The Map That Changed the World

 

William Smith and the Birth of Modern Geology

by Simon Winchester (read by the author)

 

Simon Winchester is another one of my go-to authors. I have learned so much about so many things in reading his books.

This book is about a map that was created over 200 years ago, in the very early 1800s. William Smith wandered all over England mapping the geological strata and then recorded his findings on a single full color map. Winchester gives not only the story of the map but a biography of Smith and insight into what was going on in England at the time -- at least as it pertained to what Smith was doing.

 

I like the way Winchester gives us history that goes beyond what we learned in the classroom. There is so much more to the history of mankind than the wars and politics and the biographies of the rich and the powerful -- and Winchester is doing his part to bring these lesser known but still important stories to the forefront.

Four stars.