
The Dating Game
One Man's Search for the Age of the Earth
Cherry Lewis(Author)
Cambridge University Press
Published on 29. March 2012
Book
Paperback/Softback
268 pages
978-1-107-65959-9 (ISBN)
Description
In this book, Cherry Lewis skilfully blends the history of gauging the age of the Earth with a biography of Arthur Holmes, a British geologist who was a pioneer of geochronology. When it was deeply unfashionable to do so in the early twentieth century, he spent many years trying to prove the great antiquity of the Earth, stating that it was 'perhaps a little indelicate to ask of our Mother Earth her age, but science acknowledges no shame'. Both fascinating and touching, this book appeals to a broad readership of both geologists and science enthusiasts.
Reviews / Votes
'... a gripping tale to tell ... I would recommend it ... to anyone who has the slightest interest in how our planet came to be the way it is.' John Gribbin, The Sunday TimesMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
4 Tables, black and white; 25 Line drawings, unspecified
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
342 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-107-65959-9 (9781107659599)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
03/2014
1st Edition
Cambridge University Press
€15.99
Available for download

E-Book
03/2012
Cambridge University Press
€14.49
Available for download
Previous edition

Book
03/2002
Cambridge University Press
€22.27
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Content
1. Prelude to the game; 2. A brief history of time; 3. Darwin's sorest trouble; 4. Mysterious rays; 5. Doomsday postponed; 6. Holidays in Mozambique; 7. This vegetable prison; 8. A brimful of promise; 9. Liquid gold in Yenangyaung; 10. Durham days; 11. The Ardnamurchan affair; 12. Rewards and retributions; 13. Why does the sun shine?; 14. The age of uranium; 15. The age of the Earth; 16. Loose ends; Thanks and acknowledgements; Selected bibliography.