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Introduction to Physical Geography. Chester R. Longwell and Richard Foster Flint New York, John Wiley and Sons, Inc.; London, Chapman and Hall, Limited. 1955. 432 pages, 306 illustrations. Price $5.00 or £2–0–0.

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 January 2017

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Abstract

Type
Reviews
Copyright
Copyright © International Glaciological Society 1955

This substantial general book on Physical Geology is broadly based. Studies of extrinsic and intrinsic conditions and processes occupy the greater part, but there are useful chapters on methods of work, geological time, geology in industry, and identification of common rocks and minerals. The text is well systematized and written in a direct and instructive manner, and many of the text figures are refreshing in their outlook and clarity. The emphasis is naturally on examples to be seen in North America. The authors have produced a good book for students which is both informative and stimulating, and almost innocent of subjective or traditional dogma.

The chapter on Glaciers and Glaciation occupies twenty pages. It conforms with the general description given above and is therefore modern, realistic and lively in attitude, without going deeply into the subject, thus: “The process of flow deforms the individual ice crystals that compose the glacier, and the ice mass changes from a sedimentary rock into a metamorphic rock” (p. 185).

Experts will probably be critical of some of the generalizations, and references are drastically limited; but the book is not written for experts, and it would be most useful, therefore, to glaciologists who are seeking general information on other subjects. The quality of the letterpress, text figures, paper and general format is excellent, and most of the half-tone illustrations are well produced.