The 10 Best Geology Textbooks

video play icon 10 Best Geology Textbooks

This wiki has been updated 18 times since it was first published in February of 2019. Whether you're a serious scholar or a parent struggling to get your kids to see the fun of science, you're going to have to select a textbook. Our list features choices for college-level students as well as introductory volumes designed to show young minds that the study of geology can be exciting. With online materials and bright images, they'll bring difficult concepts to life. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.

1. Essentials of Geology

2. Glencoe Earth Science

3. The Changing Earth

Editor's Notes

March 03, 2019:

All the choices near the top of this list are college-level textbooks that are used in university courses. If you want to read what is being taught to students at top schools, this is where you should start. Both Essentials of Geology and Glencoe Earth Science have a lot of information and are intended for serious study. If you're looking for more of a reference title, California's Amazing Geology and Geology Of National Parks have a lot of fun images that can inspire students, but aren't designed to match up with coursework. Both GEOL, Geology: A Complete Introduction, and Focus on Elementary Geology are for those who are going it alone at home and need something that's easy to read and understand before they move on to more serious study like that provided by the top three picks on our list.

4. GEOL Student Edition

5. California's Amazing Geology

6. Geology Of National Parks

7. Geology: A Complete Introduction

8. Focus On Elementary Geology

9. Physical Geology

10. Geology Applied to Engineering


Gregg Parker
Last updated by Gregg Parker

Gregg Parker is a writer and puppy enthusiast who divides his time between Los Angeles and the rest of the world. A graduate of the University of Southern California, his eclectic career has involved positions in education, health care, entertainment, nonprofit fundraising, technology, and literature. A points and miles expert, he's well-versed in all topics related to travel, including luggage and travel accessories. Other areas of expertise include pet care products, teaching resources, kitchen appliances, and anything related to coffee or barbecue.


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