ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Reviews → Book Reviews

Book review: ‘A Dictionary of Geology and Earth Sciences (4 ed.)’

Mihai AndreibyMihai Andrei
May 7, 2015
in Book Reviews
A A
If you buy something that we link, we may earn a commission. See our product review guidelines and affiliate disclaimer.
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

“A Dictionary of Geology and Earth Sciences”
By Michael Allaby
Oxford, 672pp | Buy on Amazon

oxford

Confession time: I’ve previously never owned a geology dictionary. I know, I know, I was that guy – always taking something from the University library, borrowing from my colleagues or looking for stuff online. Mea culpa – but then again, I never had access to something like this dictionary from Oxford.

In all honesty, physical dictionaries aren’t the hottest things on the shelves nowadays; you can find pretty much every general information you can want online, Wikipedia is a godsend for students worldwide, and the internet has a whole has revolutionized the way we share this type of information. If this dictionary had that kind of info, I’d be writing a negative review right now. But it doesn’t.

The first good sign was that the first time I picked it up, instead of browsing it for five minutes as intended, I spent more than half an hour on it. It just makes you jump from one thing to the other … and to the other. It’s organized, it’s well written, and it’s attractive – a rare feature in dictionaries – but the thing which really sets it apart is the shear amount of quality information.

It’s the kind of information you just can’t find on Wikipedia, and that pretty much says it all. It has good references, additional links, and solid explanations. The information isn’t overly simplified and it isn’t necessarily easy to digest, but I’d consider that a plus – the book is aimed at geologists or people studying geology, people who know what they’re looking for or at least are willing to get their hands dirty and go the extra mile; this is what makes it useful, the fact that the information inside is so niched and so top tier, it’s just useful. Yeah, I’ll say it: it made me regret I haven’t picked up a dictionary earlier!

So all in all, if you’re studying for a geology exam, if you want to go deeper into some specific topics, or if you want to have a reliable tool to use whenever you’re in need of a concise explanation – this dictionary is the way to go. It’s broad, it covers all the subjects I could think of, and it’s top notch info.

RelatedPosts

Oldest material on Earth is stardust found in meteorite
Working memory: the mind’s “toss it” chair
Strange, Unexplainable Clouds Hover over Mars
Recycling smartphones: yes, it’s a thing. Here’s what you need to know

ShareTweetShare
Mihai Andrei

Mihai Andrei

Dr. Andrei Mihai is a geophysicist and founder of ZME Science. He has a Ph.D. in geophysics and archaeology and has completed courses from prestigious universities (with programs ranging from climate and astronomy to chemistry and geology). He is passionate about making research more accessible to everyone and communicating news and features to a broad audience.

Related Posts

Health

Your gut has a secret weapon against ‘forever chemicals’: microbes

byMihai Andrei
8 hours ago
News

High IQ People Are Strikingly Better at Forecasting the Future

byTibi Puiu
8 hours ago
Health

Newborns Feel Pain Long Before They Can Understand It

byTudor Tarita
9 hours ago
News

Cheese Before Bed Might Actually Be Giving You Nightmares

byTudor Tarita
9 hours ago

Recent news

Your gut has a secret weapon against ‘forever chemicals’: microbes

July 3, 2025

High IQ People Are Strikingly Better at Forecasting the Future

July 3, 2025

Newborns Feel Pain Long Before They Can Understand It

July 3, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.