Review by Choice Review
This volume is the third installment in a trilogy by expert geologist and paleoecologist Johnson (emer., Williams College) on the Gulf of California region. Offered as a series of hikes or "rambles" around Baja California, the text elucidates the regional history as recorded in sediments, ancient reefs, and rock and explains how climatic factors contribute to physical features. Anyone with the sensibilities of a naturalist will find this book appealing. Crafting an engaging narrative and drawing on decades of teaching in the field, Johnson makes sense of a jumbled landscape and relates that understanding to how planetary forces operate in the Gulf and across the Pacific. Learning to "read the rocks" is a skill available to anyone, says Johnson, and well-informed local observations can increase knowledge of climate worldwide. Such observation, he believes, can help people understand planet Earth and come to terms with humanity's role as an agent of change. A comprehensive index, a glossary of geologic terms, and extensive chapter notes enrich the text, as do the many photographs, maps, and other graphic materials. This book of regional geology illustrates the impact of planetary-scale climate change on local landscapes, making a useful addition to geology and climate-related collections. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers. --Alison Scott Ricker, Oberlin College
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
