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Stepping Stones: The Making of Our Home World by Stephen Drury: Used
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Located in: Sparks, Nevada, United States
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Estimated between Thu, 6 Nov and Thu, 13 Nov to 94104
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eBay item number:285014720661
Item specifics
- Condition
- Publication Date
- 1999-09-23
- Pages
- 430
- ISBN
- 9780198502715
About this product
Product Identifiers
Publisher
Oxford University Press, Incorporated
ISBN-10
0198502710
ISBN-13
9780198502715
eBay Product ID (ePID)
1101588
Product Key Features
Book Title
Stepping Stones : the Making of Our Home World
Number of Pages
430 Pages
Language
English
Publication Year
1999
Topic
General, Cosmology, Earth Sciences / General, Life Sciences / Biology
Illustrator
Yes
Genre
Science
Format
Hardcover
Dimensions
Item Height
1.3 in
Item Weight
30.7 Oz
Item Length
9.3 in
Item Width
6.3 in
Additional Product Features
Intended Audience
Trade
LCCN
98-045284
Dewey Edition
21
Dewey Decimal
525
Table Of Content
IntroductionPart 1 - How the world works1. Energy balance sheets3. The essence of life4. Cosmic setting: dancing to ancient tunesPart 2 - Peering into time5. Managing time6. Continents adrift7. The surface of events8. Life, rock, and airPart 3 - Starstuff9. Alchemy in the stars10. Graveyard for comets11. Landscape for lifePart 4 - 'A warm little pond'12. What life is all about13. Genesis and the deuteronomists14. Life's tender yearsPart 5 - Climate, mantle, and life15. Fumes from the engine room16. Continents shape climate17. Icehouse and greenhouse worldsPart 6 - Life's ups and downs19. Armageddon revisited20. Reaching for new horizonsPart 7 - The peoples' planet22. The human record23. All the world's a commodity
Synopsis
Many people know more about the planets Venus and Mars than they do about our home planet, Earth. Unique in our solar system, and so far as we know in the Universe itself, the Earth has been evolving for the past five billion years, and is the result of the dynamic interplay of astronomical, physical, and chemical forces ranging from the vast to the barely perceptible. The evolution of the earth has never been predictable. Life has come very close to being extinguished many times. After each such crisis, the survivors and their genes have diversified and grown in number to exploit all opportunities. Without such traumas it is hardly likely that evolution's pace could have reached its present advanced level; that of conscious life capable of changing the world, contemplating it, and in doing so changing itself at geologically stupendous rates. In Stepping Stones, Stephen Drury explores how such a seemingly fragile world could have been formed and developed. Looking at the astonishing leaps, and near catastrophes that have occurred along the way, intermingled with inexorable but slow change, the book interweaves the evidence from geology, physics, biology, and chemistry, to tell an extraordinary story of the earth's evolution spanning nearly 5 billion years., The Earth has been evolving for the past five billion years, the result of the dynamic interplay of astronomical, physical, and chemical forces that range from the vast to the barely perceptible. Now, in Stepping Stones , Stephen Drury illuminates the processes that have formed the Earth, creating the atmosphere, the oceans, the continents, and life itself. Looking at the astonishing leaps and near catastrophes that have occurred along the way--intermingled with inexorable but slow change--the book interweaves the evidence from geology, physics, biology, and chemistry, to tell an extraordinary story . We discover how the Earth works--the interaction of geothermal and solar energy, the role of the atmosphere, and the impact of tides and rotation. We learn how matter originated in processes in the stars and how it is assembled in planetary systems, and we discover how the Earth came to have a Moon through a giant collision--and its consequences for the evolution of Earth and life. Drury discusses the origin of atmosphere and water by volcanic activity, the paradox of the cold young Sun and the essential role of carbon dioxide in avoiding an ice-bound planet, and he evaluates theories for the origin of life in light of the chemistry of the early Earth. He describes the supercontinents Rodinia and Gondwanaland, the icehouse and greenhouse worlds of the last billion years, the Cambrian explosion of life forms, and finally human origins and evolution. An original and stimulating account of the history of our home planet, Stepping Stones does for the Earth what Carl Sagan did for the cosmos--it offers general readers an illuminating tour of a fascinating and little-known area of science., The Earth has been evolving for the past five billion years, the result of the dynamic interplay of astronomical, physical, and chemical forces that range from the vast to the barely perceptible. Now, in Stepping Stones, Stephen Drury illuminates the processes that have formed the Earth, creating the atmosphere, the oceans, the continents, and life itself. Looking at the astonishing leaps and near catastrophes that have occurred along the way--intermingled with inexorable but slow change--the book interweaves the evidence from geology, physics, biology, and chemistry, to tell an extraordinary story . We discover how the Earth works--the interaction of geothermal and solar energy, the role of the atmosphere, and the impact of tides and rotation. We learn how matter originated in processes in the stars and how it is assembled in planetary systems, and we discover how the Earth came to have a Moon through a giant collision--and its consequences for the evolution of Earth and life. Drury discusses the origin of atmosphere and water by volcanic activity, the paradox of the cold young Sun and the essential role of carbon dioxide in avoiding an ice-bound planet, and he evaluates theories for the origin of life in light of the chemistry of the early Earth. He describes the supercontinents Rodinia and Gondwanaland, the icehouse and greenhouse worlds of the last billion years, the Cambrian explosion of life forms, and finally human origins and evolution. An original and stimulating account of the history of our home planet, Stepping Stones does for the Earth what Carl Sagan did for the cosmos--it offers general readers an illuminating tour of a fascinating and little-known area of science.
LC Classification Number
QB632.D78 1999
Item description from the seller
Seller feedback (543,407)
- e***u (283)- Feedback left by buyer.Past monthVerified purchaseThe listing was for a hardcover version of this book; however, I received a paperback. The Seller replied quickly to my question about this issue and issued a full refund - and let me keep the book. So, a diligent Seller for sure - and well packaged and reasonable timing on shipping. Thank you for the refund, and as you suggested, I'll likely donate this volume and seek the hardcover.
- e***n (392)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseGreat transaction, exactly as described, packed well, and promptly shipped on August 6th. Unfortunately the U.S. Postal Service took 23 calendar days to deliver the book. It was shipped from Pennsylvania, to Atlanta, past Alabama to Texas, enjoyed several days in Texas, then to Minneapolis, Jacksonville, Florida, back to Atlanta, finally to Birmingham, and Huntsville. The seller was very responsive and I decided it was interesting to see if/how the book would arrive. Thanks, Joe
- 0***g (380)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseExcellent purchase. Was able to get all three items from the one seller. Seller was able to bundle all three items together into one package. Items as described and arrived in perfect condition. Good communication around shipping and tracking as items delayed and not able to be delivered by original estimate. Thanks to shipping updates I was able to track the items arriving before the extended delivery time. Thank you for making these items available on EBay.
Seller feedback (543,407)
- e***u (283)- Feedback left by buyer.Past monthVerified purchaseThe listing was for a hardcover version of this book; however, I received a paperback. The Seller replied quickly to my question about this issue and issued a full refund - and let me keep the book. So, a diligent Seller for sure - and well packaged and reasonable timing on shipping. Thank you for the refund, and as you suggested, I'll likely donate this volume and seek the hardcover.
- e***n (392)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseGreat transaction, exactly as described, packed well, and promptly shipped on August 6th. Unfortunately the U.S. Postal Service took 23 calendar days to deliver the book. It was shipped from Pennsylvania, to Atlanta, past Alabama to Texas, enjoyed several days in Texas, then to Minneapolis, Jacksonville, Florida, back to Atlanta, finally to Birmingham, and Huntsville. The seller was very responsive and I decided it was interesting to see if/how the book would arrive. Thanks, Joe
- 0***g (380)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseExcellent purchase. Was able to get all three items from the one seller. Seller was able to bundle all three items together into one package. Items as described and arrived in perfect condition. Good communication around shipping and tracking as items delayed and not able to be delivered by original estimate. Thanks to shipping updates I was able to track the items arriving before the extended delivery time. Thank you for making these items available on EBay.