Mysteries of Planet EarthIn The Mountains of Saint Francis, Walter Alvarez (geology, U. of California-Berkeley) travels the mountains of central Italy and provides us with clues on our planet's very distant past. Alvarez explains the formation of Italy's terrain -- volcanoes that formed the seven hills of Rome; land masses that developed and emerged from under sea, and continental collisions that formed the Alps.
Also by Alvarez, T. Rex and the Crater of Doom, a theoretical work about what caused the extinction of the dinosaurs.
Both books are accessible and page-turner reads for anyone who wants to join us on Team Geology 101. If you're well beyond 101, please do offer constructive comment.
