The 10 Best Earth Science Textbooks

Updated March 14, 2019 by Gia Vescovi-Chiordi

This wiki has been updated 16 times since it was first published in February of 2019. Whether you’re a serious scholar or an inquisitive newbie, to get an understanding of Earth science, you’ll need a well-researched textbook. We've selected volumes for college-level students as well as introductory titles designed to stimulate young minds. They use thoughtful pedagogy, supplementary online materials, and vibrant images to make difficult concepts easier to grasp. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki. If you'd like to contribute your own research to Ezvid Wiki, please get started by reviewing this introductory video.

1. Earth Science, 15th Edition

2. How to Build a Habitable Planet

3. Glencoe Earth Science

4. Essentials of Geology

5. The Good Earth

6. Blue Planet, 3rd Edition

7. Earth Materials

8. Meteorology Today

9. An Introduction to the Earth-Life System

10. Earth: Evolution of a Habitable World

Editor's Notes

March 11, 2019:

Earth Science a broad field that encompasses the natural sciences related to our planet, so we thought a list comprised mainly of general overviews as well as a few specialized volumes (Meteorology Today, Earth Materials, and Essentials of Geology) would be the most beneficial to users. We canvassed university reading lists and professor recommendations as well as student forums, and prioritized titles that were thoroughly researched, clearly written, and outfitted with various tools and ancillary digital content to make tough concepts more palatable to readers with different learning styles. Placed Glencoe Earth Science at the third spot due to its wealth of information, reputation, and fair price, and gave Earth Science, 15th Edition the top place since it is meticulously put together, assumes no scientific background for the student, and features a truly impressive amount of supplementary materials.

Last updated on March 14, 2019 by Gia Vescovi-Chiordi

Born in Arizona, Gia is a writer and autodidact who fled the heat of the desert for California, where she enjoys drinking beer, overanalyzing the minutiae of life, and channeling Rick Steves. After arriving in Los Angeles a decade ago, she quickly nabbed a copywriting job at a major clothing company and derived years of editing and proofreading experience from her tenure there, all while sharpening her skills further with myriad freelance projects. In her spare time, she teaches herself French and Italian, has earned an ESL teaching certificate, traveled extensively throughout Europe and the United States, and unashamedly devours television shows and books. The result of these pursuits is expertise in fashion, travel, beauty, literature, textbooks, and pop culture, in addition to whatever obsession consumes her next.


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