How old is the Earth? At the end of the nineteenth century, scientists were all looking for a clock that would provide an answer to this, the greatest Time question of all. The Dating Game tells the story of one man's vision of developing a geological timescale, a great vision which lasted fifty years despite scientific opposition, financial hardship and personal tragedy. Arthur Holmes fought to convince The Establishment of an Earth of great antiquity: a fight which eventually transformed the moribund 'art' of geology into a dynamic science.

While writing her doctoral thesis in geology at Bristol U., Lewis became fascinated with the man (pictured) who said in The Age of the Earth (1913): "It is perhaps a little indelicate to ask of our mother Earth her age, but Science acknowledges no shame." Holmes reconciled geological data with new findings from radioactivity.
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"...she has a gripping tale to tell. Holmes's life needs little embellishment...the known age of our planet was gradually pushed out from a few million years to several thousand million years...Holmes was simply ahead of his time. I would recommend it...to anyone who has the slightest interest in how our planet came to be the way it is." John Gribbin, Sunday Times"Science fans will appreciate Lewis's fast-paced biography tracing the evolution of Holmes's genius, the often hostile and sometimes divisive character of the scientific community and the quest to discover the age of the Earth." Publishers Weekly"...The Dating Game is her first book, yet it's already evident that she has found her own voice...The central subject grips from the beginning, and is full of surprises...She tells Holmes's story with just enough physics and geology to set the scientific scene. Holmes was a confident and independent thinker...never afraid to challenge received wisdom...this did not endear him to the establishment..." New Scientist""I have recently obtained a copy of your book and it is really fantastic! In fact I have ordered copies for all my students." Samuel A. Bowring, MIT"...a delightful book which manages very skilfully to combine an account of the history of the age of the earth with a biography of one of the pioneers in the field...I have never read a clearer account of radioactive decay and how it has been used to date rocks." Professor Aubrey Manning, BBV TV presenter of Earth Story"We owe Lewis tremendous thanks ... for her splendid book." /s EOS"A welcome portrait of a gifted British scientist." Nature"Cherry Lewis' description of the twists and turns by which the oldest known rocks in the world came to have their now accepted great age made for a fascinating read..." Robert S. White, Geological Magazine"Lewis's book...provides unique insight into the life and times of a man who was indisputably one of the three most important figures in Earth science of the last century....It makes lively reading and is recommended as an absorbing historical biography." Physics Today"...a delightful and informative biography...We owe Lewis tremendous thanks." Henry Frankel, Department of Philosophy, University of Missouri

"Science fans will appreciate Lewis's fast-paced biography tracing the evolution of Holmes's genius, the often hostile and sometimes divisive character of the scientific community and the quest to discover the age of the Earth." Publishers Weekly"Science fans will appreciate Lewis's fast-paced biography tracing the evolution of Holmes's genius, the often hostile and sometimes divisive character of the scientific community and the quest to discover the age of the Earth." Publishers Weekly"This is a lovely, well-written and informative book that all Earth scientists would enjoy. It balances nicely the scientific and human qualities of a remarkable geologist." The Canadian Mineralogist"...The Dating Game is her first book, yet it's already evident that she has found her own voice...The central subject grips from the beginning, and is full of surprises...She tells Holmes's story with just enough physics and geology to set the scientific scene. Holmes was a confident and independent thinker...never afraid to challenge received wisdom...this did not endear him to the establishment..." New Scientist"It is always a pleasure...to read a really well-written geological biography. Cherry Lewis is to be congratulated not only in producing one such biography, but also in setting forth with commendable lucidity the evolving scientific concepts by which the Earth's dating was achieved." Earth Science History"I have recently obtained a copy of your book and it is really fantastic! In fact I have ordered copies for all my students." Samuel A. Bowring, MIT"...a delightful book which manages very skilfully to combine an account of the history of the age of the earth with a biography of one of the pioneers in the field...I have never read a clearer account of radioactive decay and how it has been used to date rocks." Professor Aubrey Manning, BBV TV presenter of Earth Story"We owe Lewis tremendous thanks ... for her splendid book." /s EOS"A welcome portrait of a gifted British scientist." Nature"it is always a pleasure--and alas, not a common pleasure--to read a really well-written geological biography. Cherry Lewis is to be congratulated not only in producing one such biography, but also in setting forth with commendable lucidity the evolving scientific concepts by which the Earth's dating was achieved." Earth Sciences History

A story of scientific opposition, financial hardship and personal tragedy in the search for the true Age of the Earth.

A story of scientific opposition, financial hardship and personal tragedy in the search for the true Age of the Earth.

Cherry Lewis has had a life-long passion for rocks and fossils. After Drama College and running her own business for several years, she finally decided to indulge her passion and studied geology as a mature student at Bristol University. Her degree was succeeded by a PhD on Tibetan granites and post-doctoral research at University College London, which led to a career in the oil industry. Whilst writing her thesis she discovered the work of Arthur Holmes and became captivated by the man who pioneered the way towards determining the true age of the Earth.

1. Prelude to the game; 2. A brief history of time; 3. Darwin's sorest trouble; 4. Mysterious rays; 5. Doomsday postponed; 6. Holidays in Mozambique; 7. This vegetable prison; 8. A brimful of promise; 9. Liquid gold in Yenangyaung; 10. Durham days; 11. The Ardnamurchan affair; 12. Rewards and retributions; 13. Why does the sun shine?; 14. The age of uranium; 15. The age of the earth; 16. Loose ends; Thanks and acknowledgements; Selected bibliography.