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Stone by Stone: The Magnificent History in New England's Stone Walls
There once may have been 250,000 miles of stone walls in America's Northeast, stretching farther than the distance to the moon. They took three billion man-hours to build. And even though most are crumbling today, they contain a magnificent scientific and cultural story―about the geothermal forces that formed their stones, the tectonic movements that brought them to the surface, the glacial tide that broke them apart, the earth that held them for so long, and about the humans who built them.
Stone walls tell nothing less than the story of how New England was formed, and in Robert Thorson's hands they live and breathe. "The stone wall is the key that links the natural history and human history of New England," Thorson writes. Millions of years ago, New England's stones belonged to ancient mountains thrust up by prehistoric collisions between continents. During the Ice Age, pieces were cleaved off by glaciers and deposited―often hundreds of miles away―when the glaciers melted. Buried again over centuries by forest and soil buildup, the stones gradually worked their way back to the surface, only to become impediments to the farmers cultivating the land in the eighteenth century, who piled them into "linear landfills," a place to hold the stones. Usually the biggest investment on a farm, often exceeding that of the land and buildings combined, stone walls became a defining element of the Northeast's landscape, and a symbol of the shift to an agricultural economy.
Stone walls layer time like Russian dolls, their smallest elements reflecting the longest spans, and Thorson urges us to study them, for each stone has its own story. Linking geological history to the early American experience, Stone by Stone presents a fascinating picture of the land the Pilgrims settled, allowing us to see and understand it with new eyes.
Stone walls tell nothing less than the story of how New England was formed, and in Robert Thorson's hands they live and breathe. "The stone wall is the key that links the natural history and human history of New England," Thorson writes. Millions of years ago, New England's stones belonged to ancient mountains thrust up by prehistoric collisions between continents. During the Ice Age, pieces were cleaved off by glaciers and deposited―often hundreds of miles away―when the glaciers melted. Buried again over centuries by forest and soil buildup, the stones gradually worked their way back to the surface, only to become impediments to the farmers cultivating the land in the eighteenth century, who piled them into "linear landfills," a place to hold the stones. Usually the biggest investment on a farm, often exceeding that of the land and buildings combined, stone walls became a defining element of the Northeast's landscape, and a symbol of the shift to an agricultural economy.
Stone walls layer time like Russian dolls, their smallest elements reflecting the longest spans, and Thorson urges us to study them, for each stone has its own story. Linking geological history to the early American experience, Stone by Stone presents a fascinating picture of the land the Pilgrims settled, allowing us to see and understand it with new eyes.
304 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2002
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362 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
November 22, 2024
Good book, but about as interesting as you'd imagine with a title like Stone by Stone: The Magnificent History in New England's Stone Walls. You really need to want to know about the topic of stone walls in old New England for this one to hold your interest. As a kid I used to hike the forest behind my house and inevitably I'd cross over or walk along two or three of these mysterious, low, rough stone walls. Who built them and what were they doing out here in the middle of the woods? Probably the answer was my great great grandfather and his son, and when they did it there probably wasn't much for trees, since they would have cut most of them down and pulled up their roots, so they could plant the crops that would see the family through those harsh New England winters. I imagine some of those crops, tubers and the like, would make their way down under my grandparents' house, where they'd be stored for later consumption in the musty and frigid root cellar, which my younger brother dubbed "The Dungeon." Some of the foundation stones were old tombstones and my great grandmother claimed to be a spell casting witch, so the name seemed fitting. Anyhow, where was I? Oh yeah, good book!
April 10, 2018
What makes this book so special can be seen in the subtitle’s preposition, "in." It’s not a history of walls, but of what’s in them, that is more geological than historical (but the history’s there, as well). There’s too much information, of course, and there's at least one entire chapter the book could have done without, but it’s the oddness of the book that makes it so special. The writing isn’t bad either, and it did manage to answer the questions I had about the stone walls all over the area where I live.
March 9, 2023
Growing up in Massachusetts, I've seen stone walls everywhere for as long as I can remember. Unfortunately, we learned very little about them in the classroom. But I do remember our teachers going into great detail about the struggle of the early colonial farmers because of the untenable rocky soil in this region. They made it seem like it was a miracle the fields could be plowed at all.
I remained in Massachusetts after school, and as hiking became one of my primary hobbies, I wondered about the stone walls that New England hikers like me always encounter. Many of these walls are way out in the middle of nowhere. Why are they there? What purpose would these hip-high walls serve? If I can climb over most of them (and I'm the least graceful hiker in the woods), so can the livestock. If there is a better reason to go to all the trouble of lugging these heavy stones around, what is it? I've asked myself this question numerous times while taking a water break sitting on one of these walls.
Recently while skimming the local section of the library, I came across this book and decided to educate myself on the history and reasoning behind all these stone walls scattered throughout our local forests.
Overall I enjoyed the book, and while I've never been strongly drawn to geology, my favorite part was the first few chapters that covered the early geological history of the region (think: glaciers). The writing was well done and engaging, and that early geological history had much to do with why and how we wound up with big rocks deep in our soil.
But as it turns out, those rocks were far from the topsoil when the colonial farmers arrived. These rocks rose to the surface years later for reasons that I'll let you explore within the pages of this book - no spoilers from me :)
As for a reason the farmers built these stone walls, the reasoning is as mundane as it possibly could be. There's no extraordinary mystery to these walls. They exist for an efficient purpose.
The final 1/4 of the book could've been significantly condensed, as it was rather repetitive. But I'm still glad I picked it up and gave it a try, even though geology is outside my wheelhouse - and though I like history, this book felt super niche when I checked it out of the library. It, for sure, felt like a gamble as to whether I'd enjoy it at all.
So my teachers were wrong about the struggles of colonial farmers with poor-quality soil. Those challenges came years down the road. And now I have an accurate perspective of this slice of local agricultural history (and geology). It's some food for thought on my daily hikes through the local conservation land and passed the ample supply of stone walls that no longer seem all that mysterious to me.
I remained in Massachusetts after school, and as hiking became one of my primary hobbies, I wondered about the stone walls that New England hikers like me always encounter. Many of these walls are way out in the middle of nowhere. Why are they there? What purpose would these hip-high walls serve? If I can climb over most of them (and I'm the least graceful hiker in the woods), so can the livestock. If there is a better reason to go to all the trouble of lugging these heavy stones around, what is it? I've asked myself this question numerous times while taking a water break sitting on one of these walls.
Recently while skimming the local section of the library, I came across this book and decided to educate myself on the history and reasoning behind all these stone walls scattered throughout our local forests.
Overall I enjoyed the book, and while I've never been strongly drawn to geology, my favorite part was the first few chapters that covered the early geological history of the region (think: glaciers). The writing was well done and engaging, and that early geological history had much to do with why and how we wound up with big rocks deep in our soil.
But as it turns out, those rocks were far from the topsoil when the colonial farmers arrived. These rocks rose to the surface years later for reasons that I'll let you explore within the pages of this book - no spoilers from me :)
As for a reason the farmers built these stone walls, the reasoning is as mundane as it possibly could be. There's no extraordinary mystery to these walls. They exist for an efficient purpose.
The final 1/4 of the book could've been significantly condensed, as it was rather repetitive. But I'm still glad I picked it up and gave it a try, even though geology is outside my wheelhouse - and though I like history, this book felt super niche when I checked it out of the library. It, for sure, felt like a gamble as to whether I'd enjoy it at all.
So my teachers were wrong about the struggles of colonial farmers with poor-quality soil. Those challenges came years down the road. And now I have an accurate perspective of this slice of local agricultural history (and geology). It's some food for thought on my daily hikes through the local conservation land and passed the ample supply of stone walls that no longer seem all that mysterious to me.
February 26, 2019
I am fascinated by all the stone walls. Not quite fascinated enough to read every word in the chapters on the geology of New England. I skimmed the first three chapters. I was amazed to find out the bulk of the walls originated from the time period after the Revolutionary War until the railroads began construction. It was the process of deforestation in the time before the Revolutionary War that brought the rocks to the surface. I don't recall seeing miles of stone walls in virgin forests, however, they are plentiful in regrowth forests. I'm glad I picked it up at the library.
May 5, 2025
Being a life long New Englander, I’ve been curious about the stone walls that line our landscape since I was a child. This book had been on my radar for years so I was excited to find the audiobook in the Audible Plus library. It was a quick and fascinating listen. I really enjoyed it, but I would like to buy myself a copy for my home library and reread it someday physically, and really take my time learning about the history. It’s a subject I find really interesting. I don’t typically read non-fiction but I think this book was rich with knowledge on the subject while being written in a way to make it easy to follow.
September 6, 2011
Robert M. Thorson is a geologist, and he truly loves stone. His deep regard for the substance shines through in Stone by Stone. Anyone who's been to rural New England is familiar with the scene - low, tumbled, gray walls snaking through just about any "undeveloped" patch of woods. While it's true that these structures were "built" by farmers, it was surprising to learn that the walls aren't all that ancient. Contrary to popular belief, the soils of New England were not stony and inhospitable when the first settlers emigrated from Old England. As it turns out, the rocks rose to the surface only after a century or so, the natural outcome of deforestation and continuous tilling practices. As 19th century farmers hauled them to the edges of their fields, and tossed them along the perimeter, the walls developed and served as boundaries.
Stone by Stone is much more than a dry history. Thorson is a wonderful writer, and he brings geology, archaeology, history, sociology, and poetry to his subject. How and when the rocks were made and came to be there, what types of stones make up the walls, the forces of entropy that cause them to fall, and the physical demands of building, and the mythos of the New England farmer are all covered. Liberally dispersed throughout the text are illustrations and photos, quotes from other authors, and snippets of lyrical poetry that do as much to illuminate as his competent prose. He closes with an eloquent essay on nature, history, and the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth that governs everything on our planet.
Well conceived, well executed, informative, and a pleasure to read.
Stone by Stone is much more than a dry history. Thorson is a wonderful writer, and he brings geology, archaeology, history, sociology, and poetry to his subject. How and when the rocks were made and came to be there, what types of stones make up the walls, the forces of entropy that cause them to fall, and the physical demands of building, and the mythos of the New England farmer are all covered. Liberally dispersed throughout the text are illustrations and photos, quotes from other authors, and snippets of lyrical poetry that do as much to illuminate as his competent prose. He closes with an eloquent essay on nature, history, and the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth that governs everything on our planet.
Well conceived, well executed, informative, and a pleasure to read.
May 21, 2019
This book has its moments of brilliance. If I were into geology more, this book would have likely been more enjoyable. But, I commend this author for writing about something he truly loves and trying to make it manageable for the rest of us.
What has remained for me are some of the surprises. Like, New England’s soil wasn’t rocky and difficult to farm—at least not for the first 100 years. It was lush and loamy and fertile. But greed and laziness made later settlers clear-cut fields far too quickly. Erosion and exposure to frost made the soil rocky. The rocky and difficult soil was a man-made problem—one they left to their descendants to deal with as they moved onto the next new (easy) field...
There’s a moral here, for sure.
What has remained for me are some of the surprises. Like, New England’s soil wasn’t rocky and difficult to farm—at least not for the first 100 years. It was lush and loamy and fertile. But greed and laziness made later settlers clear-cut fields far too quickly. Erosion and exposure to frost made the soil rocky. The rocky and difficult soil was a man-made problem—one they left to their descendants to deal with as they moved onto the next new (easy) field...
There’s a moral here, for sure.
June 21, 2017
Only a brief section concerns the building methods and purposes of the walls. Thorson gives and extensive explanation of where the stone came from (a couple of hundred million years of geological processes) and why the walls were built only during a few decades starting in the mid/late 18th century. As a result, the walls themselves don't come into the story until well past page 100. There is also an extensive discussion of the fate of the walls and the various reasons why they are gradually disappearing. These sections are interesting, but not what I had expected.
November 29, 2025
It may be surprising to learn that a geology book can be so fascinating but this one is.
I have long been drawn to the stone walls marking the New England landscape. Thus, I was drawn to this book.
How did the stone walls get to where they were and why were they put there. Were they simple fences made out of territorial necessity? In fact, the need for the walls and the manner in which they were constructed tell us a lot about not only colonial American farmers but millions of years worth of geological and climate change.
New England was once physically attached to modern day England and Ireland and ultimately split by an ancient mountain range, The Acadian. Many today complain about a few inches of beach eroding from their million dollar homes but don't understand that the earth is an ever changing and dynamic scientific wonder. There were ancient oceans, mountain ranges and continents don't even exist today. Anyway, about 200 million years ago, England and New England split and began to separate.
About 50 million years ago, shortly after dinosaurs, the Earth began a long term climate cooling trend. For millions of years glaciation rules the earth. During this time, New England was generally a temperate forest and roamed by exotic animals.
New England did not become stony until the Laurentide Ice Sheet invaded the area from the North tens of thousands of years ago. As the ice came down, retreated and came down again, a cycle of climate cooling and heating, the ice scoured the land lifting up billions of stone slabs deep below the soil.
Then, The Little Ice Age, a climate epoch of global freezing that ran from about 1300 through the 1800s, the woods of New England were cleared out for fire wood, etc. which lead to more soil exposure and ultimately to more farming, which all exposed even more stones.
The walls were not built per se as walls but rather as linear landfills. Farmers would clear the field of the stone, bring them to the property line and drop them down. This is why most walls were on colonial property lines and are only as high as a man's hip. The height of these walls were not governed by aesthetics or statute but rather ergonomics.
The walls which have long since been abandoned as a historical relic still stand in many areas, covered often by surrounding woods, to be stumbled upon by a hiker. They hold the scars of time and act as a reminder to those who only see the world through the modern prism, that our earth holds a fascinating scientific history that is far more complicated than we typically imagine.
I have long been drawn to the stone walls marking the New England landscape. Thus, I was drawn to this book.
How did the stone walls get to where they were and why were they put there. Were they simple fences made out of territorial necessity? In fact, the need for the walls and the manner in which they were constructed tell us a lot about not only colonial American farmers but millions of years worth of geological and climate change.
New England was once physically attached to modern day England and Ireland and ultimately split by an ancient mountain range, The Acadian. Many today complain about a few inches of beach eroding from their million dollar homes but don't understand that the earth is an ever changing and dynamic scientific wonder. There were ancient oceans, mountain ranges and continents don't even exist today. Anyway, about 200 million years ago, England and New England split and began to separate.
About 50 million years ago, shortly after dinosaurs, the Earth began a long term climate cooling trend. For millions of years glaciation rules the earth. During this time, New England was generally a temperate forest and roamed by exotic animals.
New England did not become stony until the Laurentide Ice Sheet invaded the area from the North tens of thousands of years ago. As the ice came down, retreated and came down again, a cycle of climate cooling and heating, the ice scoured the land lifting up billions of stone slabs deep below the soil.
Then, The Little Ice Age, a climate epoch of global freezing that ran from about 1300 through the 1800s, the woods of New England were cleared out for fire wood, etc. which lead to more soil exposure and ultimately to more farming, which all exposed even more stones.
The walls were not built per se as walls but rather as linear landfills. Farmers would clear the field of the stone, bring them to the property line and drop them down. This is why most walls were on colonial property lines and are only as high as a man's hip. The height of these walls were not governed by aesthetics or statute but rather ergonomics.
The walls which have long since been abandoned as a historical relic still stand in many areas, covered often by surrounding woods, to be stumbled upon by a hiker. They hold the scars of time and act as a reminder to those who only see the world through the modern prism, that our earth holds a fascinating scientific history that is far more complicated than we typically imagine.
June 28, 2023
I originally picked up this book because the author’s concept was intriguing. The book description suggested that the geology, history, economics, and even sociology of New England could be successfully explored all through the simple existence of half-toppled stone walls. It sounded like the author might have been exaggerating.
He wasn’t.
Mr. Thorson led me, page by page, through the life of the New England stone wall - a simple structure that has now become a recognizable and appreciated symbol of the rural northeast. I read about the geologic forces that first shaped the stones that would one day be removed from farmland and pasture, the early American builders who hauled and stacked these stones, how these walls were eventually abandoned, and how now some are being reclaimed. And all along the way I was given interesting explanations and curious facts that all connected back to the main topic beautifully.
It is obvious that the author is not just a student of geology but of time itself. His appreciation and love for his chosen subject is clear and he expresses it with carefully chosen information from a large variety of origins. The book is filled with excerpts from historical sources, snatches of poetry, occasional pictures, and helpful charts. His writing style is easy to understand, no matter the reader’s level of geological understanding.
The only noticeable flaw with the book was not due to the actual work, but caused by my unfortunate choice to purchase it as an e-book. The publisher did not convert the text to digital well and clearly did not invest in an editor so there were some confusing layout and spelling issues. They slowed the reading down on occasion, but did not keep me from enjoying the book. Just be aware if you are considering downloading.
This book certainly taught me some interesting things. But what I appreciated most was Thorson’s ability to reveal how these quiet stone walls are not just artifacts of an earlier era but a statement on the power of time and nature and humanity’s place in both.
He wasn’t.
Mr. Thorson led me, page by page, through the life of the New England stone wall - a simple structure that has now become a recognizable and appreciated symbol of the rural northeast. I read about the geologic forces that first shaped the stones that would one day be removed from farmland and pasture, the early American builders who hauled and stacked these stones, how these walls were eventually abandoned, and how now some are being reclaimed. And all along the way I was given interesting explanations and curious facts that all connected back to the main topic beautifully.
It is obvious that the author is not just a student of geology but of time itself. His appreciation and love for his chosen subject is clear and he expresses it with carefully chosen information from a large variety of origins. The book is filled with excerpts from historical sources, snatches of poetry, occasional pictures, and helpful charts. His writing style is easy to understand, no matter the reader’s level of geological understanding.
The only noticeable flaw with the book was not due to the actual work, but caused by my unfortunate choice to purchase it as an e-book. The publisher did not convert the text to digital well and clearly did not invest in an editor so there were some confusing layout and spelling issues. They slowed the reading down on occasion, but did not keep me from enjoying the book. Just be aware if you are considering downloading.
This book certainly taught me some interesting things. But what I appreciated most was Thorson’s ability to reveal how these quiet stone walls are not just artifacts of an earlier era but a statement on the power of time and nature and humanity’s place in both.
May 25, 2020
This book provides a very interesting account of the geology and history of stone walls in New England. I purchased this book on a whim years ago and it has since languished near the bottom of my to-read pile. I often looked at it thinking “That book is going to be a chore to read.” Fortunately I was pleasantly surprised that a topic as seemingly benign as stone walls could be teeming with so much history; not just geological history, but also human history and ingenuity. The reader will learn quite a bit about a topic few consider beyond aesthetic appeal. The geologic explanation behind why stones appear seemingly out of nowhere in fields was eye opening. The reason stone walls tend to be thigh high is governed by the locale of maximum human strength in the thighs. Mortar in a stone wall tends to provide too much stiffness, so a dry stone wall in the long run is often preferable. The author waxes poetic towards the end, lamenting the destruction of authentic field stone walls for repurposing as ornamental showpieces in Mac-mansions. But his logic is sound and he succeeds at making many a sage point. The stone wall can teach us quite a bit of the universal impermanence of form. After all, even the seemingly “permanent” stones in walls and landscapes will one day break done and erode. 3.5 stars
May 22, 2025
Review of the audiobook:
I picked up this book on a whim, mainly because I live in New England and have stumbled across stone walls in the middle of the woods, and wondered about them. I also wondered how you could fill up a book about them. Well, it turns out you do it with geology, history, ecology, and engineering.
It’s an interesting subject, or at least the author makes it so. The book is well-organized and thorough, covering many topics, from glaciation to the poetry of Robert Frost.
The narrator is the author himself, and although he’s clearly nota professional, his voice is clear and pleasant, and his occasional hesitations don’t detract from the book. He’s an expert teaching a short course, not an actor transporting you to another place or time.
If you think you might be interested in this niche topic, I’d encourage you to give this book a chance.
I picked up this book on a whim, mainly because I live in New England and have stumbled across stone walls in the middle of the woods, and wondered about them. I also wondered how you could fill up a book about them. Well, it turns out you do it with geology, history, ecology, and engineering.
It’s an interesting subject, or at least the author makes it so. The book is well-organized and thorough, covering many topics, from glaciation to the poetry of Robert Frost.
The narrator is the author himself, and although he’s clearly nota professional, his voice is clear and pleasant, and his occasional hesitations don’t detract from the book. He’s an expert teaching a short course, not an actor transporting you to another place or time.
If you think you might be interested in this niche topic, I’d encourage you to give this book a chance.
August 29, 2025
This book is really heavy on geology, which doesn't fascinate me so I skip read parts of this book. Apologies to the author as I make my confession. That said, I really enjoyed later chapters which got into topics such as land use settlement patterns and the social and economic forces that led to land clearing, the building of stone walls as property boundaries, how the farm lands of New England were cleared, and the cultural forces that demanded carefully laid stone walls rather than the "rude" method of throwing rocks to the property line.
As a born and raised New Englander, I suffered a brief transplantation of two rock-less years along the NC/SC coastline. Happily, here I am, again once again surrounded by the rugged stone walls that I missed so much. And I appreciate Robert M. Thorson for writing this book
As a born and raised New Englander, I suffered a brief transplantation of two rock-less years along the NC/SC coastline. Happily, here I am, again once again surrounded by the rugged stone walls that I missed so much. And I appreciate Robert M. Thorson for writing this book
November 20, 2021
A well researched, somewhat academic book about the stonewalls of New England. The author goes into a little bit too much detail at times, such as the first 40 pages being about New England geology. He also tends to use a bit more hyperbole then I prefer, such as “our food is genetically modified, our clothing comes from synthetic fabrics, and our electricity is produced by nuclear reactors,“ when writing about our nostalgia for stone walls. Still, if you’re interested in New England history, it’s an interesting and important book. I particularly found the sections on how stones appear in farm fields, the relationship between farming and stonewalls, and how stonewalls became iconic for New England interesting.
August 11, 2024
*** Audible Review ***
The Audible version was made available in 2022, a great addition to this book. I first read this book in 2004 with my Book Club. Listening to the book’s message made it move along much faster. While the earliest chapters covered the geological origins of the many rock walls of New England, it raised interesting points regarding how the rocks were pushed upward through frost heaves and soil compacting over time. There were also points made regarding how the rocks could be used to determine the local make up of the ground below. There is a lot of material delivered in this book, lots to consider. While we are now encouraged to eat organically and locally to reduce our ecological impact on the world, the book also discusses the impacts of reusing the rock walls by selling and relocating the walls as further impact on the world.
The Audible version was made available in 2022, a great addition to this book. I first read this book in 2004 with my Book Club. Listening to the book’s message made it move along much faster. While the earliest chapters covered the geological origins of the many rock walls of New England, it raised interesting points regarding how the rocks were pushed upward through frost heaves and soil compacting over time. There were also points made regarding how the rocks could be used to determine the local make up of the ground below. There is a lot of material delivered in this book, lots to consider. While we are now encouraged to eat organically and locally to reduce our ecological impact on the world, the book also discusses the impacts of reusing the rock walls by selling and relocating the walls as further impact on the world.
November 1, 2025
Thorson argues that New England’s stone walls were the result not of land that was found to be rocky by early European colonists, but of land that became rocky after 2 or 3 generations used the same ground for farming and grazing. He describes the ways these disturbances helped bring rock to the surface over many years and then it became part of the annual round of work to remove stones from the field and put them to use in walls. While the author’s communication about geology needs more clarity, he is making an important point.
I really appreciate the time Thorson spends describing how stone walls became habitat for creatures, plant life, and fungi and how they impact the flow of water and temperature around them.
I really appreciate the time Thorson spends describing how stone walls became habitat for creatures, plant life, and fungi and how they impact the flow of water and temperature around them.
October 25, 2020
A 2002 book written by a geologist that all New Englanders, and those who love New England, will enjoy. Its meaning goes beyond its central story of the stone walls. It's an elegant synthesis of geology, history, economics, and human nature as revealed to us by what we leave behind, inspiring us to understand our place as a part of nature, not as apart from nature.
January 14, 2023
I just read a book about stone walls… and loved it. Spanning from the formation of earth to the end of humanity, Thorson centers the stone walls of New England, but explores so much more. About Geology, about nature, about a lot of things, but ultimately, about humanity and our relationship with the earth. A wonderful read, and one I highly recommend.
December 27, 2020
Many people would not think that a little book about stone walls would be of much interest, but this book is so comprehensive (from geology to poetry) and written so precisely and carefully (dare I say, lovingly) that you will be become enthralled.
January 14, 2023
While I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the history of New England’s stone walls. The organization of the book towards its end got a little sloppy and things a bit repetitive. However, no question that there is a wealth of knowledge here, and the book was throughly researched.
January 5, 2020
Provides a thorough, comprehensive, yet poetic history of those mysterious stone walls found in the middle of the woods.
August 16, 2020
The perfect book for someone who likes rocks and history as much as I do.
February 19, 2022
An excellent read for any New Englander.
"The stone walls of New England stand guard against a future that seems to be coming too quickly."
"The stone walls of New England stand guard against a future that seems to be coming too quickly."
March 15, 2022
Few writers can provide an entire world of physical and human engagement by focusing on a single element: stone walls. Remarkable.
August 27, 2024
Although the first 3 chapters were a bit too much science for me. But they are necessary to the book.
March 24, 2025
Interesting but very textbook at times.
October 11, 2025
Great introduction to dry stone construction (pedra seca in Catalan)
Read
December 11, 2023I really enjoyed the audio.
May 11, 2013
Yes, it's a book about rocks. And yes, it's really interesting!
When you think about New England, one of the images that probably comes to mind is the ubiquitous stone wall. Many of the stone walls there were erected decades, and in some cases, a couple of centuries, ago. You may notice that they don't seem tall enough to contain animals, so you assume they're there as a statement to neighbors: This is my property.
But that's not the real story behind stone walls and all of New England's rocks, and the real story is fun reading.
Thorson is a professor of geology and geophysics, and he writes with an obvious fascination for the subject. When you remember that shifts and upheavals in the planet's history created continents, mountains, valleys and deserts, you realize there's some drama beneath our feet. And rocks each tell a story.
This book is accessible, but it's also obviously educational.
It may sound geeky, but I'm reading the book now for the second time.
When you think about New England, one of the images that probably comes to mind is the ubiquitous stone wall. Many of the stone walls there were erected decades, and in some cases, a couple of centuries, ago. You may notice that they don't seem tall enough to contain animals, so you assume they're there as a statement to neighbors: This is my property.
But that's not the real story behind stone walls and all of New England's rocks, and the real story is fun reading.
Thorson is a professor of geology and geophysics, and he writes with an obvious fascination for the subject. When you remember that shifts and upheavals in the planet's history created continents, mountains, valleys and deserts, you realize there's some drama beneath our feet. And rocks each tell a story.
This book is accessible, but it's also obviously educational.
It may sound geeky, but I'm reading the book now for the second time.
February 8, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed this brief, lively and surprisingly far-ranging history of New England stones and stone walls. It's full of "did you know" facts and phenomena that will amaze and confound your fellow New Englanders who think they know all about stone walls (they don't). Spoiler alert: the stones weren't just laying around - English immigrants had to "grow" them to build the walls. Thorson is a creative thinker and a good writer, finding persuasive connections between his simple topic and the big forces in nature and culture. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews