earth sciences

This wonderful little book presents a superficial (if you want string theory or statistical mechanics, look elsewhere) survey of an interesting selection of topics that should interest any curious student, even one considering a career in a "hard" science. It should present no great challenge to the sudent with a year or two of algebra; this is not to imply that the approach is mathematical - it isn't. However, some very basic math is necessary in any book of this kind. This kind of overview should also be useful for the high school or junior college student who wants to know something about the nuts-and-bolts of various careers in the physical sciences: physicist, geologist, chemist, physiologist/biophysicist, biochemist, molecular biologist, astronomer, etc. Even the non-scientist layperson wants to know how and why batteries work, the phases of the moon and tidal influences, and, for just one more example, why nuclear bombs go BOOM in such a big way. The graphs are simple, and clearly labeled, there are many illustrations and photographs, and the authors seem to have tried to avoid "Dick and Jane" demonstrations of principles. If you are curious about the functioning of our universe and the world around you - and want a pleasant introduction to some of the particulars of that world, you will be impressed with the successful treatment shown in this book. I highly recommend it.

This is a interesting book. I am currently enrolled in this class. I am not doing so well in it. It is sort of complicated because the teacher teaches from another book. I would like the instructors to recieve some guidelines according to how the lessons are to be reviewed and the tests should be given from the book instead of tests from other universities with different books and notes.