Super Volcanoes

What They Reveal About Earth and the Worlds Beyond

By: Robin George Andrews

Narrated by: Mike Cooper

Length: 10 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

An exhilarating time-traveling journey to the solar system's strangest and most awe-inspiring volcanoes.

Volcanoes are capable of acts of pyrotechnical prowess verging on magic: They spout black magma more fluid than water, create shimmering cities of glass at the bottom of the ocean and frozen lakes of lava on the moon, and can even tip entire planets over. Despite their reputation for destruction, volcanoes are inseparable from the creation of our planet.

Super Volcanoes revels in the incomparable power of volcanic eruptions past and present, Earth-bound and otherwise, and explores how these eruptions reveal secrets about the worlds to which they belong. Science journalist and volcanologist Robin George Andrews describes the stunning ways in which volcanoes can sculpt the sea, land, and sky, and even influence the machinery that makes or breaks the existence of life. Traveling from Hawaii, Tanzania, Yellowstone, and the ocean floor to the moon, Venus, and Mars, Andrews explores cutting-edge discoveries and lingering scientific mysteries surrounding these phenomenal forces of nature.

©2022 Robin George Andrews (P)2021 Tantor

Interesting and fun

I love this book! Each chapter reviews a different topic from underwater volcanos to Mars. I have learned so much! And for a geology book, there no dry long ramblings, instead it’s light and fun and geology comes to life!!

Uncovering Earth's past and beyond

Excellent science and history, combining this duo makes for a fascinating story but also an education in Earth's geology. The narrator, Mike Cooper, sounds like he is very British, and does an outstanding job at relaying the author's intention. Robin George Andrews has a unique vantage point for "Super Volcanos, as he is a scientist that has chosen to share his story as a professional journalist. Robin's story is not inclusive of super volcanos on Earth, but also in our Solar system. Imagine standing on Mars at the base of the largest Volcano in our Solar system and looking up and not even being able to see the top, which is over 13 miles high, that is 3 times higher than passenger jets fly. The base is so large, 500 miles that it would be difficult to even imagine this amazing edifice as a volcano. Follow the story into one of Earth's Super Volcano's in the Yellow Stone National Park. Always an epic choice for broad casters looking for sensationalism, this massive volcano is currently at rest and has been for over 74,000 years. True, if this volcano did come back to life, the entire planet could change especially the long-term climate, not to mention the massive power of destruction that we could experience. The good news is that scientists are confident that this Super volcano will remain at rest and may never erupt again. There is also humor in Robin's stories that will have you remembering how funny this book is. I have only touched on a few topics in this review, but if these sound like it would make you want to listen, then I highly recommend Super Volcanos.

Good story poorly told.

The topic of this book was fascinating but the telling of the story suffered as a result of the author’s use of inkhorn terms when simpler words would have sufficed, but even more by the unrelenting and unhelpful anthropomorphism.