ABSTRACT
The Roadside Geology series from Mountain Press Publishing (MPP) has profoundly improved access to geology for travelers in North America. Over one million copies have connected places to Earth science concepts for readers, many of whom have little or no formal background in geology. The books, widely available in parks, museums, and on the shelves of both independent and large chain booksellers, now cover 38 US states and part of Canada.
The format is characterized by concise introductions to concepts, end-to-end road guides for major highways within each geologic region, and road guide geologic maps with arrows marking outstanding features. All books since 2010 are in full color, which enhances both their visual appeal and the usefulness of the road guide maps. The eight-year process to prepare Roadside Geology of Georgia typifies the effort that goes into each volume in the series. Its authors learned to give readers just enough information to understand what is most interesting about a feature, rather than a systematic textbook. MPP staff helped improve conciseness, as well as clarity for non-geologists. The local expertise of six geologist reviewers helped to insure accuracy.
