Product Description

The world around us is made up of an extraordinary range of constantly changing landscape. Using an innovative visual approach, "Earth" provides a perspective on our planet's apparently infinite range of natural features and the system of interlinking forces that formed and continue to change them. At the core of the book is a series of visual catalogues of more than 400 of the most impressive, beautiful, or unusual places on Earth - from the Colorado River to the Atacama Desert, from the rainforets of Indonesia to the Antarctic Ice-sheet. These inspiring inventories of real phenomena are combined with explanations of the processes that have shaped our planet over its 4.6 billion years of turbulent history.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #302645 in Books
• Published on: 2003-10-02
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 520 pages

Review
The Times 06/12/03 Excels in presentation has superb photographs and graphics that speak eloquently about the world's diversity, with easy to absorb information on ecology, geology and geography. Times Educational Supplement 26/09/03 This is a sensuous book. Some books appeal only to the intellect but this is a delight for the senses as well. Every page pleases the eye .it is a triumph of graphic art, even the finger tips are stimulated Dorling Kindersley is renowned for it's high production values, and this book is a classic. Adults and child, teacher and pupil, will find this a source of endless delight.

About the Author
Douglas Palmer is a lecturer at Cambridge University. Robert Dinwiddie is a trained oceanographer and a professional science writer. Clint Twist is an author and journalist and former museum consultant. Martin Walters is an editor on the World Wildlife Fund's People and Plants series and the author of may natural history publications. The Smithsonian Institution is the largest museum complex in the world.

Customer Reviews

Simply STUNNING !
I have just received my copy of this book and am simply amazed by the content. It covers everything from our place in the Universe to specific examples of a rock type.

This book is worth the price simply for the stunning photographs, full marks to the picture editor!

This book will provide hours of pleasure to anyone remotely interested in our wonderful planet.

A stupendous compendium of human knowledge
What impresses most about this book is not so much the encyclopaedic coverage of all things natural, but the superb presentation which frankly surpasses anything Microsoft can put on a DVD. I thought I had seen most of the world's best natural photography, but there are many superb new shots in this book and the accompanying texts are concise and to the point. A real revelation, particularly if, like me, you grew up with the bone dry text books of the 1970s. If I had to criticise, I would say that it's an imposing book physically, which makes it slightly awkward to sit down and read comfortably for more than half an hour or so. Other than that, well worth the price.

A whole world of information
When I was young I had a book called "50 facts about the earth" and found it fascinating. Earth answers all those childhood questions of the wonders of the world. It guides you through every imaginable effect of nature, from cloud formation to erupting volcanoes.

Being from DK, the imagery and illustrations (it uses a combination of photographs and diagrams) are outstanding, and the accompanying information is both in-depth, informative yet simple and easy to absorb.

This book makes a great reference book to have on the shelf or would be a superb gift for anyone interested in our world.