About this title: Winchester, acclaimed for THE PROFESSOR AND THE MADMAN, tells the story of William Smith, who in 1815--despite his lower-class status--laid the foundations for modern geology. A New York Times Notable Book for 2001.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Description: Very Good. Great condition for a used book! Minimal wear. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Description: Good. Former Library book. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Edition: 1st
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: HarperCollins
Date Published: 2001-08-01
ISBN-13:9780060193614ISBN:0060193611
Description: Like New. May be shiny, in some instances dust jackets are not included, no missing pages, no damage to binding, may have a remainder mark. read more
Description: Good. Minimal damage to cover and binding. Pages show light use. With pride from Motor City. All books guaranteed. Best Service, Best Prices. read more
Description: Very good. Book has appearance of only minimal use. All pages are undamaged with no significant creases or tears. With pride from Motor City. All books guaranteed. Best Service, Best Prices. read more
Description: Good. Light shelving wear with minimal damage to cover and bindings. Pages show minor use. Help save a tree. Buy all your used books from Green Earth Books. Read. Recycle and Reuse! read more
Description: Good. Light shelving wear with minimal damage to cover and bindings. Pages show minor use. Help save a tree. Buy all your used books from Green Earth Books. Read. Recycle and Reuse! read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Date Published: 2002
ISBN-13:9780060931803ISBN:0060931809
Description: Good. Used Condition-GOOD can be a well cared for Book that is in great condition to a Book that may show some signs of wear. GOOD Books sometimes are permanently marked; have some spine or page creases; exibit signs of aging or an ExLibrary copy. ** Sometimes grease pencil or permanent marking on cover. May contain limited notes and or highlighting. 100% Satisfaction guaranteed on all purchases. ** SHIPS FROM USA-Domestic Delivery takes 5-14 days ** read more
"In the late 1700s, the world was changing fast. Colonies were becoming nations, industry was altering the landscape, and religious literalism was facing challenges. Fossils were collectors' curios, decorating the drawing rooms of the upper class. But for William Smith, fossils were the key to drawing a map of the land underneath the surface. Winchester moves back and forth in time, highlighting important moments in Smith's life and offering a little speculation to fill in the gaps in the historical record. A good choice for those curious about the history of the study of pre-history."
"A good combination of biography of William Smith; story of the birth of Geology and social history of England circa 1800. Winchester does an excellent job of weaving these elements together with his distinctive and captivating narrative style. The author's own tour of the landscapes decribed help immensly.
My biggest gripe with this book about a map, is, ironically, a lack of maps. Maps placing the locales in context would have helped immeasurably. And for those of us not up on or English counties and unable to tell Lancashire from Linconshire, for God's sake, a map of English counties!"
"I've loved every other Simon Winchester book I've read, so it seemed like a no-brainer to buy this one at the used bookstore. But it never caught me the way the others did. It didn't quite move chronologically, and it seemed like it was leading up to a big event, but then it didn't really. I did get that William Smith was a geology superstar, but there wasn't quite enough about the effects of the map on the birth of modern geology. I'll still read other Simon Winchester books, this one just didn't quite work for me."
"Excellent non-fiction. Winchester doesn't just trace the history of cartography and topography, he shows us how these pursuits led to the birth and development of geology and paleontology, as well as the individual personalities, broader social conventions, and religious beliefs that naturally influenced the development of these natural sciences. Dry, but fascinating!"
We guarantee every item's condition, as described on Alibris. If you are not satisfied that an item is as described, return your purchase for a refund.
rating
