Book excerpt: Designed for the undergraduate, introductory environmental geology course for majors and non-majors alike, Environmental Geology Today presents the core geological principles and explores the effects of humanity on the physical environment. Contemporary case studies throughout encourage students to use their critical thinking skills to dissect the subject matter as part of their overall analysis. The numerous case studies are drawn from topical current events that relate to the chapter material and contain numerical data. Using simple math, graphing, and critical thinking, the authors challenge students to analyze aspects of the data, honing their basic math and analytical skills. With a focus on teaching students to think critically about our environment, Environmental Geology Today is a fresh and modern exploration of this ever-evolving field.