Texans with an interest in earthquakes should read this book. The book explains how earthquakes are caused, measured, predicted, studied, and worried about. Serious readers will find a summary of available knowledge about all historical earthquakes felt by Texans. The book answers a number of earthquake questions, including whether Texans should purchase earthquake insurance (probably not necessary), that Japan is the country with the most earthquakes, that California and Alaska are the states that face the greatest earthquake threat, and that West Texas is the region of the state with the greatest earthquake hazard. The largest Texas earthquake was magnitude 6.0 on the Richter scale, and hit near Valentine in 1931. The earliest earthquakes described hit New Madrid, Missouri in 1811 and 1812. The biggest earthquake felt in Texas was the magnitude 9.2 1964 Alaska earthquake.

The authors are accomplished research scientists who have written an understandable, scholarly, humorous account of earthquakes in Texas and the United States, illustrated with maps, cartoons, and humorous photographs.

William T. Parry

Department of Geology and Geophysics

University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT