Foundations of Earth Science

This textbook offers a user-friendly overview of our physical environment, placing a particular emphasis on readability, with clear, example-driven explanations.

This brief, paperback version of the best-selling Earth Science by Lutgens and Tarbuck is designed for introductory courses in Earth science. It's a highly visual, non-technical survey with broad, up-to-date coverage of basic topics and principles in geology, oceanography, meteorology, and astronomy. As in previous editions, the main focus in this textbook is to increase your understanding of basic Earth science principles.

16 chapter format offers readers essentials of geology, oceanography, and astronomy in a paperback format. Astronomy coverage is condensed to two chapters; meterology is covered in four chapters versus five in the big textbook.

Fred Lutgens and Ed Tarbuck have been good friends and colleagues since 1970.  Between them, they have more than 57 years of experience teaching geology to undergraduates, and both have been recognized with awards as excellent and inspiring professors.  They share a special interest in introducing geology to beginning students and a belief in the value of field experiences for students of all levels.

Lutgens and Tarbuck published their first college text, Earth Science , in 1976.  That book, winner of the McGuffy Award from the Text and Academic Authors Association, is now going into its tenth edition.  In 1983, as the first edition of Earth was being prepared, gifted geology illustrator Dennis Tasa joined the author team.  Since then the three have collaborated on more than twenty projects.  Not only do Tarbuck, Lutgens, and Tasa work well together creatively; they also enjoy spending time in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains near Tasa’s New Mexico studio.

Tarbuck enjoys downhill skiing in Colorado, fly fishing near his childhood home in Northern Minnesota, and spending time in the Cascades.  Lutgens is an avid runner, and when he can make the time, truly enjoys hiking the canyons of the Colorado Plateau.  Although Lutgens and Tarbuck think alike on many issues, they don’t agree on everything.  Lutgens is devoted to jazz and classical music, whereas Tarbuck prefers pop artists or a good country station.

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.