Annals of the Former WorldAnnals of the Former World
Score Modern
What it's about
For twenty years, John McPhee traveled across America along Interstate 80 with geologists, reading the story of the continent in the rocks of road cuts. He tells how the land was built over billions of years, explains plate tectonics, and paints portraits of the scientists who taught him.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Pulitzer Prize. McPhee is one of the great nonfiction writers, and he makes geology thrilling.
You'll love it if you liked
A Short History of Nearly Everything
Arctic Dreams
The World Without UsGood to know
It's long, collecting several books into one, and full of geological terms.
By the numbers
- Readers94 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics67 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller3 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #129 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #255 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking
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Quick answers
Is Annals of the Former World worth reading?
Yes. It won the Pulitzer Prize. It ranks #255 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 82.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Annals of the Former World about?
For twenty years, John McPhee traveled across America along Interstate 80 with geologists, reading the story of the continent in the rocks of road cuts. He tells how the land was built over billions of years, explains plate tectonics, and paints portraits of the scientists who taught him.
How long does it take to read Annals of the Former World?
About 17 hours (695 pages), or about 5 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has Annals of the Former World won?
Pulitzer Prize (General Nonfiction) winner (1999).
What should I read after Annals of the Former World?
If you liked it, try A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson, Arctic Dreams by Barry Lopez or The World Without Us by Alan Weisman.