Ian Adams
Well-known member
Teach Yourself Geology by ?David A. Rothery? (2003)
I guess, like so many folk grasped by the underworld of caving, a spark of interest was ignited by the prospect of better understanding the strange environment that had become our adventure?s playground. So many times had I looked upon the abyss and understood (pretty much) nothing of the enchanted wonder that surrounded me. Quite naturally my mind turned towards the science of Geology ?.
I had no illusions that the journey of understanding would be easy. Good job really because it wasn?t. Having selected what I thought to be the easiest and best book to begin my learning, I quickly came to realise just what a vast arena Geology really is. When I suggest it is vast, I mean really vast. Within this planet there is a mathematical probability of over three million unique geological phenomena?s ? and, within this galaxy, there's a mathematical probability of three million more earth-type planets...and in all the universe, three million million galaxies like this one. And in all of that, and perhaps more, I cannot yet properly comprehend the enormity of even the simplest of caves.
So, to the book; by the time I has read through the first section (basic geology and the Earth) I found I had learned two things. Firstly, I realised I now understood much less than I did before I began reading and, secondly, I knew I needed to start again because I could not coagulate the knowledge. The more I repeated this process, the more the jigsaw pieces seemed to fit. On the fourth pass through I came to realise that I was only ever going to achieve a very basic understanding unless I entertained the prospect of becoming a scholar. As much as I was ?bitten? by this fascinating insight, I did not have the time (years) to dedicate to learning involved. Instead, I contented myself with the wealth I had so far achieved ? leaving the book on my shelf (with some companions) as a reference tool. That was many moons ago and I still use it, even today.
I also now understand why the word ?Easy? does not appear in the title.
A tome of discovery.
Ian
I guess, like so many folk grasped by the underworld of caving, a spark of interest was ignited by the prospect of better understanding the strange environment that had become our adventure?s playground. So many times had I looked upon the abyss and understood (pretty much) nothing of the enchanted wonder that surrounded me. Quite naturally my mind turned towards the science of Geology ?.
I had no illusions that the journey of understanding would be easy. Good job really because it wasn?t. Having selected what I thought to be the easiest and best book to begin my learning, I quickly came to realise just what a vast arena Geology really is. When I suggest it is vast, I mean really vast. Within this planet there is a mathematical probability of over three million unique geological phenomena?s ? and, within this galaxy, there's a mathematical probability of three million more earth-type planets...and in all the universe, three million million galaxies like this one. And in all of that, and perhaps more, I cannot yet properly comprehend the enormity of even the simplest of caves.
So, to the book; by the time I has read through the first section (basic geology and the Earth) I found I had learned two things. Firstly, I realised I now understood much less than I did before I began reading and, secondly, I knew I needed to start again because I could not coagulate the knowledge. The more I repeated this process, the more the jigsaw pieces seemed to fit. On the fourth pass through I came to realise that I was only ever going to achieve a very basic understanding unless I entertained the prospect of becoming a scholar. As much as I was ?bitten? by this fascinating insight, I did not have the time (years) to dedicate to learning involved. Instead, I contented myself with the wealth I had so far achieved ? leaving the book on my shelf (with some companions) as a reference tool. That was many moons ago and I still use it, even today.
I also now understand why the word ?Easy? does not appear in the title.
A tome of discovery.
Ian
