Book excerpt: This exceptionally well-illustrated book at a high scientific level describes mud volcanism as a complex, multidimensional phenomenon requiring multidisciplinary study. Mud volcanoes can be used as “cheap windows” to search for gas-hydrates and other mineral resources in the Black Sea region. Nothing similar has been published before, and as one of its unique features the book includes a vast amount of new data unavailable so far to the western reader. The book includes new data on driving forces, mechanisms, origin, geological and geomorphological features of mud volcanoes as well as new data on composition of solid, gaseous, and liquid components of erupted material. It covers a wide geographic region, and its subjects range from geological to environmental to industrial applications.