Jamie Woodward: A Little History of the Earth book launch
Find out about our planet’s fascinating past and the science which has shaped how we think about it.
Jamie Woodward is Professor of Physical Geography at the University of Manchester. His recent research has explored microplastic pollution in the rivers around Manchester, but he is also concerned with the processes that have shaped our world over millions of years of geological time.
A Little History of the Earth, part of the best-selling Yale University Press series ‘Little Histories’, is his most ambitious writing project to date. Jamie is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and of the British Society for Geomorphology.
A Little History of the Earth recounts our planet’s fascinating past and the science which has shaped how we think about it. Taking us from the formation of the Solar System, the evolution of our atmosphere and oceans, and the first signs of life, through to dinosaurs, mammals, and the eventual arrival of humans, Woodward shows us the full span of Earth history, from deep time to the Anthropocene. Along the way, we learn about the major breakthroughs of the pioneering researchers, such as James Hutton and Mary Anning, who have unearthed our planet’s secrets.
‘A breezy and brilliant waltz through the history of Earth. Accessible and authoritative, A Little History of the Earth covers 4.54 billion years of history in 40 punchy chapters. If you’re short on time but want to appreciate the big-picture history of our planet, let Jamie Woodward be your guide.’
Steve Brusatte, University of Edinburgh palaeontologist and New York Times/Sunday Times bestselling author of The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs
‘A wonderful introduction to our planet’s past, and what makes the Earth so special. Pocket-sized, but bursting with big, mind-blowing ideas!’
Lewis Dartnell, author of Origins: How the Earth Shaped Human History