Book excerpt: This up-to-date textbook, suitable for the college market, is devoted to the complex geology of California, including the recently discovered tectonic history of California. The book provides a historical overview of the state and contains enough coverage of rocks and minerals and plate tectonics so that students and other readers can make sense of the bizarre rocks and minerals and the wild and crazy tectonics of California's geological history. The book is heavily illustrated with color maps, diagrams, and photographs.