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A review by davely
Assembling California by John McPhee
3.0
Finally finished this book. McPhee does a great job talking about the geology of Northern California and the geologic history of California as it came together and grew against the western margin of the North American plate.
Apparently this book is a best seller, but I'm not too sure how exciting of a read it would be to someone who isn't too familiar with geology or even locations in Northern California. I did find his descriptions of ophialite sequences (basically ocean crust material) found in California and Cypress helped lend support to the relatively young theory of plate tectonics.
Towards the end of the book are many unpublished accounts of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, giving a hint of what San Francisco could be in for when the next large temblor decides to strike. Rather intense and humbling.
Apparently this book is a best seller, but I'm not too sure how exciting of a read it would be to someone who isn't too familiar with geology or even locations in Northern California. I did find his descriptions of ophialite sequences (basically ocean crust material) found in California and Cypress helped lend support to the relatively young theory of plate tectonics.
Towards the end of the book are many unpublished accounts of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, giving a hint of what San Francisco could be in for when the next large temblor decides to strike. Rather intense and humbling.