Earth Shock: Hurricanes, Volcanoes, Earthquakes, Tornadoes and Other Forces of Nature

Mixing lively narrative with informative graphics and spectacular photographs, Robinson ( The Shape of the World: The Mapping and Discovery of the Earth ) has produced an absorbing book. He traces the development of our scientific understanding of what causes natural upheavals--from the movement of continents to that of glaciers--as well as traditional cultures' attempts to explain them. A Japanese print, for instance, portrays the mythical catfish believed responsible for earthquakes. He also details attempts to predict and avert disaster; though regarding the success of efforts to tame the great Mississippi, events have overtaken his statement that ``the jury is still out.'' Robinson writes stylishly--``Tornadoes are terrorists, hurricanes lumbering armies''--and in each chapter offers a mix of scientific knowledge, tales of disaster and personal testimony, such as the story of a Kansas farmer who looked into the heart of a tornado. Robinson concludes by musing on the potentially disastrous effects of human intervention in nature, such as global warming; he suggests that avoiding these will require a more complex understanding of the interplay between humans and nature. BOMC and QPB selections. (Oct.)