Natural History of Time

Pascal Richet is professor of geophysics at the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris. He is the author of, among other books, The Physical Basis of Thermodynamics. John Venerella is the translator of A Naturalist's Guide to the Tropics, also published by the University of Chicago Press.

"Richet is fascinated by every speculation in the entire history of Western thought that bears upon the question of the earth's antiquity. The wonderful thing is that he succeeds in changing what might have been dry recitation into an almost Dickensian world of characters in conflict and in love." - William Bryant Logan, Globe and Mail "The story of how the age of the earth was determined is a marvelous concatenation of red herrings and presuppositions from which the truth eventually emerges.... I cannot imagine a better attempt at such a broad sweep through science and history.... Richet's natural history is - dare I say it? - timely." - Richard A. Fortey, Times Literary Supplement "Geology and natural science buffs will discover a rich, baroquely embellished birthday cake to dig into and enjoy." - Publishers Weekly"