I’d really like to find a book about the history of the Earth (plate tectonics movement, volcanoes, etc. I can’t remember the term off the top of my head), and/or the evolution of man. Keep in mind that I’m an amateur in this field so most of what I know comes from vague memories of high school science class. The book definitely has to be accessible to the layman. Any suggestions?
Bill Bryson - A Short History of Nearly Everything
This is an elegantly written geologic history of North America. Much heftier book than Bryson’s.
Earth: the Book, by Jon Stewart and the Daily Show. Perhaps not the most accurate of histories, but certainly one of the most entertaining.
Moving thread from IMHO to Cafe Society.
I enjoyed The Earth by Richard Fortey. Probably a bit more scientific and accurate than anything written by Bill Bryson.