Timefulness

oeThis succinct and engaging book covers the history of Earth from its birth some 4.5 billion years ago to the problem of human-induced climate change. Bjornerud (TM)s message is that we need to understand geological time to appreciate and deal with the impact we are having on our planet. Simon Lamb, author of Devil in the Mountain: A Search for the Origin of the Andes oeThis book is a masterpiece of superb writing and accurate, up-to-date science. It places modern climate change in a geological context and makes an eloquent plea for action. Timefulness is one of the best science books I have ever read. James Lawrence Powell, author of Four Revolutions in the Earth Sciences: From Heresy to Truth oeA passionate and timely plea for the urgency of geo-literacy. David R. Montgomery, author of Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations and Growing a Revolution: Bringing Our Soil Back to Life oeBjornerud gives lyrical voice to the rocks that tell the story of our wondrous planet. Engaging and eloquent, Timefulness reminds us that the present is only a link between past and future, a reality too often forgotten in the modern world (TM)s obsession with the here and now. Ruth DeFries, author of The Big Ratchet: How Humanity Thrives in the Face of Natural Crisis Marcia Bjornerud (TM)s book tells the story of the deep history of Earth, a history that (TM)s been punctuated by cataclysmic and unfathomable violence. Oddly, I found comfort in learning about the processes by which this little ball of rock has evolved into a habitable planet and, despite our best efforts, will continue to be so for billions of years to come. ---Stephen Sparks, co-owner of Point Reyes Books, Literary Hub Bjornerud (TM)s lucid writing gives geology an energy it rarely has in popular imagination, with just enough warm autobiographical moments to make a personal connection. In both content and prose, she skillfully makes the case that this sort of knowledge (even using the what more than the how) offers us great opportunity to think about our contemporary situation, particularly regarding climate change. ---Justin Cober-Lake, Englewood Review of Books We need to understand the Earth more intimately than ever now, Bjornerud argues, as we change it in unprecedented ways (a fact that only becomes more terrifying the more you know about Earth (TM)s long history). A more grounded view of time zooming out and looking at the Earth (TM)s entire life thus far from a remove practically begs for saner, longer term decision-making for the future. And this perspective is something we can only get from acquainting ourselves with geology, Bjornerud posits, because ~fathoming deep time is arguably geology (TM)s single greatest contribution to humanity. (TM) ---Chelsea Leu, Bay Nature [Timefulness] is an antidote to the new climate report (not to mention raging fires and floods around the world) that seems bereft of hope for humanity (TM)s future. . . . Bjornerud argues that if we all can change the way we view our world and our place in it, adopting an approach grounded in ~timefulness, (TM) we (TM)ll be able to create a more sustainable future not just for ourselves and the next generation but for many generations to come. ---Sarah Rothbard, Z 3calo Public Square Bored? Anxious? Busy? Try considering time as a geologist would in segments of years, or hundreds of years. Understanding the rhythm and pace of the planet we live on is what Bjornerud calls ~timefulness. (TM) It all seems unfathomable, until we begin to fathom it and realize that thinking on this scale might be the only way we can truly understand (and save) the world. ---Emily Temple, Literary Hub It is always a challenge to make geology accessible to a popular audience, but Timefulness is never impenetrable and is sparing in its use of jargon. New Scientist readers will have little difficulty following the heartfelt narrative. Bjornerud (TM)s book is a manifesto for humanity but on a very long timescale. ---Mick O'Hare, New Scientist With Timefulness . . . [Bjornerud] delivers a brisk biography of Earth. Aside from charting the rise of mountains and the transformation of the atmosphere, she shows us why given an uncertain future taking the long view is more critical than ever before. ---Matt Huston, Psychology Today Timefulness is a delightful and interesting read. The author (TM)s cadence and the illustrator (TM)s aforementioned figures made me feel as though I was having a glass of wine with a friend who was explaining geologic history while sketching on a napkin. ---David R. Wunsch, Science [Timefulness is] a profound meditation on the richness, depth and entanglements of geologic time . . . elegantly condensing the landmark tomes of geology, from James Hutton (TM)s Theory of the Earth . . . to John McPhee (TM)s Annals of the Former World. ---Robert M. Thorson, Wall Street Journal In this trenchant study, Bjornerud calls for a new geological literacy to instill deeper knowledge of planetary rhythms and processes. ---Barbara Kiser, Nature Finalist for the 2018 Los Angeles Times Book Prize in Science & Technology Winner of the 2019 PROSE Award in Popular Science & Popular Mathematics, Association of American Publishers One of EcoLit Books' Best Environmental Books of 2018 Longlisted for the 2019 PEN/E.O. Wilson Prize for Literary Science Writing Award, PEN American Center Clear, well-paced, [and] witty. ---John Wilson, First Things One of the most important books of recent times. ---Marcus Smith, host, BYU Radio's Constant Wonder Timefulness is a charmer and makes a strong case for thinking like Bjornerud. ---Heather Smith, Sierra