--- product_id: 6493875 title: "Rough-Hewn Land: A Geologic Journey from California to the Rocky Mountains" price: "161.26 DT" currency: TND in_stock: true reviews_count: 9 url: https://www.desertcart.tn/products/6493875-rough-hewn-land-a-geologic-journey-from-california-to-rocky store_origin: TN region: Tunisia --- # Detailed diagrams & photos GPS coordinates for field trips 1000-mile geologic journey Rough-Hewn Land: A Geologic Journey from California to the Rocky Mountains **Price:** 161.26 DT **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > 🌄 Unlock the Earth’s secrets from coast to peaks — don’t just read geology, experience it! ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Rough-Hewn Land: A Geologic Journey from California to the Rocky Mountains - **How much does it cost?** 161.26 DT with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.tn](https://www.desertcart.tn/products/6493875-rough-hewn-land-a-geologic-journey-from-california-to-rocky) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **Expert-Led Narrative:** Written by a professional geologist blending science with captivating human history. - • **Visual Learning Powerhouse:** Richly illustrated with photos and block diagrams to decode complex geologic processes. - • **Field-Ready GPS Coordinates:** Pinpoint exact outcrops and plan your own immersive geology adventure. - • **Epic 1000-Mile Geological Trek:** Traverse California to the Rockies through 100+ million years of Earth’s history. - • **Modern Plate Tectonics Insights:** Explore cutting-edge theories reshaping our understanding of the American West’s geology. ## Overview Rough-Hewn Land offers a compelling, expert-driven exploration of the western US geology, combining a 1000-mile field journey with vivid illustrations and GPS-guided outcrop locations. It uniquely blends deep scientific insight with engaging historical narratives, making it an essential read for geology enthusiasts and professionals alike. ## Description “Unfold a map of North America,” Keith Heyer Meldahl writes, “and the first thing to grab your eye is the bold shift between the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains.” In this absorbing book, Meldahl takes readers on a 1000-mile-long field trip back through more than 100 million years of deep time to explore America’s most spectacular and scientifically intriguing landscapes. He places us on the outcrops, rock hammer in hand, to examine the evidence for how these rough-hewn lands came to be. We see California and its gold assembled from pieces of old ocean floor and the relentless movements of the Earth’s tectonic plates. We witness the birth of the Rockies. And we investigate the violent earthquakes that continue to shape the region today. Into the West’s geologic story, Meldahl also weaves its human history. As we follow the adventures of John C. Frémont, Mark Twain, the Donner party, and other historic characters, we learn how geologic forces have shaped human experience in the past and how they direct the fate of the West today. Review: Brilliant trip west through the rocks! - When it comes to books written about geology for a general audience there is only one definitive classic: Annals of the Former World by John McPhee. It's hard to imagine that anything could really improve upon the classic, but I think Rough-Hewn Land has in many ways added to McPhee's geological chronicle across the western portion of I-80 and is a worthy companion piece. For a complete history of the assembling of California to the exhumation of the Rockies you can't go wrong with either of these books, but there are a few key differences: The first key difference between Rough-Hewn Land and the Annals, is that Rough-Hewn Land has been written by a professional geologist, that is intimate with the geology of the western United States. McPhee uses his unique narrative style to essentially relate a very detailed interview/tour guide of a local expert. Medahl on the other hand is the expert, so his story is more coherent and complete. He also is better at relating how plate tectonics controls the dramatic landscapes of the American west. I was worried that Medahl's prose would be somewhat dry considering that he is a professor after all, but I was pleasantly surprised that his writing is not only very readable but it is also quite enjoyable. There was even a bit of humor in his writing, that is if you find geologist “humor” to be funny (Beer cans are used at one point to illustrate a concept). And if the geology bores the reader Medahl has included some asides into the regional histories like the California gold rush and why the geology of Utah doomed the Donner Party long before they got to the infamous pass named in their honor. However, it does lack the amateur enthusiasm of the McPhee's books. Medahl like most geologist is quite passionate about his subject, but it's not the kind of enthusiasm of a first discovery. Another major difference between the Annals and Rough-Hewn Land is that Medahl has peppered pictures and block diagrams to help illustrate the more complicated bits. Geology is a very visual sort of science and without a diagram or picture it's hard to visualize what the author is talking about. The Annals completely lacks diagrams of any kind, making it more difficult to truly understand what's going on for the uninitiated. This is a big plus in favor for Rough-Hewn Land. Another huge factor in favor for Rough-Hewn Land is an appendix that list many of the outcrops complete with GPS coordinates that Medahl visited when putting this book together. So it's possible to construct a field trip along I-80 to get a first hand look at the geology. Plate tectonics also plays a much bigger part in Rough-Hewn Land. This isn't necessarily a fault of the Annals so much as it is a matter of time. Since Annals has been written our understanding of the plate tectonics and the fault systems of the American west has increased exponentially. Medahl using a modern evidence goes so far as to say that the San Andreas may not be the western most edge of the North American Plate. Instead he proposes that the actual edge of the North American Plate is further inland near the Sierra Mountain range and that there is a smaller plate called the Sierran Plate which should be considered a separate plate from the North American Plate. A very intriguing hypothesis to say the least and the evidence for Medahl's argument is compelling. In this respect Rough-Hewn Land is a welcomed update to the Annals. Lastly another key difference is the direction of the traverse across the western portion of the United States. Rough-Hewn Land starts on the west coast and finishes in the plains where McPhee chooses to go in the opposite direction. From my point of view this is the proper direction to tell a complete history of the west. It makes more sense to go from the younger events and work our ways backwards in time rather than going from the old to the new. This is not an intuitive notion for sure, but it just makes more sense when you are trying to put it altogether. Rough-Hewn Land is a proper geology book, not just an update to the Annals of the Former World. I'm now adding a book to a very short list of geology books to recommend to a newly minted enthusiast. It's as enjoyable as it is informative, easy to read and understand, full of pictures and diagrams, and GPS points to get out into the field. Brilliant! Review: This is a first rate didactic master piece on the geology of the Western US - Put bluntly: This is a first rate didactic master piece. Only someone with a truly deep and broad understanding of his field can write like this. It is indeed a rare occasion that a science book is so captivating that one can’t put it down! It’s a must read for anyone living west of the Rocky Mountains. It will leave you rattled when it begins to dawn on you what goes on underneath your feet, the colossal forces, almost endless time scales, and the rather unique combination of geological events that shaped the western part of the US. Pacific Oceanic floor on the western slopes of the Sierras? Eruptions that make Mt. St. Helens look puny? A mountain range jumping some 12 feet in a few seconds? Just be glad you weren’t anywhere near when it happened, in California, and some of it not so long ago. Even though it is written for folks with no geology background, the author always explains why the things happen that he describes, what the evidence is for the conclusions he draws, and even where expert opinions still differ. Why was there gold in the western Sierras, why is the Central Valley this huge flat expanse, why is there a San Andreas fault, why do Basin and Range, Owen’s Valley and the Rocky Mountains even exist – the list goes on. In addition to many photos and maps, the book contains thoughtfully composed sketches that are very insightful, and an appendix that describes where precisely one can find the places shown in photographs (longitude and latitude to put into e.g. Google Maps). I’m a retired physicist and I read a lot, but this is one of the best books I have read in the last ten years! My advice to anyone interested in CA geology is: This is the first book to read - five stars, hands down. Prof. Meldahl, my hat off to you, and I thank you for a fantastic read. ## Features - Used Book in Good Condition ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #201,371 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #112 in Historical Geography #159 in Geology (Books) #2,244 in U.S. State & Local History | | Customer Reviews | 4.8 out of 5 stars 165 Reviews | ## Images ![Rough-Hewn Land: A Geologic Journey from California to the Rocky Mountains - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/712mi5yBbeL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Brilliant trip west through the rocks! *by S***V on January 29, 2014* When it comes to books written about geology for a general audience there is only one definitive classic: Annals of the Former World by John McPhee. It's hard to imagine that anything could really improve upon the classic, but I think Rough-Hewn Land has in many ways added to McPhee's geological chronicle across the western portion of I-80 and is a worthy companion piece. For a complete history of the assembling of California to the exhumation of the Rockies you can't go wrong with either of these books, but there are a few key differences: The first key difference between Rough-Hewn Land and the Annals, is that Rough-Hewn Land has been written by a professional geologist, that is intimate with the geology of the western United States. McPhee uses his unique narrative style to essentially relate a very detailed interview/tour guide of a local expert. Medahl on the other hand is the expert, so his story is more coherent and complete. He also is better at relating how plate tectonics controls the dramatic landscapes of the American west. I was worried that Medahl's prose would be somewhat dry considering that he is a professor after all, but I was pleasantly surprised that his writing is not only very readable but it is also quite enjoyable. There was even a bit of humor in his writing, that is if you find geologist “humor” to be funny (Beer cans are used at one point to illustrate a concept). And if the geology bores the reader Medahl has included some asides into the regional histories like the California gold rush and why the geology of Utah doomed the Donner Party long before they got to the infamous pass named in their honor. However, it does lack the amateur enthusiasm of the McPhee's books. Medahl like most geologist is quite passionate about his subject, but it's not the kind of enthusiasm of a first discovery. Another major difference between the Annals and Rough-Hewn Land is that Medahl has peppered pictures and block diagrams to help illustrate the more complicated bits. Geology is a very visual sort of science and without a diagram or picture it's hard to visualize what the author is talking about. The Annals completely lacks diagrams of any kind, making it more difficult to truly understand what's going on for the uninitiated. This is a big plus in favor for Rough-Hewn Land. Another huge factor in favor for Rough-Hewn Land is an appendix that list many of the outcrops complete with GPS coordinates that Medahl visited when putting this book together. So it's possible to construct a field trip along I-80 to get a first hand look at the geology. Plate tectonics also plays a much bigger part in Rough-Hewn Land. This isn't necessarily a fault of the Annals so much as it is a matter of time. Since Annals has been written our understanding of the plate tectonics and the fault systems of the American west has increased exponentially. Medahl using a modern evidence goes so far as to say that the San Andreas may not be the western most edge of the North American Plate. Instead he proposes that the actual edge of the North American Plate is further inland near the Sierra Mountain range and that there is a smaller plate called the Sierran Plate which should be considered a separate plate from the North American Plate. A very intriguing hypothesis to say the least and the evidence for Medahl's argument is compelling. In this respect Rough-Hewn Land is a welcomed update to the Annals. Lastly another key difference is the direction of the traverse across the western portion of the United States. Rough-Hewn Land starts on the west coast and finishes in the plains where McPhee chooses to go in the opposite direction. From my point of view this is the proper direction to tell a complete history of the west. It makes more sense to go from the younger events and work our ways backwards in time rather than going from the old to the new. This is not an intuitive notion for sure, but it just makes more sense when you are trying to put it altogether. Rough-Hewn Land is a proper geology book, not just an update to the Annals of the Former World. I'm now adding a book to a very short list of geology books to recommend to a newly minted enthusiast. It's as enjoyable as it is informative, easy to read and understand, full of pictures and diagrams, and GPS points to get out into the field. Brilliant! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This is a first rate didactic master piece on the geology of the Western US *by B***X on February 16, 2022* Put bluntly: This is a first rate didactic master piece. Only someone with a truly deep and broad understanding of his field can write like this. It is indeed a rare occasion that a science book is so captivating that one can’t put it down! It’s a must read for anyone living west of the Rocky Mountains. It will leave you rattled when it begins to dawn on you what goes on underneath your feet, the colossal forces, almost endless time scales, and the rather unique combination of geological events that shaped the western part of the US. Pacific Oceanic floor on the western slopes of the Sierras? Eruptions that make Mt. St. Helens look puny? A mountain range jumping some 12 feet in a few seconds? Just be glad you weren’t anywhere near when it happened, in California, and some of it not so long ago. Even though it is written for folks with no geology background, the author always explains why the things happen that he describes, what the evidence is for the conclusions he draws, and even where expert opinions still differ. Why was there gold in the western Sierras, why is the Central Valley this huge flat expanse, why is there a San Andreas fault, why do Basin and Range, Owen’s Valley and the Rocky Mountains even exist – the list goes on. In addition to many photos and maps, the book contains thoughtfully composed sketches that are very insightful, and an appendix that describes where precisely one can find the places shown in photographs (longitude and latitude to put into e.g. Google Maps). I’m a retired physicist and I read a lot, but this is one of the best books I have read in the last ten years! My advice to anyone interested in CA geology is: This is the first book to read - five stars, hands down. Prof. Meldahl, my hat off to you, and I thank you for a fantastic read. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very readable. Lots of new material even for the well read science buff *by M***E on May 19, 2016* I thoroughly enjoyed this read. The only trouble with it was it ended too soon. It is quite engaging, even if you follow science news with a particular interest in geology. Some of it I had missed, some of it I knew but the other does a great job of putting it all into context, in clean readable prose, with a nice dollop of the historical and no purple prose, as some classic authors are wont to do. Answers just about all of my questions, even the one I had while reading about quakes in the basin and range causing mountains to rise (footnote makes clear: it's probably the basin falling, not the mountain rising but it's hard to be sure and most people think of it as the former). One strange coincidence: I've always wondered about some folded red, thin beds I saw near the north side of golden gate bridge. It's been over 30 years but I actually remember those beds quite clearly and the nearby military emplacement rather poorly. Imagine my delight when early on the author covers that very spot, even pointing out the chert is a lot more interesting than the old concrete (I quite agree :) From the south pier of the golden gate to why the sierra's are rising to a host of other questions, this tells the whole story. I think you'd have to be a near professional geologist to know everything in the book and even the more familiar terrain is made interesting as it is placed in context. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.tn/products/6493875-rough-hewn-land-a-geologic-journey-from-california-to-rocky](https://www.desertcart.tn/products/6493875-rough-hewn-land-a-geologic-journey-from-california-to-rocky) --- *Product available on Desertcart Tunisia* *Store origin: TN* *Last updated: 2026-09-07*