--- product_id: 250373452 title: "A Brief History of Earth: Four Billion Years in Eight Chapters" price: "VT1973" currency: VUV in_stock: true reviews_count: 8 url: https://www.desertcart.vu/products/250373452-a-brief-history-of-earth-four-billion-years-in-eight store_origin: VU region: Vanuatu --- # A Brief History of Earth: Four Billion Years in Eight Chapters **Price:** VT1973 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** A Brief History of Earth: Four Billion Years in Eight Chapters - **How much does it cost?** VT1973 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.vu](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/250373452-a-brief-history-of-earth-four-billion-years-in-eight) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description desertcart.com: A Brief History of Earth: Four Billion Years in Eight Chapters (Audible Audio Edition): Andrew H. Knoll, Tom Parks, Mariner: Audible Books & Originals Review: Important topic, brilliantly written - This is perhaps the best popular science book I have read in the past 5 years. The topic, the links between the evolution of earth's geology and biosphere, is one that has not been often covered, the writing is clear and the style (for me, at least) is very congenial. Some might regard this as very basic, while others find it dense and overladen with facts. However, the author, an expert in this subject (with a long career at Harvard to his credit), does a remarkable job in presenting a complex series of topics. He does so with great brevity with only the minimum of detail needed to construct a coherent picture. The organization of the book, "4 billion years in eight chapters," takes the the form of an elegant sequence of chapters entitled "Chemical Earth," "Physical Earth," "Biological Earth," "Oxygen Earth," "Animal Earth," "Green Earth," "Catastrophic Earth," and "Human Earth." These develop the motivating theme, our existence on earth and the biosphere we depend on is in critical danger. Perhaps to many this message has become dull with repetition, but Andrew Knoll's treatment of it is fresh and convincing. As he quotes Baba Dioum in the Prologue, ""we will conserve only what we love, and we will love only what we understand." "A Brief History of Earth" is a heroic effort by Dr. Knoll to promote a more complete understanding of the planet we live on. Review: Excellent scientific summary - Andrew Knoll's book is an excellent summary of the science and history of life on earth along with the related geological and climate history. There is also an excellent and extensive explanation of evidence to support the theories and conventional beliefs. It was an enjoyable and educational read. The last chapter, while good, left me a bit wanting. I would have liked to see more of a discussion on the various approaches to solving the climate change problem. Climate economists such as Nordhaus and Lonborg advocate an emphasis on research and development as the best bang for the buck in tackling the problem long-term. There is also a good discussion to be had on what is the best type of energy to replace fossil fuel energy. Granted, the focus of the book was earth history and not climate policy. But, it would be good to promote a non-polarized discussion on policy. It's not just about alarmists vs deniers. There are constructive debates to be had on means and methods. ## Images ![A Brief History of Earth: Four Billion Years in Eight Chapters - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/A1MNoEtOjqL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Important topic, brilliantly written *by C***E on October 13, 2021* This is perhaps the best popular science book I have read in the past 5 years. The topic, the links between the evolution of earth's geology and biosphere, is one that has not been often covered, the writing is clear and the style (for me, at least) is very congenial. Some might regard this as very basic, while others find it dense and overladen with facts. However, the author, an expert in this subject (with a long career at Harvard to his credit), does a remarkable job in presenting a complex series of topics. He does so with great brevity with only the minimum of detail needed to construct a coherent picture. The organization of the book, "4 billion years in eight chapters," takes the the form of an elegant sequence of chapters entitled "Chemical Earth," "Physical Earth," "Biological Earth," "Oxygen Earth," "Animal Earth," "Green Earth," "Catastrophic Earth," and "Human Earth." These develop the motivating theme, our existence on earth and the biosphere we depend on is in critical danger. Perhaps to many this message has become dull with repetition, but Andrew Knoll's treatment of it is fresh and convincing. As he quotes Baba Dioum in the Prologue, ""we will conserve only what we love, and we will love only what we understand." "A Brief History of Earth" is a heroic effort by Dr. Knoll to promote a more complete understanding of the planet we live on. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent scientific summary *by K***R on May 10, 2023* Andrew Knoll's book is an excellent summary of the science and history of life on earth along with the related geological and climate history. There is also an excellent and extensive explanation of evidence to support the theories and conventional beliefs. It was an enjoyable and educational read. The last chapter, while good, left me a bit wanting. I would have liked to see more of a discussion on the various approaches to solving the climate change problem. Climate economists such as Nordhaus and Lonborg advocate an emphasis on research and development as the best bang for the buck in tackling the problem long-term. There is also a good discussion to be had on what is the best type of energy to replace fossil fuel energy. Granted, the focus of the book was earth history and not climate policy. But, it would be good to promote a non-polarized discussion on policy. It's not just about alarmists vs deniers. There are constructive debates to be had on means and methods. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ D*** I had fun *by R***S on January 24, 2025* A Brief History of Earth: Four Billion Years in Eight Chapters by Andrew H. Knoll makes me travel through Earth’s geological and biological history, presented in a concise and engaging narrative. The author really distills four billion years of complex processes into an accessible format for both science enthusiasts and general readers (that's me). Vivid storytelling, the emergence of life, and mass extinctions. All content is approachable without oversimplifying. The author shows how past events shape the present and future, particularly in the context of climate change. I learned a lot and want to go deeper into the subject. 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