SKU: 39657104789

The Mountains of Saint Francis: Discovering the Geologic Events That Shaped Our Earth

Sale price$38.24 Regular price$42.49
Save 10%

Pay in installments of $10.62 with ShopPay, AfterPay and Klarna

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Jul 17 - Jul 22

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

The Mountains of Saint Francis: Discovering the Geologic Events That Shaped Our EarthModern geologists, Walter Alvarez among them, showed in the last decades of the twentieth century that the history of our planet has witnessed events profoundly more dramatic than even the most spectacular chapters in human history. More violent than wars, more life altering than revolutions understanding the geologic events that have shaped the Earth's surface is the quest and the passion of geologists. In the knowledgeable and graceful prose of

Modern geologists, Walter Alvarez among them, showed in the last decades of the twentieth century that the history of our planet has witnessed events profoundly more dramatic than even the most spectacular chapters in human history. More violent than wars, more life altering than revolutions--understanding the geologic events that have shaped the Earth's surface is the quest and the passion of geologists. In the knowledgeable and graceful prose of Alvarez, general readers are led to explore the many mysteries that our planet guards.

The author has chosen Italy as a microcosm in which to explore this amazing past for several reasons. First, it is the land where the earliest geologists learned how to read the history of the Earth, written in nature's rock archives. Second, it is where Alvarez and his Italian geological friends have continued to decipher the rock record, uncovering more historical episodes from the Earth's past. And third, the lovely land of Italy is unusually rich in geological treasures and offers examples of the key processes that have created the landscapes of the entire world.

The Mountains of Saint Francis begins in Rome. We discover that the landscape of Rome was built by violent volcanic eruptions in the very recent past, almost certainly witnessed by our human ancestors. Next we travel to Siena and come face to face with a fundamental discovery of the geologists--that much of the dry land that we currently inhabit was once underwater, beneath ancient seas or oceans. Then we stop in the small medieval city of Gubbio and contemplate the amazing secret that the limestone rocks kept hidden for 65 million years--that a huge asteroid smashed into the Earth, disrupting the environment so severely that the dinosaurs, and perhaps half of the other forms of life inhabiting the Earth at the time, disappeared forever, opening the way for the rise of the mammals and eventually of humans.

The impact theory that came from those Italian limestones at Gubbio was one of the great geological discoveries of the twentieth century. Just as important to the field of geology was the theory of plate tectonics--the understanding that the outer layer of the Earth is divided into crustal plates that move around, sometimes carrying continents into collisions with one another, like the great collision between Italy and Europe that built the Alps. And yet, to explain the Mountains of Saint Francis requires something more than a collision between continents. These are mountains that are still jealously guarding the secret of their past, and in this book we go along with the geological detectives as they try to uncover that secret. It is a journey that has seen the land of Italy lifted out of the sea, squashed and folded, torn apart, left high and dry when the Mediterranean Sea evaporated away, and then flooded when the Atlantic waters poured back in.

The story of the Earth's history is fascinating in its own right, but with Alvarez as the tour guide, the journey takes on a human dimension, full of stories about the landscape and history of Italy and about the great geologists who uncovered the deep past of this land. It is a journey recounted in warm tones and subtle colors, reflecting the transcendent beauty of Italy itself.



Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Published: 12/01/2008
ISBN: 9780393061857
Pages: 304
Weight: 1.27lbs
Size: 9.28h x 6.44w x 0.98d

Review Citations: Library Journal Prepub Alert 01/14/2008 pg. 62
Publishers Weekly 05/26/2008 pg. 48
Library Journal 06/15/2008 pg. 88
Kirkus Reviews 06/15/2008 pg. 627
Booklist 07/01/2008 pg. 22
Scitech Book News 12/01/2008 pg. 56
Choice 06/01/2009
Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 39657104789

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.0 ★★★★★
Based on 29 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
S
Verified Purchase
Susan B.
Omaha, US
★★★★★ 4
Not really medium, but a quality pillow nonetheless
Size: Standard (Mid Loft), Number of Items: 1
It is absolutely the case that with this type of product, most people who review it don't actually know what they're talking about. Latex foam pillows are not like any other kind of pillow, so your expectations have to be completely different. It's not about thickness, height, or anything else but comfort. Comfort in this case comes from you choosing the correct level of FIRMNESS. Since each company has their own idea of what constitutes each level, the difficulty is figuring out which one is going to work for you. Your spine - including your neck, should not be anything but straight/aligned when your head sinks in. Regardless of what the pillow LOOKS like, it is how your head lays that matters. Latex foam is not like memory foam AT ALL, so don't expect it to be. LF bounces back immediately when you move off of it, and it can last for a very, very long time with proper care. Yes, it does have a natural, rubber odor. This fades a bit with time, but will never go away. After all, it IS a rubber product. EXPECT A SCENT! To keep yourself from being bothered, and to extend the life of the pillow, use TWO different types of pillow covers. As a first layer, I use one meant for encasement from allergens and bugs. It's waterproof (not vinyl, and not loud). It's the kind that cannot go in the dryer after being washed. The second layer is a simple cotton cover/case that you should wash and dry depending on factors like oil production, frequency in hair washing, and frequency in sheet changing, etc. Using both will dramatically extend the life of the pillow. Water is the enemy. Moisture will cause the foam to break down into pieces. The crumbling is pretty nasty, so avoid it! The case this one comes in is admittedly cheap and pathetic. Not every company has such poor ones, but it won't make a difference if you add the layers I have suggested. *This IS a real latex foam pillow. I have owned enough to know what they smell and feel like. I bought a "medium". I would call it a firm "soft", and so it wasn't for me. Find the right firmness for your neck and sleep needs, and don't blame the damn company for your choice! These ARE the correct height, they smell normal, and the price is average (they're ALL overpriced)! *This does not seem like a completely latex product, but it is close enough that if it were actually medium firmness, I would have kept it.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2025
R
Verified Purchase
Rainy
Birmingham, US
★★★★★ 5
Perfect size, perfect pillow.
Size: Queen (High Loft), Number of Items: 1
For me, This pillow is the be all and end all when it comes to comfort. I simply melt into luxurious sleep. I have had a bad neck since my early 20’s, so a pillow that doesn’t fit me, can break me. I have spent soooo much money on pillows trying to find The One. Foam is the only way to go in that regard. Another aspect about this pillow that is particularly important to me is how well it fits into my satin pillow case, with no room to slide around, or for the material to bunch up. I allowed the pillow to air on a chair for 24 hours before use, but am still getting a slight odor.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2026
A
Verified Purchase
Allyse
New York, US
★★★★★ 3
Medium firmness is too flat
Size: Standard (Mid Loft), Number of Items: 1
I got the medium firmness, and it is much flatter than it appears in the photo. I like the feeling and firmness of it, but the height is too flat and causes my neck to strain. I had to return.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2026
M
Verified Purchase
Melissa Strand
Bozeman, US
★★★★★ 5
Finally, a great pillow!
Size: Standard (Mid Loft), Number of Items: 1
Finally! After so much wasted money on sooooo many pillows, I come across this beauty! This pillow is amazing! I got the medium one, and it’s so perfect. Soft, yet supportive. I’m still surprised at how much I love it!
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2026
R
Verified Purchase
Rene Bechard
Lowell, US
★★★★★ 5
LOVE IT !
Size: Queen (Mid Loft), Number of Items: 1
I love this pillow. It is just right, firm enough yet soft. My head sinks in and is very comfortable. When I lift my head, the pillow bounces right back into shape. If it lasts, I will buy my family each a pillow as it is wonderful. I woke up with zero neck pain as I typically did when using a standard foam pillow. There is a very light scent yet when I covered the pillow with a protector casing and then a cotton case, there was zero scent. I highly recommend. Especially when compared to the comfort of a very expensive latex pillow my husband uses.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2026

recommand products