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  • Experts

Nature » The Earth

Most Recommended Books

Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne

“The book has just enough science that it seems real. If you read it as a kid and re-read it as a geologist, you think there are some very interesting things in there. He plays around with certain facts. He comes up with a very interesting theory to explain that it doesn’t get hot as you go deeper underground (which was in vogue at the time), but the book imagines the preservation of prehistoric life in the subsurface and that’s something we’re still looking at. Many of the organisms that we find down there today look to be, from an evolutionary point of view, extremely primitive. The conditions we find them in are very much what the surface of the Earth used to look like, three billion years ago. There is no oxygen and three billion years ago there was very little oxygen on the surface of our planet.”

Tullis Onstott, Environmentalist

Read more

Browse book recommendations:

Nature

  • Animals
  • Bacteria
  • Evolution
  • Nature Writing
  • Oceans
  • Pets
  • Plants, Trees & Flowers
  • Rocks & Minerals
  • The Earth
  • The Prehistoric World
  • The Solar System & Space

We have a wide range of interviews recommending books on the earth, its geology and its history. Andrew Scott, Emeritus Professor of Geology at Royal Holloway in London, chooses his best books on the evolution of the earth.  Gaia Vince, a journalist and an author, chooses her best books on the Anthropocene, explaining what precisely the ‘Anthropocene’ is and why as an outlook (and a selection of books) it's pretty bleak. Caspar Henderson chooses his best books for growing up in the Anthropocene; meanwhile, Adam Maloof looks at Earth history and Simon Winchester explores volcanoes.

Tullis Onstott, professor of geosciences at Princeton, chooses his best books on life below the surface of the Earth. He explores what subsurface life forms tell us about the evolution of our planet and life on the surface, and whether there might be life on Mars. Marine biologist Helen Scales chooses her best books on ocean life and discusses how ocean life is being threatened by man’s predations. Isabel Hilton chooses her best books on China’s environmental crisis, and talks about how the country has been getting more and more polluted since she arrived in the 1970s. But she also explains how environmental degradation in China, already thought to be well under way in the period of Mao, had indeed started over 2,000 years ago.

    Books on the Deep Future, recommended by David Farrier

  • Read
    Books on the Deep Future - The Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction

    1

    The Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction

  • Read
    Books on the Deep Future - The Earth After Us: What Legacy Will Humans Leave in the Rocks? by Jan Zalasiewicz

    2

    The Earth After Us: What Legacy Will Humans Leave in the Rocks?
    by Jan Zalasiewicz

  • Read
    Books on the Deep Future - Corpse Whale by dg nanouk okpik

    3

    Corpse Whale
    by dg nanouk okpik

  • Read
    Books on the Deep Future - Oedipus at Colonus by Sophocles

    4

    Oedipus at Colonus
    by Sophocles

  • Read
    Books on the Deep Future - The Xenotext: Book 1 by Christian Bök

    5

    The Xenotext: Book 1
    by Christian Bök

  • Books on the Deep Future - The Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction
  • Books on the Deep Future - The Earth After Us: What Legacy Will Humans Leave in the Rocks? by Jan Zalasiewicz
  • Books on the Deep Future - Corpse Whale by dg nanouk okpik
  • Books on the Deep Future - Oedipus at Colonus by Sophocles
  • Books on the Deep Future - The Xenotext: Book 1 by Christian Bök

Books on the Deep Future, recommended by David Farrier

What trace of our lives will we leave, and what stories might they tell about us? In Footprints, David Farrier explores how our generation will be remembered in the traces it leaves behind in myths, stories… and the fossil record. Here he talks to Caspar Henderson about books to help reflect on ‘the deep future.’

Books on the Deep Future, recommended by David Farrier

    The best books on Evolution of the Earth, recommended by Andrew Scott

  • Read
    The best books on Evolution of the Earth - The Planet in a Pebble: A journey into Earth's deep history by Jan Zalasiewicz

    1

    The Planet in a Pebble: A journey into Earth's deep history
    by Jan Zalasiewicz

  • Read
    The best books on Evolution of the Earth - Life on a Young Planet: The First Three Billion Years of Evolution on Earth by Andrew H Knoll

    2

    Life on a Young Planet: The First Three Billion Years of Evolution on Earth
    by Andrew H Knoll

  • Read
    The best books on Evolution of the Earth - The Emerald Planet by D J Beerling

    3

    The Emerald Planet
    by D J Beerling

  • Read
    The best books on Evolution of the Earth - Gaining Ground by Jennifer Clack

    4

    Gaining Ground
    by Jennifer Clack

  • Read
    The best books on Evolution of the Earth - The Cradle of Humanity: How the changing landscape of Africa made us so smart by Mark Maslin

    5

    The Cradle of Humanity: How the changing landscape of Africa made us so smart
    by Mark Maslin

  • The best books on Evolution of the Earth - The Planet in a Pebble: A journey into Earth's deep history by Jan Zalasiewicz
  • The best books on Evolution of the Earth - Life on a Young Planet: The First Three Billion Years of Evolution on Earth by Andrew H Knoll
  • The best books on Evolution of the Earth - The Emerald Planet by D J Beerling
  • The best books on Evolution of the Earth - Gaining Ground by Jennifer Clack
  • The best books on Evolution of the Earth - The Cradle of Humanity: How the changing landscape of Africa made us so smart by Mark Maslin

The best books on Evolution of the Earth, recommended by Andrew Scott

How has the Earth changed over time and what role has fire played in those changes? A leading geologist, Andrew Scott, identifies key stages and books to help understand them

The best books on Evolution of the Earth, recommended by Andrew Scott

    The best books on Volcanoes, recommended by David Pyle

  • Read
    The best books on Volcanoes - Campi Phlegraei: Observations on the Volcanos of the Two Sicilies by William Hamilton

    1

    Campi Phlegraei: Observations on the Volcanos of the Two Sicilies
    by William Hamilton

  • Read
    The best books on Volcanoes - Fire Fountains by Constance Gordon Cumming

    2

    Fire Fountains
    by Constance Gordon Cumming

  • Read
    The best books on Volcanoes - Volcanoes by Peter Francis

    3

    Volcanoes
    by Peter Francis

  • Read
    The best books on Volcanoes - Volcano: A Memoir by Yvonne Weekes

    4

    Volcano: A Memoir
    by Yvonne Weekes

  • Read
    The best books on Volcanoes - Volcano Verses by Howard Fergus

    5

    Volcano Verses
    by Howard Fergus

  • The best books on Volcanoes - Campi Phlegraei: Observations on the Volcanos of the Two Sicilies by William Hamilton
  • The best books on Volcanoes - Fire Fountains by Constance Gordon Cumming
  • The best books on Volcanoes - Volcanoes by Peter Francis
  • The best books on Volcanoes - Volcano: A Memoir by Yvonne Weekes
  • The best books on Volcanoes - Volcano Verses by Howard Fergus

The best books on Volcanoes, recommended by David Pyle

Volcanoes not only play a vital role in the Earth’s ecosystem but have fascinated us down the ages. Oxford University volcanologist David Pyle recommends some of his favourite books about volcanoes.

The best books on Volcanoes, recommended by David Pyle

    The best books on Ocean Life, recommended by Helen Scales

  • Read
    The best books on Ocean Life - Lady With a Spear by Eugenie Clark

    1

    Lady With a Spear
    by Eugenie Clark

  • Read
    The best books on Ocean Life - Blueback by Tim Winton

    2

    Blueback
    by Tim Winton

  • Read
    The best books on Ocean Life - The Unnatural History of the Sea by Callum Roberts

    3

    The Unnatural History of the Sea
    by Callum Roberts

  • Read
    The best books on Ocean Life - Four Fish by Paul Greenberg

    4

    Four Fish
    by Paul Greenberg

  • Read
    The best books on Ocean Life - The Rime of the Modern Mariner by Nick Hayes

    5

    The Rime of the Modern Mariner
    by Nick Hayes

  • The best books on Ocean Life - Lady With a Spear by Eugenie Clark
  • The best books on Ocean Life - Blueback by Tim Winton
  • The best books on Ocean Life - The Unnatural History of the Sea by Callum Roberts
  • The best books on Ocean Life - Four Fish by Paul Greenberg
  • The best books on Ocean Life - The Rime of the Modern Mariner by Nick Hayes

The best books on Ocean Life, recommended by Helen Scales

We plunder the ocean for food, dump our waste in it, respect its wildlife less than land-based creatures. Why? Is it a case of “out of sight, out of mind”? Marine biologist Helen Scales tells us what’s down there and what we’re doing to it.

The best books on Ocean Life, recommended by Helen Scales

    The best books on Life Below the Surface of the Earth, recommended by Tullis Onstott

  • Read
    The best books on Life Below the Surface of the Earth - Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne

    1

    Journey to the Centre of the Earth
    by Jules Verne

  • Read
    The best books on Life Below the Surface of the Earth - Intelligent Life in the Universe by Carl Sagan & Iosif Shklovsky

    2

    Intelligent Life in the Universe
    by Carl Sagan & Iosif Shklovsky

  • Read
    The best books on Life Below the Surface of the Earth - The Universe Below by William Broad

    3

    The Universe Below
    by William Broad

  • Read
    The best books on Life Below the Surface of the Earth - A Traveler's Guide to Mars by William Hartmann

    4

    A Traveler's Guide to Mars
    by William Hartmann

  • Read
    The best books on Life Below the Surface of the Earth - The Living Cosmos by Chris Impey

    5

    The Living Cosmos
    by Chris Impey

  • The best books on Life Below the Surface of the Earth - Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne
  • The best books on Life Below the Surface of the Earth - Intelligent Life in the Universe by Carl Sagan & Iosif Shklovsky
  • The best books on Life Below the Surface of the Earth - The Universe Below by William Broad
  • The best books on Life Below the Surface of the Earth - A Traveler's Guide to Mars by William Hartmann
  • The best books on Life Below the Surface of the Earth - The Living Cosmos by Chris Impey

The best books on Life Below the Surface of the Earth, recommended by Tullis Onstott

The ‘subterranaut’ describes how the discovery of ancient bacteria miles beneath the Earth’s surface opens the possibility of finding life on Mars. He picks five books that show how our knowledge of life deep in this planet could lead us to discover it elsewhere.

The best books on Life Below the Surface of the Earth, recommended by Tullis Onstott

    The best books on The Anthropocene, recommended by Gaia Vince

  • Read
    The best books on The Anthropocene - Field Notes From a Catastrophe: Man, nature and climate change by Elizabeth Kolbert

    1

    Field Notes From a Catastrophe: Man, nature and climate change
    by Elizabeth Kolbert

  • Read
    The best books on The Anthropocene - When The Rivers Run Dry: Journeys into the heart of the world's water crisis by Fred Pearce

    2

    When The Rivers Run Dry: Journeys into the heart of the world's water crisis
    by Fred Pearce

  • Read
    The best books on The Anthropocene - Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams & Mark Carwardine

    3

    Last Chance to See
    by Douglas Adams & Mark Carwardine

  • Read
    The best books on The Anthropocene - The End of Nature by Bill McKibben

    4

    The End of Nature
    by Bill McKibben

  • Read
    The best books on The Anthropocene - Our Dying Planet: An ecologist's view of the crisis we face by Peter Sale

    5

    Our Dying Planet: An ecologist's view of the crisis we face
    by Peter Sale

  • The best books on The Anthropocene - Field Notes From a Catastrophe: Man, nature and climate change by Elizabeth Kolbert
  • The best books on The Anthropocene - When The Rivers Run Dry: Journeys into the heart of the world's water crisis by Fred Pearce
  • The best books on The Anthropocene - Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams & Mark Carwardine
  • The best books on The Anthropocene - The End of Nature by Bill McKibben
  • The best books on The Anthropocene - Our Dying Planet: An ecologist's view of the crisis we face by Peter Sale

The best books on The Anthropocene, recommended by Gaia Vince

In 2015 Gaia Vince became the first woman to win the Royal Society’s science book of the year prize for her book, Adventures in the Anthropocene. She spent two years on the road investigating how communities across the world are coping with climate change. Here, she shares the five best books on climate change and the Anthropocene – the geological epoch of man.

The best books on The Anthropocene, recommended by Gaia Vince

    The Best Books for Growing up in the Anthropocene, recommended by Caspar Henderson

  • Read
    The Best Books for Growing up in the Anthropocene - Natural History by Pliny the Elder

    1

    Natural History
    by Pliny the Elder

  • Read
    The Best Books for Growing up in the Anthropocene - The Descent of Man by Charles Darwin

    2

    The Descent of Man
    by Charles Darwin

  • Read
    The Best Books for Growing up in the Anthropocene - The Deep: The Extraordinary Creatures of the Abyss by Claire Nouvian

    3

    The Deep: The Extraordinary Creatures of the Abyss
    by Claire Nouvian

  • Read
    The Best Books for Growing up in the Anthropocene - Storms of my Grandchildren by James Hanson

    4

    Storms of my Grandchildren
    by James Hanson

  • Read
    The Best Books for Growing up in the Anthropocene - The Techno-Human Condition by Braden Allenby and Daniel Sarewitz

    5

    The Techno-Human Condition
    by Braden Allenby and Daniel Sarewitz

  • The Best Books for Growing up in the Anthropocene - Natural History by Pliny the Elder
  • The Best Books for Growing up in the Anthropocene - The Descent of Man by Charles Darwin
  • The Best Books for Growing up in the Anthropocene - The Deep: The Extraordinary Creatures of the Abyss by Claire Nouvian
  • The Best Books for Growing up in the Anthropocene - Storms of my Grandchildren by James Hanson
  • The Best Books for Growing up in the Anthropocene - The Techno-Human Condition by Braden Allenby and Daniel Sarewitz

The Best Books for Growing up in the Anthropocene, recommended by Caspar Henderson

Welcome to life in the Anthropocene, a new epoch in the history of life where the impact of humanity on the Earth system is so great, we need a new term for it. Author and journalist Caspar Henderson offers a rich reading list to help ourselves and our children grow up in the Anthropocene.

The Best Books for Growing up in the Anthropocene, recommended by Caspar Henderson

    The best books on China’s Environmental Crisis, recommended by Isabel Hilton

  • Read
    The best books on China’s Environmental Crisis - The River Runs Black by Elizabeth Economy

    1

    The River Runs Black
    by Elizabeth Economy

  • Read
    The best books on China’s Environmental Crisis - Mao's War Against Nature by Judith Shapiro

    2

    Mao's War Against Nature
    by Judith Shapiro

  • Read
    The best books on China’s Environmental Crisis - The Retreat of the Elephants by Mark Elvin

    3

    The Retreat of the Elephants
    by Mark Elvin

  • Read
    The best books on China’s Environmental Crisis - Wolf Totem by Jiang Rong

    4

    Wolf Totem
    by Jiang Rong

  • Read
    The best books on China’s Environmental Crisis - China's Water Crisis (Voices of Asia) by Ma Jun

    5

    China's Water Crisis (Voices of Asia)
    by Ma Jun

  • Read
    The best books on China’s Environmental Crisis - Hungry Ghosts by Jasper Becker

    6

    Hungry Ghosts
    by Jasper Becker

  • The best books on China’s Environmental Crisis - The River Runs Black by Elizabeth Economy
  • The best books on China’s Environmental Crisis - Mao's War Against Nature by Judith Shapiro
  • The best books on China’s Environmental Crisis - The Retreat of the Elephants by Mark Elvin
  • The best books on China’s Environmental Crisis - Wolf Totem by Jiang Rong
  • The best books on China’s Environmental Crisis - China's Water Crisis (Voices of Asia) by Ma Jun
  • The best books on China’s Environmental Crisis - Hungry Ghosts by Jasper Becker

The best books on China’s Environmental Crisis, recommended by Isabel Hilton

Editor of the website China Dialogue, Isabel Hilton says the evidence of environmental disaster in China is dramatic. She discusses six of the most influential books on environmentalism in China.

The best books on China’s Environmental Crisis, recommended by Isabel Hilton

    The best books on Volcanoes, recommended by Simon Winchester

  • Read
    The best books on Volcanoes - Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne

    1

    Journey to the Centre of the Earth
    by Jules Verne

  • Read
    The best books on Volcanoes - The Last Days of Pompeii by E Bulwer Lytton

    2

    The Last Days of Pompeii
    by E Bulwer Lytton

  • Read
    The best books on Volcanoes - The Crater by James Fenimore Cooper

    3

    The Crater
    by James Fenimore Cooper

  • Read
    The best books on Volcanoes - The Violins of St Jacques by Patrick Leigh Fermor

    4

    The Violins of St Jacques
    by Patrick Leigh Fermor

  • Read
    The best books on Volcanoes - Twenty-One Balloons by William Pène du Bois

    5

    Twenty-One Balloons
    by William Pène du Bois

  • The best books on Volcanoes - Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne
  • The best books on Volcanoes - The Last Days of Pompeii by E Bulwer Lytton
  • The best books on Volcanoes - The Crater by James Fenimore Cooper
  • The best books on Volcanoes - The Violins of St Jacques by Patrick Leigh Fermor
  • The best books on Volcanoes - Twenty-One Balloons by William Pène du Bois

The best books on Volcanoes, recommended by Simon Winchester

The respected author and veteran journalist gives illuminating interview on volcanic eruptions. Discusses wonderful literary works from authors including Jules Vernes, Edward Lytton and Paddy Leigh Fermor

The best books on Volcanoes, recommended by Simon Winchester

    The best books on Earth History, recommended by Adam Maloof

  • Read
    The best books on Earth History - The Sheltering Desert by Henno Martin

    1

    The Sheltering Desert
    by Henno Martin

  • Read
    The best books on Earth History - On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin & James Costa

    2

    On the Origin of Species
    by Charles Darwin & James Costa

  • Read
    The best books on Earth History - Cosmicomics by Italo Calvino

    3

    Cosmicomics
    by Italo Calvino

  • Read
    The best books on Earth History - Rare Earth by Peter Ward and Don Brownlee

    4

    Rare Earth
    by Peter Ward and Don Brownlee

  • Read
    The best books on Earth History - Chaos by James Gleick

    5

    Chaos
    by James Gleick

  • The best books on Earth History - The Sheltering Desert by Henno Martin
  • The best books on Earth History - On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin & James Costa
  • The best books on Earth History - Cosmicomics by Italo Calvino
  • The best books on Earth History - Rare Earth by Peter Ward and Don Brownlee
  • The best books on Earth History - Chaos by James Gleick

The best books on Earth History, recommended by Adam Maloof

Just as no one can study political science without a basic understanding of human history, or study a modern animal without a basic understanding of evolution, so no one can understand climate change without understanding the Earth’s history, argues the Princeton geology professor.

The best books on Earth History, recommended by Adam Maloof

About

We ask experts to recommend the five best books in their subject and explain their selection in an interview.

This site has an archive of more than one thousand seven hundred interviews, or eight thousand book recommendations. We publish at least two new interviews per week.

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