This reference book puts earthquakes and volcanic activity into context by explaining the complexities of plate tectonics and continental drift using both text and helpful diagrams. Subsequent sections of the book go into more detail looking first at earthquakes, and then at volcanoes, using a mixture of historical and contemporary accounts of major incidents in order to illustrate the often devastating effects. Real-life accounts by many of the interviewees featured in the television series, Savage Skies, are also included. The final section deals with the science of earthquake and eruption prediction and the difficulties it presents to scientists around the world. Full of dramatic photographs, stories and concise explanation, Savage Earth is a reference guide to readers interested in the forces of science and nature. It contains everything you wanted to know about earthquakes and volcanoes but were too embarrassed to ask your children.