In an earlier post I mentioned Ancient Landscapes of the Colorado Plateau, by Ron Blakey and Wayne Ranney. For this background, see The Coconino Chronicles August 11, 2008.
We were able to attend their lecture on Wednesday night. The book arrived from Amazon on Monday, so the timing was just right.
The book is as good as I thought it would be. You can get a feel for what Ancient Landscapes of the Colorado Plateau is all about on Dr. Blakey's website.
The lecture gave a really helpful overview and Wayne Ranney talked about how the maps are made, which was extremely interesting. The video of the lecture should be available soon onthe Grand Canyon Association website. I will post that update as soon as I get an update.
We've been following Dr. Blakey through his website for a long time. It is great to see the publication of this book. If you want to purchase it, I would highly recommend Amazon.com because the price is so good.
Showing posts with label book. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book. Show all posts
Friday, November 21, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008
A. E. Douglas by George Ernest Webb
Want to learn more about A.E. Douglas and the part he played in establishing Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff? Then you'll want to take a little trip to the library, your favorite used bookstore or Amazon.com to find a copy of Tree Rings and Telescopes: The Scientific Career of A. E. Douglass by George Ernest Webb. In its pages you will find that and much more.
Beginning with the first page of the preface, Webb catches your attention and doesn't let you go until the end of the last chapter, The Final Quest.
The first paragraph begins with, "On March 15, 1960, more than 100 persons gathered on the sun-warmed summit of a southern Arizona mountain to dedicate Kitt Peak National Observatory. From the beginning of the ceremonies, one man gained particular notice. Andrew Ellicott Douglass (1867-1962), ninety-three years old, listened intently to the speakers and carefully explored the site of the largest single collection of astronomical instruments in the United States."
Webb ends with, "Few scientists establish enviable reputations in two fields; fewer still create and entirely new discipline. Douglass's success in achieving both these feats assures his place among the leaders of modern science."
And in the 190 pages in between, he details the career of A. E. Douglass. From Harvard University, to Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, to the University of Arizona in Tucson, Steward Observatory and the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, his impact on the making of science in the Southwest is explored with a sense of wonder and admiration.
This book is well-researched and includes extensive chapter notes and an impressive bibliography. I highly recommend it.
Beginning with the first page of the preface, Webb catches your attention and doesn't let you go until the end of the last chapter, The Final Quest.
The first paragraph begins with, "On March 15, 1960, more than 100 persons gathered on the sun-warmed summit of a southern Arizona mountain to dedicate Kitt Peak National Observatory. From the beginning of the ceremonies, one man gained particular notice. Andrew Ellicott Douglass (1867-1962), ninety-three years old, listened intently to the speakers and carefully explored the site of the largest single collection of astronomical instruments in the United States."
Webb ends with, "Few scientists establish enviable reputations in two fields; fewer still create and entirely new discipline. Douglass's success in achieving both these feats assures his place among the leaders of modern science."
And in the 190 pages in between, he details the career of A. E. Douglass. From Harvard University, to Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, to the University of Arizona in Tucson, Steward Observatory and the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, his impact on the making of science in the Southwest is explored with a sense of wonder and admiration.
This book is well-researched and includes extensive chapter notes and an impressive bibliography. I highly recommend it.
Friday, August 22, 2008
More Wayne Ranney Books
On August 11, 2008 we talked about Ancient Landscapes of the Colorado Plateau by Ron Blakey and Wayne Ranney. Today I want to share information about four other Ranney books:
- Carving Grand Canyon: Evidence, Theories and Mystery
- The Verde Valley: A Geological History
- Canyon Country
- Sedona Through Time: Geology of the Red Rocks
If you're interested, you can find out how to order them at Wayne Ranney. I got mine through Amazon.com.
All are small, but very readable and extremely informative, overviews of the geologic history of these four areas on the Colorado Plateau.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Arizona: A History
How about taking another trip by book? If you're looking for a good, but readable, book on Arizona history, consider Thoma E. Sheridan's Arizona ***A History published in 1995 by The University of Arizona Press.
It is extremely readable, presenting his unique view of the people, politics, corporations and events that shape Arizona history. But, he says that, "This book begins and ends with the natural world . . . nature in Arizona has made its own demands."
His is a very interesting point of view and well worth the time it takes to read this history of Arizona.
It is extremely readable, presenting his unique view of the people, politics, corporations and events that shape Arizona history. But, he says that, "This book begins and ends with the natural world . . . nature in Arizona has made its own demands."
His is a very interesting point of view and well worth the time it takes to read this history of Arizona.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Ancient Landscapes of the Colorado Plateau
Come October, we will be able to hold in our hands the landscapes of hundreds of millions of years of geologic history. Ancient Landscapes of the Colorado Plateau, by Ron Blakey and Wayne Ranney will be published. You can pre-order it at Amazon.com. I already did.
If you're a fan of Ron Blakey at NAU and the amazing maps he makes available to us on the Internet or of Wayne Ranney and his writing about the geologic history of the Sedona, Verde Valley and the Grand Canyon, this new book is a long awaited collaboration.
You can read about Ancient Lanscapes of the Colorado Plateau at The University of Arizona Press or at the Grand Canyon Association.
And there's more, the two authors will be giving a lecture, Tracing the Ancient Landscapes of the Colorado Plateau, as part of the Canyon Country Community Lecture Series. See the details on the website, about the lecture in Prescott on Sunday, November 16, 2008 and in Flagstaff on Wednesday, November 19, 2008.
This is really something to look forward to--one more contribution to our understanding of the Colorado Plateau by these two brilliant geologists.
If you're a fan of Ron Blakey at NAU and the amazing maps he makes available to us on the Internet or of Wayne Ranney and his writing about the geologic history of the Sedona, Verde Valley and the Grand Canyon, this new book is a long awaited collaboration.
You can read about Ancient Lanscapes of the Colorado Plateau at The University of Arizona Press or at the Grand Canyon Association.
And there's more, the two authors will be giving a lecture, Tracing the Ancient Landscapes of the Colorado Plateau, as part of the Canyon Country Community Lecture Series. See the details on the website, about the lecture in Prescott on Sunday, November 16, 2008 and in Flagstaff on Wednesday, November 19, 2008.
This is really something to look forward to--one more contribution to our understanding of the Colorado Plateau by these two brilliant geologists.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Historical Atlas of Arizona
Here on The Coconino Chronicles we're all about taking trips Northern Arizona, many of them related to the history of this beautiful and diverse area. What better tool to help us do our exploration than an atlas? And even better, how about a great historical atlas?
I think the Historical Atlas of Arizona by Henry P. Walker and Don Bufkin is going to prove to be an invaluable asset to our travels. I just got the second edition which was published in 1986 by the University of Oklahoma Press--apparently no updates since then.
It's not a full-color book with all the bells and whistles, just simple black and white. But, I think it is just perfect, very clear, detailed graphics. It includes maps of the early explorers, military posts, the counties and how they have changed over time, federal lands, state lands, railroads and much, much more. Of course some of the statistics about population and such are out of date after more than twenty years, but it contains an enormous amount of historical information in a very concise, usable format.
I think the Historical Atlas of Arizona by Henry P. Walker and Don Bufkin is going to prove to be an invaluable asset to our travels. I just got the second edition which was published in 1986 by the University of Oklahoma Press--apparently no updates since then.
It's not a full-color book with all the bells and whistles, just simple black and white. But, I think it is just perfect, very clear, detailed graphics. It includes maps of the early explorers, military posts, the counties and how they have changed over time, federal lands, state lands, railroads and much, much more. Of course some of the statistics about population and such are out of date after more than twenty years, but it contains an enormous amount of historical information in a very concise, usable format.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Flagstaff: Past & Present
Yesterday, I received my copy of Flagstaff: Past & Present by Richard and Sherry Mangum. I knew that it was going to beautiful, but I didn't expect it to be filled with extensive text, as well as historical and modern photographs that tell the story of Flagstaff.
If you want to get an overview the history of this mountain town, you can't do better than the Magnums' marvelous book.
If you want to get an overview the history of this mountain town, you can't do better than the Magnums' marvelous book.
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