a lot of nice poetic turns of phrase, but he’s not “fun” to read, imo
The other thing which is interesting to me is the irony that he did not believe in evolution and in fact actively opposed it, despite literally introducing 2 of its biggest and necessary principles (gradual change + deep time). He spends a lot of the book trying to badly defend himself from evolution which can be kinda painful to read, but interesting. It’s funny that a dude of that much geologic insight would dogmatically hold onto some core cultural beliefs (humans are superiorly chosen by god and have a right to dominion over the earth) probably due to cultural pressures (he was an aristocrat and evolution was considered socially vulgar to him). His biggest omission regarding evolution is a lack of explanation of where new species arise. But luckily Darwin has us covered! The title of his seminal work is literally “On the Origin of Species”. Thanks for the assist Chuck!
July 26, 2025
A sensation at the time of publication, a copy of the first edition of Principles of Geology was famously taken by Charles Darwin with him on the Beagle voyage. Pulling together the ideas of his time he forcefully makes the case for the long time required for the observable changes apparent on the Earth to have taken place. Although many of his ideas are now out of date, he moved the science of Geology forwards. He then goes on to look at climate changes, biodiversity changes wrought by humans and extinction of species, ideas that it is surprising to hear in a book written almost 200 years ago. A fascinating read.
July 27, 2021
Although written a while ago, I still found myself enjoying reading Charles Lyell's book 'Principles of Geology'. By reading the book, I was exposed to the different geological periods of the earth and also the science behind the formations of geological structures. I find that Lyell's writing also allowed me to see the links between Earth Sciences and the principle of Evolution.
I would recommend this book to anyone considering doing a degree in Earth Sciences or Geology at the tertiary level.
I would recommend this book to anyone considering doing a degree in Earth Sciences or Geology at the tertiary level.
March 10, 2019
A well thought out proposal of the true value of investigation, utilising the fundamental research topic of all topics: the geological make up of planet earth.
Presenting that the true value of all investigation is analogous understanding of available circumstance.
Utterly simulating work, of which I believe fixates attention most productively.
Presenting that the true value of all investigation is analogous understanding of available circumstance.
Utterly simulating work, of which I believe fixates attention most productively.
October 14, 2017
I read this because of an article explaining how Lyell was relevant until recently. I took geology years ago and found this to be good refresher. Many concepts are still valid today. This will be good reference to hang onto, even if it is a little dated.
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January 15, 2024It feels weird to rate an influential textbook from the 1800s like I would a random fiction book, so I won't. I don't know why I read this, or more specifically, listened to 31 hours of an audiobook. Interesting and boring and a surprising mix of sourcing.
July 7, 2025
Love the writing style and his approach to the subject
It is good, yet a bit long winded for my liking. I know it was written many years ago and after considering that? It is a good book.
It is good, yet a bit long winded for my liking. I know it was written many years ago and after considering that? It is a good book.
July 21, 2019
Excellent
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2019
This was an audiobook from LibriVox.
https://librivox.org/principles-of-ge...
https://librivox.org/principles-of-ge...
October 15, 2019
Good
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to read
June 9, 2020Note: There are three books in this edition, not two.
June 5, 2025
I’m not sure what I was expecting, brilliant insights maybe, but the book read as more quaint for its outdated theories. Still lovely for its antique academic tone.
March 26, 2025
Between Lyell’s tedious writing style, the poor quality of my copy, and the fact that it was published around 1832, this turned out to be a long read for me. I gave up and restarted a few times. Luckily, that struggle was mostly confined to the first volume.
That said, the book contains some absolute gems, like this: 'But it is time that geologists should in some degree overcome those first and natural impressions which induced the poets of old to select the rock as the emblem of firmness—the sea as the image of inconstancy.'
The book is so outdated that it still hypothesises the biblical flood to be true. Despite this, the scientific community has kept it relevant—not as a source of science, but as philosophy—and it’s easy to see why upon reading. I’d recommend it purely for its historical significance.
That said, the book contains some absolute gems, like this: 'But it is time that geologists should in some degree overcome those first and natural impressions which induced the poets of old to select the rock as the emblem of firmness—the sea as the image of inconstancy.'
The book is so outdated that it still hypothesises the biblical flood to be true. Despite this, the scientific community has kept it relevant—not as a source of science, but as philosophy—and it’s easy to see why upon reading. I’d recommend it purely for its historical significance.
July 14, 2014
To begin, the Penguin introduction offers a good summary of the debates and controversies that defined Lyell's intervention into the field of geology. Lyell attempted to make the discipline a respectable for a gentleman to practice. He did so by continuing the empirical turn begun by Hutton and others. He built on the uniformitarian assumptions of Hutton, and attempted to understand the forces that had slowly transformed the earth. The book has a curious running debate with Lamarck that would only end with Lyell's acceptance of Darwin's theories of selection. Beyond that, the book is a remarkable force of synthesis, engaging with not only Lyell's substantial investigation, but with the work of other scientists around the globe.
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October 4, 2015Worth reading what Darwin read
I wanted to read the book I had read about in Darwins writings. It is slow, dated, and interesting. This free kindle edition has no illustrtions, however. Glad I read it. Would not want to plod through it again, however. I have read every edition of Origin o Species, and must say they were much more enjoyable.
I wanted to read the book I had read about in Darwins writings. It is slow, dated, and interesting. This free kindle edition has no illustrtions, however. Glad I read it. Would not want to plod through it again, however. I have read every edition of Origin o Species, and must say they were much more enjoyable.
August 30, 2019
Charles Lyell's pivotal work on earth's geology emphasising the uniformitarianism theory as the basis of processes which have formed and continue to form earth's landscape...
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February 6, 2009Selections
April 18, 2013
a must read in order to truly grasp the Origin of Species.
Currently reading
October 5, 2013i need some thing about earth
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April 5, 2016vol1: chapter 5
vol2: chapters 1, 2, 10, 11, 12
vol2: chapters 1, 2, 10, 11, 12
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