The Map that Changed the World: William Smith and the Birth of Modern… (2001)

While I appreciated the interesting account of how modern geology developed in Britain and the contribution of William "Strata" Smith to that development, I didn't enjoy the book nearly as much as I had hoped. Most of this was because I found the writing style of the first half of the book maddening enough that I almost stopped reading it altogether. Fortunately, the style in the second half improved dramatically, almost as if someone else had finished writing it, so it balanced out and the book was okay.

I also think the stories of the man, the map, and the advent of modern geology all could have been told in many ways without the frequent potshots at and the disdainful attitude towards religion. ( )

While I appreciated the interesting account of how modern geology developed in Britain and the contribution of William "Strata" Smith to that development, I didn't enjoy the book nearly as much as I had hoped. Most of this was because I found the writing style of the first half of the book maddening enough that I almost stopped reading it altogether. Fortunately, the style in the second half improved dramatically, almost as if someone else had finished writing it, so it balanced out and the book was okay.

I also think the stories of the man, the map, and the advent of modern geology all could have been told in many ways without the frequent potshots at and the disdainful attitude towards religion. ( )

Skipping over the repetitious foreshadowing of William Smith's decline, [The Map That Changed the World] reads like a lively historical novel.
Further enhancing its appeal are the beautifully rendered drawings of Smith's beloved Jurassic ammonites. Ah, for a fold-out map!

Simon Winchester covers the basics of British late 18th century life, with the strange omission of the horrors of colonization and slavery. ( )

This is the story of William Smith and the beginnings of geology as a recognized science. Smith was a man of humble origins and never acquired much beyond a basic education. However, from his childhood he was fascinated by unusual rocks and fossils and spent his life learning more and more about them. After leaving school he learned the art of surveying and came to Somerset in 1791 to survey an estate there. Then he began working for the owner in surveying, planning and drainage for the owner's coal mines. In the mines Smith quickly noticed that the rocks were in well-defined layers that showed a regular pattern between the seams of coal . His insight was that the strata extended all through England and he was able to begin verifying this when he was asked to survey and oversee the planning for a new canal designed to take the local coal to market. Later Smith worked all over England surveying and planning water drainage systems. Everywhere he went he examined the rock formations and collected fossils. He discovered that particular fossils were always from the same strata. All this information allowed him to eventually publish the first geological map of England showing where the various formations were underneath the ground.

William Smith's life was not a particularly easy one as many of the upperclass dabblers in geology looked down on him and one of the founders of the Geological Society even stole his data and published an 'official' map. He also tended to spend more than was wise and became mired in debt. However, his contributions to the science of geology were recognized towards the end of his life.

Winchester doesn't just describe Smith's life but also the England he was born into and the changes that were occurring during his lifetime: the enclosures, the new inventions, changing attitudes, etc. The book was enjoyable and informative, containing as much history as science. Recommended.

The Map that Changed the World: William Smith and the Birth of Modern Geology is a wonderful biography of William Smith’s life. Simon Winchester takes the reader on an extraordinary journey through William Smith’s life.

Despite my own interest and background in geology, my first impression on hearing about Simon Winchester’s book was one of, “why bother”. Geologic maps are second nature to me, and I never really gave them a second thought. I find them beautiful to behold and very practical and I’ve even participated in creating geologic maps not only on Earth, but on Mars as well, but I never gave thought to the history of this invaluable geologic tool.

Simon Winchester changed my mind. In recounting William Smith’s struggle to create his first geologic map he brings to life a man who was before his time and who was cruelly ignored and plagiarized by his supposed peers. Winchester’s style is fluid and dynamic, interspersing narrative on William Smith’s life with excerpts from Smith’s diary entries and notes, making the book a delightful read. Not only did I learn about William Smith the man and the scientist, but I also learned a lot about the late 18th and early 19th century when William Smith lived. My only complaint is the jumps Winchester takes the reader on through the life of Smith. While most of the book is fairly linear, following Smith's life from boyhood in Oxfordshire to his adulthood and work in Bath, London, and finally his self-imposed exile to northern England, there are places where Winchester seems to be getting ahead of himself. At several places Winchester jumps ahead then backtracks, seemingly heading off on a tangent then remembering to get back to Smith and his life.

William Smith was not a perfect man, and Winchester does a wonderful job of bringing to light Smith’s difficulties and problems, many of which directly or indirectly hindered his ambitious project to map the geology of England, Wales, and part of Scotland. (At one point Smith was placed in prison for failing to pay off his debts.) Smith often struggled to create his map while working as a freelance surveyor and drainage engineer, traveling across England often at his own expense to collect the fossils and map the strata. But despite these difficulties Smith endured and completed his ambitious project single-handedly.

Smith’s map was a phenomenal accomplishment, measuring over eight feet by six feet in size. Winchester’s account of Smith’s struggle, the highs and lows of his life, to create this masterpiece is a wonderful testament to Smith’s contribution to the science of geology. Along with the story of Smith’s life, Winchester also provides a copy of the map (albeit in a smaller form) as part of the dust cover of the book (in hardback editions). The book is also illustrated with maps, fossils, and various locations that were prominent in Smith’s life. There is a simple glossary and an extensive bibliography to assist the reader unfamiliar with certain terms or who is interested in reading further into Smith’s story.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about the science of geology and about the life and times of the man who has been named “The Father of English Geology”. It is a delight to read and I found it informative and entertaining ( )