Not being raised in a location where shingle (pebble) beaches are common, the idea of pebble collecting was not one of which I became aware until a few years ago, when I happened upon the 2018 re-issue of Clarence Ellis’ classic 1954 book “The Pebbles on the Beach; A Spotter’s Guide.” I was instantly captivated by the past-time’s delightful combination of gentle contemplativeness, potential for surprises, and connection to natural history.
When I opened up the newly arrived copy of “Rocks, Minerals, and Geology of the Pacific Northwest,” I was not simply surprised but absolutely delighted by the refreshingly clear organization chosen for the book by authors Leslie Moclock and Jacob Selander for this most recent addition to the Timber Press Field Guides series.
For those who, like me, place great value in Oxford University Press’ brilliant Very Short Introductions volumes not only for the consistently high quality of the information they contain but also for their perfectly pocketable size (you’ll never find my beloved old Harris tweed sport coat lacking one in its lower left-hand pocket), I am happy to report that 2016 will see a number of new natural history related titles added to the series’ expanding roster.
Rock hounds rejoice! Without question, 2014 is going to long be known among naturalist history enthusiasts as the year of geology books. Even as the Solstice approached, another new geology-related title arrived on my desk from Bloomsbury: Chris and Helen Pellant’s Rocks and Minerals; A Photographic Field Guide.