Earth: Portrait of a Planet, 2e : W. W. Norton College Books

Highlights

Clear and Current

Earth: Portrait of a Planet, Second Edition, is the most accessible, up-to-date introductory geology text available. Professor Marshak’s careful revision is based largely on the suggestions of a team of solicited specialists, further informing the text’s hallmark integration of traditional geologic concepts with significant recent advances. The Second Edition’s seamless incorporation of these advances—earth systems science; theories of plate tectonics; and the study of earth’s history in close connection to the history of life—emphasizes the interconnectedness of geologic phenomena and cycles.

Unrivaled Art Program

The First Edition broke new ground by offering students an art program that is visually appealing as it is pedagogically sound. The elegant, four-color satellite images, two-page synoptic paintings by Gary Hincks, and "What a Geologist Sees" sections—visual renderings of central geologic processes in the text—have been substantially expanded for the Second Edition. In addition, all photographs and figures have been enlarged.

View the sample photos below:

Expanded Pedagogy

In addition to the sizeable student resources offered through ancillary multimedia tools, the Second Edition adds exceptional new in-text pedagogy to clarify and reinforce important concepts. New case studies focus on how humans interact with geology, both negatively and positively, underscoring the text’s attention to contemporary environmental issues. In addition, Gary Hincks’s had added three new mid-chapter spreads—Energy, Mineral Resources, and Oceans and Coasts.

New Coverage of Comparative Planetary Science

The remarkable success of the recent NASA Mars Rover missions is allowing scientists, for the first time, to closely compare the geology of Earth with the geology of another planet. This burgeoning sub-discipline holds great promise in showing us more about our own planet’s history. The Second Edition includes cutting-edge coverage of the most recent scientific study and discovery from the 2004 mission.

Outstanding Print and Multimedia Ancillaries

The Second Edition continues to provide the most engaging and effective instructional support package in the field. The popular animations of geologic processes, ideal both for personal study and for use in lectures, have been substantially expanded, as has the collection of lecture-ready art and photographs. New to this edition are editable PowerPoint lecture outlines, zoomable art, and in-class quizzes written by Stephen Marshak and ideally suited for use with electronic polling systems.

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