A review by msgtdameron
Annals of the Former World, by John McPhee
5.0
Annals is one of the finest geological books out there. John McPhees poetic look at such a complicated topic makes for a great read. The best part is, even though this tome is thick, it's an easy read. The style is more poetic than scientific.
This poetic or literary style is much easier to read than most science texts. Because of this the learning is more fun. Also, since the Annals was written as a series of Times Sunday Supplement pieces the actual sections are relatively short. This give the reader time to digest each section. This allows the reader to think about what the story is saying about our country and, by extension, our planet. I am sure that after finishing Annals you will not look at the globe or a map of the U.S. the same.
This poetic or literary style is much easier to read than most science texts. Because of this the learning is more fun. Also, since the Annals was written as a series of Times Sunday Supplement pieces the actual sections are relatively short. This give the reader time to digest each section. This allows the reader to think about what the story is saying about our country and, by extension, our planet. I am sure that after finishing Annals you will not look at the globe or a map of the U.S. the same.