Origins: The Evolution of Continents, Oceans and Life

This is just a lovely book. Wonderful pictures and a fabulous account of the tectonic motion of our world from the Cambrian forward. Worth owning.

Rather by definition, a technical consideration of plate tectonics demands a book of vast expanse, illustration and display. The description of it all necessarily requires a `coffee table' style book to help narrate the story. A stiff book of technical jargon without the magnificence of the observable topology we have everywhere on the planet that point back to the origin will not do. Redfern delivers a technical tour of force that just happens to look like a coffee table book.For Redfern, it seems all sorts of images must be collected, presented and compared with one's personal observation. The perspective reader here will have likely posited the plate tectonics phenomena from experiences all over the globe. If you absolutely must see the coast of North Africa out from an airplane window to consider it's picture puzzle fit with South America, this is the book for you. The notion of drifting islands on a viscous core of the planet is simple to the mind's eye. The reality is far more complicated.I'm a lifelong fossil and rock nut. The grandkids think I'm crazy and after trying to explain it all to them ... it does sound screwy from the Devonian era fossil hunt in a Michigan quarry last year. I tried mightily to provide them a true positioning notion and the story of where they would have been standing and when the earth they stood on was laid down.Origins, I think, is a story to share with the kids.

After getting this book at our library, I got it on Amazon for studying. Redfern's own story is incredible. After retiring from a company he built, he developed a passion for the Grand Canyon and paleogeography, and developed a panoramic technique before digital photography. I learned so much from his Corridors of Time, 1,700,000,000 years of history at the grand canyon, that I searched out his other writings. After writing The Making of a Continent and doing a pbs series on it, and before winning the American Geological Institute's award for educator of the general public (http://www.agiweb.org/news/spot_01oct03_RedfernAward.htm), Keebler offered to fund a team of his choosing to make this gorgeous and informative book about how geology and biology influenced each other and led to the world we live in today. His mentor, professor Christopher Scotese, is the top paleogeographer/animator in the world, so the information presented is totally trustworthy and labeled speculative when that is what it is. Now I am studying it, and it is fascinating not just to know that Pangea happened, but which pieces collided in what order, and how, and what the consequences were. He was able to fly all over the world to photograph the places he was referring to, and short summary chapters with gorgeous photos are interspersed with detailed in-depth essays. If I were on a desert island, this is the one book that could keep me immersed.

Well described integration of tectonic plate movement, with earth science, geology, and multicellular life forms. I was astounded at the level of detail in the text. Most books and courses cover one of these sciences but they are unsatisfactory in that you question where, how, why and when does the physical environment correlate with the evolution of life forms and changing climate and continental drift. The photos are a beautiful bonus but this is more a textbook than a coffee table book. Only problem is that it is heavy.

As a tour of Earth's geological history, with forays into the rise and development of various lifeforms, climates, even ocean currents, the sheer breadth of this work is stunning. The depth of knowledge displayed is almost encyclopedic. This book is a self contained, abbreviated History of the Earth.All that before the photographs, which grace almost a third of the pages, and the author is quite a photographer. There are also numerous illustrations of plants and animals and paleo-maps illustrating changes in the shape and position of the worlds major landforms through time.If I have one criticism of the book, it's the odd form of the text. There are two parallel explanations ongoing, one abbreviated, the other in more depth, and therefore redundant. More oddly, they're intercut and overlapping, so in order to continue reading the reader must page ahead, read, then return to where they left off.Still, it's a beautiful and fascinating book and a sweeping tour of the Earth's history. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Although I'm a scientist and I love the outdoors, I had only a rudimentary knowledge of geology/earth sciences before reading this book. Origins interweaves the history of the earth's continents, climate, and the evolution of life, and explains with clarity how they are interconnected. A running theme is that change has been, and will remain, a hallmark of our planet. Continents move. Ice advances and retreats. And life is always adapting.The issue of man-made climate change is touched upon, but Redfern's primary goal is to elucidate the inevitable longer-term forces at play. For instance, it is nearly certain that Earth will re-enter a glacial period within the next couple of thousand years -- a tiny time frame by geological standards.But, what makes this book truly compelling is the photography. The author utilizes dramatic landscape (and ice-scape) photography to tell the story of Earth's history. Origins serves as a non-technical science book AND a beautiful piece of art for the coffee table.And, no, I have no connection to the author. I'm just very impressed with this book.

It is clear that Ron Redfern has not only an amazing grasp of the several scientific fields of knowledge integrated in this multi-level masterpiece, but also a style of presentation which allows a reader of almost any degree of interest to enjoy the content to the maximum.Quite apart from the two levels of text - the scientific and the general interest - the supreme quality of the panoramic photography, again at two levels - technological and artistic - adds another dimension to the enjoyment of the reader.If I have one criticism it is that it's too heavy to take to bed!This must be a "must buy" for every learning institution and student's Christmas stocking.

The best study of how the earth was formed, super photography and fascinating script brilliant

This book is brilliant, I have been looking for a big picture view of the geological development of the British Isles and this book provides it in language I understand supported by some stunning photographs.

The book is nice and pictures amazing. definitely high quality publication.but if you buy it for reading....I find it uncomfortable due to weight and size.also there is glare on the pages if the light is not perfect due to the glossy pages

I've read several geology and origin of earth books but this one is exceptional. Most of those I've read were more tech heavy - which I don't mind - but this one with its photos and diagrams makes so much more sink in. Astonishing that Mr Redfern is neither a professional geologist nor full time 'science writer', his grasp of the facts is entire and his writing style clear.The fact it was published in 2000 should not put you off - a few details may be superseded, but that's the way with every geology book - so much is still to discover and there are conflicting opinions on much of it.I doubt there will be another print book like it - it costs too much to print a long full colour book unless sales are certain. Buy it before it becomes a collector's item!