Their origin and significance for climate, life and landscape The importance of rocks for life on Earth is often underestimated, even though they, like plants and wildlife, are an integral part of our natural environment. This new foundational work describes in detail the messages that rocks contain. It therefore focuses not only on a clear and scientifically accurate description of rock types, but above all on a memorable presentation of the formation of common, important, and particularly significant rocks. This allows it to delve deeper than typical rock books, which usually prioritize identification. Written in an accessible style and featuring over 400 color photographs, this book aims not only to firmly establish the geological and contemporary significance of rocks in our collective consciousness, but also to foster their perception as a fundamental component of our natural world as a whole.

312 pages, 439 color photos and illustrations, 3 tables. Hardcover, 29 x 21.5 cm. 2025.