The one-page diagram of the Geological time scale is great. The book would be so much easier to digest if other such information was displayed on one page (even as an appendix) for the movement of continents around the planet. Similarly for a table of the various events and the dates they occurred in Britain. Trying to keep track of it all from the text is bemusing.

The glossary, too, could be significantly expanded; as it is it's woefully inadequate and seems arbitrary. For example, dolerite is included, but not dolomite. It is far from clear why. Bearing in mind this book is primarily for lay persons it's almost impossible to remember where you last saw the term, say, ophiolite, when you see it again in the text, so you can check its meaning. A more complete glossary would eradicate this problem.

This is a great book. With additions to make it easier to cross-reference terms and events it could be a 'classic' for lay people with an interest in geology

This book delivered. I'm not a geologist, so I can't say whether Peter Toghill incorporated the latest evidence or did justice to the complexities of geological debate that I'm sure exist, but he certainly provided the level of answers that I was looking for.

This is a work that inspired me to read more. What better praise for a self-professed introductiory work!

Each chapter deals with a particular period, and describes what was going on in each region. This means the emphasis is on describing the characteristics of each period rather than on the particular history of one region.

As a geology student (OU s260 this year, hello everyone), I've found this book really useful for getting a handle on the different periods - it does a good job of emphasising and contrasting each period's particular features. I feel I have some understanding of what differentiates the Devonian from the Silurian. I even know how long ago they were!

So why not five stars?

Firstly, the book makes little attempt to explain some of the terms it uses as it goes along. For a beginner, that can make it a bit of a slog at first. Having said that, you soon become used to the language and the second time you read it will be a lot more fun than the first.

Secondly, I'd have liked an additional chapter which gave a summary of the complete geological history of each of the regions. It would be nice to have been able to read in three or four paragraphs an overview of how Scotland happened. I think this would have been quite easy to do, and would have provided some useful broad context for the rest of the book.

Having said all this, the book is very useful, very informative, and packed full of exactly the sort of stuff you're interested in if you're reading a review of a book about Geology anyway!