Encyclopedia of Geology – Elsevier
This unrivalled, five-volume reference work covers all
aspects of geology including earth history, earth materials, surface processes,
regional geology, economic geology, engineering geology, petroleum geology,
geochemical and mineral exploration, and the history of geology. The techniques
of remote sensing and other tools of investigation that have advanced rapidly
over the last few decades are described in detail.
Encyclopedia of
Geology is divided into nearly 350 articles, each covering one aspect of
geology. Full colour is used throughout the work and articles are heavily
cross-referenced and include further reading lists. The concepts and theory are
explained at a level that allows undergraduates and educated laypeople to
understand them. It will become the reference of choice for today's geologists
and beyond.
What If?s of American History (What If?) by Robert Cowley
An all-American collection of essays on the pivotal moments in our nation's history by award-winning historians, the third in the bestselling series. The 18 contributors to this latest installment of the What If? series are indeed eminent: they include David McCullough, Tom Fleming and Robert Dallek (though series editor Cowley might have found more than one woman for his roster). For historians whose works are bound by facts, there must have been pleasure in letting their imaginations engage instead in speculation, though the "shadow universe" presented here is still rooted in the historical record and reflects back on it. In "Might the Mayflower not have sailed?", for example, Theodore K. Rabb enumerates a series of "strokes of luck" that enabled the Pilgrims to come to America, including Sir Edwin Sandys's propitious takeover of the Virginia Company. And in "What if Watergate Was Still Just an Upscale Address?", Lawrence Malkin and John Stacks wonder what would have happened Nixon hadn't been forced to resign the presidency. Americans would be less cynical, they speculate, and, more surprisingly, the U.S. might have had a national health insurance plan. Other essays ask fascinating questions about the the Civil War and the Cuban missile crisis. A pleasure for history buffs longing to engage in some footloose imagination, this book drives home the fact that even momentous political events can hinge on a few uncontrollable events. Maps and b&w photos. The "what if" concept is one of the most original and engaging on the current history bookshelf. The essays are chock-full of provocative ideas; they are as accessible to the general reader as they are to the scholar; and they are the perfect gift for the dedicated history buff on anyone's list.
One of the best history books for students from intermediate upwards and for those classes that have already studied English in their first, extra year (bilingual secondaries). A fascinating history of the USA from the time of the Amerindians to the culturally diverse but united country of today. Describes all the major events, and concludes with an evaluation of America's impact on the world this century. Makes extensive use of contemporary quotations to examine the contribution made by various people - not all of them famous - to American history.
Speak: A Short History of Languages How does a language come into being, and when does it disappear? What actually happened to Latin? When was English created? Will all people on Earth speak English or Chinese in 200 years from now? These are a few of the questions discussed in A Short History of Languages. It is about how historical conditions shape languages and how languages influence the course of history. The book starts with a discussion of the period of gatherers and hunters, when there was a huge number of languges. It moves on to Greek and Latin, to French and Italian, and naturally includes a full discussion of English. Many other languages are treated, such as Setswana in southern Africa and the Creole language of Nevis in the West Indies. These languages and cultures are presented in a lively way, with concrete examples and sometimes small samples from literary works, such as those of Sappho and Dante. However, no knowledge of other languages than English is presupposed. The author thus presents a cultural history of languages which should be stimulating reading for all those who take an interest in history and/or languages. At the same time, he seeks to find general trends in the rise and spread of languages, and in their relations to states and societies. Several trends are identified, and they are also used to make some predictions about the future. Thus, the book also contains some of the first discussions of a number of intriguing problems in the border area between linguistics and history.
