New York Times bestselling author, explorer, journalist, and geologist Simon Winchester--who's been shaken by earthquakes in New Zealand, skied through Greenland to help prove the theory of plate tectonics, and even charred the soles of his boots climbing a volcano--looks at the science, technology, and societal impact of these inter-connected natural phenomena.

A master nonfiction storyteller, Winchester digs deep into the powerful natural forces that shape the earth, exploring the how and why of world-changing events from the 19th-century's infamous volcanic eruption at Krakatoa and the earthquake that flattened San Francisco, to the 21st-century tsunamis that devastated Indonesia and Japan. It's a gripping story about what happens when our seemingly unmovable planet shakes, explodes, and floods--all richly illustrated with fascinating historical and stunning contemporary photographs.