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A Land in Motion: California's San Andreas Fault
The San Andreas Fault is the most famous fault on Earth, running nearly the entire length of western California from just north of the Mexican border to the Mendocino coast. It is a very active tectonic boundary which directly affects the lives of more than twenty million people. The San Andreas Fault has been responsible for shaping much that is beautiful about California, and it also has the capacity to destroy the communities that lie along its course. A Land in Motion provides a geologic tour of the San Andreas Fault in an accessible narrative punctuated with dramatic color illustrations, lively anecdotes, and authoritative information about earthquakes.
As he tours the length of the fault, Michael Collier provides a valuable overview of plate tectonics and gives a geologic history of the San Andreas Fault written for non-scientists. He discusses the evolution of seismology as a science and traces the knowledge that scientists have gleaned about earthquakes and plate tectonics from their work on the San Andreas Fault. Collier looks into human history as well, discussing major earthquakes that have hit the San Andreas, including the famous San Francisco earthquake of 1906, the San Fernando quake of 1971, the Loma Prieta quake of 1989, the Landers quake of 1992, and many lesser temblors.
Collier illustrates his text with magnificent photographs that highlight some of the most beloved landscapes in California. He provides excellent views of the fault throughout the state―of Crystal Springs reservoir near San Francisco, of Pinnacles National Monument east of Monterey, of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Point Reyes National Seashore near San Francisco, and more.
Collier concludes his tour of the San Andreas Fault with a provocative discussion on earthquake prediction versus earthquake planning that all Californians―and all who live where earthquakes occur―will want to read.
As he tours the length of the fault, Michael Collier provides a valuable overview of plate tectonics and gives a geologic history of the San Andreas Fault written for non-scientists. He discusses the evolution of seismology as a science and traces the knowledge that scientists have gleaned about earthquakes and plate tectonics from their work on the San Andreas Fault. Collier looks into human history as well, discussing major earthquakes that have hit the San Andreas, including the famous San Francisco earthquake of 1906, the San Fernando quake of 1971, the Loma Prieta quake of 1989, the Landers quake of 1992, and many lesser temblors.
Collier illustrates his text with magnificent photographs that highlight some of the most beloved landscapes in California. He provides excellent views of the fault throughout the state―of Crystal Springs reservoir near San Francisco, of Pinnacles National Monument east of Monterey, of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Point Reyes National Seashore near San Francisco, and more.
Collier concludes his tour of the San Andreas Fault with a provocative discussion on earthquake prediction versus earthquake planning that all Californians―and all who live where earthquakes occur―will want to read.
128 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1999
28 people want to read
About the author
Michael Collier
22 books2 followersMichael Collier is an American photographer. His work is often aerial photography of landscapes. He was featured in a recent NPR show and photo montage narrated by Howard Berkes called Sky Vision.[1] Collier's photographs in the book The Mountains Know Arizona won the National Outdoor Book Award in 2004 for Design and Artistic Merit.
Collier used to have the job of rowing boats in the Grand Canyon. Collier currently practices medicine in Flagstaff, Arizona for his career. He also is a professor at the NAU School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Sustainability
Collier used to have the job of rowing boats in the Grand Canyon. Collier currently practices medicine in Flagstaff, Arizona for his career. He also is a professor at the NAU School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Sustainability
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 2, 2024
Best pop-sci book I've seen for the San Andreas. Collier is a great aerial photographer, and a good writer. He has interesting history of the fault and research on it, and he got good technical support from the USGS Menlo Park office. This is the book you want, to learn about the San Andreas. 5 stars!
Reread and skim notes, 6/1/24. The science is a little out-of date now (1999 book). But the photos and maps are great. Especially his aerial photos! Still the go-to book for those wanting to learn about the San Andreas, and the general geology and earthquake hazards of coastal California. 4.5 stars. High marks!
Reread and skim notes, 6/1/24. The science is a little out-of date now (1999 book). But the photos and maps are great. Especially his aerial photos! Still the go-to book for those wanting to learn about the San Andreas, and the general geology and earthquake hazards of coastal California. 4.5 stars. High marks!
March 16, 2023
A sparkling gem of a book.
Michael Collier's clear and engaging prose (for a Geology book!) is augmented
by beautiful illusrtations of the geologic processes as known today, maps of the San Andreas Fault and surrounding area and photographs (both from the air and on the ground) by the author. Also, four of the chapters are accompanied with a feature called "In the Field", each one profiling a geologist working (at least at that time) in the San Andreas area, giving the book a more personal touch to the almost incomprehensible subject matter - the forces that shape and change the Earth over millions and even billions of years.
The author readily admits that even a brief overview of Plate Tectonics can be confusing, but this book makes the subject as painless an introduction to Geology as I've ever seen. Geology has been called the "Easy Science" and this book makes it, if not easy, at least comprehensible as well as enjoyable. In my opinion, a top-notch science book not only demystifies it's subject, but also encourages readers along in the process of learning. This book succeeds at both.
Michael Collier's clear and engaging prose (for a Geology book!) is augmented
by beautiful illusrtations of the geologic processes as known today, maps of the San Andreas Fault and surrounding area and photographs (both from the air and on the ground) by the author. Also, four of the chapters are accompanied with a feature called "In the Field", each one profiling a geologist working (at least at that time) in the San Andreas area, giving the book a more personal touch to the almost incomprehensible subject matter - the forces that shape and change the Earth over millions and even billions of years.
The author readily admits that even a brief overview of Plate Tectonics can be confusing, but this book makes the subject as painless an introduction to Geology as I've ever seen. Geology has been called the "Easy Science" and this book makes it, if not easy, at least comprehensible as well as enjoyable. In my opinion, a top-notch science book not only demystifies it's subject, but also encourages readers along in the process of learning. This book succeeds at both.
August 19, 2020
This short book was a nice introductory level explanation on the San Andreas Fault. The explanations were mostly good and interesting and the pictures were very good. I especially liked some of the ones where you can see humongous shifts in the terrain like streambeds suddenly shifting 50-100 feet sideways.
This book interested me because I live about 3 miles miles from the San Andreas Fault and grew up in Coalinga, which is very near to Parkfield. I can remember a great many earthquakes growing up. I've recently been trying to learn more about retrofitting my house to be more earthquake resistant, which led me to this book. I would've really liked for this book to go more into what scenarios make an earthquake more or less resistant and where these circumstances exist. I mean, I assume that if I live on a mountain, my shaking should be less although I am more at risk of a landslide. Compare that to on a valley that has thousands of feet of fill, it would probably be the opposite. The author doesn't get into this much at all. I would've loved some kind of educated guess on the relative dangers of a major earthquake happening at specific areas of the San Andreas vs other major faults that are nearby.
This book interested me because I live about 3 miles miles from the San Andreas Fault and grew up in Coalinga, which is very near to Parkfield. I can remember a great many earthquakes growing up. I've recently been trying to learn more about retrofitting my house to be more earthquake resistant, which led me to this book. I would've really liked for this book to go more into what scenarios make an earthquake more or less resistant and where these circumstances exist. I mean, I assume that if I live on a mountain, my shaking should be less although I am more at risk of a landslide. Compare that to on a valley that has thousands of feet of fill, it would probably be the opposite. The author doesn't get into this much at all. I would've loved some kind of educated guess on the relative dangers of a major earthquake happening at specific areas of the San Andreas vs other major faults that are nearby.
June 6, 2019
A concise beginner's reference to the San Andreas. Easy to read with detailed fault system locations on each segment of the San Andreas fault. A good book to have on your shelf to refresh your knowledge. Also, the aerial shots are breathtaking.
June 9, 2008
This book would be very informative if you were looking at getting your feet wet. It doesn't get too deep in the science, probably to prevent premature disinterest, but is a quick read and has a number of exceptional photos and helpful illustrations. There are only a few instances where the regular hand-waving could be considered inappropriate as it adds to the confusion of a reader in the expected audience but this is definitely a good primer for understanding fault dynamics with localized information on the San Andreas. If you live in California, you will definitely learn a thing or two.
May 4, 2009
Excellent read, particularly if you live on the Fault like I do. Beautifully illustrated. Would have given it 5 stars but it's far too short (118 pages).
March 17, 2014
A good scientific yet easy to follow explanation of fault movement and plate tectonics. Makes the moving earth we live on understandable.
November 12, 2016
The author wrote this book so that the science is interesting and actually makes sense to me!
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews