This lively book traverses geologic time and delves into the depths of Earth-beginning with meteorites, the oldest known objects in the universe, and concluding... » 

This lively book traverses geologic time and delves into the depths of Earth-beginning with meteorites, the oldest known objects in the universe, and concluding with the unusual microbial life that lives on the chemical and thermal energy produced by sulfide vents in the ocean floor-providing an engaging, up-to-date overview of earth science. By incorporating stories of real-life field work, the authors show how Earth supports civilization and is supported by it; how even the smallest rock can help explain the formation of mountains; and how geologists read nature's clues and interpret Earth's evolving narrative. «