878 Nature Vol. 283 28 February 1980 magnetic dipole is "inclined" at 11 0 The second book, McElhinny's General geophysics relative to the Earth's axis of rotation, but Palaeomagnetism and Plate Tectonics, is this state is to be known as declination. an entirely different proposition. This is D.H. Tarling A final cause for unease is the apparent aimed at a specific market, the (advanced) reliance on the London Geological undergraduate geologist or geophysicist in The Physical Environment. By B.K. Museum for many of the geological­ particular. When it was originally issued in Ridley. Pp.236. (Wiley: New York and geophysical 'facts' and diagrams. While 1973, this was an excellent introduction to Chichester, UK, 1979.) £8.50. the Museum's exhibition is an excellent palaeomagnetism and a review of extant Palaeomagnetism and Plate Tectonics. By one, it is already out of date in some palaeomagnetic data. This "first M.W. McElhinny. Pp.357. (Cambridge aspects, such as the presence of a basaltic paperback edition" is, in fact, a straight University Press: Cambridge and New layer beneath the continental granites - a reprint of the hardback edition. Such a York, 1979.) £7.50. feature that appears in almost all of the term implies to me that some editing or diagrams. It is similarly misleading, or updating has been undertaken and as this is indeed incorrect, to say that volcanic certainly not the case, the publisher's claim activity at subduction zones is due to the that it is "a review of the state of RIDLEY'S is an interesting little book melting of light material thrust into the knowledge in the subject", which was designed to provide an awareness of the asthenosphere. justified in 1973, cannot conceivably be total underlying physical structure of the In general, the colour diagrams are justified in 1979. The data base has environment for students of science and excellent - mostly derived from the expanded severalfold since McElhinny engineering. The scientists to whom the Geological Museum and NASA - but the submitted the manuscript in, presumably, book is addressed include social scientists black-and-white photographs are poorly 1972. There have also been major advances and it therefore uses a minimum of mathe­ reproduced, originally colour prints have in our understanding of magnetic processes matics in its attempt to provide a unified poor contrast in grey tones, and it seems within rocks, the behaviour of magnetic basis for the comprehension of the unnecessary to actually print the Times minerals, the instrumentation to measure relationships between astronomy, geology, weather map with lettering from the reverse either the magnetisation or other magnetic meteorology and oceanography. The side still showing. The omission of the fold­ properties, and so forth. It is thus invidious object is therefore laudible but possibly out weather satellite photographs could to both the author and the reviewer to unattainable within such a small compass have released money for improving other comment in detail on how certain aspects unless more rigorous mathematical photographs. However, the diagrams are no longer correspond with current know­ treatment were introduced. This would mostly clear and well produced, as is the ledge or awareness . CUP would have been then probably lose the innumerate section book as a whole. There are problems at the better advised to issue a revised edition. As of his audience, exactly those people most end (with answers) for those who wish to it is, this book can still be recommended as likely to benefit from such a synthesis. test themselves; and there is further reading highly readable and well presented. The The contents are logically organised, provided for each chapter, although I see production is good and reasonably starting in outer space and time, before no reason that the reading for chapter 5 is durable. It is with sorrow and disappoint­ considering the internal and then external incorporated with that for chapter 4 and ment that one can no longer give this features of the Earth. Halfway through there is none for chapter 7. paperback edition the recommendation there is a more general discussion of the Despite the qualms, it is possible to which the original hardback deserved so forces of nature, including nuclear recommend the book for the general well. D reactions, electromagnetic, chemical and student scientist, although it is clearly gravitational forces, and then a return to designed for a British rather than a world­ the Earth's surface and the forces wide market. One hope is that this may be a operating in and on the oceans. The book short print; a revised edition would be D.H. Tarling is Senior Lecturer in Geophysics at then begins a return to the outer limits of likely to be more strongly recommended. the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK. the Universe, discussing the Earth's atmosphere, solar and stellar processes and finally considers the origin of the Universe, the Solar System and life. The tour is thus certainly comprehensive and there is little that can be considered spirit of the stimulating lecture course that either wrong or over-simplified to the Solid state physics Oxford undergraduates have enjoyed for extent of giving misleading impressions. It many years from Dr Rosenberg, and goes is thus difficult to pin down a feeling of W. Cochran on to claim that it requires only a fairly uneasiness. Some of this almost certainly basic background in mechanics, electricity stems from the style, which is generally The Solid State. By H.M. Rosenberg. and magnetism, and atomic physics, along very readable but tends to launch into Second edition. Pp.274. (Clarendon with relatively intuitive ideas in quantum purple prose during either introductory or Oxford University Press: Oxford, 1979.) physics. linking sections. Another reason for Hardback £5.50; paperback £2.25. The only important difference between unease may be the balance given to the second and first editions is the addition different aspects. Four pages on Obler's of a fourteenth chapter, on superconduc­ paradox (and extra reference later on) THE first edition of this book appeared in tivity. While I liked this chapter as well as seems excessively unnecessary when 1975 and I feel sure that it was read and any, I fear it will be beyond the scope of inertial waves are not discussed (only enjoyed by most lecturers in solid-state students - particularly of materials inertial oscillations) yet are virtually physics, and that they will have science and engineering - at the level for assumed within the consideration of wind recommended it to their students. It is one which the book is intended. One or two patterns. Other unease arises from of the Oxford Physics Series, which the new problems have been added after the inadequate checking. For example, the age Editor describes as core texts intended to earlier chapters, and fourteen after the of the base of the Cambrian has different cover material usually treated in the first final one, to give a total of about 120. values on different pages. Such errors are year of honours courses in English Numerical answers are now given where trivial in terms of the context, but indicate a universities, or in the second year in appropriate, although the author admits lack of care in proof-reading. Another Scotland. The Editor introduces the book that he views the ensuing correspondence unease is the occasional error - the as one which succeeds in capturing the with some trepidation. A new section has

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