Oldroyd's panorama is...huge. As the chapters unfold, he conducts us from the creation myths of the ancient world, through the ambitious seventeenth-century theories of the earth, and into the increasing sophistication of the nineteenth century with its national geological surveys, its seismological explorations of the Earth's interior, and its new-found beliefs in periodic desiccation, episodic glaciation and titanic denudation. Finally, we arrive at the present through a nicely concocted account of the evolution of plate-tectonic theory, and the whole delectable edifice is topped off--as might be expected of a chef from 'down under'--with a summary of the history of Warren Carey's ideas on the subject of an expanding Earth. Those familiar with Oldroyd's previous literary offerings might hope to find this new work well laced with philosophical liqueur. I can assure them that their palate will not here suffer disappointment...I found the book easy and enjoyable reading...The publication of Oldroyd's book is an important event. It is the most broadly significant English-language addition to the literature of the history of the Earth sciences since the appearance of the first edition of Geikie's work in 1897. Oldroyd's words deserve to be read--his conclusions deserve to be pondered--by all those desirous of insight into the nature of the geohistorical drama that, over the centuries, we have compiled both for human edification and for human entertainment.

Oldroyd has written a serious and scholarly book that runs through the entire history of major geological ideas...[He adds] new tidbits, details, and pieces of the older literature that have been overlooked (or not included) by Rudwick, Gould, and others. But these are the things that make history interesting, and insights on the history of geology are greatly enriched by this approach. The sections on mountain-building, seismology, and, especially, the Gaia hypothesis, however, are new to the history of geology. Because of this book, these subjects will now be added to the standard lists of topics that are required reading for the 'complete' geologist.

A comprehensive overview--more complete and more broadly philosophical than any other I know--of how peoples from prehistoric times to the present have tried to understand the earth on which we live. The book is well written, highly informative, and displays Oldroyd's muted but distinctly puckish sense of humor.