Overview

This book spans a 130-year period, beginning with the early, backbreaking efforts to map the depths during the age of sail; continuing with improvements in research methods spurred by maritime disaster and war; and culminating in the publication of the first map of the world's ocean floor in 1977. The author brings the tale to life by weaving through it the personalities of the scientists and explores who struggled to see the face of the deep. He reveals not only the facts of how the ocean floor was mapped, but also the human dimensions of what the scientists experienced and felt while in the process.

Full Product Details

9780813530284

Table of Contents

Reviews

Lawrence captures the excitement of the new idea, and gives at least a flavour of how great an upset it caused. . . . The book is not merely a good story, but also has messages for science at large. . . . This book is a good read, and raises interesting questions concerning not merely plate tectonics, but the conduct of science in general. * SoC Bulletin * Upheaval from the Abyss is a popular retelling of the emergence of the theory of plate tectonics. It is written in layman's language and tells almost as much about the lives of the major players as it does about the revolution in human knowledge that they achieved. . . . For anyone still not familiar with the multifaceted story of how this discovery came about, I cannot think of a better place to begin. I lived through these times. As a program director then at the National Science Foundation, I worked with many of the key scientists involved. But when I read Upheaval from the Abyss, I still found much that was new to me. -- Edward Davin * Geotimes * Lawrence summarizes a huge amount of information, biographical and scientific, to make this one journey understandable and readable for the average person. . . . He never talks down to his readers. * Post and Courier * Back in 1873àscientists didnÆt even know how deep the oceans were, let alone how they originated, or what made up their floors. The geologists and geophysicists who answered those questions created our modern, plate-tectonic world view. This enjoyable book is their story. * NewScientist.com *

Author Information

David M. Lawrence is a freelance journalist

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available