Turning to Stone
Discovering the Subtle Wisdom of Rocks
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Turning to Stone
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Narrated by:
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Rebecca Stern
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By:
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Marcia Bjornerud
About this listen
Earth is vibrantly alive and full of wisdom for those who learn to listen.
Earth has been reinventing itself for more than four billion years, keeping a record of its experiments in the form of rocks. Yet most of us live our lives on the planet with no idea of its extraordinary history, unable to interpret the language of the rocks that surround us. Geologist Marcia Bjornerud believes that our lives can be enriched by understanding our heritage on this old and creative planet.
Contrary to their reputation, rocks have eventful lives—and they intersect with our own in surprising ways. In Turning to Stone, Bjornerud reveals how rocks are the hidden infrastructure that keep the planet functioning, from sandstone aquifers purifying the water we drink to basalt formations slowly regulating global climate.
Bjornerud’s life as a geologist has coincided with an extraordinary period of discovery in the geosciences. From an insular girlhood in rural Wisconsin, she found her way to an unlikely career studying mountains in remote parts of the world and witnessed the emergence of a new understanding of the Earth as an animate system of rock, air, water and life. We are all, most fundamentally, Earthlings and we can find existential meaning and enduring wisdom in stone.
A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books.
©2024 Marcia Bjornerud (P)2024 Macmillan AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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Critic reviews
"Marcia Bjornerud masterfully weaves together the story of her own life and that of the Earth's long, often tumultuous history. “Turning to Stone” is a beautiful book—at once intimate and sweeping, informative and moving."—Elizabeth Kolbert, author of Under a White Sky
“This lyrical, wise book will change your relationship to the living Earth. Marcia Bjornerud offers a nuanced celebration of the languages of stone, from the subtle whispers of sand grains to the delightfully complex inner lives of mountains disclosed by eroding outcrops. Her careful attention not only reveals unexpected stories of stone, but teaches us what it means to be boundlessly curious and caring about our world and one another.”—David George Haskell, author of Sounds Wild and Broken
"Marcia Bjornerud has done it again! With flowing grace, technical mastery, and poetic insight, she takes us on a geological odyssey across the vastness of deep time and to the literal ends of the Earth. Turning to Stone interweaves the profound testimony of ancient rocks—granite, basalt, sandstone, and flint—with her inspiring personal journey from curious youth to avid student, from struggling junior faculty member to master field geologist and revered educator. In the process, we share in the eventful, poignant life journey of a gifted scientist who has gained the expertise and nurtured the passion to share astonishing stories of Earth in a unique and timeless book."—Robert Hazen, author of The Story of Earth
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What a Trip (but to where?)
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By: Thomas Campbell
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The Selfish Gene
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- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 8,929
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 7,544
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Richard Dawkins' brilliant reformulation of the theory of natural selection has the rare distinction of having provoked as much excitement and interest outside the scientific community as within it. His theories have helped change the whole nature of the study of social biology, and have forced thousands to rethink their beliefs about life.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Better than print!
- By J. D. May on 07-31-12
By: Richard Dawkins
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How the Earth Works
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- Narrated by: Michael E. Wysession
- Length: 24 hrs and 31 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,723
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,505
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How the Earth Works takes you on an astonishing journey through time and space. In 48 lectures, you will look at what went into making our planet - from the big bang, to the formation of the solar system, to the subsequent evolution of Earth.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent course
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Chemistry and Our Universe
- How It All Works
- By: Ron B. Davis, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Ron B. Davis
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 411
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Chemistry and Our Universe: How It All Works is your in-depth introduction to this vital field, taught through 60 engaging half-hour lectures that are suitable for any background or none at all. Covering a year’s worth of introductory general chemistry at the college level, plus intriguing topics that are rarely discussed in the classroom, this amazingly comprehensive course requires nothing more advanced than high-school math. Your guide is Professor Ron B. Davis, Jr., a research chemist and award-winning teacher at Georgetown University.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Great Professor, Hard to Follow.
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Letters from an Astrophysicist
- By: Neil deGrasse Tyson
- Narrated by: Neil deGrasse Tyson, Vikas Adam, Piper Goodeve, and others
- Length: 5 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,132
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 1,842
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,824
Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson has attracted one of the world’s largest online followings with his fascinating, widely accessible insights into science and our universe. Now, Tyson invites us to go behind the scenes of his public fame by unveiling his candid correspondence with people across the globe who have sought him out in search of answers. In this hand-picked collection of 100 letters, Tyson draws upon cosmic perspectives to address a vast array of questions about science, faith, philosophy, life, and of course, Pluto.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Dear Neil...
- By Tina G. on 10-14-19
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Brain Energy
- A Revolutionary Breakthrough in Understanding Mental Health—and Improving Treatment for Anxiety, Depression, OCD, PTSD, and More
- By: Christopher M. Palmer MD
- Narrated by: Christopher M. Palmer MD
- Length: 12 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,153
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,009
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,005
We are in the midst of a global mental health crisis, and mental illnesses are on the rise. But what causes mental illness? And why are mental health problems so hard to treat? Drawing on decades of research, Harvard psychiatrist Dr. Chris Palmer outlines a revolutionary new understanding that for the first time unites our existing knowledge about mental illness within a single framework: mental disorders are metabolic disorders of the brain. Brain Energy will transform the field of mental health, and the lives of countless people around the world.
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1 out of 5 stars
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Arguing brain health theory to medical profession
- By Maya H Saric on 03-10-23
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Welcome to the Universe
- An Astrophysical Tour
- By: Michael A. Strauss, J. Richard Gott, Neil deGrasse Tyson
- Narrated by: Michael Butler Murray
- Length: 17 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,371
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,210
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,205
Welcome to the Universe is a personal guided tour of the cosmos by three of today's leading astrophysicists. Inspired by the enormously popular introductory astronomy course that Neil deGrasse Tyson, Michael A. Strauss, and J. Richard Gott taught together at Princeton, this book covers it all - from planets, stars, and galaxies to black holes, wormholes, and time travel.
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3 out of 5 stars
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All About What We Know About the Universe - ALL
- By J.B. on 02-17-17
By: Michael A. Strauss, and others
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Napoleon's Hemorrhoids…And Other Small Events That Changed History
- By: Phil Mason
- Narrated by: LJ Ganser
- Length: 8 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 1,196
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 1,061
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 1,057
Hilarious, fascinating, and a roller coaster of dizzying, historical what-ifs, Napoleon's Hemorrhoids is a potpourri for serious historians and casual history buffs. In one of Phil Mason's many revelations, you'll learn that Communist jets were two minutes away from opening fire on American planes during the Cuban missile crisis, when they had to turn back as they were running out of fuel. You'll discover that before the Battle of Waterloo, Napoleon's painful hemorrhoids prevented him from mounting his horse to survey the battlefield.
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3 out of 5 stars
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They just throw the facts too fast
- By Concerned_llama on 12-11-20
By: Phil Mason
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Plant Science: An Introduction to Botany
- By: Catherine Kleier, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Catherine Kleier
- Length: 12 hrs and 13 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 754
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 647
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 638
Dr. Catherine Kleier invites us to open our eyes to the phenomenal world of plant life and to the process she calls “Natura Revelata”, the joy of celebrating and learning from the secrets of nature. As Dr. Kleier shares her knowledge with contagious excitement for her subject, she emphasizes the middle ground: Instead of focusing on cell microbiology or the study of ecosystems and habitats, she stresses the basic biology, function, and the amazing adaptations of the plants we see all around us.
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2 out of 5 stars
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Needs accompanying documentation and visual aides
- By Ryan on 04-04-19
By: Catherine Kleier, and others
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Cosmic Queries
- StarTalk’s Guide to Who We Are, How We Got Here, and Where We’re Going
- By: James Trefil, Lindsey N. Walker - editor, Neil deGrasse Tyson
- Narrated by: Neil deGrasse Tyson, Lauren Fortgang
- Length: 6 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 894
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 762
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 755
In this illuminating audiobook, Tyson and coauthor James Trefil, a renowned physicist and science popularizer, take on the big questions that humanity has been posing for millennia - How did life begin? What is our place in the universe? Are we alone? - and provide answers based on the most current data, observations, and theories.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Not worth it
- By Daniel Earl on 03-15-21
By: James Trefil, and others
-
Reentry
- SpaceX, Elon Musk, and the Reusable Rockets That Launched a Second Space Age
- By: Eric Berger
- Narrated by: Rob Shapiro
- Length: 12 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 221
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 206
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 206
From launchpad explosions to a pernicious cricket infestation to the demanding management style of Musk himself, the rise of SpaceX was beset with challenges and far from inevitable. Find out how the startup beat the odds and flew high enough to outpace their rivals... and where they're going next.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Just phenomenal
- By Everyday Guy on 11-17-24
By: Eric Berger
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The Quantum Universe
- (And Why Anything That Can Happen, Does)
- By: Brian Cox, Jeff Forshaw
- Narrated by: Samuel West
- Length: 8 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 102
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 91
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 90
In The Quantum Universe, Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw approach the world of quantum mechanics in the same way they did in Why Does E=mc2? and make fundamental scientific principles accessible - and fascinating - to everyone.The subatomic realm has a reputation for weirdness, spawning any number of profound misunderstandings, journeys into Eastern mysticism, and woolly pronouncements on the interconnectedness of all things. Cox and Forshaw's contention? There is no need for quantum mechanics to be viewed this way.
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1 out of 5 stars
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Not suitable as an audio book
- By SPN on 03-29-22
By: Brian Cox, and others
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Random Geology Verbose History Jumbled Tours
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What listeners say about Turning to Stone
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jean M.
- 11-21-24
Rocks Rock!
What a wonderful way to learn about geology. Blending the human evolution of the author with the skeletal armature of the earth made for a very interesting read and learning process. A great book! Especially if you live in the Midwest.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- dkh5
- 10-31-24
Amazing coalescence of the life of rocks and a human life.
I learned a lot about rocks but mostly liked reading about the intellectual and personal development of this brilliant scientist.
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- F Shaw
- 09-17-24
Very unusual book by a profound writer
The word I keep thinking of is profound. Marcia Bjornerud sees the long long river of time we exist in. She gives me some acceptance of the state of the world we are in. Nothing stays the same ever. She is a skilled writer, pulling together strands of geology, philosophy, politics, memoir, literature, even thrift store shopping. It is the kind of book many people will love because it contains, as Walt Whitman said, multitudes. It is also a very personal book.
The scientific geological terms can get confusing. It helps to listen over again in bursts. But it doesn't really matter for the point of this book. And I did learn a LOT about rocks. And even more about humility and gratitude for what is.
The reader is wonderful.
I will read this again and recommend it to lots of friends.
Thank you Marcia Bjornerud.
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- kerry
- 11-22-24
Fantastic book that combines great geology with powerful insights.
I liked every minute of Turning To Stone. The author’s intelligence, humor, and wisdom are inspiring, and to also increase my knowledge and love for geology is a real treat. I will return to it many times.
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