At this point in history, I teach a college preparatory course in earth science to 9th graders in northern Orange County, California. I don't have my MS [didn't finish my research or write my thesis], so I won't be teaching a basic earth science course at a junior college anytime soon. And even if the College Board okays an AP Geology course, I doubt this book will wind up on the approved text list. However, I can dream. If I could teach the senior high school level or freshman junior college level earth science course of my dreams, Planet Earth by Cesare Emiliani would be my text. This is a physical geology/earth science/earth system science book for smart students. Emiliani pulls no punches, includes lots of equations, asks open-ended questions and shows an excellent wit. All the pictures/drawings/diagrams are in black and white, so if you've got students who need lots of Kodachrome to excite them, this isn't the text for you. It's a quirky, unique text. It's not like any of the other basic earth science texts out there and bears the personal touches of its author. I read it for fun and inspiration and would definitely recommend it for the interested nonscientist. I know it's a paperback, but it is worth every penny you pay for it. Get a copy for your reference shelf today! And maybe you'll teach my dream course before I do.

The Scientific Companion by Cesare Emiliani is one of the most important reference works on the shelves in my high school science classroom. I wore out my copy of the first edition and snapped up a copy of the second edition when it came out in 1995. It is primarily a physical science reference, but I think it would prove useful as a reference for a life science teacher also. It has a lot of those physical science facts and equations that you need, but don't want to memorize: the mass of a proton and a neutron in atomic mass units, the masses and mass numbers of all the isotopes, the names of the quarks, conversion factors, a great periodic table, and lots of other basic stuff. Each chapter is a concise refresher course on a basic physical science subject. I think you'll find this book as indispensable as I do.