Sand

Starred review from January 15, 2009
Though we rarely consider the implications of the sand we encounter daily (as wind-borne grit or the beach on which we walk), geologist Welland finds much that's relevant and fascinating in the ancient history and present role of sand. In precise and poetic prose, Welland ponders sand's strict definition (based on particle size) and multifarious composition (from quartz grains to calcareous microfossils) Before addressing the subject from every other angle, from the strange fluid mechanics of moving sand masses to the bizarre elegance of sand art. Unsurprisingly, sand's history encompasses much of geological, biological and human history: how mountains grow and crumble, how rivers move the earth, how minute creatures keep beaches clean, how desert winds shape dunes and the impact of sand migration on humanity. In a clever framing device, Welland follows a single particle of sand down the valley of the Susquehanna River and out into the depths of the sea, which keeps his far-flung investigation on track from elemental force to industrial-era necessity (Chapter 9, "Servant of Our Lives," is an entertaining A-to-Z list of the ways sand and humans interact). Welland's work even manages to sift some romance from the subject, firmly cementing this fun-to-read text as a worthy science title for the masses.

Starred review from December 15, 2008
Sand has a sense of vastness, mystery, and power. It is both a nuisance and a powerful tool as the smallest grain on a beach or as vast desert landscapes. Welland, a professional geologist in the oil and gas industry, weaves an insightful narrative about one of our planet's most ubiquitous and fundamental materials. He discusses the science, geology, and cultural significance of sand as a critical ingredient in so many aspects of our lives. Learn about arenophiles, sand forensics, extraterrestrial sand, Udden-Wentworth scale, Bagnold formula, and how sand shapes our environment. A highlight of the book is the chapter "Sand in Our Lives," in which Welland documents the use of sand as the basic building block for many products including stone, glass, toothpaste, cement, and pharmaceuticals. Anyone who has walked on a beach, run up a sand dune, or built a sand castle will be fascinated by this excellent book written for amateur scientists and the general public. Highly recommended for all undergraduate and public libraries.Ian D. Gordon, Brock Univ. Lib., St. Catharines, Ont.

Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from December 1, 2008
Sand is an unsung hero of our world, declares geologist W elland, an unexpected assertion he validates over the course of this unexpectedly enrapturing tour of the many-faceted world of sand. What sand is made of; why there is so much of it; how water and sand interact in rivers and on beaches, continental shelves, and the ocean floor; how sand dunes move, boom, and sing - Welland lucidly explains it all. He marvels over the fact that every sand grain in the world is unique and tracks the incredible journey of a single grain of sand. Intriguing tales about the forensics of sand play off the discoveries of early sand explorers and seminal geologists. Welland describes with wonder the tiny creatures that live between sand grains and all that we make out of sand (glass, concrete, electronics) while musing over the lessons and metaphors sand inspires in literature. Wellands eye-opening, even poetic story of sand, science writing as entertaining as it is profound, reveals the interconnectivity of life on Earth and beyond as he describes the sands of Mars and muses, Sand and dust are the stuff the universe is made of.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)