Fortey is a senior palaeontologist at the Natural History Museum, who with Life: An Unauthorised Biography and The Hidden Landscape has established himself as a preeminent popular science author. Here he shows how the Earth evolved and how geology informs our lives in the most unexpected ways. He ranges widely, from the Alps and Iceland to Hawaii and the San Andreas Fault, with descriptive passages equal to the best travel writers. At the same time his scientific expositions are clear and accessible.
Richard Fortey is a senior paleontologist at the Natural History Museum in London. His previous books include the critically acclaimed LIFE: AN UNAUTHORISED BIOGRAPHY, TRILOBITE! and the prize-winning THE HIDDEN LANDSCAPE. He lives in London.
Praise for Richard Fortey's work:'This is not a book for people who like science books. It is a book for people who love books, and life... [Fortey] has written a wonderful book.' Tim Radford, Guardian'Read this book because it is, indeed, the best natural history of the first four billion years of life on earth.' John Gribbin, Sunday Times'Fortey writes beautifully and this is a wonderful biography of rock and life... He has restored palaeontology to its rightful place in the pantheon.' Lewis Wolpert, Observer'Richard Fortey is a scientist... but his big, rich history of four billion years of evolution is written with an artist's zest for life and language... Anyone who wants to understand how we came to be here on earth, 4,000,000,000 years after life began, should read this sparkling book.' Maggie Gee, Daily Telegraph