An absolutely fascinating book and one that is perfectly suited to audio version. I'm not particularly interested in geology but the story of William Smith, as told by Simon Winchester, is full of as much drama and intrique, humor and pathos as a novel! In addition, there are wonderful details about English society, and science, in the late 1700s.

The author also manages the rare task of doing an excellent job of reading his own book!

This is the unabridged cassette version, 6 tapes, 9.5 hours running time.

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This book is a must-read for anyone with an interest in biology or geology, because it lays out the historical foundation upon which later scientific discoveries (such as Darwin's theory of evolution) are based. The story is interesting on its own merits, so it will also appeal to those without a science background, and you don't need to be a science geek to appreciate the story. This is a revealing look at the theological battle between the creationist dogma and scientific theories of the early 19th century, as well as the British social and class structures of the time.

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