THE SEASHELL ON THE MOUNTAINTOP A Story of Science, Sainthood, and the Humble Genius Who Discovered a New History of the Earth

The subtitle of this fascinating geological history says it all. In the seventeenth century, priest and scientist Nicholas Steno traveled to Tuscany, where theologians and philosophers had been troubled by the presence of shell fossils on top of hills and mountains throughout the region, far from the sea. Some ideas that predated Steno were that these were rocks that formed like shells and that the great flood of Noah had swept them into place. With early insight into the stratification of the earth's surface, Steno recognized that fossils were at one time living organisms. Paul Hecht gives a smooth, professional narration with a perfect delivery of most of the European languages, as well as the Latin and scientific terms. THIS is the book to listen to when traveling to Italy. B.H.B.
(c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 04]