Product Description
Bill Cassidy led meteorite recovery expeditions in the Antarctic for fifteen years and his searches have resulted in the collection of thousands of meteorite specimens from the ice. This personal account of his field experiences on the U.S. Antarctic Search for Meteorites Project reveals the influence the work has had on our understanding of the moon, Mars and the asteroid belt. Cassidy describes the hardships and dangers of fieldwork in a hostile environment, as well as the appreciation he developed for its beauty. William Cassidy is Emeritus Professor of Geology and Planetary Science at the University of Pittsburgh. He initiated the U.S. Antarctic Search for Meteorites (ANSMET) nroject and led meteorite recovery expeditions in Antarctica in1976. His name is found attached to a mineral (cassidyite), on the map of Antarctica (Cassidy Glacier), and in the Catalog of Asteroids (3382 Cassidy). Profiled in "American Men of Science," and "Who's Who in America," he is also a recipient of The Antarctic Service Medal from the United States and has published widely in Science, Meteoritics and Planetary Science, and The Journal of Geophysical Research.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.5 based on 3 reviews)

Mix of interesting personal stories and boring science

This book really should have been two. I found the first half, where the author explained what it was like for him to 'break into' the Antartic meteorite-searching world, quite interesting. Unfortunately the second half delved into meteorite-recovery statistics in WAY too much detail -- that portion of the book I feel would have been better left out, with the information contained published in scientific journals. Overall I finished this book wishing for more personal stories about 'life in the Antartic' and 'dealing with the science community'. Also I wished something on 'what to look for when on the ice, and how to do recovery correctly' had been included.

But it is a "better-than-OK" addition to my meteorite library. I recommend it for the non-casual meteorite-lover.
February 24, 2008

Solar System Leftovers in the Freezer

Meteorites, Ice, and Antarctica by William A. Cassidy is three books in one. The first book is a highly accessible account of ANSMET, the US Antarctic Search for Meteorites program. Part Antarctic adventure story, part exposition on the difficulties of doing scientific research in the late 20th Century, the first part of the book should thrill any interested reader. The second book lays out the spoils of the research, the meteorites - those leftovers from the formation of the solar system and chips off of other planets. This section is much more technical, but Cassidy's writing style and ability to explain makes the second part as readable as the first. The third book brings in statistics to evaluate the scientific worth of the Antarctic meteorite collection and Cassidy speculates on what it all means. Even though this section is clearly aimed at a scientific audience, the interested reader that has made it this far should find this section only slightly harder reading than the previous two. I must confess that my BS in Geosciences helped with part two and three, but even a lay reader with an interest in meteorites and Antarctica should find the entire book well worth the challenge. One of the things I most enjoyed about Cassidy's writing is his ability to inject his geologist's personality throughout the book, even in the sections that could have been as dry as cosmic dust. Most of this book is not for the casual science reader, but those with an active interest in meteorites should find it a welcome addition to their library.
December 22, 2004

A Masterpiece of Communication!

Meteorites, Ice, and Antarctica is a masterpiece of communication! Few science books teach technical matters and yet leave the reader experiencing only a great adventure and joy of learning. Yet, on every challenging subject (from Antarctic ice meteorite-stranding surfaces and the thrilling finding of the first lunar meteorite, Alan Hills 81005, to the Antarctic Martian meteorites like the now famous Alan Hills 84001 that might or might not include signs of very ancient Martian life), Cassidy amazes and informs the reader by successful teaching. He shares the cold reality of Antarctic winds with the warmth of a father recounting his own youth, around a campfire, or as with colleagues around a bar.

Talk about translating meteorite science into terms of human experience! Under, "THE SOCIOLOGY OF CHONDRITES [A broad class of meteorites]", we gain easy access when Cassidy smilingly speaks of "mixed neighborhoods" and the "melting pot" effect. But a few words do no justice to Cassidy's wonderful analogy. One must read it and smile while learning.

Cassidy neither talks down to his audience nor resorts to jargon just to sound 'scientific'. As a reviewer having read almost every meteorite book published in the English language (with help of the NASA-Goddard library), this one emerges as my favorite because of the clarity of presentation and even its 'salt' of good humor.

The entire book is permeated with an air of open honesty and objectivity. When anyone, including the author, has an unproven idea about, e.g., the origin of certain meteorite parent bodies, it clearly is labeled as such. Readers are encouraged in the valuable lesson of thinking for themselves, and with such evoked pondering, Cassidy applies one of the best learning tools.

So it is that this book is enthusiastically recommended, whether you be an intelligent novice just wanting to learn about meteorites and the origin of our solar system, a wayward wanderer who has glimpsed the majesty of a 'falling star' and wondered how it might be to relieve loose bowels in the Antarctic wind, or whether you are one of Cassidy's fellow scientists desiring to share the adventures of a colleague.

This book is learning at its most pleasurable, an adventure into life as a scientist at the terrestrial climatic extreme, a view into the politics of financing scientific adventures, and, furthermore, just one doggoned wonderful reading experience!
June 14, 2004

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