Petrology: The Study of Igneous, Sedimentary and Metamorphic Rocks

While others may rightfully complain that this book does not shy from intensive and abundant geologic terminology, this fact brings an immersion in the field to any reader with the will to learn it all. This treasure-trove of "rock-science" (petrology) is indeed vast, covering many possible occurrences, not just common modes and types. As an avid geoscience student, I have found this book to be a bit dry, but that has been countered by the seemingly complete nature of the book; everything I've asked a question about has been answered, sooner or later, by this book.Although the book is dense, dry and exhausting, some students really desire this kind of book. Any serious geoscience student should not be dismayed by the complete nature of the work; having access to such a volume of information should not be upsetting!

Well presented, educational and very interesting

Great book when compared to alot of other crappy geology books on the market. I wish there was a hardcover version ( there wasent when I ordered). But i guess that is what is keeping the cost down.

Petrology is petrology. You need the information or you don't. This has it in a useful format, which is what I needed.

I've read M. Best (3 times), J. Winter (three times), and Blatt & Tracy (twice). This book (second edition) beats them all. I especially appreciate the abundance of photomicrographs and the thorough treatment of metabasites.

A textbook full of great information but very dry.

As a professor teaching ig/met petrology, I have yet to find the perfect text. I've used Raymond for several years now, and though it is dense with specialized vocabulary, it has a good glossary in the back. I would rather have the terminology that any student desiring to pursue petrology would need than to not have it available. I have found Raymond to be fairly readable, and written at an appropriate level for an undergraduate geology major who might not continue with graduate work in petrology. The big value I see in Raymond's text is the wealth of useful tables, charts, and appendices for igneous, metamorphic AND sedimentary rocks. Consequently, the book is an excellent resource for students to keep in their professional library. If some find the text difficult to read, then it falls to the instructor to make the concepts clear. I recommend the book, and will use it again.

This book is a waste of good money. All the author does is poorly define a ton of terms. After a few pages, I became completely lost. The only way I could continue reading the book was to look the terms up with Wikipedia to get a decent understanding of what he was talking about.If you want to learn petrology, you would be better off researching the topic on Wikipedia than reading this book.