"THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF EARTH: A COMPLETE VISUAL GUIDE," by Michael Allaby, Robert Coenraads, Stephen Hutchinson, Karen McGee, John O'Byrne, Ken Rubin, University of California Press, $39.95

Just in time for holiday gift-giving, this beautifully photographed and illustrated coffee-table book offers something for browsers as well as readers who want more in-depth study.

Written by international scientists and other experts for the respected University of California Press, this guide has an authoritative text, yet it is easy to understand.

The encyclopedia begins with the scientific theories of the history of the universe and ends with today's critical conservation issues.

The 608-page volume is divided into six stunning sections: Birth — the overview of the Earth's history, including the evolution of life; Fire — the inner workings of the planet and the tectonic forces that molded the Earth; Land — the survey of rocks, minerals and habitats; Air — weather, including extremes such as tornadoes and hurricanes; Water — a tour of oceans, rives and lakes; and Humans — a portrait of man's relationship with the Earth and how social and political developments shape it.

Among the features emphasizing that this is, indeed, a visual guide are gorgeous landscape photography, detailed illustrations and diagrams, maps, charts, scientific and conservation data, "fact files" with easy-to-find information and "heritage boxes" on key conservation issues.

It has 1,700 color illustrations/photographs, 200 line illustrations and 1,000 maps. Included among the thousands of visual elements are aerial shots of Hurricane Katrina and sandstorms in Egypt and the Sahara, satellite images of phytoplankton bloom off the Irish coast and color photographs of Qaanaaq, Greenland's most northerly town.

— Angelyn N. Hutchinson,
Deseret News