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Cargando... The Map That Changed the World: William Smith and the Birth of Modern Geology (2001 original; edición 2009)por Simon Winchester
Información de la obraThe Map That Changed the World: William Smith and the Birth of Modern Geology por Simon Winchester (2001)
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Inscríbete en LibraryThing para averiguar si este libro te gustará. Actualmente no hay Conversaciones sobre este libro. My interest in geology is somewhat limited, but I decided to check this out as I am a Simon Winchester fan. While it lacked the drama of Krakatoa and the wide range of the professor and the madman, it was till an interesting look at an important development and a nice story of the underdog finally triumphing ( ) Biography of William Smith and story of how he compiled the first geological map of England, Wales, and part of Scotland in the early 1800s. Smith was beset by a number of problems in his life. His wife suffered from mental health issues, others took credit for his work, and he ended up in debtor’s prison. The author portrays how Smith’s map served as the beginning of the science of geology. It is a fascinating account of a lesser-known person and event that brings together science and history. I always enjoy Simon Winchester’s writing. it took me three tries to actually be able to listen to this, but this time something finally clicked for me. at least mostly. there is some really interesting history here (about william smith but more so about the history of geology and the way that knowledge and science contradicted the religious assumptions of the time), but this definitely won't appeal to everyone.
Smith was ultimately successful because his ideas were immediately useful, and his map was beautiful as well as reasonably accurate for its era. It taught us to begin to look beneath the surface and see the history of our planet. The publisher of ''The Map That Changed the World'' pays tribute to Smith in the ingenious dust jacket of this book, which unfolds to form a striking reproduction of Smith's map. True, the reader must put aside a familiarity with Smith's discoveries, which have long since become textbook information, and travel back in time to the days when the earth was literally terra incognita. But for those willing to suspend previous knowledge and great expectations, Mr. Winchester tries hard to make this story worth the trip. The genre of scientific biography has gone rather stale over the last year or so, but Winchester's book may well prompt a revival. Listening is akin to hearing an articulate scientist reading a paper to a lay audience. It's an authoritative delivery and an enjoyable experience. Distinciones
In 1793, a canal digger named William Smith made a startling discovery. He found that by tracing the placement of fossils, which he uncovered in his excavations, one could follow layers of rocks as they dipped and rose and fell--clear across England and, indeed, clear across the world--making it possible, for the first time ever, to draw a chart of the hidden underside of the earth. Smith spent twenty-two years piecing together the fragments of this unseen universe to create an epochal and remarkably beautiful hand-painted map. But instead of receiving accolades and honors, he ended up in debtors' prison, the victim of plagiarism, and virtually homeless for ten years more. The Map That Changed the World is a very human tale of endurance and achievement, of one man's dedication in the face of ruin. With a keen eye and thoughtful detail, Simon Winchester unfolds the poignant sacrifice behind this world-changing discovery. No se han encontrado descripciones de biblioteca. |
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Google Books — Cargando... GénerosSistema Decimal Melvil (DDC)550.92Natural sciences and mathematics Earth sciences & geology Geology Biography And HistoryClasificación de la Biblioteca del CongresoValoraciónPromedio:
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