SKU: 39657104789

The Mountains of Saint Francis: Discovering the Geologic Events That Shaped Our Earth

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The Mountains of Saint Francis: Discovering the Geologic Events That Shaped Our EarthModern geologists, Walter Alvarez among them, showed in the last decades of the twentieth century that the history of our planet has witnessed events profoundly more dramatic than even the most spectacular chapters in human history. More violent than wars, more life altering than revolutions understanding the geologic events that have shaped the Earth's surface is the quest and the passion of geologists. In the knowledgeable and graceful prose of

Modern geologists, Walter Alvarez among them, showed in the last decades of the twentieth century that the history of our planet has witnessed events profoundly more dramatic than even the most spectacular chapters in human history. More violent than wars, more life altering than revolutions--understanding the geologic events that have shaped the Earth's surface is the quest and the passion of geologists. In the knowledgeable and graceful prose of Alvarez, general readers are led to explore the many mysteries that our planet guards.

The author has chosen Italy as a microcosm in which to explore this amazing past for several reasons. First, it is the land where the earliest geologists learned how to read the history of the Earth, written in nature's rock archives. Second, it is where Alvarez and his Italian geological friends have continued to decipher the rock record, uncovering more historical episodes from the Earth's past. And third, the lovely land of Italy is unusually rich in geological treasures and offers examples of the key processes that have created the landscapes of the entire world.

The Mountains of Saint Francis begins in Rome. We discover that the landscape of Rome was built by violent volcanic eruptions in the very recent past, almost certainly witnessed by our human ancestors. Next we travel to Siena and come face to face with a fundamental discovery of the geologists--that much of the dry land that we currently inhabit was once underwater, beneath ancient seas or oceans. Then we stop in the small medieval city of Gubbio and contemplate the amazing secret that the limestone rocks kept hidden for 65 million years--that a huge asteroid smashed into the Earth, disrupting the environment so severely that the dinosaurs, and perhaps half of the other forms of life inhabiting the Earth at the time, disappeared forever, opening the way for the rise of the mammals and eventually of humans.

The impact theory that came from those Italian limestones at Gubbio was one of the great geological discoveries of the twentieth century. Just as important to the field of geology was the theory of plate tectonics--the understanding that the outer layer of the Earth is divided into crustal plates that move around, sometimes carrying continents into collisions with one another, like the great collision between Italy and Europe that built the Alps. And yet, to explain the Mountains of Saint Francis requires something more than a collision between continents. These are mountains that are still jealously guarding the secret of their past, and in this book we go along with the geological detectives as they try to uncover that secret. It is a journey that has seen the land of Italy lifted out of the sea, squashed and folded, torn apart, left high and dry when the Mediterranean Sea evaporated away, and then flooded when the Atlantic waters poured back in.

The story of the Earth's history is fascinating in its own right, but with Alvarez as the tour guide, the journey takes on a human dimension, full of stories about the landscape and history of Italy and about the great geologists who uncovered the deep past of this land. It is a journey recounted in warm tones and subtle colors, reflecting the transcendent beauty of Italy itself.



Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Published: 12/01/2008
ISBN: 9780393061857
Pages: 304
Weight: 1.27lbs
Size: 9.28h x 6.44w x 0.98d

Review Citations: Library Journal Prepub Alert 01/14/2008 pg. 62
Publishers Weekly 05/26/2008 pg. 48
Library Journal 06/15/2008 pg. 88
Kirkus Reviews 06/15/2008 pg. 627
Booklist 07/01/2008 pg. 22
Scitech Book News 12/01/2008 pg. 56
Choice 06/01/2009
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SKU: 39657104789

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Ryan T
Lake Worth, US
★★★★★ 5
A Harrowing Account of Addiction, Recovery, and Relapse
Format: Hardcover
Greg Pizzoli’s The Watermelon Seed offers a deceptively simple yet profound exploration of addiction, recovery, and relapse. Through the crocodile’s obsessive love for watermelon, his panic upon swallowing a seed mirrors the fear and anxiety of losing control. The cycle of indulgence, dread, and inevitable return to the source of both pleasure and distress reflects the cyclical nature of addiction. Pizzoli’s playful illustrations mask a darker undercurrent: the crocodile knows watermelon may harm him — yet he cannot resist. A chillingly accurate portrait of the addictive mind, wrapped in the guise of a children’s story.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2025
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Lacey Edwards
Fort Morgan, US
★★★★★ 5
My kids love this book
Format: Hardcover
My son and daughter ( 4 and 2 ) LOVE this book. It makes them laugh out loud. It is cute and funny. The pictures are adorable. I have purchased it for several friends kiddos over the year.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2025
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Amazon Customer
Houston, US
★★★★★ 5
Excellent children's book!
Format: Hardcover
Greg Pizzoli's wonderful book, The Watermelon Seed, is a delight for children and adults alike! The whimsical illustrations he creates, keep children glued to each page. It is fun and enjoyable to read over and over again with a child that just has to have it read every single night to them. The story is sweet, simple and meaningful. Whether you are looking for a book for your child, another child or the child in yourself-dive right in. This one is terrific!
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Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2018
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DTom
Draper, US
★★★★★ 4
Cute but
Format: Hardcover
Caution that some children may be alarmed by the crocodile swallowing the watermelon seed. Know your audience. Otherwise a very cute, silly story that is great for a summer read or watermelon theme lesson.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2023
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Flipflop
Charlottesville, US
★★★★★ 5
A Special Education Treasure
Format: Board book
I bought this book with one student in mind. A third grade autistic, non verbal, girl with a love for books, animals and reflective surfaces (windows, puddles, utensils and mirrors to name a few). The bright, cheerful illustration was the immediate interest upon her first look. The engaging fun story kept her attention. The last page captivated her. What a complete joy to watch! She will now say "Wiggle" when she wants this book - several times a day. She follows along with her finger while I read. I do not read the last page. She does that all ON HER OWN! Did I mention non verbal?! I'm purchasing another as a Christmas surprise for her to have at home. I highly recommend this book as a fixture in the classroom for Special Education and Early Learning.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2023

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