Meteorites, Ice, and Antarctica
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle .
Learn more
| |||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details
|
More About the Author
Product Description
Review
Review of the hardback: 'The surface of Antarctica is almost all ice, so anything on that surface must have arrived there somehow - either pushed up by a glacier, fallen off a mountain, or dropped from the heavens … It's the stunning simplicity that makes this book fascinating, and gives the reader the feeling of being there - in the icy tent, on the crunching snow, under the howling gales … Mr Cassidy's relaxed anecdotal view of Antarctic hardships and his wry humor about his colleagues - many of whom could be models of the Nutty Professor - reveal a profound love for his profession, and the skill of a writer of clear, refreshing, unpretentious prose.' Sunday Times (Washington)
Review of the hardback: 'Letting the reader into a scientist's mind, Cassidy takes an experiment from the beginning to the end, interprets his results, and teaches much more than science along the way.' Sky & Telescope
Review of the hardback: 'Cassidy provides an exciting picture of what it's like to be a meteorite hunter on the world's cruelest content …' Natural History
Review of the hardback: 'In Meteorites, Ice, and Antarctica: A Personal Account, Bill Cassidy colorfully recounts his adventures as the founder of ANSMET and its leader over the course of 15 field seasons … the story of how thousands of meteorite specimens came to lie in the world's scientific collections through diligent recovery efforts in the Antarctic is a compelling one, one that warranted telling. and Cassidy, arguably the initiator of this grand enterprise, is the best person to tell it.' Science
Review of the hardback: 'His many anecdotes about Antarctica, meteorites, and life, left me at times literally crying with laughter.' Antarctic Science
Review of the hardback: 'I wish I'd had this book to read when I was sat in my bright orange Scott tent out on the chilly heights of the Antarctic Plateau … Meteorites, Ice, and Antarctica is a lovely blend of science and personal stories that covers the remarkable feat of organizing a yearly two month expedition in deep field camp in Antarctica … he has captured the essence of the expedition from the scientific goals and objectives, to the incredible personal experience of living and working in the harshest environment this planet has to offer. If you have any sort of passing interest in meteorites or the Antarctic then this book will please you … there is plenty to fascinate.' Earth, Moon and Planets
Review of the hardback: 'There is much in this book for both the specialist and the general reader … The book is a must for anyone interested in geological aspects of planetary science.' The Open University Geological Society Journal
Review of the hardback: 'Experience gained from an expedition to Antarctica includes a polar voyage that will delight the most ambitious traveler with a glimpse of a wilderness virtually untouched by humans.' Environmental Geology
Review of the hardback: 'Letting the reader into a scientist's mind, Cassidy takes an experiment from the beginning to the end, interprets his results, and teaches much more than science along the way.' Sky & Telescope
Review of the hardback: 'Cassidy provides an exciting picture of what it's like to be a meteorite hunter on the world's cruelest content …' Natural History
Review of the hardback: 'In Meteorites, Ice, and Antarctica: A Personal Account, Bill Cassidy colorfully recounts his adventures as the founder of ANSMET and its leader over the course of 15 field seasons … the story of how thousands of meteorite specimens came to lie in the world's scientific collections through diligent recovery efforts in the Antarctic is a compelling one, one that warranted telling. and Cassidy, arguably the initiator of this grand enterprise, is the best person to tell it.' Science
Review of the hardback: 'His many anecdotes about Antarctica, meteorites, and life, left me at times literally crying with laughter.' Antarctic Science
Review of the hardback: 'I wish I'd had this book to read when I was sat in my bright orange Scott tent out on the chilly heights of the Antarctic Plateau … Meteorites, Ice, and Antarctica is a lovely blend of science and personal stories that covers the remarkable feat of organizing a yearly two month expedition in deep field camp in Antarctica … he has captured the essence of the expedition from the scientific goals and objectives, to the incredible personal experience of living and working in the harshest environment this planet has to offer. If you have any sort of passing interest in meteorites or the Antarctic then this book will please you … there is plenty to fascinate.' Earth, Moon and Planets
Review of the hardback: 'There is much in this book for both the specialist and the general reader … The book is a must for anyone interested in geological aspects of planetary science.' The Open University Geological Society Journal
Review of the hardback: 'Experience gained from an expedition to Antarctica includes a polar voyage that will delight the most ambitious traveler with a glimpse of a wilderness virtually untouched by humans.' Environmental Geology
Product Description
Bill Cassidy has led meteorite recovery expeditions in the Antarctic for many years. His searches have resulted in the collection of thousands of meteorite specimens from the ice. This fascinating story is a first-hand account of his field experiences on the US Antarctic Search for Meteorites Project, which he carried out as part of an international team of scientists. Cassidy describes this hugely successful field program in Antarctica and its influence on our understanding of the moon, Mars and the asteroid belt. In this 2003 book, he describes the hardships and dangers of fieldwork in a hostile environment, as well as the appreciation he developed for the beauty of the place. In the final chapters he speculates on the results of the trips and the future research they might lead to.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
First Sentence
Antarctica occupies about 9% of the earth's total land surface. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Antarctica occupies about 9% of the earth's total land surface. Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organise and find favourite items. |
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
A specialaist story if ever there was one but this is exceptionally written by the person that was actually there and did it.
Imagine going to a place where the average temperature is -20C and the winds blow at 50mph. Well this guy dis it and he spent his time there collecting rocks that fell onto the ice from space.
It tells you how the whole idea got started and how it happened when it was there. It tells you the history of the rocks they found and their influence on science.
That's great for the pureist but sounds awful for the casual reader but I can catagorically say this is not the case.
That they guy went to antarcitca and experienced it means he has a plethora of anecdotes. They vary from wine to theft to rivalry. Excitement, adventure, life threatening episodes and people getting their tents blown away in the middle of the night.
It's informative for the enthusiast but contains enough to be interesting to those of passing interest.
A good read, with at least a few stories you'll tell to your workmates as jokes that actually happened.
Imagine going to a place where the average temperature is -20C and the winds blow at 50mph. Well this guy dis it and he spent his time there collecting rocks that fell onto the ice from space.
It tells you how the whole idea got started and how it happened when it was there. It tells you the history of the rocks they found and their influence on science.
That's great for the pureist but sounds awful for the casual reader but I can catagorically say this is not the case.
That they guy went to antarcitca and experienced it means he has a plethora of anecdotes. They vary from wine to theft to rivalry. Excitement, adventure, life threatening episodes and people getting their tents blown away in the middle of the night.
It's informative for the enthusiast but contains enough to be interesting to those of passing interest.
A good read, with at least a few stories you'll tell to your workmates as jokes that actually happened.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4 reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
A Masterpiece of Communication!
14 Jun 2004
Format:Hardcover
Meteorites, Ice, and Antarctica is a masterpiece of communication! Few science books teach technical matters and yet leave the reader experiencing only a great adventure and joy of learning. Yet, on every challenging subject (from Antarctic ice meteorite-stranding surfaces and the thrilling finding of the first lunar meteorite, Alan Hills 81005, to the Antarctic Martian meteorites like the now famous Alan Hills 84001 that might or might not include signs of very ancient Martian life), Cassidy amazes and informs the reader by successful teaching. He shares the cold reality of Antarctic winds with the warmth of a father recounting his own youth, around a campfire, or as with colleagues around a bar.
Talk about translating meteorite science into terms of human experience! Under, "THE SOCIOLOGY OF CHONDRITES [A broad class of meteorites]", we gain easy access when Cassidy smilingly speaks of "mixed neighborhoods" and the "melting pot" effect. But a few words do no justice to Cassidy's wonderful analogy. One must read it and smile while learning.
Cassidy neither talks down to his audience nor resorts to jargon just to sound 'scientific'. As a reviewer having read almost every meteorite book published in the English language (with help of the NASA-Goddard library), this one emerges as my favorite because of the clarity of presentation and even its 'salt' of good humor.
The entire book is permeated with an air of open honesty and objectivity. When anyone, including the author, has an unproven idea about, e.g., the origin of certain meteorite parent bodies, it clearly is labeled as such. Readers are encouraged in the valuable lesson of thinking for themselves, and with such evoked pondering, Cassidy applies one of the best learning tools.
So it is that this book is enthusiastically recommended, whether you be an intelligent novice just wanting to learn about meteorites and the origin of our solar system, a wayward wanderer who has glimpsed the majesty of a 'falling star' and wondered how it might be to relieve loose bowels in the Antarctic wind, or whether you are one of Cassidy's fellow scientists desiring to share the adventures of a colleague.
This book is learning at its most pleasurable, an adventure into life as a scientist at the terrestrial climatic extreme, a view into the politics of financing scientific adventures, and, furthermore, just one doggoned wonderful reading experience!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Solar System Leftovers in the Freezer
22 Dec 2004
Format:Hardcover
Meteorites, Ice, and Antarctica by William A. Cassidy is three books in one. The first book is a highly accessible account of ANSMET, the US Antarctic Search for Meteorites program. Part Antarctic adventure story, part exposition on the difficulties of doing scientific research in the late 20th Century, the first part of the book should thrill any interested reader. The second book lays out the spoils of the research, the meteorites - those leftovers from the formation of the solar system and chips off of other planets. This section is much more technical, but Cassidy's writing style and ability to explain makes the second part as readable as the first. The third book brings in statistics to evaluate the scientific worth of the Antarctic meteorite collection and Cassidy speculates on what it all means. Even though this section is clearly aimed at a scientific audience, the interested reader that has made it this far should find this section only slightly harder reading than the previous two. I must confess that my BS in Geosciences helped with part two and three, but even a lay reader with an interest in meteorites and Antarctica should find the entire book well worth the challenge. One of the things I most enjoyed about Cassidy's writing is his ability to inject his geologist's personality throughout the book, even in the sections that could have been as dry as cosmic dust. Most of this book is not for the casual science reader, but those with an active interest in meteorites should find it a welcome addition to their library.
Two books in one.
4 Jun 2010
Format:Hardcover
The first half of the book was a blast to read. It moved right along and was very interesting. The second half of the book is much more technical. It reads more like a tech manual. Still a good read.
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Science & Nature > Astronomy & Cosmology > Astronomy
- Books > Science & Nature > Astronomy & Cosmology > Solar System
- Books > Science & Nature > Chemistry > Geochemistry
- Books > Science & Nature > Chemistry > Mineralogy
- Books > Science & Nature > Earth Sciences & Geography > Geology
- Books > Science & Nature > Engineering & Technology > Aeronautics & Aerospace
- Books > Science & Nature > Mathematics > Popular Maths
- Books > Science & Nature > Nature > Rocks, Minerals & Fossils
- Books > Science & Nature > Physics > Applied Physics > Astrophysics
- Books > Scientific, Technical & Medical > Astronomy & Cosmology > Astronomy
- Books > Scientific, Technical & Medical > Astronomy & Cosmology > Solar System
- Books > Scientific, Technical & Medical > Geology > Geochemistry
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
