Turning to Stone

Discovering the Subtle Wisdom of Rocks

De: Marcia Bjornerud

Narrado por: Rebecca Stern

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 Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

"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

A wonderful geological history of our beautiful breathing living planet.

This is no drab geology book reciting names and qualities of rocks, but rather the history of a breathing living planet. I loved how the author blended specifics of her own life with fascinating details of rocks and geological processes around the globe. Excellent book with great narration. Highly recommend!!

a beautiful inclusion!

I love learning geology with a bit of novel aspect! I likely need to read it again due to its complexity. she does a great job of explaining some of the new discoveries in geology and comparing them to human life!

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.

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.

Love for Rock

What stood out for us, was her deep love for the planet and its rocks (like us) while being an accomplished scientist and motivating professor.

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.

Rocks Are Alive

Thank you for writing this thoroughly enjoyable book. The journey you took us on with your family, students, and colleagues was fascinating and relatable.

Rocks are indeed alive!
I never realized Earth rocks owe so much to biology for their many varieties and types. You eloquently described that if one just takes the time to listen and learn to what they’re saying, overtime they reveal their true nature.

I started looking and listening myself over many backpacking trips and hikes through the Sierra Nevada and CO Rockies. Your book opened up the thought that so much wisdom in the rocks is still there for me to discover.

Cheers.

Nice mix of science and personal memoirs. I enjoyed the authors

I enjoyed the authors mixture of her personal memoir along with teaching us some geology,, both basic and more advanced. I also enjoyed her philosophical musings, and her premise that listening to rocks has taught us about the history of the Earth.

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.

Way beyond my expectations

This book is unlike any geology book you'll ever read, a remarkable scientist who takes you with her on a wonderful journey of discovery through deep time. My perpective of my life on this planet is forever changed. This is a book that lives with you long after its closing chapter.