I started and finished A Sense of Direction in one evening; I couldn't really stop thinking about it, so I couldn't put it down. I found it...
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David Alt is a trained academic geologist, but he writes many of his books for non-geologists or weekend rock hounds that want to know more. He does not disappoint. His writing style is at times a bit tongue-in-cheek and enjoyably so. Each chapter outlines a section of road and the associated rocks found along these byways. The maps for the chapters are easy to read, although a new edition with more color would help. Accurate description of the geologic origins of the landforms including the High Cascades, Coast Ranges, Willamette valley and the volcanic plateaus of Eastern Oregon are described in detail. Alt's explanation of these processes is readable, clear and detailed but simple enough for the lay reader to sink his/her teeth into. With the fascinating topography of the Beaver State, this is a book to which each Oregon resident should have access, if only for reference on those scenic drives across the landscape.
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Roadside Geology of Oregon (Roadside Geology) by David D Alt
Doug Foster, June 22, 2010
David Alt is a trained academic geologist, but he writes many of his books for non-geologists or weekend rock hounds that want to know more. He does not disappoint. His writing style is at times a bit tongue-in-cheek and enjoyably so. Each chapter outlines a section of road and the associated rocks found along these byways. The maps for the chapters are easy to read, although a new edition with more color would help. Accurate description of the geologic origins of the landforms including the High Cascades, Coast Ranges, Willamette valley and the volcanic plateaus of Eastern Oregon are described in detail. Alt's explanation of these processes is readable, clear and detailed but simple enough for the lay reader to sink his/her teeth into. With the fascinating topography of the Beaver State, this is a book to which each Oregon resident should have access, if only for reference on those scenic drives across the landscape.(3 of 3 readers found this comment helpful)